Table of contents for 423 in The Week Junior

South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to decide if Israel is committing genocide in a war in Gaza. Genocide is a deliberate attempt to destroy part or all of a particular group of people. The ICJ is the most important court run by the United Nations (UN), a group of 193 countries that work together on the challenges facing humanity. What is the case about? On 11 January, lawyers representing South Africa told the ICJ that Israel’s government is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. A long-running conflict between Israel and Palestine got much worse on 7 October last year when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 240 people as hostages (prisoners). Hamas is a military and political group that the…

The winning photographs from the 2023 Portrait of Britain competition are being displayed on digital advertising screens around the UK for the rest of January. Portrait of Britain is an annual photography competition that started in 2016. It is organised by the publication British Journal of Photography to celebrate British people. The most recent competition opened in summer last year, and photographers were asked to send in pictures that celebrate the many faces of modern Britain and capture the country’s unique traditions. Out of the entries, 200 of the shortlisted photographs have been printed in a book called Portrait of Britain Volume 6. The final 100 winners are being displayed around the UK on screens at train stations, shopping centres, airports and bus shelters. The winning portraits show people of…

• Ofsted, Estyn, Education Scotland and the Education and Training Inspectorate inspect schools and services that provide childcare and education in the UK.• Schools are inspected to see how well they are performing. In some countries of the UK schools are given grades as well as a written report.• Some school leaders and teachers have asked for changes to inspections, saying they put too much pressure on staff.• At the start of 2024, Ofsted (which inspects schools in England) stopped inspections for January while its inspectors are given extra training.…

This fungus is easier to spot in winter when other plants have died back. It grows on the dead or rotting wood of deciduous trees (ones that shed their leaves) all over the UK – especially on beech and ash trees. King Alfred’s cakes look a bit like lumps of coal. Their name comes from a legend about an ancient English king who was hiding from the Vikings. King Alfred stayed at the home of a woman and was asked to keep an eye on her baking cakes but he accidentally let them burn until they became crispy black lumps. The round caps start off a pinky brown and become black and shiny as they age. They catch fire easily and it’s thought they’ve been used for thousands of years…

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) took place in Las Vegas, US, between 9 and 12 January. The event shows off some of the coolest new inventions that might one day be available to the public. One was a robot companion to help people around the house. The device uses artificial intelligence (AI), which is when a computer can learn from experience and do things that usually require human intelligence. The robot is designed to be the ultimate assistant, controlling household appliances, keeping an eye on pets and even patrolling like a mini security guard. AI technology featured in many more products at CES 2024, including a smart fridge made by Samsung. This can recognise up to 33 food items and suggests recipes that will use up what you have. In…

Many of the world’s top young squash players recently competed at the British Junior Open, which took place at the University of Birmingham, England. There were events for girls and boys in age categories from under-11 to under-19. Players from Egypt won all 10 titles. Squash is an exciting and fast indoor sport that requires a lot of skill. Usually played in singles, matches take place in a walled court and you hit a small rubber ball against the front wall until your opponent can’t hit it back. The ball can only bounce once on the floor before being hit back. There are other rules to do with where you must hit the ball on the wall and when it can hit the side and back wall. All eight players…

The animated film A Bug’s Life has been wowing audiences ever since it was released in 1998. It tells the story of a plucky ant – and a team of helpful bugs – who must summon up the courage to fight an army of greedy grasshoppers. Although the story in the film is made up, a new wildlife series is aiming to show that the lives of tiny creatures in the real world are just as weird and wonderful. The series, called A Real Bug’s Life, was inspired by the Pixar film. It takes viewers around the world to watch the forces of nature play out on a miniature scale. Nine different micro-worlds are shown in the series, and the bugs living in them have to use teamwork and special…

Young Masterchef 8pm, Mondays on BBC Three and iPlayer Nine of Britain’s best young cooks are putting their kitchen skills to the test. For each challenge, the contestants will be judged by chefs, social media star Poppy O’Toole and food YouTuber Big Has. Craig of the Creek Available now on Cartoon Network This series follows Craig and his friends as they explore a world where children are in charge. In these new episodes, they are searching for the mysterious villain who is messing with their search for the Heart of the Forest.…

Best childhood memory? Most of my memories are of doing something naughty, my sister snitching and getting into trouble. A happy memory is from Christmas Day when I was nine, and I received a doll I had wanted for ages. She was called Cherry. Would you prefer to be too hot or too cold? I would always prefer to be too cold. I HATE being too hot. What are you scared of? Lots of things. Clowns have a special place in my deepest, darkest fears. Five things you couldn’t live without? I couldn’t live without my family, my dogs, somewhere cosy to sleep, tea and the One Piece graphic novel series. Favourite bit in the book? There’s a chase scene that is straight out of my nightmares, so it’s my…

Fortnite has hosted some spectacular music concerts by pop stars including Ariana Grande and Marshmello, and now its latest mode is all about music. Fortnite Festival went live in December and involves choosing popular songs to play along to by tapping buttons in time to the music. It’s based on tech originally made for console music game series Guitar Hero and Rock Band, with some songs playable for free, and others that can be bought from Fortnite’s in-game shop. If you love music but aren’t a Fortnite fan, how about parping a virtual trombone? Trombone Champ is one of the silliest music games of recent times, but also one of the most fun. Available for Nintendo’s Switch, as well as PC and Mac computers, you have to raise and lower…

When Rodney Holbrook noticed that objects left out in his shed were often tidied away overnight, he decided to set up a camera to find out more about his mystery helper. To his surprise, the secret cleaner was an ordinary, small mouse. Footage from the camera showed the furry little creature gathering corks, clothes pegs, and nuts and bolts, and tidying them away into a tray. Holbrook, who calls his little friend Welsh Tidy Mouse, said, “I don’t bother to tidy up now, as I know he will see to it.”…

Do you like birds? I don’t know much about the ones in the wild but I think I can name most species that visit gardens. The RSPB’s Great Garden Birdwatch over the weekend of 26–28 January is the perfect chance to test myself (page 10). I’m also fascinated by the idea of seeing the world from a bug’s point of view (page 20). This week I’ve got a horrible cold but listening to some music and really concentrating on it (page 19) sounds like a great way to relax. There is more music on page 24, with some brilliant apps. The idea of parping a virtual trombone makes me giggle before I’ve even tried it! The photo taken by reader Aron of his cat (page 17) also makes me laugh…

The Week Junior Science+Nature and Fun Kids Radio have teamed up to launch a leap year project called Time Machine. What would you like to tell the children of tomorrow, and what do you hope the future world will be like? Your messages will be put into a high-tech time capsule that will go on display at We The Curious museum in Bristol, England. Send us a drawing of your dream future world by email to hello@science-nature.co.uk (subject TIME MACHINE) or record an audio clip at funkidslive.com/timemachine. All entries must be in by leap day on 29 February.…

Teacher’s name: Miss Spooner School: Southville Primary School, Bristol, England “Miss Spooner is a teacher in training and she is doing very well. She always greets us in the morning and never gets angry at us. She is always happy and smiling. She makes fun games to help us learn. When we come into the classroom in the morning she puts relaxing music on to calm us down. Keep it up!” Margot 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 How many languages did teenager Suchetha Satish sing in at a concert? ☐ a) 240 ☐ b) 140 ☐ c) 40 2 True or false? DLR trains in London now have window stickers that let passengers pretend they are driving. ☐ True ☐ False 3 What is the name of the NASA mission that aims to send astronauts around the Moon and back in 2025? _____________________ 4 What is the name of the organisation whose job it is to inspect schools in England? ☐ a) Estyn ☐ b) Ofsted ☐ c) The Education Inspectorate 5 True or false? Television presenter Simon Reeve takes tea bags and Marmite with him on trips. ☐ True ☐ False 6 What are Siamang gibbons also known as? ____________________ 7 Which charity organises the…

FINDING 16TH CENTURY ART Paintings hidden for almost 300 years have been found by builders at the University of Cambridge, England. The three crowns, found in a roof space at Christ’s College, were painted to celebrate the college’s royal connections and are in good condition. A SINGING RECORD Eighteen-year-old Suchetha Satish from India achieved a Guinness World Record for singing the most languages in a concert. She spent nine hours singing in 140 languages last year. It was for COP28, an event where 140 world leaders gathered to discuss climate change. Satish began singing when she was three. PRIZE GOLDFISH All the local councils in Wales have agreed to ban pets being given away as prizes at events held on public land. Goldfish are sometimes given away at funfairs in…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls. Vote YES if you think schools should be inspected, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties. The page is created in association with the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity helping young people discover their voice and realise their full potential. For more information, please see esu.org…

The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. This year it takes place from 26 to 28 January. A charity called the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) organises the survey as a way to gather accurate information on the welfare of the UK’s garden birds. Anyone can take part in the survey. Ask an adult to help you download a free bird guide from the RSPB website. Then choose a place where you will count birds for one hour, at any time from 26 to 28 January. It can be a balcony, a garden or a park bench. During that hour, you simply record every bird that lands in your patch and send in the results. Last year, more than half a million people…

A Finland-based company has created a paste made from crushed-up animal bones that can be added to meat. SuperGround grinds up fish or chicken bones, briefly heats them to a high temperature, then grinds again so that they become a paste. When added to meat products, the paste provides extra nutrients (chemical substances that help the body), such as calcium. It can be mixed with meat products, bulking them out so they can feed more people, which SuperGround says is better for the environment. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

Agnes Ngetich The Kenyan runner won the Valencia Ibercaja 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) road race in a world record time of 28 minutes and 46 seconds. Kevin De Bruyne The Belgian footballer scored and set up the winning goal as Manchester City beat Newcastle United 3-2 in the Premier League. Great Britain track cycling team With six golds and 14 medals in total, Great Britain finished top of the medal table at the European Track Cycling Championships. Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson The British pair came second in the ice dance at the European Figure Skating Championships in Lithuania.…

A Bug’s Life, Pixar’s second full-length film after Toy Story, was an instant classic and has been enjoyed by families for years. It follows the adventures of Flik, voiced by David Foley, a courageous ant who belongs to a colony being bullied by grasshoppers who steal their food. One day, Flik decides to leave the colony to hunt for a team of bigger bugs to help the ants fight their tormentors. His quest leads him to find wonderful and unexpected new friends. A Bug’s Life is available to stream on Disney+ or can be rented on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.…

The Detention Detectives: Murder By Mistake by Lis Jardine (Puffin Books) It’s been five months since Jonno, Lydia and Daniel teamed up to solve a mystery and there’s been another murder at Hanbridge High. Lydia leads the investigation. The second book in this detective series is ideal for fans of Robin Stevens. The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow. Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Otter-Barry Books) Nate is starting his last year of primary school. There are changes ahead and even his reliable best friend seems different. Things get worse when his brother is rushed to hospital. Can some friends, a teacher and his love of books help Nate cope? This illustrated story is told in verse. First Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton (Hachette Children’s) Darrell is about to start…

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…

Hello, my name’s Olaf Falafel. I’m a dad, a standup comedian and the author and illustrator of the Trixie Pickle Art Avenger books. Every month I show you how to create art based on the works of a famous artist. Plus, I tell you a really bad joke, like this: Where do you find giant snails? At the end of giants’ fingers! William Heath Robinson was an illustrator and artist who lived and worked in Victorian England. He was famous for being eccentric, meaning he was considered a bit strange by many people. Heath Robinson specialised in drawing silly machines that didn’t really work, and they became known as “Heath Robinson contraptions”. These crazy inventions had lots of twists and turns and were usually over-complicated solutions to very minor problems.…

The world’s highest canal bridge has been installed in Amsterdam, a city in the Netherlands that is full of canals. The bridge is a miniature version of a typical Amsterdam bridge, with a wonky street lamp and railings. It sits 10 metres above the ground on top of a glass walkway that links two canal-side offices. Dutch artist Frankey spent three years building it and has made more than 500 other artworks around Amsterdam. The bridge is not open to the public but Frankey says it “stands as a connection between humour and wonder”, brightening up people’s days.…

Tools for Solidarity This charity collects tools and sewing machines from across Northern Ireland. Volunteers fix them up in the charity’s Belfast workshop and send them to projects in Africa. They run training centres in Tanzania supplying sewing machines to local tailors, and hand tools are sold very cheaply to workers who couldn’t usually afford good quality equipment. Tools that could end up in landfill find a new use with some of the poorest people in the world. toolsforsolidarity.com…

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 if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide to arrange delivery of badges, and we will not share them with anyone else. By submitting your reports and pictures, you give consent to The Week Junior to print them in magazine and digital editions, and mention on our podcast. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, accuracy and suitability. Ensure you have your parent/guardian’s permission before sending anything to us.…

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 our readers whether private jets should be allowed… “No, it might be more luxurious but it’s more polluting and dangerous to the environment.” “Yes, as world leaders or famous people might need to get somewhere quickly without any delays.” “No, it’s not fair for the people who can’t afford it.” “Yes, people should do what they want with their money.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Education is vital, so it’s important that all schools are as good as they can be. In the UK, all schools are inspected to check that they are safe and provide a good education. Organisations such as Ofsted send an independent inspector to observe what is going on. You might have seen an inspector sitting in your class or talking to pupils and teachers. They gather information over a couple of days, looking at the quality of teaching and the environment inside and outside the classroom. This means making sure that all children feel supported in their learning and are safe from bullying. However, some people argue that inspections put too much pressure on teachers and are not the best way to make sure a school is good. What do…

As his new show hits TV, adventurer Simon Reeve reveals he has been wanting to make this series about the world’s wildernesses (the harshest, most remote environments in the world) for more than 12 years. He explains, “We all need the wild in our lives. We have to know about the planet to be able to respect and love it.” What Reeve loves most about exploring is meeting people and having new experiences. In the first episode of Wilderness, he journeys through the Congolese rainforest in central Africa to find the Baka, a group of people who live deep in the jungle. Then, Reeve meets a conservationist who helps him find a group of bonobo apes, one of humans’ closest living animal relatives. For readers of The Week Junior who…

Mother fairywrens sing to their babies when they are still in their eggs, and researchers have discovered that the babies hatch knowing these tunes already. Scientists first studied the superb fairywren, one of the best-known bird species in Australia. They recorded the mothers singing melodies to their eggs, and later, the chicks sang the same tune to beg for food. In a recent study, researchers found that this behaviour is also true for seven other species of fairywren.…

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 noticed how upbeat, happy songs can give you energy, while calm, soothing tunes can help you unwind? Music really shapes people’s moods, and getting lost in it can help you enjoy the magic of music even more. What is “getting lost in music”? This means concentrating on the music so hard you shut out your other thoughts for a short time. People often play tunes while they are doing something else, like reading a book or talking to friends. However, experts say if you try out different styles of music and listen closely to things like rhythm (the pattern of sounds), you boost its benefits and let it change how you are feeling in that moment. How is it good for you? Music is a language everyone understands…

(Farshore) It’s Colette’s birthday, and she, Angelo and the rest of their friends are delighted to be spending the evening at the Neon Perch – an entertainment spot where all the cool kids hang out. They’ll eat pizza, ride on the go-karts, play mini golf, sing karaoke and take part in a thrilling new zombie escape room experience called Project Z. However, the birthday celebrations take a strange and sinister turn when the gang get inside the escape room. Somehow, Project Z seems to know each player’s greatest fears – and soon, they find themselves face-to-face with creatures from their darkest nightmares. The latest book from Jennifer Killick’s super-spooky Dread Wood series has a science-fiction twist. The perfect blend of funny and scary, it’s just right for readers who like…

The author SF Said moved from Beirut, Lebanon, to London when he was two years old. He was “an urban kid” he told The Week Junior, living in a flat with his family. Said spent most of his spare time reading and writing. When he was eight, Said’s mother gave him a copy of Watership Down by Richard Adams. The book’s length (500 pages) and its subject matter (a group of rabbits) meant that at first he felt a bit put off. From the first page, though, he discovered “the best book ever, an amazing epic story about rabbits.” One day, thought Said, “I’d like to try to write something even half as good.” If you want to write books, Said recommends having a go at making something you love.…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 4 letters Orzo Ziti 5 letters Pasta Pesto 6 letters Cheese Garlic 7 letters Gnocchi Ravioli 8 letters Linguine Rigatoni 9 letters Bolognese Spaghetti 10 letters Cannelloni Fettuccine Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. APE AYE-AYE BABOON BONOBO BUSHBABY CAPUCHIN CHIMPANZEE DRILL GELADA GIBBON GORILLA INDRI LEMUR LORIS MACAQUE MARMOSET MONKEY ORANGUTAN SAKI TAMARIN 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 These two pictures appear to…

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 this page? Whatever you have to show or tell us, get in touch at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk The Magpie Swoops and glides, Flying in the blue skies, Whispering, shouting, Squawking without doubting, The magpie dips then swirls, Snaps, cries and curls, As he circles the deep blue lake, The mischievous magpie Never made a mistake.”…