Table of contents for 402 in The Week Junior

The England women’s football team have been praised for their spirit and determination after losing to Spain in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final. It was the Lionesses’ best ever finish at a World Cup and they returned home from Australia on 22 August. What happened? On 20 August, Spain beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Olga Carmona scored the winning goal in the 29th minute. England tried their best to score an equaliser but just couldn’t get past the Spanish defence. After the game, England manager Sarina Wiegman told ITV that she had no regrets. “I think we gave our everything, we did everything we could,” she said. England’s Mary Earps was awarded the Golden Glove, given to the tournament’s best goalkeeper.…

It all started with a small scallop shell with a hole pierced through the middle. This 30,000-year-old object sparked something in author and scientist Alice Roberts’s imagination. Who owned the shell? Why did they add colour to it? Was it a necklace? In her work as a biological anthropologist (studying humans in the past), Roberts uses ancient human remains to learn about history. The shell, which was found in a cave in Spain, inspired her to write her first novel for children, Wolf Road. The novel is set in the Upper Paleolithic period of prehistory, when humans started making paintings, sculptures and tools. Prehistory refers to a time before there were any written records of events. Roberts’s scientific research brought her book to life – in the story, a scallop…

From Black Beauty to The Chronicles of Narnia, films and books have often shown the friendships that can develop between humans and horses. Lots of real-life stories confirm that horses seem to have a special understanding of humans. However, until a recent study, nobody knew if horses really recognised different human emotions. A team of researchers set out to see what horses can understand. They used a test that is often used to see how much babies understand about the world around them. The team brought 28 horses into a room, one by one. Each was shown a picture of a happy human and a picture of a sad human. At the same time, a recording of a happy or sad voice was played. The test showed that horses can…

Archaeologists have been uncovering new treasures buried under the ash in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Archaeologists dig up and study ancient objects to help us understand history. In recent weeks, they have unearthed all sorts of things at the site, including a wall painting of a delicious meal. Where is Pompeii? Pompeii lies south-east of a city called Naples in Italy. The site is at the foot of a volcano called Mount Vesuvius, which made the soil fantastic for growing crops. The people who lived there 2,000 years ago were used to occasional earthquakes but thought they were safe – after all, the volcano had not actually erupted for 1,800 years. Then, one early morning in October AD79, a strange cloud towered over Mount Vesuvius. There was an…

A new gripping tool, made from ribbons of paper, can pick up both very heavy and very light and fragile objects. The gripper, which is shaped like a ball, is on a robotic arm. It has picked up dandelion heads and water droplets, as well as weights 16,000 times heavier than itself. Usually, grippers that can pick up heavy objects have difficulty grasping delicate items. The tool was developed by researchers at North Carolina State University in the US, and the team think that it could one day be used to pick fruit.…

Katarina Johnson-Thompson The British athlete won gold in the heptathlon at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Heptathlon involves seven athletics events. York Valkyrie In rugby league, York Valkyrie became the first team to win the Women’s Super League Leaders’ Shield for two years in a row. Mia McAulay The 17-year-old footballer scored her first goal for Rangers during a 5-1 win against Aberdeen in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. Calvin Harrison In the men’s Hundred cricket competition, bowler Harrison took five wickets for just 11 runs scored. He plays for Manchester Originals.…

What’s your go-to trick at Halloween? You can’t beat a classic jump scare – creeping up on someone, or hiding and then pouncing on them as they walk into a room. What are you most scared of? Clowns, people on stilts, mouldy fruit. Will you be dressing up for Halloween this year? I have a collection of Halloween themed T-shirts, that I will be wearing for most of October. I find proper costumes are never warm enough for the weather, and I like to be cosy. What would be your no.1 tip for writing a properly scary story? Build suspense – scares are always better when you creep towards them rather than dashing in. Favourite expression in English or another language? Stink-eye. Dirty looks are always brilliant in stories, so…

Puzzlers might be the perfect mobile games. They look good on smaller smartphone screens and they’re great for playing for short periods when you have a few moments to spare. A Monster’s Expedition is one of the best puzzle games but until recently you needed to pay the Apple Arcade service every month to play its mobile version on iPhones. Now it’s available to everyone. You play the monster, wandering around a world made up of islands, rolling and flipping tree trunks to solve its puzzles. That may sound simple but the more you explore, the harder the puzzles become, truly testing your wits. The game is also out for PCs, PlayStation consoles and Nintendo’s Switch, but not Android phones. However, a new puzzle game that is available on Android…

Inverclyde in Scotland, or “Twinverclyde” as it is sometimes called, is a good place to be a twin. Scottish schools are already back and Inverclyde’s primary schools welcomed 17 sets of twins. That’s not even a record for the region – in 2015, 19 sets of twins started school. At the start of term, the twins gathered at St Patrick’s Primary school in Greenock to have their photo taken. St Patrick’s and Ardgowan primary schools have welcomed the highest number of twins, each with three sets.…

For fans who are new to women’s football, there’s lots more footy action to come. The Lionesses’ next match is against Scotland on 22 September. This will be played at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England, and will be the team’s first game in the first ever Women’s Nations League. The Nations League is a tournament that is less famous than the World Cup. England have been placed in a group with the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as Scotland, and will play each team twice to try to qualify for the finals, which will take place in February next year.…

DISCOVERING NEW SPECIES Two new species of moles have been discovered in Turkey. Both of them can survive in extreme conditions – temperatures of up to 50°C in summer and up to two metres of snow during winter. There are now 18 species of Eurasian mole worldwide. SMASHING A-LEVEL RESULTS In 2021,16-year-old twins Diana and Sofiia Shypovych moved to the UK from Ukraine to study – just a few months before their country was invaded by Russia. They have just received their A level results, and between them they achieved five A*s and one A. They have also raised money to help others affected by the war. ONE COIN TO RULE THEM ALL The Royal Mint has launched a special £2 coin to mark 50 years since the death of…

A pay rise of 12.4% has been accepted by junior doctors in Scotland. Junior doctors treat patients but are still training and are supervised by a senior doctor. In July, planned strike action (when people stop working to protest about working conditions or pay) was called off so junior doctors could vote on the offer from the Scottish government. For the next three years, regular talks will take place with the government to talk about future pay rises.…

Around 10 years ago, Catia Lattouf took in a hummingbird with an injured eye. After she nursed it back to health, the two of them became good friends. “It wrote me a new life,” she said. Soon, Lattouf’s home in Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, became a clinic for injured and baby hummingbirds. They stay in her bedroom until they’re strong enough to feed themselves or fly, then she releases them back into the wild. Although hummingbirds face lots of threats in Mexico City, including the loss of gardens where they can feed on flower nectar, Lattouf has now helped hundreds of them recover.…

The plastic bags and bottles we use in everyday life can be recycled to make soap and detergent, scientists have discovered. Plastic usually takes hundreds of years to break down, so this could be a big step forward in the fight against pollution. Researchers at Virginia Tech, a university in the US, first looked at polyethylene, a plastic used to make bottles and shopping bags. Polyethylene is made up of long chains of the chemical carbon. These chains have a structure a bit like fat molecules. Fat is in living things and can be used to make all sorts of useful items – including soap. The researchers wanted to change the carbon chains to make them more like fat. To do this, they heated the polyethylene to break the carbon…

Coastal cattle Arabella, nine, took this picture on the island of Lombok, Indonesia. Flower power Mia, 14, was fascinated by the patterns and colours of this gorgeous tulip. Evening glow This vibrant sunset was taken in Lacanau, France, by Mia, 11. View from the top Aadhav, nine, got a dizzying view from St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, England. Family outing Dillon, 10, found this family of ducks enjoying Leeds Castle, in England. Colour crazy Nika, 10, brilliantly captured the green shell of this shiny beetle. YOUR PHOTOS Email photos you have taken to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If your photo is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Photos could be of buildings, pets, nature or anything you find interesting.…

Have you wondered how your body knows when to wake up or why you need the loo less at night? Circadian rhythms use the Sun to help your body to run on time. What are circadian rhythms? “Circadian rhythms” is another name for body clocks. They are controlled by a small part of the brain called the hypothalamus and they let the body know when to do things like eat, sleep and wee. Circadian rhythms repeat every 24 hours and almost every living thing has them. They tell animals the best time to hunt, for example, and plants when to flower. Circadian rhythms are influenced by light. When the Sun shines through the window in the morning your body clock tells you it’s time to wake up. When it’s dark…

Arkspire by Jamie Littler (Puffin Books) Arkspire is a city protected by a group of magicians. Within the bustle of its cobbled streets lives Juniper Bell, a young thief who would do anything for her family. When a stolen relic suddenly explodes, Juniper gains a mysterious new companion called Cinder – and the pair are plunged into a world of magic, power and deadly peril. Meesh the Bad Demon by Michelle Lam (Faber Children’s) In this graphic novel, 12-year-old demon Meesh is an outsider who dreams of fairies and princesses. Then disaster strikes and demon-kind is threatened, so Meesh draws on her powers and a band of fellow outcasts to save the underworld. 21% Monster: Serpent Strike by P.J. Canning (Usborne) The third book in this series returns with hero…

Name: Martha Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam “Relatable, emboldening and inspiring. This book can really help shy kids to come out of their shell.” YOUR TURN Email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it’s printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Describe the book in three words, what you liked about it and why you’d recommend it to others. 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 futureplc.com/privacy-policy…

Do you love appreciating the natural world around you? Perhaps you notice colourful flowers on your walk to school or you have a favourite tree in your street. A nature diary is, quite simply, a way of recording the nature you come across. It’s a great way to boost your observation skills and practise drawing and writing. You might also find it helps you to slow down and be more present in the moment. Use your senses – sight, smell, touch (but check with an adult before you touch any plants) and hearing – to observe what’s around you, and then put your observations on paper. What you need • A plain paper notebook (A4 is best)• Drawing materials: pencils, crayons, paint TOP TIP Sit in one spot and notice…

Whatever the score in the World Cup final (congratulations to Spain!) the Lionesses are absolute winners. Their performances on the pitch have been brilliant but that is only a small part of their achievements – they have inspired so many people. Evalyn, in our report on page 2, is just one of the readers who have written to us saying how much they love the Lionesses. The example the squad has set, and their love of the game, has influenced a new generation in ways that will be felt for years. We’re also cheering Katarina Johnson-Thompson for winning gold at the World Athletics Championships (page 18), having overcome injury and disappointment. The story of the young people in Montana, US, who took their state authority to court over its support…

Ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris, France, in 2024, there is a wonderful opportunity for young people aged between five and 11 years old: to become Team GB official Mini Mascots. To apply, your parents or guardians will need to enter online on your behalf. Out of all of the entries, 40 applicants will be chosen at random, then you will be invited to send in reasons why you deserve a place. A panel of Team GB judges, including Olympic athletes, will choose the five lucky young people. If you are interested, ask a grown-up to apply before the deadline on 13 September at tinyurl.com/TWJ-Mascot 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…

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 new films should star new characters… “I don’t think film studios should only make films with new or old characters, I think they should do a mixture of both.” “I love Harry Potter films and they’re based on the books.” “Put old characters on new adventures.” “Copying old characters is too predictable.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Denmark and the Netherlands say they will supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets to support them in the war against Russia. The Ukrainian government previously asked other countries to send them the planes to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. However, F-16 jets are an American aircraft, meaning countries needed approval from the US before giving them to Ukraine. On 18 August, the US said other countries could send the jets to Ukraine, but only after Ukrainian pilots have been properly trained to fly them. Shortly afterwards, Denmark and the Netherlands promised to send a total of 61 jets. Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen said, “Please take this donation as a token of Denmark’s unwavering support for your country’s fight for freedom.” Both countries are already preparing to train Ukrainian…

A member of staff at the British Museum has been fired and many items from the museum’s collection are reported to be missing, stolen or damaged. What is the British Museum? The British Museum, which is in London, England, is home to more than eight million objects from around the world. They span two million years of human history. Around 80,000 of these are on display in galleries for visitors to look at. What happened? Pieces from the museum’s collection are missing, including gold jewellery and precious gems. The items range from 150 years old to 3,500 years old. Some reports say that as many as 2,000 artefacts could have been taken. The items hadn’t been on display for a long time and were mostly kept in storage. It’s believed…

If you had a million pounds, how would you spend it? Perhaps you’d buy a lovely house for your family or splash out on a dream holiday. If you had money left over, you could buy part of a business and if that business did well, you’d make even more money – you could even become a multi-millionaire. That’s because having spare money often means people can make even more. In the UK, 1% of adults own £4 million or more. This July, a group of British millionaires told the Government that they, and other millionaires, should pay more tax in order to make the gap between the very rich and the very poor smaller. Other people think that the wealthy should be free to decide how to spend their…

Most commonly found in grassland and woodland in southern England and Wales, the great green bush-cricket’s song can be heard from spring through to autumn. They are fairly easy to spot – the males grow up to four centimetres long and the females can reach seven centimetres. The insects are bright green, with an orange-brown stripe down their backs. Listen out for the “song” that male bush-crickets make to impress females. They rub their wings together to produce a whirring sound. The crickets usually feed on flies and caterpillars, and they play an important role in controlling insect populations. If you do spot a great green bush cricket, it’s best not to touch – they can give quite a painful bite.…

The Himalayas, a mountain range that stretches across part of Asia, is home to the tallest mountains in the world. This includes the 8,849-metre-high Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. For a long time, scientists thought they knew how the Himalayas formed and why the peaks are so tall. Now a new study has revealed that their extreme height is actually a bit of a mystery. The Earth’s outer layer is made of vast pieces of solid rock called tectonic plates. These float and move around on top of another layer of partly melted rock. When the edges of these plates bump into each other, slowly but with great force, they start to crumple and fold, pushing rocks upwards to form mountain ranges. As the plates keep pushing, the…

BMX, mountain biking and road racing are popular types of cycling but have you heard of cycle-ball and artistic cycling? The unusual events were part of the Cycling World Championships in Scotland this month, and for many people it was the first time they had seen these indoor sports. Cycle-ball is a mix of cycling and football. Two teams of two people play against each other on a court. Riders use a special bike that can spin and move easily. The wheels are used to control the ball, with a flick of the handlebar to tackle, pass or shoot at the opponent’s goal. Players can head the ball but only the goalkeeper can use their hands. Touching the ball or the ground with your feet is not allowed. Games last…

The streets of Hull, England, will be alive with noise and colour from the end of this month, when the city’s annual Freedom Festival returns. The arts festival begins on 30 August and runs until 3 September. Crowds of people will attend energetic performances, including dance, circus acts and comedy. The Freedom Festival began in 2007 as a way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the 1807 Slave Trade Act, which banned the slave trade (when African people were bought, sold and forced to work in terrible conditions) in the British Empire. The politician William Wilberforce, who was born in Hull, campaigned hard for the law to be introduced. Many of the artistic performances at the festival explore themes like human rights and freedom. Most of the festival will be…

“Do you enjoy a heart-lurching jump scare? What about spiders-crawling-down-your-back suspense? Or scenes so spooky that you shudder? If you are answering these questions with an excited ‘YES!’, then this is the book for you,” writes author Jennifer Killick in the introduction to this new collection of horror stories for young readers. Featuring everything from curses and zombies to ghosts and skulls, these terrifying tales are full of surprises. There are stories from a variety of authors including Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, Elle McNicoll, Jasbinder Bilan, Polly Ho-Yen and Dan Smith, as well as Jennifer Killick herself. Perfect for reading around the fire on a dark and stormy night, or frightening your friends at your next sleepover, this anthology makes addictive reading for anyone who loves a good fright. WIN!…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Face disguise (4) 3 Member of the Navy (6) 8 Frame for climbing plants (7) 9 Creative activity (3) 10 Large fly (10) 13 Floating bath toy (6,4) 17 Personal vehicle (3) 18 Paper hankies (7) 19 Country next to Norway (6) 20 Garden building (4) Down 1 Butterfly-like insect (4) 2 Snail’s home (5) 4 Commercials (3) 5 Sprang, jumped (5) 6 Decayed and nasty (6) 7 Arm of a jacket (6) 11 Most senior in years (6) 12 Spring flower (6) 14 River or canal boat (5) 15 Sofa, settee (5) 16 Second-hand (4) 18 Golf-ball stand (3) Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each…

“My name is Maryam and I am a Muslim. I am going to give you a short introduction on one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar. From 18 July, many Muslims around the world commemorate Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Muharram is a very sad month where we mourn Imam Husayn and reflect on our lives. Imam Husayn is a 7th century revolutionary leader who made the ultimate stand for moral justice. He gave everything he had for the dignity of his society in the face of corruption – forever changing the course of history. He was mercilessly killed in a desert called Karbala. Today, his selfless stand gives hope and inspires change to people of all backgrounds. What I have learnt from Imam…

Teacher’s name: Miss Jones School: Holy Trinity Junior School, Wallington, Surrey “Miss Jones is a kind, supportive teacher who has faith in each one of her pupils. She encourages us to dive deep into our learning topics, and she helps us one-to-one when we really need it. Miss Jones is always smiling and she makes us smile, too, especially when she tells us stories about her dog Mico, who is TikTok-famous!” Daisy 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…

1 True or false? There are more people than cows living in Montana, US. □ True □ False 2 In which city is the British Museum located? □ a) Manchester □ b) London □ c) Cardiff 3 The Cobstone Windmill featured in which 1960s film? ____________________ 4 What type of exercise is spreading positivity in Yemen? □ a) Badminton □ b) Swedish gymnastics □ c) Yoga 5 True or false? The world’s oldest instrument is a guitar. □ True □ False 6 Which type of land-living mammal has the biggest eyes? ____________________ 7 What is the name of the volcano near Pompeii that erupted in AD79? □ a) Mount Vesuvius □ b) Mount Etna □ c) Mount Fuji 8 True or false? Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the…