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On 11 April, junior doctors in England walked out of their jobs as part of a four-day strike (refusing to work as a protest). This is the longest strike of NHS (National Health Service) staff since nurses, ambulance workers and other healthcare workers protested last year. What is a junior doctor? Junior doctors are qualified doctors who have completed medical training at university, which usually takes between four and six years. They then continue their training by working under the supervision of a consultant – a senior doctor who has more experience. It takes an average of 10 years working as a junior doctor to become a senior doctor. Why are they striking? They are protesting for better pay and working conditions, according to the British Medical Association (BMA), which…

Since the earliest known examples of writing, people have made marks to record important information, communicate with others and tell stories. However, these days we have a new way to note things down: typing on a keyboard. We send emails or texts instead of letters, and most of an adult’s work is done with the help of a computer rather than a pen. During the pandemic, schools gave pupils computers so they could connect online with their classes and send their typed homework to their teachers. Many people think typing is a good thing because it is quick, efficient and easy to read. Others say writing with a pen and paper is a valuable skill that shouldn’t be lost. What do you think? Is writing by hand better than typing?…

It’s often said that fish have short memories, but scientists have found that they might be cleverer than people think. A study done at the University of Ferrara, Italy, has revealed that zebrafish, a small freshwater species, can count when they are four days old. To test this out, baby zebrafish were bred in a fish tank that had a regular pattern of black vertical bars painted on all the sides. Once the fish larvae (babies) hatched, they were given four days to get used to the black bars. They were then moved into a new tank, where two sides of the tank were painted with different numbers of bars, between one and four. The other two sides of the tank were left blank, with no bars. The researchers found…

For many people, Wembley Stadium in north-west London represents victory. Over the past century it has echoed with the cheers of sports fans, and it has also been a stage for some very famous musicians. In those 100 years, the structure has been changed and rebuilt but it is still the UK’s largest stadium and the home of England’s national football teams. The birth of Wembley Stadium The first stadium was built for an exhibition about the British Empire. The empire was a group of countries and territories around the world over which Great Britain had taken control. It took 300 days to build the “Empire Stadium”, which opened in April 1923. The design of the two towers – nicknamed the “twin towers” – at the front of the stadium…

Scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel have recorded noises made by plants, and the team think this can help identify whether the plants are healthy or stressed. The six-year study focused on several plants, including tomato and tobacco. The researchers put the plants in a soundproof greenhouse, then rigged up microphones about 10 centimetres from each one. The team recorded the sounds made by the plants in different conditions. The study found that when plants are healthy, they make regular clicking and popping noises. However, when they had their stems cut or hadn’t been watered, the noises came in very quick bursts. The sounds were very high-pitched, so they couldn’t be heard by human ears. Professor Lilach Hadany, who worked on the study, told The Guardian newspaper, “When these…

A dream come true. That’s how Cyrille Tchatchet describes competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He now hopes to continue his dream at the next Olympics, in 2024, but his sporting journey hasn’t been easy. Tchatchet was born in Cameroon, West Africa. At the age of 14, he began weightlifting – a sport in which athletes raise very heavy weights on a bar above their head. He was with Cameroon’s weightlifting team in Scotland for the 2014 Commonwealth Games but because of the dangers in his country he decided not to return home after the competition. “Never did I think I’d become a refugee one day,” Tchatchet tells The Week Junior. A refugee is someone who has left their home because of war or the threat of violence. Being…

A new dance company is heading on its first tour with a version of the fairytale The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen. Propel Dance is the only professional dance company in Britain where all the performers use wheelchairs, and it wants to show audiences that everyone can dance. The show explores the past of the Snow Queen, who has caused endless winter. It’s brought to life by some brilliant dancers including Joseph Powell-Main, who trained at the Royal Ballet School in London. After injuring his knees when he was young, he performed with the Royal Ballet and other dance companies using crutches or a wheelchair. Powell-Main told The Guardian newspaper that lots of people think, “You’re a wheelchair user, so you can only do this.” The Snow Queen is…

by Anna Woltz. Translated by David Colmer (Rock the Boat) It’s the first day of Sam’s summer holidays but already things are going wrong. His mum is unwell and his brother has broken his ankle. Sam is left by himself to roam around the small island where they are staying. There he meets Tess, an unusual 12-year-old islander. Sam soon finds himself dancing a waltz, buying a canary and coming up with a plan to help Tess track down her father. This book is a delightful adventure that will lift your spirits as it explores the importance of community. Written by a Dutch author and set in the Netherlands, it has been translated into 13 languages, as well as being made into an award-winning film. WIN! We’re giving away five…

Barnacles, crabs, limpets, prawns, seaweed, star fish and whelks are just some of the fascinating creatures you might discover in a rock pool. Rock pools are all around the UK’s coast. They appear when the tide is out and salty sea water is left in a shallow area of rocks on the beach. In and around this water, you can find all sorts of wonderful plants and species. With warmer spring and summer weather on the way, now is a great time to take a trip to the beach and enjoy rock pooling. Visit when the tide is low, and if you can, look for low-down pools closer to the sea because these stay full of water for longer. Wear thick-soled footwear to give you a good grip on the…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 3 letters FLY VAN 4 letters BALA CHAD FERN FROG NEWT VOLE 5 letters TAHOE TENCH 6 letters GENEVA INSECT NASSER 7 letters DAPHNIA TADPOLE 8 letters CRANEFLY TITICACA 10 letters REFLECTION WINDERMERE Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. ADD ALGEBRA BINARY CALCULATE COUNT DIVIDE EQUATION EVEN FORMULA GEOMETRY MULTIPLY NUMERICAL ODD POSITIVE SUBTRACT SUM SYMBOL TABLE TOTAL ZERO Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each circle is the sum of the numbers in the two circles directly beneath it. Spot the difference…

First of all, a huge thank you to author and illustrator Aoife Dooley for drawing a brilliant cover design and How to (page 25), about creating a fun self-portrait. Did you enjoy the Easter holiday? On page 3 we’ve got a report on some of the celebrations around Europe. The long weekend was a good break and now we are feeling refreshed and ready to go, though I am still trying to untangle last week’s Word of the Week. So a canary is a bird that was named after an island that was named after a dog? No, I think my brain still needs a bit more holiday. This week we’ve got even more mind-melting ideas, such as a self-driving bus (page 5), fish that can count (page 11), plants…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Vale School: Bexton Primary School, Knutsford, Cheshire “Mrs Vale is the best teacher, she goes above and beyond to look after us, she is always interested in our news no matter how big or small it is. Mrs Vale is super kind and makes learning so much fun, she is just the greatest teacher!” Amelie If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

In Scotland, junior doctors are disagreeing with the Scottish government over pay. On 29 March, they were given five weeks to vote on whether or not they will also go on strike. A survey has found that 80% of junior doctors in Scotland think they might need to get a second job to help pay for their bills, food and rent, and more than 40% are “actively researching” the possibility of leaving the NHS. The junior doctors’ vote closes on 5 May, and if they vote in favour of striking, they plan to walk out for three days. Junior doctor Tiffany Li told the BBC, “I think physically and mentally we are exhausted.”…

FINDING RARE CHINA Rare Chinese bowls found in a house in Derbyshire, England, have sold for £112,000 at auction. The dishes, which date back to the 16th century, were discovered by a man when he was clearing out his mother’s house. He called the find “unbelievable”. FRIENDS WHO STICK TOGETHER Staff at an animal hospital in North Carolina, US, were surprised when an inseparable duo arrived on their doorstep: Felix the dog and Cinnamon the goat. They pair don’t like spending time apart, instead preferring to play and cuddle together. The shelter has now found an owner who will adopt them both. AN INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST At a care home in Essex, England, an art gallery has been opened for a resident who likes to paint. Since moving to Down Hall…

As a child, Robin Stevens loved reading murder-mystery stories, immersing herself in the worlds of fictional detectives like Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. These childhood heroes now inspire her own detective stories, most recently the first in her new series of books, called The Ministry of Unladylike Activity. This series is set in the Second World War (1939–45) and tells the story of May Wong, who, with her friend Eric, wants to be a spy. They investigate a murder at the mysterious Elysium Hall. Stevens tells The Week Junior that all her characters are made up of “parts of myself, parts of friends and some historical characters who I admire”. Stevens tries to write 2,000 words every day when she’s working on a first version of a story.…

Protecting six types of animal and increasing the numbers of three more could help to reduce global warming, according to a recent study by scientists from Yale University in the US. As too much of a harmful gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere, the Earth’s surface temperature is slowly rising. It’s well known that plants absorb CO2, but Oswald Schmitz and his team from Yale University set out to find how much animals can help too. They looked at data that other scientists had collected about the environmental effects that certain wild animals have, such as storing carbon and helping carbon-capturing plants to grow more. For example, elephants eat plants that compete with carbon-capturing trees for sunlight and water. Elephants also scatter seeds in their poo,…

At Exmoor Zoo in Devon, England, the only New Guinea singing dog in the UK has died. The breed’s name is inspired by their unique howl, which sounds like a mixture of yodelling and the song of a humpback whale. When they’re in a group, one dog starts singing and the others all join in with their own unique song. • LIFESPAN: Up to 20 years. • HABITAT: Remote mountains or forests in New Guinea. • SIZE: 30–46 centimetres tall and up to 14 kilograms. • DIET: Birds, small mammals and small reptiles. • FUN FACT: This species was only discovered in the 1950s but scientists now know that the singing dogs have been around for at least 6,000 years.…

The White Horse Final In 1923, many more fans than expected came to the stadium‘s first FA Cup final. Police on horses stepped in and helped to keep fans off the pitch. A white horse named Billie stood out in the middle of the huge crowd, and the game became known as the “White Horse Final”. A daredevil attempt In May 1975, more than 60,000 people gathered at Wembley Stadium to watch a show by Evel Knievel, an American stunt performer. While riding a motorbike, he jumped over 13 London buses. On landing, Knievel crashed and was taken to hospital. He made a full recovery. Lionesses rule Wembley In 2014, the Lionesses played their first international football match in the new Wembley stadium, watched by a record crowd of 45,619.…

Freya Colbert and Oliver Morgan They both won three golds at the British Swimming Championships in Sheffield, England. England women’s football team England beat Brazil to win the first-ever Women’s Finalissima, when the champions of Europe and South America compete. Jon Rahm The Spanish golfer won the Masters event in the US. The Masters is one of golf’s four “Majors” – the biggest tournaments of the year. York Valkyrie Rugby league team York Valkyrie beat reigning champions Leeds Rhinos 34-12 in the opening game of the 2023 Women’s Super League.…

What would you do if you were the last person alive on Earth? I think I’d cry very hard for a long time, and then I would look for a dog to cuddle. Preferably a white shepherd or a labradoodle. Have you ever been to Texel, the island you write about in your book? Yes! I was invited to Texel by the public library, to tell all the 11-year-olds living on the island about my books. I visited 15 classes, so I stayed on the island for a whole week. What is your favourite food? Sushi – and I really enjoy making it myself. Did you have lots of adventures as a child? I’ve always had a lively imagination, so my adventures felt huge, even if they took place in…

Any other tips? If you can’t find a rock pool, or it is too slippery to get near them, try walking along a beach and studying the strandline. This is the line in the sand where the high tide stopped and the sea started going out again. The strandline supports lots of marine life, such as seaweed and worms and insects that birds eat. What else can I do? When you’re at the beach, why not help care for the environment by doing a quick litter collection as well? Take a bag and a litter picker and wear gloves so you can safely pick things up. Put the rubbish in the bag and take it home if you can, rather than filling the public bins.…

A museum in Poland that makes wax replicas (models) of celebrities has turned its hand to the British royal family’s Prince William and the Princess of Wales. However, the famous pair are not cast in their best light. In fact, one visitor posted a video on TikTok with the caption, “Come with me to the worst museum in Poland”, featuring the royals with an emoji of a skull; it was shared 13 million times. One TikTok user commented that William “looks as if he has an itch he can’t scratch”, and another said the wax prince “scared me with his smile”.…

We love hearing from you! It’s easy – just write a comment when you vote in our online Big Debate poll, or even record a voice note for The Week Junior Show. Last week we asked you if it is ok to farm octopuses or if the animals should be left to swim free… “It is not fair to farm octopuses because they are intelligent creatures and they should have a right to swim freely.” “They can be less at risk.” “I don’t want a creature to be born just to be eaten. It’s not really a life.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

On 4 April, Donald Trump, who was president of the US between 2017 and 2021, was arrested. This is the first time in history that a former president of the US has been arrested and charged with a crime. Trump has been accused of 34 “felony offences” that are to do with making false (untrue) business records. “Felony offences” are crimes for which a person could be sent to prison in the US. The former president appeared at a court in New York, where he said he was not guilty of the crimes. He will next appear in court for this case in December. Trump may have to pay a fine (money you pay a punishment for breaking a rule) or he might have to go to prison, although experts…

Jerusalem, Israel EU calls for calm as tensions rise Tensions have been rising in the city of Jerusalem, leading to violent acts by Israelis and Palestinians. Jerusalem is a very important place for Muslims, Jews and Christians. The Muslim month of Ramadan, Judaism’s Passover festival and Easter took place at the same time this year, attracting many worshippers. The EU asked people to “promote calm”. Ivory Coast Smart phone inventor wins award An inventor from Ivory Coast has won the World Literacy Award 2023, which celebrates people who promote reading and writing. Alain Capo designed a smartphone that lets people communicate in 16 of Ivory Coast’s languages, even if they can’t read or write. He hopes the phones will give more people access to education. La Paz, Bolivia Amazon cooking…

Between April and May, wild cherry trees are covered in pretty white blossoms. You can identify the tree by its shiny red-brown bark, which is marked with white horizontal lines called “lenticels”. These are like pores that let the bark breathe. Wild cherry trees grow up to 30 metres high and they are hermaphrodites (their flowers have both male and female reproductive parts). The white blossoms are up to 1.5 centimetres wide with five petals, and they hang in clusters of two to six. The trees’ green oval leaves have pointed tips and jagged edges. There are two red blobs on the leaf stalks called glands, which attract insects to pollinate the tree. After this, the flowers develop into red cherries.…

Marsupials are one of the three main groups of mammals, along with monotremes (mammals that lay eggs, such as an echidna) and placental mammals (such as humans and elephants). Marsupials have a pouch. Their babies, known as joeys, are born very early, when they are still blind, hairless and unable to control their body temperature. They crawl into their mother’s pouch where they continue to develop. Enjoy unlimited visits to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, plus a host of other benefits with ZSL Membership. Find out more at zsl.org/membership/zsl-membership…

Do you squirm at the sound of a fork scratching a plate or shudder when someone chews or sniffs loudly? Many people find these noises annoying, but nearly one in five UK adults suffer from misophonia (when a certain noise triggers an extreme reaction). Scientists at the University of Oxford have been looking into how sounds affect people differently. They took a sample of 772 people – of all different ages and backgrounds – and played them 37 sounds that many people find irritating. These include chewing, coughing, dogs barking, sniffing repeatedly and slurping. The people taking part in the study filled in a survey that included statements or questions about how certain noises made them feel. This showed that for some people, certain sounds made them feel helpless and…

Being confident isn’t just about what you know or think; confidence comes from how you feel in your body too. How you hold yourself matters How you sit or stand – your posture – influences how you feel. If your shoulders are hunched, your head’s down and you’re slouching, you feel differently to the way you feel when you’re sitting or standing straight with your head up and your shoulders back. Try it for yourself – sit or stand slumped forward and notice how you feel. Then move your body to being more upright with your arms by your side and looking forwards. How do you feel now? Your body talks to your brain Research has found that when you’re hunched with your arms and legs crossed, and looking down,…

The Day We Saved the Future by Ashley Banjo and Jordan Banjo (Scholastic) In this fun new sci-fi adventure, brothers Cass and Micah must journey into the past in an amazing time-travelling supercar sent back from the future by their older selves. Their mission: to go back in time to the 1990s, befriend a future billionaire – and stop his plan to destroy the world. The Time Machine Next Door: Explorers and Milkshakes by Iszi Lawrence. Illustrated by Rebecca Bagley (Bloomsbury Children’s) When Sunil breaks his grandfather’s prized possession, his neighbour Alex has an unusual solution to the problem: a time machine. Soon, Sunil is setting out on an incredible voyage through time. This fun story combines historical facts and characters with an exciting plot. The Monkey Who Fell from…

Name: Raef The Crackle Dawn Dragon by Abi Elphinstone “Adventure, friendship and fun. I recommend you read this book because of all the lovely emotions. It’s the last of the trilogy and is my favourite.” YOUR TURN Email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If your review is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Tell us what you liked about the book and why you’d recommend it to others, and don’t forget to include your name and address.* *If you are the competition winner, we will only use the details you provide to contact you and arrange delivery of your competition prize. Further details about how we manage the data you provide can be found at www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy…

An Irish writer, award-winning illustrator and comedian, Aoife Dooley is also autistic, meaning that her brain works in a different way to some people’s. Finding My Voice is the latest graphic novel in her series that follows Frankie, who is also different. It’s inspired by Aoife’s real-life experiences and is about school, friendship, bullying, family and being autistic. Here, she explains how you can find your voice and express your true self by drawing a self-portrait. Capturing yourself on paper can be a really fun way to boost your confidence and practise your drawing skills. It’s even better when it’s surrounded with all your favourite things, whether that’s a pet or a flower. Here’s how to do it – along with a space to draw in. 1 Have fun The…

To celebrate nature in art and raise awareness of protecting the planet, our sister magazine The Week Junior Science+Nature, is supporting The Wild Escape. Set up by The Art Fund, the project is inspired by the wildlife found in museums and galleries across the UK. You can take part by seeking out animals in museum or art gallery displays and creating artwork of the animals in their natural habitat. On Earth Day (22 April), the pictures will be brought together in an epic collective artwork. Find inspiration to get involved with the Science+Nature downloadable booklet available at tinyurl.com/TWJ-EarthDaybooklet and discover more at artfund.org/thewildescape GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a Roving Reporter badge…

1 Roughly how many junior doctors work for the NHS in England? □ a) 750 □ b) 7,500 □ c) 75,000 2 True or false? The European eel is a more endangered species than the Bengal tiger. □ True □ False 3 In which country are chefs cooking dishes like worm chilli and tree bark? __________________ 4 Where was the first typing machine developed in 1714? □ a) Paris □ b) London □ c) Edinburgh 5 True or false? Robin Stevens is the bestselling novelist of all time. □ True □ False 6 Zebrafish live in which sort of water – salty or fresh? __________________ 7 Who won the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium? □ a) West Germany □ b) East Germany □ c) England 8 How many…