Table of contents for 366 in The Week Junior

The UK experienced very cold weather from 10 December, with snowfall across the country and disruption as schools and roads were closed. How cold has it been? Many places across the UK have experienced ice, snow and freezing fog. Snow fell in Manchester, England, on 10 December and in London on 11 December. The Met Office, the UK’s national weather service, issued yellow weather warnings, telling people to be ready for snow and ice across large parts of the country. In Cornwall, in south-west England where it rarely gets very cold, many people woke up on 11 and 12 December to a light dusting of snow. Temperatures in Northern Ireland have reached -8°C, and forecasters warned of ice and fog. The coldest place in the UK on 12 December was…

A CHARITY RUNNER Jono Hedley, from Leicestershire, England, is running 25 half-marathons in 25 days. He started on 1 December and is hoping to finish in time for Christmas dinner. He has raised more than £5,000 for the Campaign Against Living Miserably, a mental health charity. THE JUNIOR EUROVISION WINNER This year’s winner of Junior Eurovision, a singing contest between European countries, is 13-year-old Lissandro, from France. His song was called Oh Maman (“Oh Mum”). He said, “I’m so happy, thank you everyone.” The host country, Armenia, came second and the UK’s Freya Skye came fifth and won the public vote. A LITTER-PICKING DOG A border collie in Warwickshire, England, has been nicknamed the “eco dog” for helping to pick up hundreds of plastic bottles during his daily walks. This…

A 13-year-old girl has recovered from a type of cancer (a group of diseases where cells grow out of control) after volunteering to have a new therapy. Alyssa was suffering from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, meaning that her T-cells – which usually attack threats to the body – got cancer and were attacking her body instead. Using the new technique, doctors developed a new type of T-cell to attack the bad ones, and Alyssa is now cancer-free.…

On 4 December, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix topped off her 2022 sporting achievements with a gold medal at the FINA World Junior Diving Championships. It was just one of multiple medals for diving that the 18-year-old has won this year, including two golds and a silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. There’s one final award of the year that involves no water or flips: Andrea is one of the finalists in the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year on 21 December. Andrea’s diving story hasn’t always been about awards and success, though. At the start of this year, the Year 13 student was struggling to juggle training and school work. “I was so distraught,” Andrea admitted. “I was upset every single day, training was difficult, school was hard.” Andrea was…

At this time of year, pictures of robins in snowy countryside appear on Christmas cards, but a recent study has revealed that, when faced with the traffic noise of towns and cities, robins can become angry and aggressive. These tiny birds, with their round tummies and jolly red markings, might look cute but bird experts know that they can be very aggressive. Robins don’t like to share their territory (area where they live) with other robins. They sing loudly, sway from side to side and puff out their red chests to put off rivals – and sometimes they fight. Studies have shown that robins who live in towns and cities are more aggressive than robins in the countryside. A recent study of robins in the city of Istanbul, Turkey, found…

It’s as Christmassy as fir trees, carols and crackers: The Nutcracker is a fairytale ballet about a girl and a magical wooden doll. The classic Christmas ballet is enjoyed by families all around the world and this December it celebrates its 130th year. However, when the ballet was first performed in Russia on 18 December 1892, it wasn’t a success. We dance through the tale of this beautiful ballet to understand how it was transformed from flop to festive favourite. Who created The Nutcracker? Before it was a ballet, the story was in a book written by E.T.A. Hoffmann. Written in 1816, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a dark, slightly creepy fairy tale. The ballet story that we know and love today comes from a sweeter version of…

Do you love rolling a six on the dice to start a game? Whether you’re dusting off old favourites or trying something new, board games are a great way to relax and have fun with friends and family over the festive season. Why do people play board games? According to a recent survey, people play an average of four games over the festive period and 57% of people say games are a Christmas family tradition. Ellie Dix, who designs board games for families and is also an author, tells The Week Junior the reason board games are popular is because there are games for all kinds of occasions. They can be party games like Pictionary that make you laugh so much it hurts; strategic games like Catan for deep thinking;…

The year 2022 was a sparkling year for games, but there was one game we were all waiting for that didn’t land on time: Hogwarts Legacy. Hogwarts Legacy is an action role-playing game that features some familiar places from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The game was due to launch this year but had been delayed. Now, as if by magic, the website, trailer and release date for this exciting new game have just been announced. So what’s Hogwarts Legacy about? Firstly, the game is set in the 19th century, long before Harry Potter was born. So, rather than play as Harry, you get the chance to be the centre and star of the adventure. Create and customise your character (you can choose accessories such as glasses and even…

When did you start writing the book? It was around Christmas time last year. Favourite Christmas activity? Either watching my children opening their presents – it’s so lovely to see their happy faces – or the highly competitive family games night, especially if it involves Beat That! The last thing that made you burst out laughing? I find my two boys, William and Douglas, hilarious. They’re always doing something that will have me in fits of giggles. Favourite type of vegetable? Potatoes – they’re so versatile. Jacket, chips, wedges, mash – I love them all. Any embarrassing habits? I think I am probably an overly expressive dancer, which I don’t find at all embarrassing but I think my children do.…

How can I join in? With adult help, go to the Young Archaeologists’ Club website (yac-uk.org) to find the club nearest you. The website also has fun activities to try at home. Click on the “Ask the archaeologist” section to read interesting answers from archaeologists themselves. Where can I see ancient discoveries? Plan a visit to a museum with your family. Whether it’s a big museum like the British Museum in London or a smaller local museum, there are always interesting objects to see. It might inspire you to find out more about how they were found.…

When children in Catalonia, Spain, want presents on Christmas Eve, they beat a wooden log with sticks. Tió de Nadal, which means “Christmas log”, is an old tradition. From 8 December onwards, children wrap up a log in a blanket and “feed” it by putting out food for it to eat. Then, on Christmas Eve, they place the log in the fireplace, beat it with small sticks and beg it to poo out lots of treats. Tradition says that the kinder you have been to the log during the period up to Christmas, the more treats you’ll receive.…

Hurray! It’s nearly Christmas! We have been working hard getting together fun festive ideas for this issue. The cold weather has caused lots of disruption for travellers (page 2) but the crisp chill has made me feel super-Christmassy all at once. On our podcast this week, the team will be talking about their favourite festive traditions. Mine is not really a tradition, but I absolutely love the smell of the Christmas trees lined up for sale in the street. Oh, and mince pies – I used to bake them with my mum, so I will definitely be getting out the apron and rolling pin. Olaf Falafel explains a brilliant way to make your own wrapping paper (page 25) and I was fascinated by the Christmas traditions in other countries (page…

The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards are now open for entries. The awards celebrate the incredible bravery and resilience of children under 18 years old who have been treated for cancer in the last five years. The Star Awards is not a competition, and every eligible child who is nominated will get the trophy and award pack – siblings will even get a certificate too. Recently, a special virtual awards show took place to honour the courageous children across the UK who received their Star Awards during the past year. Famous faces such as actor Dani Harmer and football freestyler Liv Cooke made appearances in the ceremony as well to offer their congratulations to all the award winners. To find out more, including how to nominate,…

Last week we asked you if farmland should be rewilded… “Native plant species should be allowed to grow and flourish.” “We need to use farms to grow food.” “Some – but not all of it.” “I think it should be rewilded, it helps the planet.” “Farmland belongs to whoever owns it – it’s up to them whether they rewild it or not.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 Where was the year’s lowest temperature recorded? □ a) Aberdeenshire, Scotland □ b) Manchester, England □ c) Belfast, Northern Ireland 2 True or false? Thor the walrus was spotted on a beach near Liverpool. □ True □ False 3 The statue of which Greek god was moved from the Palace of Versailles, in France, for a clean? 4 What was the most popular boys’ name in the UK in 2021? □ a) Paul □ b) Adam □ c) Noah 5 True or false? Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn put their bed on the roof to raise money for a wind farm. □ True □ False 6 Which type of bird have scientists observed getting road rage? 7 Which ballet is traditionally associated with Christmas? □ a) Swan Lake □…

As the name suggests, December moths are found in December, although you may spot them as early as October, across England, Wales and southern Scotland. They only fly at night because they’re attracted to light. You might find one perching on the windowsill of a lit room or gathering by outdoor lights. The moths survive the winter chill by vibrating their wings to raise their body temperature and they have a natural “anti-freeze” inside them. They are a grey-brown colour with pale markings. Females are larger than males, with wingspans of up to 45 millimetres. All December moths start life as a caterpillar, eating leaves to gain strength. After becoming moths, they can’t eat and live very short lives.…

Clara Clara’s character is sometimes called Marie or Masha in Russia. Traditionally, she is played by a young ballet dancer, and it’s the dream of many young ballerinas to dance as Clara. The Sugar Plum Fairy This character rules the Land of the Sweets. She is famous for The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, which is played on a celesta. This instrument looks like a piano but sounds like a bell. When Tchaikovsky first heard the celesta, he knew it would be perfect for the piece. Uncle Drosselmeyer Clara’s mysterious uncle is a toymaker with unusual abilities. He is also believed to be a magician. He uses magic to fix the nutcracker and to turn him into a prince. He often appears wearing a cape and an eye patch.…

A study has shown that some teenagers’ brains got older more quickly than is usual during the Covid-19 pandemic. During your teenage years, your brain grows and changes a lot. A new study in the US shows that the pandemic sped up some of these natural changes, like an increase in the size of the hippocampus – the part of the brain that helps with memory and learning. A team of scientists from two US universities compared the brain scans of 81 children taken before the pandemic and 82 children taken during the pandemic but after being in lockdown. They matched teenagers from the two groups, taking into account things like age, sex and backgrounds, before comparing brain scans. They discovered a brain age difference of about three years. Scientist…

If you spot a lot of Santas dashing past in a park or on a street near you, you are not imagining things. It might be because it’s the season when lots of people are dressing up as Father Christmas and running for charity fun runs. The biggest of these festive fun runs is the Santa Dash. It takes place each year in Liverpool, England. This year, more than 5,000 runners got dressed up in Santa suits to complete the 3.2-mile course through the city centre. The run raised money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. Runners of all ages and abilities took part in the Santa Dash. There was also a Mini Dash for runners aged 12 and under who completed a shorter distance in the main route.…

On 21 December people will gather in the seaside city of Brighton, England, for the Burning the Clocks festival. It marks the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year. Hundreds of people parade home-made lanterns through the streets, bringing light to the dark, before burning them on a huge bonfire on Brighton beach. The winter solstice is the day with the least daylight all year. After this day, each day brings more minutes of daylight than the last, as we head towards summer solstice – the longest day of the year. Many cultures around the world celebrate the winter solstice as a fresh start when life begins again. Burning the Clocks is organised by a charity called Same Sky, which started it in 1993 as an alternative to…

The Christmas Carrolls: The Christmas Competition by Mel Taylor-Bessent. Illustrated by Selom Sunu (Farshore) The sequel to The Christmas Carrolls rejoins Holly and her Christmas-obsessed family. A new clan is in town, trying to steal their tinsel crown. Can the Carrolls win a competition to prove that they are the most festive family? The 156-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton (Macmillan Children’s) The latest book in this bestselling series has a festive flavour, as Andy and Terry celebrate Christmas in their ever-growing treehouse, which now has 13 new storeys. There are sneaky snowmen and a mind-reading sandwich machine – all the wacky fun you’d expect from the Treehouse books. Murder at Snowfall by Fleur Hitchcock (Nosy Crow) In this thrilling mystery set at Christmas time, Lucas and Ruby…

Name: Sean The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien “Quest, danger, excitement. Frodo Baggins inherits a dangerously magical ring. He must destroy it but evil creatures stand in his path.” 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…

What you need Hello my name’s Olaf Falafel. I’m a children’s author, illustrator, dad and comedian. During the Covid-19 lockdowns I created an online Art Club filled with drawing tips, animations and lots of silly jokes! This issue I’m going to show you how to make some festive wrapping paper – and as we’re talking about decorative printing, there’s one person who springs to mind: William Morris. He was a British designer who lived more than 100 years ago, from 1834 to 1896, and he’s famous for his beautifully patterned fabric, furniture and wallpaper. William Morris was part of a group of creative people called the British Arts and Crafts movement. It was the Industrial Age and Morris disliked the way that goods were…

In the German city of Dresden, they love cake so much that there is an annual celebration before Christmas each year called “Stollenfest”. Stollen is a traditional German cake, a bit like a sweet bread, made with fruit and nuts and dusted in icing sugar. In the weeks before the parade, bakeries around Dresden produce hundreds of batches of individual stollen, which are then stuck together with butter and sugar to make one giant cake. The huge stollen is then carried through the city and cut into pieces for locals and visitors to enjoy.…

Tiyeni in Malawi This charity prevents hunger and poverty in Malawi by looking after soil. It trains farmers in Deep Bed Farming (digging deep into the earth so it holds onto water for longer). This makes it easier for plants to grow and produces more crops, giving farmers enough to eat as well as sell. The money they earn can be spent on growing more crops and improving the soil. Farmers are able to feed their entire family an extra meal each day. Ask an adult to help you find out more at tiyeni.org…

“Me and my sister just decorated our Christmas tree and read the new issue of The Week Junior!” Elena and Yulia “I loved the article on Peanuts so much that I drew this picture of all the characters. My dad said it was lovely to see me enjoying the same cartoons as he did when he was a child.” Bea “I love my dog so much I thought she deserves to be in my favourite magazine. These photos are of her in her favourite park, Grovelands, in Enfield, North London.” Ruby…

England were beaten 2–1 by France in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, ending their hopes of winning football’s most famous competition. Even though the team played very well for most of the game, England captain Harry Kane missed a vital penalty with six minutes to go, meaning that France went through to the semi-finals. Although England didn’t bring the trophy home, they did bring back a cat called Dave. The stray tabby was often seen around the England team’s training base in Al-Wakrah and quickly made friends with defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker. The pair, who both play for Manchester City, affectionately named him Dave and promised to bring him home at the end of the competition. Dave will now spend four months in quarantine – a period…

The UK Government has approved the UK’s first new coal mine in 30 years, sparking protests from people worried about how it could harm the environment. Why is the mine opening? The mine, in Cumbria, England, was approved by Michael Gove for the UK Government on 7 December. Gove’s job is to encourage companies to bring money and work to poorer parts of the country, and he says the mine will create about 500 jobs. The Government says the coal from the mine will be used to make steel. UK steel makers now buy nearly half their coal from Russia but the war in Ukraine means the Government wants to stop paying money to Russia. However, two big steel companies have said the coal from Cumbria isn’t suitable for making…

In the UK, every baby name must be registered. Choosing a child’s name is a big decision for parents as their child will have it for the rest of their life. In some countries – such as Denmark and Hungary – parents must select from a list of approved names, whereas others have banned certain names (in Australia, these include Batman and Spinach). In the UK a name can be rejected – for example, if it includes rude words or symbols. The UK’s most popular names are Noah and Olivia. However, choices are also getting more varied as parents get inspired by pop stars (like Willow Smith), film characters (Luca and Raya after recent Disney films) and celebrity baby names (Blue Ivy). What do you think? Should parents be allowed…

A seven-year-old girl from Doncaster, England, has been working hard to help Father Christmas deliver presents to less fortunate children. Sophia Agate had the idea to help others during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, when she worried that Father Christmas might not be able to reach all the houses in her area. With the generous help of her community, she has collected and wrapped more than 130 presents, including board games, books and craft kits. The presents have been given to schools and charities to pass on to children who have no presents.…

Have you ever looked up at the sky during a thunderstorm and wondered why forked lightning makes a zig-zag pattern? New research reveals why. Thunderstorms are caused when warm air rises up and mixes with much colder air. As the warm air cools, water vapour (gas) in the air starts to condense (thicken) into tiny droplets of water, which is what clouds are made of. These water droplets sometimes get so cold that they turn into ice crystals and start bumping into each other. All this bumping around builds up a powerful electric charge in the cloud. That electricity gradually separates into a positive charge at the top of the cloud and a negative charge at the bottom. The negative charge is attracted to the Earth’s surface, and when the…

La Rochelle As the rugby union Champions Cup competition started, France’s defending champions La Rochelle beat Northampton Saints 46-12. Cross country runners At the European Cross Country Championships, the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team finished top of the medal table. They won 10 medals in all. Rangers In the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup final, Rangers beat Hibernian 2-0 to win the trophy for the first time. Lizzie Arnot and Kirsty Howat scored. Summer Shaw, Ammi Takahashi and Luke Davies They won two gold medals each at the British Judo Championships in Sheffield.…

by Jenny Pearson. Illustrated by Katie Kear (Usborne Publishing) Oscar and his little sister Molly are spending Christmas at their grandparents’ home, where their grandmother is getting ready to stage her annual Nativity play extravaganza. On their first night there, Oscar and Molly spot a bright light in the sky. When they investigate, they find something unexpected – a dazed Archangel Gabriel wandering around the garden. Gabriel needs their help because he’s accidentally blasted some of the key players in the Nativity story 2,000 years into the future. Oscar and Molly must search the village of Chipping Bottom for Mary, Joseph, a wise man, a shepherd and a donkey, and help save Christmas. This funny, heart-warming family story will leave you feeling full of Christmas cheer. WIN! We’re giving away…

Does uncovering what happened many hundreds or even thousands of years ago appeal to you? Do you want to find out what real life was like in the past? Get involved with archaeology and that’s exactly what you can do. Archaeology (say “ark-e-ology”) means investigating man-made sites or objects from the past that have been dug out of the ground. Archaeologists are like historical detectives. They try to piece together the past by looking at objects such as bottles, bricks, buildings, coins, jewellery, pots, tools and weapons. These objects can help build a picture of what people’s lives were like. Experts work out where to find historical remains by careful study, and sometimes sites are revealed by chance when the soil is disturbed by building work. Archaeologists are then called…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Small flying mammals (4) 3 Picnic food basket (6) 8 High swing for acrobats (7) 9 Fishing-pole (3) 10 Spotty dogs (10) 13 Tower for warning ships (10) 17 Almond or cashew, for example. (3) 18 Keyboard musician (7) 19 Tried (food) (6) 20 Group of sports players (4) Down 1 Tub for an all-over wash (4) 2 Bejewelled headband (5) 4 Large primate (3) 5 Furry anorak with a hood (5) 6 Small red salad vegetable (6) 7 Motorcyclist’s headgear item (6) 11 ___ the Tank Engine, book (6) 12 Jupiter or Earth, for example. (6) 14 Entrances to gardens (5) 15 Church’s steeple (5) 16 Plant stalk (4) 18 Shepherd’s ___, meat and potato…

Name: Evie and Florence “During the October half-term we went to Amsterdam, the home city of Anne Frank (who wrote the famous diary). We visited the Rijksmuseum, and saw the ants made of sticks and papier-mâché from TWJ. At the Moco museum, there were rooms full of mirrors and hanging diamond lights, making a colourful illusion. We also visited Tony’s Chocolonely shop and café, where they sell any chocolate-based thing you could think of. We got around Amsterdam using a range of transport including a boat, tram, train, taxi and many more. It was an amazing trip!” What have you been up to lately? Which books have you enjoyed reading? What have you made? Have you written a poem or drawn a picture that you’d like to see published on…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Malik School: St Aubyn’s School, Woodford, Essex “I would like to nominate Mrs Malik for Teacher of the Week because she is always kind and encourages me to push myself and that I am capable of doing more. She always makes lessons extra fun by adding games, videos and creative activities. Mrs Malik is always there with a smile when we need help and support. Me and my Year 5 class are so lucky to have her as our teacher!” Aina 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…