Table of contents for 457 in The Week Junior

On 7 September, thousands of people across France protested about the choice of their new prime minister. This followed the general election on 7 July when no single party won enough seats to form a government on its own. The results mean that the National Assembly (France’s parliament) is made up of many parties with very different views. What happened? On 5 September, French president Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier as the country’s prime minister, almost two months after the election. This involved weeks of talks between Macron and candidates from different parties. Barnier is not a member of one of the parties that did well in the election. Usually, the prime minister is chosen from one of the parties that wins the most seats, so many people think that…

Ellie Goldstein, 22, has modelled for big fashion brands, appeared on the covers of magazines and been an ambassador for (helped to promote) a new Barbie doll. Now, she is publishing her first children’s book, Ellie. When Goldstein was born, her parents were told she had Down syndrome (a condition that can cause some learning difficulties and health problems) and that she wouldn’t be able to walk or talk. However, her mum Yvonne said that from the minute they took her home from the hospital, Ellie’s “cheeky and determined personality began to shine through”. She learned to walk and talk and has been proving people wrong ever since. In an interview with The Week Junior, Goldstein said she is still “cheeky” and her motto is to enjoy life, have fun…

Some dogs have so many toys that it can be quite difficult for their owners to keep track of them, especially the well-loved ones that get used – and chewed – the most. So it might surprise you to know that, according to new research, some of our four-legged friends have the ability to remember the names of their toys, even those they haven’t seen for a long time. The new study involved five dogs that had taken part in research two years before. The pets had been selected for the previous research based on their ability to recognise the names of their toys. The dogs – all border collies – were taught the names of 12 toys, then, after one month, researchers tested them to see if they could…

Fun flower A close-up of an orchid by Beatrix. Celebrations New Year fireworks in Taipei, Taiwan, by Arthur, 12. Tunnel vision An interesting view in Ramsgate, England, by Max, 11. Stunning sky Anneliese, 7, captured the Sun’s rays bursting through clouds in London. Llama drama Antonia, 9, snapped this picture whilst taking Truffle the llama for a walk. Munch time Scarlet, 13, was inspired by this hungry snail chomping through a leaf. After the rain Riya, 12, shot these tiny droplets of water on grass. 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.…

Plants aren’t just nice to look at, they can also help your health and wellbeing, especially indoors. Find your perfect plant Plants inside your home means you get lots of the benefits from being outside in nature. There are many different types of houseplants – tiny succulents and cacti, hanging plants with trailing foliage and plants that can grow more than a metre tall or wide. Your curiosity and knowledge of nature will develop as you research and learn about different plants and the conditions they need to thrive. The benefits of houseplants Plants need water, light and attention, and caring for them teaches you how to be responsible. Rowan Hammond, who runs a plant and flower shop called Green and Grounded, says looking after a plant improves your attention…

What was the inspiration behind this book? During lockdown, sorting stuff out, I found a mysterious map of a fantasy land drawn by my dad. So, I turned it into a story based on Transylvania, where his family came from. What are you most afraid of? A vampir draining my blood while I’m asleep. Would you become immortal if you were given the chance? No, because the price you would have to pay to live for ever would be too high. Describe your characters Tibor and Roza in one word each. Tibor: impulsive. Roza: smart. What is your favourite part of the book? (no spoilers!) Let’s just say that the main villain, the White Prince, has a very inventive and particularly horrible way of punishing his enemies.…

The word “mindfulness” describes ways people can take a pause from whatever they’re doing to have a calm moment, take some deep breaths and be aware of themselves and how they are feeling. Although this can mean turning off screens, there are some apps, websites and podcasts to help you start practising mindfulness and feel calm and relaxed. Smiling Mind is an app developed in Australia for young people. It has a collection of “guided meditations” (recordings of people speaking to help you relax, breathe and focus your attention). That means you can try out lots of recordings and find the ones that work best for you. Smiling Mind is funded by donations, so the app is free to use. Another good app is Breathe: Relax and Focus. It’s also…

In Rome, Italy, a suspected burglar was caught reading a book in a stranger’s home. After climbing in through a balcony, the suspect saw the book about Greek mythology and started to read it. The intruder said he thought he had climbed into a hotel room where a friend was staying. However, the owner of the house alerted police, and the suspect was later arrested with what appeared to be stolen goods in his bag. The book’s author, Giovanni Nucci, said he would like to give the suspect a copy because, “I’d like him to be able to finish it.”…

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 whether more nuclear power is a good idea… “No, it is not renewable energy and it’s bad for the environment.” “Yes, it gives a lot of energy and uses less mining than fossil fuels.” “No, an accident could happen.” “Yes, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.” “We need it now but hopefully not in the future.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Michel Barnier has spent more than 50 years in politics and is known in France as “Monsieur (Mr) Brexit”. This is because he worked for the European Union (a group of 27 countries that work and trade together) when the UK voted to leave the EU, and helped both sides reach an agreement on how this would be done. Barnier became interested in politics as a teenager and was the youngest person in France to be elected as a member of parliament, aged 27. Now 73, he is France’s oldest serving prime minister. He has promised to lead the new government “with more action than words”.…

A WINNING SHED Wayne Dawber has won Shed of the Year for his creation “Wrinkly, Rusty and Retro”. Designed for storing gardening tools and relaxing, it’s decorated with old signs. He said it was the first time he’d won anything since an egg and spoon race at primary school. GETTING A STAR Film director Tim Burton has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Burton directed films including Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He is the 2,788th person to get the honour, which celebrates famous people in entertainment. The star was placed outside his favourite toy shop. HATCHING A RARE CHICK A southern cassowary chick has hatched at Birdland in Gloucestershire, England. The park has been trying to breed the species – said…

Toys are fun for dogs, but there are lots of other reasons they need them. Items that they can chase and catch, such as balls, help them to exercise, and games such as fetch and tug-of-war help owners to bond with their pets. Toys don’t just provide physical exercise for dogs though – they also help to exercise their brains, which can stop them becoming disobedient or destructive. There are even special toys that clean dogs’ teeth while they’re being used.…

Scientists know that gold, earthquakes and quartz are linked, but a new study has revealed how they work together to create big nuggets (chunks) of gold. Gold naturally forms in a mineral called quartz. Most minerals are solid substances composed of chemical elements that form in rocks. Bits of gold tend to cluster together into nuggets. These are formed when cracks in rocks, called quartz veins, are pumped full of very hot liquids that come from deep within the Earth. These liquids are called hydrothermal fluids and carry atoms (tiny particles) of gold. When the fluid cools, the gold gets trapped in the quartz veins. Quartz is piezoelectric, which means it produces an electric charge when it is squeezed. Scientists say this electric charge is what pulls the tiny bits…

On 8 September, Stevie Williams won the Tour of Britain Men cycling event. More than 100 riders from around the world raced nearly 600 miles around Scotland and England over six days. Their time to finish each day was added up and the rider with the quickest overall time won. Williams, from Wales, finished in 21 hours, 25 minutes and 14 seconds to become the first British athlete to win the event since 2016. In second place was Scotland’s Oscar Onley, who finished 16 seconds behind Williams. UK riders Mark Donovan, Joseph Blackmore and Sean Flynn also finished in the top 10. Although riders competed individually, they had support from their teams. There were 18 teams taking part, each with six riders. Cyclists on the same team work together to…

• Be careful with watering. It’s easy to give more water to a plant if needed – but difficult to take it away.• Most houseplants need indirect light rather than full sunlight.• Think about how bright, warm or cold your house is and get a houseplant that will enjoy the surroundings you have.• A plant might look a little sad once it arrives in your home. This is called transport shock and just means it’s getting used to its new home.• If a plant doesn’t thrive, that’s ok. After some time try a different houseplant but don’t be disheartened if it takes a while – you just haven’t found the right plant for you yet.…

Honesty & Lies by Eloise Williams (Firefly Press) Set in London in 1601, this is the thrilling story of two very different girls – Honesty, a storyteller who hopes her tall tales will lead her to fame and fortune, and Alice, a maid working for Queen Elizabeth I. But can Alice be trusted? In a world of intrigue and plotting, nothing is quite as it seems. Beaky Malone: World’s Greatest Liar by Barry Hutchison. Illustrated by Katie Abey (Stripes Publishing) In this funny illustrated story, Beaky Malone has a habit of telling lies – every time he opens his mouth, out pops a fib. But when his long-suffering sister shoves him into a truth-telling machine, everything changes. Now Beaky can’t tell even a teenie-weenie lie, but will this new, honest…

Name: Paola The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Dan Gemeinhart “Adventure, hope and memories. This is my favourite book because the adventure never ends. I admire Coyote’s courage.” YOUR TURN Please email your book review to us at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it is printed in the magazine you will receive a Roving Reporter badge. Please describe your chosen book in three words, tell us what you liked about it and why you would 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…

This activity is inspired by autumn. As we enter this new season, hedgehogs across the UK are preparing for hibernation. This is a state that some animals enter in order to survive colder weather. It can range from going to sleep for months to simply reducing how much they move about. At this time of year you have a good chance of spotting hedgehogs because they are usually out and about – fattening themselves up on insects and gathering dry leaves to make cosy nests. Just in case you aren’t lucky enough to spy a hedgehog, why not craft your own from old newspapers or magazines? What you need • Newspaper or magazines• Masking tape• Scissors• Brown paper or an envelope• Glue• A glue brush• A ruler 1 Scrunch a…

Our cover star is a young woman, Ellie Goldstein, who is inspiring change in the world of fashion. Ellie (page 9) wants young people to believe in themselves so that, like her, they can achieve their goals. This issue is full of inspiring people doing brilliant things, including artist Xavier Laurent Leopold (page 4) who hopes that the classroom his former primary school has named after him becomes a place where pupils can express their creativity. The librarians (page 23) who run a Chatterbooks reading club have built a wonderful community for young people to come together and share their thoughts about books they have read. One of the best things I’ve learned in this issue is that houseplants often look sad when they arrive in a new home because…

Do you enjoy taking photos, and would you like to have your snaps displayed at a museum? The Stockton and Darlington Railway (the world’s first passenger steam railway) is 200 years old next year. To celebrate, the National Railway Museum and Railway Photographic Society are holding a photo competition for young people. There are prizes on offer, plus the chance to feature in an exhibition at the National Railway Museum in York, England. To enter submit six images inspired by the theme “Railway 200” before 31 January. You can find out more at youngrailphotographeroftheyear.co.uk…

1 Film director Tim Burton’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was placed outside where? □ a) His favourite toy shop □ b) His house □ c) A cinema 2 True or false? The Great North Run started in Newcastle. □ True □ False 3 What item of clothing are donkeys at a sanctuary in Italy wearing to deter biting insects? ______________________________ 4 How many children are being taught by AI at a school in London? □ a) 5 □ b) 20 □ c) 45 5 True or false? In 2024, a statue of Ellie Goldstein was displayed on London’s South Bank. □ True □ False 6 Which animal is thought to be the first non-human primates to use “names” for each other? ______________________________ 7 The database called IDent1…

Would you like to be taught by a robot or a computer? This year, 20 GCSE students at David Game College in London are being taught science, maths, English and computer science by AI instead of human teachers. Pupils have lessons designed for them based on their individual needs. There is no robot at the front of the class, just AI programs on pupils’ computers and virtual reality headsets. Human learning coaches are also in classrooms to lend a hand, if needed. Online learning using AI isn’t new. For example, the language learning app Duolingo uses it to create lessons. However, some people think using AI to teach pupils is a step too far and that students need human interaction in their lessons. What do you think? Are AI teachers…

Autumn is a great time to spot fungi, and waxcaps – a group characterised by their colourful appearance – are some of the first to appear. Parrot waxcaps are named after their bright, tropical-looking green colour, although they turn yellow as they age and can also appear brown, blue or grey. They grow across the UK in grassy areas and are often found on lawns or in cemeteries. Parrot waxcaps are very slimy, smooth and shiny looking. Their stalk is up to five centimetres high and their cap up to four centimetres across. Underneath the cap are yellow or cream gills (raised ribs) and there are sometimes smaller gills between the big ones. Never touch or pick fungi, but take a photo if you can.…

If you’ve ever left sticky fingerprints on a wall you’ll know how easy it is to leave your mark. Fingerprints are unique, which means no-one in the world has the same fingerprints as you. This makes them very useful for identifying criminals and solving crimes. The first time someone in Britain was found guilty of a crime using fingerprints as evidence was in September 1902. What are fingerprints? Fingerprints are the patterns of tiny ridges and valleys on the tips of our fingers. Tiny sweat glands beneath the skin mean that whenever we touch a surface like glass, wood or cloth, our fingerprints leave an impression. There are three main fingerprint patterns, called loops, arches and whorls. Loops begin on one side of the finger, curve around or up and…

More than 80% of the Earth’s ocean depths have never been explored, so there’s still a lot humans don’t know about what goes on in these magical underwater worlds. In OceanXplorers, a new television series available to watch on Disney+, a team of explorers and scientists set out to uncover what lies in the deep. The show is set on board the OceanXplorer, a high-tech ship that carries laboratories, a media studio, four deep-sea exploration vehicles and a helicopter. Across the episodes, the OceanXplorer team studies all sorts of magnificent animals, including humpback whales in the Caribbean, sixgill sharks near the Azores islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and polar bears in the Arctic. Technology expert Eric Stackpole, who worked on board the OceanXplorer during filming, told The Week Junior that…

Chatterbooks is the UK’s largest network of children’s reading groups. They are free to join and are run in libraries and schools by librarians, teachers, teaching assistants or volunteers – anyone with a passion for reading. Librarians Faye Jackson and Katie Séné run a Chatterbooks group in Kingston upon Thames, England, for children aged from seven to 11. Each month they choose a theme. Previous themes have included Inventions and Discoveries, Spooky Stories and Friendship. The group members select some books to read and report back on them at the next meeting. They begin each session with an icebreaker activity, such as a wordsearch or a game before settling in to book reviews. Faye tells The Week Junior, “Children take it in turns to tell us about the library book…

Number fit All of these numbers fit in the grid. Can you work out where they go? We’ve placed one to start you off. 3 numbers 110 131 236 339 750 925 956 4 numbers 4048 5132 6050 9858 5 numbers 18456 20027 74064 74801 6 numbers 385688 745213 812561 7 numbers 3623403 9866167 8 numbers 36677341 55431149 68712221 9 numbers 283676773 361811747 613063050 Sudoku Place the numbers from 1 to 6 exactly once in each row, column and 2x3 bold-lined box, to complete the grid. Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. BADGE BAG BLAZER BOOKS HAT JACKET NOTEPAD PENCIL PINAFORE PLIMSOLLS RULER SATCHEL SHIRT SHOES SKIRT SOCKS TIE TIGHTS TRACKSUIT TROUSERS Spot…

A Band of Brothers A Band of Brothers is a charity that helps to transform the lives of young men between the ages of 18 and 25 who have often been in prison. Older men from the local community act as mentors to the younger men – they listen to them, offer advice and build a trusting relationship, which is important as the young men often have complicated and troubled lives. In many cases the older mentors are there for the younger men in a way they haven’t experienced before. The charity believes that when young men with troubled lives are supported by a community, change can happen. Find out more at abandofbrothers.org.uk…

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.…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Stevenson School: Hayfield Cross Church of England, Kettering, Northamptonshire “Mrs Stevenson is the funniest teacher ever! She makes us all laugh when she teaches us which makes learning so much easier. Mrs Stevenson is really understanding, kind and great to be around. She is so amazing that the SATs were not even stressful for me because of her.” Edward 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…