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The Week Junior|162Parliament rejects May’s Brexit dealThe UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, has lost a crucial Brexit vote in the House of Commons. A majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) voted against her plan for the UK’s future relationship with the European Union (EU), after days of debate. It was the biggest government defeat in almost 100 years. What is Brexit? Brexit is the term for the UK’s departure from the EU – an organisation of 28 countries that work together on issues such as trade. A UK-wide vote (known as a referendum) was held in June 2016 to decide whether the UK should remain in the EU, and 52% of voters voted to leave. On 30 March 2017, May announced that she would begin the process of leaving the EU, setting 29 March 2019 as…2 min
The Week Junior|162US government shutdown sets recordThe US government shutdown has become the longest in history. As The Week Junior went to press it had entered its 26th day. The previous longest shutdown lasted for 21 days between December 1995 and January 1996. It means that some government departments have closed and parks, museums and organisations have been shut. Around 800,000 government workers are not being paid. Some are still having to work because they have important jobs, such as air-traffic control. Government workers will not be paid until a deal is reached. The shutdown has happened because the US Congress (which is similar to parliament in the UK) and President Donald Trump cannot agree on how much money should be given to various government departments. The main reason for the shutdown, which started on 22…1 min
The Week Junior|162THE WEEK IN HISTORY18 January 1671 Sir Henry Morgan defeats Spanish force On 18 January 1671, Sir Henry Morgan carried out a daring attack on the Spanish as he tried to capture Panama City, the capital of Panama, in Central America. Morgan and his private army of criminals and pirates were outnumbered by the Spanish, who controlled Panama at the time, but still managed to defeat them. The attack confirmed the Welshman’s reputation as one of the most notorious buccaneers (a term used to describe 17th century sea adventurers who attacked and robbed ships).…1 min
The Week Junior|162Fibre is the secret to a longer lifeEating more fibre could help you live longer, according to a new report. Fibre is a type of carbohydrate (a chemical in food that helps supply the body with energy) that is only in plants. Fibre is also known as roughage because it comes from the rough parts of vegetables, grains and pulses, such as wheat, rice, oats, barley, nuts and seeds. Fibre is essential to help the body digest food (break it down and use it for energy), and it prevents constipation. It makes people feel fuller for longer. Foods that are rich in fibre include cabbage, lentils and potatoes in their skins. Wholewheat bread and pasta and brown rice are also high-fibre foods. Scientists from the University of Dundee, in Scotland, and the University of Otago, in New…2 min
The Week Junior|162What you need to know● Manufacturers may soon be required to make sure goods such as light bulbs, televisions and phones last longer and are easier to repair. ● European politicians are concerned that companies are making products that are only designed to last for a few years, and are not easy to fix, which means people have to buy new ones. This is good for the company because it makes more money, but it is bad for the environment. ● As a result, these politicians have come up with a series of rules that would force companies to make some items last longer and be easier to mend. At least 18 US states are considering similar laws.…1 min
The Week Junior|162Cementing his reputationJim Bachor aims to make the world’s streets more beautiful by filling potholes with mosaics – an art form that uses small pieces to create a larger picture or pattern. The artist, who is nicknamed The Pothole Guy, created his first design in 2013 by filling in a pothole outside his home in Chicago, US. Since then Bachor has filled in more than 70 holes with designs ranging from chickens and ice-cream cones to singers and flowers. He creates the mosaic in his studio and then cements the design into the pothole, and his work is now popular on social media. Would you like to try making your own mosaic? Have a look at the instructions on page 25.…1 min
The Week Junior|162The grim reality of monster blocksAlthough they are called fatbergs, the main ingredient of these blockages is wet wipes. The little cloths actually account for 93% of the material blocking sewers in the UK. Fatbergs are extremely heavy – a massive one found in London in 2017 weighed almost as much as a blue whale. They’re becoming more and more common, too – water companies say this is because people are flushing more items down their toilets. Sewers eventually get blocked up and waste can, in some cases, get pushed back up to where it came from.…1 min
The Week Junior|162Large ground finchThe large ground finch has, relative to its size, a bite 320 times stronger than that of a T.rex. Scientists from the University of Reading have found that if the animals had been the same size, the finch might have beaten the dinosaur in a fight. ● HABITAT: The Galápagos Islands, around 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. It usually lives in dry, lowland areas. ● SIZE: Although it a large finch, it is just 15 centimetres tall and weighs around 30 – 40 grammes. It is thought a T.rex weighed about seven tonnes. ● DIET: The finch eats nuts and seeds, which it cracks open with its powerful bite. MIGHTY BITE Because of its powerful, crushing bite, the large ground finch has earned itself the nickname megamouth.…1 min
The Week Junior|162Consumer Electronics Show The good, the bad and the plain weird.It’s that time of the year again. Technology companies from around the world flocked to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the US, which runs 8–11 January, to dazzle people with their incredible gadgets. There were writing robots and walking cars on display, but were they any good? Have a read and decide for yourself which ones make the grade, and which are just a waste of space. Simply tick the box next to the gadget. A car that walks Imagine a car that can not only drive along roads, but can also walk up hills. Car company Hyundai revealed the world’s first walking car at CES. When faced with rough terrain, the car activates robotic legs that trundle across the ground at around 3mph. Named Hyundai Elevate, the walking…2 min
The Week Junior|162Stars go cross countryOn 12 January, three teams of elite runners battled in the Great Stirling Cross Country championships. Athletes from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Europe and the US competed in three events, with Europe taking the overall team victory. The athletes ran on a grass course over fields and hills in the Scottish city of Stirling. In the women’s six-kilometre race, Germany’s Elena Burkard came first for Europe, with Britain’s Charlotte Arter second. US runner Hillary Bor won the men’s eight-kilometre event, ahead of Napoleon Solomon from Sweden. The British team enjoyed success in the final cross-country race, which was the exciting mixed men’s and women’s 4 x 1.5-kilometre relay. Jamie Williamson, Alex Bell and Phil Sesemann ran the first three stages. The relay baton was then handed to Scotland’s Laura…1 min
The Week Junior|162The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling WoodsPoppy is spending the summer with her grandma in the sleepy town of Suds, but from the moment she arrives, peculiar things start to happen. What with a mysterious notebook that hides a strange rhyme, bizarre traditions about sugar cubes, and local children turning grey and disappearing without a trace, it’s obvious there’s something very odd going on. Teaming up with new friend Erasmus, Poppy realises the answers may lie in the dark and twisting woods outside town. Will the two of them be brave enough to creep inside Riddling Woods and solve this very peculiar mystery? Prepare for a quirky read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.…1 min
The Week Junior|162What to look out for...The Thor Observatory Very few people can lift Thor’s hammer, but in the observatory, which is packed with the god’s outfits, you can can find out if you have the power. NASA has also provided equipment that allows visitors look at the universe and its planets. Iron Man Engineering Bay Ever fancied flying in one of Iron Man’s advanced suits? It might be difficult to zoom around the exhibition space, but there is a simulation that lets visitors experience how it would feel to take to the air in his armour. Bruce Banner’s lab When he’s not a raging green monster, Bruce Banner is usually busy in his laboratory. Take a peek at what he’s working on, and perhaps even see his brain as he morphs into the Hulk.…1 min
The Week Junior|162THIS WEEK’S WATCH LISTSky Cinema Spider-Man 9–17 January, Sky Cinema Greats (renamed Sky Cinema Spider-Man) Get ready for nine days of web-slinging. This temporary channel will broadcast the trilogy directed by Sam Raimi; The Amazing Spider-Man (and its sequel); and the new Marvel Cinematic Universe entry, Spider-Man: Homecoming. Ski Sunday 6.15pm on 20 January, BBC Two The fastest skiers in the world will compete in Switzerland on what is the longest downhill course in the World Cup circuit. Excitement continues elsewhere in Switzerland at the Laax Open snowboarding event. The National Television Awards 7.30pm on 22 January, ITV Join Dermot O’Leary as stars compete for the top prizes in British TV. For the past 17 years, Ant and Dec have been named best presenters, but this year they face tough competition from Holly…1 min
The Week Junior|162Car journeys to get more excitingThe Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, US, is where technology companies from around the world show off their latest gadgets. This year there were some ideas about what the next generation of cars might be like. Audi exhibited a concept car (a vehicle made to show off new ideas or tech) with a built-in virtual-reality (VR) game based on Marvel’s Avengers. Passengers wear a VR headset that makes them feel as if they’re in a spaceship, speeding up and steering left and right to match the movements of the real car. Audi thinks the technology could be used for other kinds of games, such as underwater adventures or trips through famous historical cities. Technology firm Intel unveiled a demo of a future car based on Batman, complete with…1 min
The Week Junior|162HOW, WHAT, WHERE?Are screens bad for you? Not necessarily. Some websites and TV programmes can be great for learning, and apps can help to build friendships. Endless scrolling through social media, however, is linked to feeling anxious or sad. Use your screen time for things that are useful or make you happy. So why go screen-free? Avoiding screens – even for just a week – means you’re more likely to get outdoors and be active, imaginative and sociable during that time. What could I do instead? Do fun things with friends or family, like sports or games, read a book or try a new hobby. Check this page every week for inspiration. Learn more… ● Watch: are Rory and Lily addicted to their phones? tinyurl.com/TWJ-screentime…1 min
The Week Junior|162Take plant cuttingsWhat you need Spade or a trowel Horticultural grit Secateurs (clippers used for gardening) Hormone rooting powder (it helps roots to grow and you can buy it in garden centres) Instructions There are lots of plants you can make more of by taking pieces of their stems and replanting them. In winter, these include buddleia, holly, viburnum and willow. First, use a spade or a trowel to make a small trench in an area of soil outside. Put some horticultural grit in the bottom of the trench. Then cut a healthy new branch from your plant with a clean pair of secateurs. Snip off the tip, then cut the branch into 20-centimetre sections. Dip the lower ends in rooting powder and pop them into the trench, so that about two…1 min
The Week Junior|162My CyberGirls competitionName: Saudah “I go to Pate’s Grammar School in Gloucestershire and I participated in the CyberGirls competition. I really enjoyed the puzzles, particularly coding and cryptography. It was a great experience, from the museum dinner to the actual competition, plus the visit to the BBC studios. The competition was incredible, not to mention unexpected, as we reached the Grand Final. I’d definitely do something like this again. It’s fun if you’re competitive, if you like challenges or if you are interested in how technology works and are looking to develop important skills like coding and networking. I’m now much more into cyber skills and technology and would like to do it for GCSE and A levels, and maybe in my future career. ” What’s going on at your school? Have…1 min
The Week Junior|162POPJAMFollow The Week Junior on Popjam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free Popjam app from the App Store or Google Play. In 2010, a sailor abandoned her boat after being caught in a storm. Nine years later her yacht has been found. You said... “That is amazing” “Wow, that doesn’t even look like a yacht” “I’m surprised it wasn’t completely destroyed!” Victoria Maclean wants to break the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Harry Potter memorabilia. You said... “That’s soo me” “My friend has probably already beaten it” “I wish I could see how much she’s collected” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…1 min
The Week Junior|162What happens next?At the time The Week Junior went to press on 16 January, there were four main options: a new deal, a no-deal Brexit, a general election or a second referendum. After the defeat, May said she wanted to find a new deal, working with MPs from different parties to come up with ideas that she could discuss with EU leaders. No deal means that the UK would leave the EU without an agreement, which could disrupt trade. An election would allow UK citizens to vote for new MPs, and possibly a new government. A second referendum might ask voters to decide if Brexit should happen at all.…1 min
The Week Junior|162IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…THIS INSTAGRAM POST A picture of an egg has become the most liked photo on Instagram. The image was posted by @world_record_egg on 4 January. According to the most recent figures, it has received almost 40 million likes, beating the previous record of 18 million. A BIRTHDAY WISH The daughter of a Second World War veteran in California, in the US, was shocked when more than 50,000 people sent birthday cards to her father after seeing a request she posted on Facebook. Sue Morse has been reading them to Duane Sherman, who is blind. They also received a special visit from US Navy officers. A BABY PANDA A giant panda has celebrated her first birthday with a special cake. The young resident of Malaysia’s National Zoo is the daughter of…1 min
The Week Junior|162Museum sparks duck warsDuck wars broke out on Twitter after museums across the UK battled to see who had the best duck in their collection. It began when the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading tweeted a photograph from 1934 of a baby duck, and challenged the British Museum to see if it had a better one. The National Railway Museum in York joined in by tweeting a photo of the world’s fastest steam locomotive, the Mallard (a mallard is a type of duck). “Bet it’s not as fast as our duck, Mallard. *mic drop*,” it said.…1 min
The Week Junior|162Around the worldAustria Heaviest snow for 100 years At least three people have died in the heaviest snowfall for a century in Austria. Three metres of snow fell in some areas over just 48 hours, cutting off towns and villages. Despite the army being brought in to help clear roads and deliver supplies, many skiers were unable to enter or leave ski resorts. Three skiers died in an avalanche (a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling down a mountainside) and a fourth was reported missing. Roddickton-Bide Arm, Canada Seals become stuck in town Dozens of harp seals have become stuck in a small Canadian town after their route to the sea froze over. Around 40 animals are thought to be stranded in Roddickton-Bide Arm, and several have died. Residents said the…4 min
The Week Junior|162Watching out for UK wildlifePresenter Michaela Strachan has been talking about wildlife on TV since 1989. When she speaks to The Week Junior about the new series of BBC hit Winterwatch, it’s clear she’s just as passionate as she’ss ever been. This time, Strachan and the team are based in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland. She explains, “Being somewhere like that gives you the best chance of getting really stonking good wildlife.” Strachan’s interest comes from the stories of animals – tales of life, death, struggle and success against the odds. One of her favourite stories from a previous series is about a little owl family sharing a barn with a blackbird family. She says, “The owl was being bothered by the blackbird parents, but when the blackbird chicks were big enough, the owls…1 min
The Week Junior|162Huge fatberg found in sewerA massive block made of fat, oil and wet wipes has been found beneath a Devon seaside town. The so-called fatberg is 64 metres long – which is 12 metres more than Nelson’s Column is tall. It was discovered lurking in a sewer beneath the esplanade (sea-front walkway) in Sidmouth during a routine check of the drains. It will take workers around two months to break it down and take itt away. South West Water’s director of wastewater, Andrew Roantree, said it was the biggest berg they had ever found. He added, “Thankfully, it has been identified in good time, with no risk to bathing waters. If you keep just one new year’s resolution this year, let it be to not pour fats, oil or grease down the drain, or…1 min
The Week Junior|162Taking stock at London ZooStaff at London Zoo had a busy start to 2019 as they counted how many animals are kept at the attraction. Using calculators, cameras and clipboards, the zookeepers carried out an annual survey of more than 600 species at the zoo. Last year’s stocktake showed that 19,289 animals were living there. However, 2018 was a great year for new arrivals, including Paco and Poco the baby tamanduas (a form of anteater) and 12 new Humboldt penguin chicks. Angel, Buffy and Spike, which are all leeches, were also welcomed to the zoo. It’s easy for the keepers to count some of the bigger animals, but insects and other small creatures are more challenging. In the aquarium, photos are taken so that the same fish are not counted more than once. Interestingly,…1 min
The Week Junior|162Where do otters sleep?Luke Harvey Deputy head of predators, ZSL London Zoo Otters usually sleep in an underground den known as a holt or couch. Holts are built under rocks or tree roots, and are lined with moss and grass for comfort and warmth. They are never far from the water. Sea otters actually sleep in the water. Otter families float on their backs, holding hands to stop themselves drifting apart. Do you love animals? ZSL London Zoo’s Junior Zoo Academy is a great way to learn about creatures from all over the world. Find out more at zsl.org/experiences…1 min
The Week Junior|162Sea-monster skull revealed in 3DThe secrets of a 200-million-year-old skull belonging to an ancient marine reptile have finally been revealed, 60 years after it was found in a farmer’s field in Warwickshire. Using medical technology known as computerised tomography (CT) scanning, scientists from the University of Manchester and University College London (UCL) got a peek into the past. CT scans use X-rays and a computer to create a very sharp image – usually of the human body. The marine monster’s skull bones were so perfectly preserved that scientists could see incredible detail. “CT scanning allows us to look inside fossils – in this case, we could see long canals within the skull bones that originally contained blood vessels and nerves,” said Dr Laura Porro from UCL. Porro and her colleagues, Nigel Larkin and Dean…1 min
The Week Junior|162Samuel J. HalpinWhere did you grow up and what was it like? I grew up in a creaking old farmhouse in Tasmania, Australia, which used to be part of an apple cider factory. There was an abundance of spiders on the windowsills. Do you know anyone like Poppy and Erasmus? On the London Underground I once saw a boy who looked like Erasmus. Then one day when I was crossing the street I saw a girl with hair the colour of rust and bricks and I knew it must be Poppy. I’ve never met them in real life, but in my mind I know them enormously well. Where did you get the idea for this book? From the wonderfully strange fairytales I grew up reading. I still read them in fact. Perhaps…1 min
The Week Junior|162Pupils become time travellersBBC Two has been taking a group of modern-day students back through history to see how they’d have got on at school in the past. When The Week Junior visited the set of Back in Time for School, the era was the 1950s, and the class was seeing how differently female and male students were treated. Presenter Sara Cox said, “The girls have been taught mothering skills and are quite outraged by that. They’re really quite shocked.” Each week, the class experiences what life was like at a different point in time between 1895 and 1995. Along the way, they’ve been taught in an outdoor school and tasted snacks enjoyed in the past. Cox explained, “There’s so much to cover; the lessons, the discipline, school trips, science experiments and school…1 min
The Week Junior|162This week’s new appsBlock My World iOS (Free) You can’t bring Minecraft into the real world just yet – a good thing because you don’t want your house to be destroyed by a passing Creeper! But Block My World might be the closest thing to it: the app uses augmented-reality (AR) technology to put your on-screen block-building skills to work around you. You start by pointing your phone’s camera at your surroundings to find flat surfaces suitable to build on. Then you tap on the screen to add blocks with different shapes, colours and textures. The rest is up to your creativity: you can construct animals, vehicles, buildings or even a football pitch (helpfully, there are spheres as well as cubes). Everything you create can be saved to come back to later, and…1 min
The Week Junior|162Video-chatting with your petsSome dogs get nervous when left alone in the house, but a company called Petcube has come up with a pair of gadgets that might calm them down by letting their owners video-call them. Unveiled by Petcube at the Consumer Electronics Show, the new Bites and Play devices have built-in cameras. When a pet wanders in front of the monitor, their owner gets a notification on their smartphone – and can then start a video call with their catt orr dog. The Bites version has an extra feature: it can shoot out small treats – pet biscuits, for example – up to two metres across the room for the animal to collect (or, if they’re agile, catch). Actor Emma Watson is already a big fan of Petcube’s devices, saying in…1 min
The Week Junior|162Make a traffic-light saladWhat you need 1 orange 1 carrot 6 sultanas (optional) Cucumber Some fresh coriander or mint leaves (optional) 1 tomato Grater 3 tablespoons 3 small bowls Sharp knife Instructions Gently grate the outside of the orange, so you have the zest, then grate the carrot. Mix the zest and carrot in a bowl with the sultanas. Chop the cucumber into small chunks, finely chop the coriander or mint and put them both in a second bowl. Halve the tomato, chop it into chunks and pat it firmly down into the third bowl. Spoon the grated carrot mix on top of the tomatoes and put the cucumber mix on top of the carrot mix. Put the bowl in the fridge for 10 minutes. Then put a plate on top of the…1 min
The Week Junior|162Editor’s noteSome weeks are harder than others to predict what’s going to happen in the news; this week was definitely one of them. The Week Junior team wasn’t sure what to think when tennis star Andy Murray first announced his retirement from the sport, then later hinted that he might undergo hip surgery and continue to play. Read about his dramatic week on page 4. Whatever he decides to do next, he’s a fantastic sportsperson and role model. Let’s hope a new generation of budding tennis fans follow in his footsteps and pick up a racket. Meanwhile, a crucial Brexit vote was scheduled for 7pm last Tuesday evening – the evening before the magazine goes to press. We were fairly sure Theresa May’s Brexit plan would be…1 min
The Week Junior|162Dame Darcey Bussell’s dance competitionDo you and your schoolmates love dancing? Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Bussell has created a schools dance fitness competition with local councils in Aberdeen, Aylesbury, Cardiff, Liverpool, Newcastle, Portsmouth and Salisbury. If that’s you and you think you could get 24–30 pupils in your school to join in, ask a teacher to register before 29 January. You’ll receive some routines and you’ll have to film and submit a video of your team performing them. Find out more at schoolsgetdancing.co.uk…1 min
The Week Junior|162YOUR PHOTOS“I thought I’d send you this photo as this is my grandma, who always likes to borrow my The Week Junior magazine when she comes to visit, I often catch her reading it while she’s waiting for me to get ready for bed.” Callum “This is a photo of my dog, Santen, reading The Week Junior Annual – I think he likes word searches!” Beth “Enjoying The Week Junior on a Christmas Day train journey in India.” Aadya and Prakhar…1 min
The Week Junior|162That’s unbelievable!Risk your hair, if you dare An inventive hairdresser in Madrid, Spain, cuts his customers’ hair using swords and metal claws. Alberto Olmedo felt let down by traditional scissors, so he turned to the more unusual blades to achieve a unique type of cut. Despite the danger, customers seem happy to sit in the salon chair and lean back with their hair hanging down, as shown above. Olmedo has been nicknamed the “real-life Edward Scissorhands”, in tribute to Tim Burton’s 1990 film, in which the main character has long, scissor-like blades for hands. PM’s Photoshop fail The Australian prime minister has been mocked after a snap of him and his family was badly edited. In the original image, Scott Morrison wore scuffed trainers. In the edited version, he is seen…2 min
The Week Junior|162How much of this week’s news can you remember?1When is the UK due to leave the EU? 2True or false? A town in Scotland is waiting to hear if it has won the record for world’s steepest street. 3What have become stranded in a Canadian town? a) Elephants b) Seals c) Ocelots 4What is still shining in California, US, 117 years after it was installed? 5True or false? Barbara Peters passed the Grade 8 Royal Academy of Dance ballet exam at the age of 81. 6How many zookeepers work at London Zoo? 7What does CIA stand for? a) Central Intelligence Agency b) Conspicuous Intellect Authority c) Citizen Interception Administration 8True or false? A smart plank of wood was showcased at CES. 9Which country hosts the Haeundae Polar Bear Swim Festival? 10What is the main activity in cross country?…1 min
The Week Junior|162Saudi teenager given new home in CanadaA teenager from Saudi Arabia who claimed she was abused by her family has arrived safely in Canada. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun originally flew to Bangkok, Thailand, on 4 January, planning to fly on to Australia. She claims a Saudi official took her passport at Bangkok airport, leaving her stranded. In Saudi Arabia, women are denied many basic freedoms and are not allowed to work, marry or travel without the permission of a male guardian. The 18-year-old said she had decided to no longer be a Muslim – a crime that is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. As a result, she feared for her life. Al-Qunun raised awareness of her situation on Twitter, after she had barricaded herself inside her hotel room in Bangkok. The United Nations (UN), an organisation…1 min
The Week Junior|162Is it game over for Murray?On 11 January, one of the UK’s greatest ever sportsmen, Andy Murray, announced that he would be retiring from tennis this year. Murray, who is 31 years old, has been struggling to recover from an operation on his hip. However, a few days later, he said he would decide in the next week or so whether he has played his last game or whether he will carry on. At a press conference before the start of the Australian Open tournament, Murray said he was in too much pain from his injury to keep on playing. He said he wanted to retire in July this year at Wimbledon, a tournament held in London, but admitted that his match against the Spanish player Roberto Bautista Agut, in the first round of the…2 min
The Week Junior|162Is this the steepest street?A town in Wales is trying to take the record for steepest street in the world from the current New Zealand holder. Residents of Harlech, in north-west Wales, are hoping that Ffordd Pen Llech can knock Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, off the top spot. Measurements have been taken to be submitted to the Guinness World Records and it is hoped a decision will be made soon.…1 min
The Week Junior|162Should products be made to last longer?In a fire station in Livermore, California, in the US, there is a light bulb that has shone for more than 117 years. Called the Centennial Light, the bulb has not needed replacing since it was installed in June 1901. The fact it has lasted so long is proof of how well made and designed it is. Today, in the 21st century, many items are only designed to last a few years and are difficult to repair. Some say this is because companies want people to keep buying new products, which makes the company money. The companies say it allows them to develop new and better products that benefit the consumer. Either way, the process uses a lot of resources and produces waste, which is bad for the environment. So,…3 min
The Week Junior|162Making a pointe at 81Barbara Peters has become the oldest person in the UK to be awarded the highest grade for ballet from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). The 81-year-old ballet teacher passed the Grade 8 award, more than 70 years after she took her first exam at the RAD. Peters’s 11-year-old granddaughter passed Grade 2 on the same day. Peters believes that doing ballet all her life has kept her in good health. “Dancing is a great exercise to keep your strength,” she said, “but the fact that I continue to do it means I keep as fit and healthy as I can.”…1 min
The Week Junior|162PLACE OF THE WEEKPontypool Park in Monmouthshire, is an ideal place for a family outing. It has a children’s adventure play area, pitch and putt, tennis courts and bowls, as well as a dry ski slope. It is also home to local rugby team Pontypool RFC. The grounds date back to 1703 and include Italian gardens and the UK’s only double-chamber ice house (where ice was stored before fridges were invented). It also has some of the largest sweet chestnut trees in the UK. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-pontypoolpark…1 min
The Week Junior|162Good week / Bad weekSocorro doves Socorro dove chicks hatched at Chester Zoo on 7 November. The birds have been extinct in the wild for almost 50 years. Named after the island off the coast of Mexico where they once lived, they are one of the world’s rarest birds. There are only 200 left today. George, the tree snail On 1 January, George, the last Hawaiian tree snail died, aged 14. Tree snails were once plentiful on the Hawaiian islands but numbers have fallen over the last decades. Scientists have preserved George’s body; they hope to clone it and bring back the species.…1 min
The Week Junior|162A brief history of spyingPaul Whelan, a former member of the US military, who was born to British parents, was charged with espionage (the act of spying) on 3 January. Whelan was at a wedding in Russia at the end of December 2018 when Russian officials say he arranged for someone to give him secret information. His family say he is innocent. Spying means finding out secret information about enemies or rivals, but it’s nothing new. Spies have been around for almost as long as people have. If a spy is caught, their life and friendships between countries could be put in danger. However, if they are successful, they could help win wars, save lives and change the course of history. The first spies One of the first mentions of spying is in the…3 min
The Week Junior|162Hot, hot, hot tomatoesResearchers in Brazil and Ireland say they have found a way to make tomatoes spicy hot. Chilli peppers are spicy because of chemicals called capsaicinoids. How many are found in a chilli pepper is determined by its genes. Genes are short sections of DNA (a chemical that holds all the information about a living thing) that determine how something grows. Tomatoes and chilli peppers evolved from related plants. This means that tomatoes have capsaicinoid-making genes, but they are switched off. Switch the genes back on again, say Agustin Zsögön from the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil and his team, and tomatoes will be spicy. “Capsaicinoids are very valuable compounds; they are used in [the] weapons industry for pepper spray, they are also used for anaesthetics,” he said. Chilli pepper…1 min
The Week Junior|1625 books about amazing peoplePeople of Peace by Sandrine Mirza. Illustrated by Le Duo (Wide Eyed Editions) There are 40 incredible activists in this illustrated book. Telling the stories of campaigners, dreamers and leaders such as Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and more, this is a fascinating introduction to some of the people who have worked to make our world a more peaceful place. The People Awards by Lily Murray. Illustrated by Ana Albero (Frances Lincoln) Celebrating the amazing achievements of people from all around the world, this book awards prizes to lots of well-known historical figures. Turn the pages to discover who will win the honours, whether it’s the prize for Most Magical Muggle or the award for Shaking Up Art. Young Heroes by Lula Bridgeport (Little Tiger Press) This book proves…1 min
The Week Junior|162Assemble with AvengersWith just a few months to go until the release of Avengers: Endgame, which will see the world’s most famous team of superheroes attempt to defeat the seemingly unbeatable villain Thanos, there has never been more excitement about the world of Marvel. Now, a fabulous new interactive exhibition has arrived in the UK to offer fans of all ages the chance to train as an agent of Marvel’s Avengers Science Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network (S.T.A.T.I.O.N.). Having previously trained heroes in cities including New York, US; Paris, France; and Seoul, South Korea, S.T.A.T.I.O.N. has introduced even more features for its exhibition in London, including new displays of Black Panther, the Wasp and Thanos. Visitors will see props from the films and will have the chance to discover real-world science…1 min
The Week Junior|162FILM CLUBThe Mask (1994) DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Prime Video One of the most successful comic-book films of the 1990s is The Mask, a film that helped turn actor Jim Carrey into a proper star. His physical comedy skills led to the film saving money on its special-effects budget – it turned out that Carrey was able to do certain things better than the computer visuals! The filmmakers got another bargain, too: their leads, Carrey and Cameron Diaz, were pretty much unknowns when they were cast, so they weren’t paid as much money as more famous actors would have been. However, when The Mask became a hit, the pair became major stars. NO THANKS Carrey didn’t want to do a sequel so a follow-up – Son of the Mask…1 min
The Week Junior|162GAME OF THE WEEKBattle Princess Madelyn Switch / PS4 / Xbox One Heroes rescuing princesses has been a common theme in the history of gaming. Not here, though: the hero of Battle Princess Madelyn is Madelyn herself, who starts the game as a knight-in-training. Oh, and she also has a pet dog called Fritzy, who happens to be a ghost. The game sees Madelyn and Fritzy battling their way through platform levels and ghoulish enemies of all kinds. New weapons and armour found along the way will help you survive. You can race through the levels uncovering the story, or take your time to find hidden sections and secrets. It’s a royal treat!…1 min
The Week Junior|162Go screen-freeThe days are finally getting longer – or are you too busy glued to a screen to have noticed? If you’re like most young people, you’ll have been online or used a phone at some point today. A bit of screen time is fine – especially if you’re studying, socialising or simply relaxing. Yet too much screen time can be bad for your brain. A recent study of more than 4,000 children found that those who played on a screen for more than two hours a day did worse in thinking tests. Staring at things online can also mean that you’re missing out on the real world. Every hour looking at a screen is an hour you could spend being with your friends or learning a new, exciting hobby. If…1 min
The Week Junior|162Create a paper mosaicWhat you need Pencil Different coloured sheets of paper Scissors Pritt Stick or PVA glue Instructions Draw the outline of your picture or shape onto one sheet of paper. This is the main image for your mosaic’s design. Next, take another piece of paper in the colour you want to use (for example, green for an apple) and cut it into roughly one-centimetre squares using the scissors. Lay these squares on the drawing or shape to fill it in. Leave a small space between each square and cut them to fit if you need to. Then glue them down. Use another colour for the background and your mosaic is ready.…1 min
The Week Junior|162Shakespeare Schools FoundationShakespeare Schools Foundation (SSF) works with thousands of pupils in the UK each year to produce performance evenings in theatres. It also creates programmes, workshops and resources to help teachers encourage teamwork in class. The SSF works with minority ethnic groups, as well as children with special educational needs. Its main goal is to promote social inclusion and increase confidence and self-esteem. To learn more, visit shakespeareschools.org…1 min
The Week Junior|162Teacher OF THE WEEKSponsored by Teacher’s name: Mr Howard School: St Teath Community Primary School, Cornwall “Mr Howard is awesome! He is the best teacher EVER! He gives me the confidence to try new things and his teaching is so much fun that it really makes me want to learn more. Mr Howard rocks!” Léa If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior and your teacher will receive a STABILO Marking Pack of seven pens worth £17. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…1 min
