Table of contents for 468 in The Week Junior

On 23 November, world leaders from nearly 200 countries agreed a deal at COP29. COP, which stands for Conference of the Parties, is an annual meeting to discuss climate change. According to the deal, richer countries – who have created more pollution over many years – will pay poorer countries £238 billion a year to help them tackle the effects of climate change. This year’s COP was held in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. What happened? COP29 started on 11 November and was meant to last until 22 November but it overran by 33 hours as leaders tried to reach an agreement. Developing countries currently receive £79.8 billion a year from richer countries to help them cope with the effects of climate change. Developing countries are those where it’s…

The National Youth Orchestra (NYO) recently announced it has chosen its next generation of musicians for 2025. The NYO is made up of 160 teenage musicians from across the UK, who will have the chance to perform at lots of concert venues, schools and youth spaces. One of the musicians chosen to join the NYO is 18-year-old Millie Curtin. She plays a large, stringed instrument called the double bass. Millie told The Week Junior that her interest in music started with the violin at primary school. Then, in Year 7, she picked up the double bass. It’s an instrument you can “sort of do anything” with, she said, from classical music to jazz. Millie first heard of the NYO when it performed a concert at her school. A few years…

Have you seen dandelions on grass verges or tall grass sprouting in the middle of a roundabout? A recent study has found that wildflowers in towns and cities attract as many different species of insects as those growing in natural meadows out in the countryside. Researchers from Warsaw University of Life Sciences, in Poland, discovered that even small patches of grass scattered with wildflowers attract a high number of pollinating insects. Pollinators include bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, moths and wasps, which move pollen from one flower to another, helping plants to produce seeds. The study involved watching 10 wildflower areas in the centre of Warsaw (Poland’s capital city) and a larger, natural meadow in the countryside. From June to August, the researchers recorded 162 species of insect. The same variety…

The National Trust is setting up a new laboratory to store and study thousands of paint samples taken from its houses, paintings and objects. The charity, which preserves nature and historic buildings for the public, wants to find out what hidden layers of paint can unlock about our past. The Trust has thousands of samples of paints collected over many years from buildings, objects and paintings that it looks after. Some of the oldest come from Roman houses dating back more than 1,800 years. Up to now, these samples have been stored all over the country. Having them all in one place at the lab will help conservators (experts who work to preserve objects or buildings) do their research. The lab will be at the Trust’s Royal Oak Foundation Conservation…

Italy men’s and women’s tennis teams On 24 November, the men’s team won the Davis Cup for the second year in a row. Four days earlier, Italy’s women’s team lifted the Billie Jean King Cup. Ethan Nwaneri The 17-year-old scored his first Premier League goal as Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest 3-0. Ellie Kildunne Kildunne was awarded World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year. She plays in the fullback position for England and Harlequins. Matt Richardson The cyclist won the men’s sprint and keirin finals at the Track Champions League in France. It was the first time Richardson had raced for Great Britain.…

Venues around the UK are switching on sparkling light displays to bring some festive cheer to the dark winter months. In Britain the tradition of Christmas lights sprang from decorating Christmas trees with shiny ornaments and candles in the mid-19th century. Towards the end of the century, the use of electricity was growing in Europe and North America, and coloured electric light bulbs began to appear on Christmas trees in town squares. In England, spectacular light displays, or illuminations, became a popular feature of holiday destinations, including Blackpool, Bournemouth and Eastbourne. Blackpool’s famous Illuminations began in 1879 when the council paid for the installation of eight electric lamps along the town’s sea-front promenade. They drew lots of visitors because most people still used candles or smoky oil lamps to light…

The Primrose Railway Children Available on BBC iPlayer from 1 December This film follows Phoebe, Becks and Perry, who live with their parents in a Scottish city. When their dad disappears, they move to the remote countryside with their mum, where they find unexpected adventure. Out of My Mind Available now on Disney+ Melody wants to learn but because she uses a wheelchair and is non-verbal (can’t speak), she isn’t given opportunities. Melody soon shows that her ideas are valuable however she communicates them.…

Have you ever bonded with an animal like Birdie does in the novel? I fell in love with a pony when I was around Birdie’s age and since then I’ve always had animals in my life, talking to them and telling them my worries and secrets. Describe Birdie and Mr Duke’s friendship in three words. Magical, beautiful, unbreakable. Have you always wanted to be a writer? I always loved writing but I wanted to be an actress, which I was for a while, but I decided I’d prefer to spend my life creating stories rather than acting in them. If you could speak to your childhood self, what would you tell her? Be brave, not to worry so much and to try to enjoy every moment… oh, and to write…

Do your parents ever ask you to stack the dishwasher? Many homes have one and they can save a lot of time and effort compared to washing up your dirty dishes in a sink. Loading the dishwasher can be a great way to help out around the house. However, stacking the drawers properly takes a bit of time and some thought. Lots of people have their own system for loading a dishwasher, and surveys have revealed that disagreements over how to do it are a common source of family arguments. It’s easy to see why. Try to put too much in and you could find that your crockery comes out dirty, so you have to wash it all over again. Underfill it and you’re wasting energy and water, which is…

When we put the magazine together we spend a lot of time planning our news stories carefully, checking the facts and finding the right pictures. However, over the last few weeks some really important stories have happened just as we were getting the magazine ready to go to press. A few weeks ago it was the result of the US presidential election, which came in faster than on previous elections. This week it was the news of the ceasefire in Lebanon. We have covered it (page 3) but the story was only a few hours old when we sent the magazine to the printers. We had to drop a story to make room, and the report we lost was about a suggested change to the law in New Zealand. The…

“This week I got my new parkrun PB (personal best) of 24 minutes and 58 seconds.”Lewis “I decided to donate a year’s worth of The Week Junior issues to my school so more children can enjoy the magazines!”Vega “After reading a recent issue of the magazine we realised we have ivy berries in our garden. We always wondered what they were.”Sofia and Sabrina…

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 prisons should be nicer places… “Yes, it’s not nice to be in a dirty and sad place.” “No, prisoners have been put there for a reason.” “Yes, we should be kind to people even if they’re in prison.” “No, if prison isn’t a nice place people won’t break the law.” “It should vary depending on the crime.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

WINNING A FOOTBALL AWARD On 26 November, Barbra Banda was announced as the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year. Banda plays for Zambia and Orlando Pride. During the Paris Olympic Games earlier this year, she scored four goals, including a hat trick, which is three goals in one game. A STAR SAUSAGE DOG A primary school’s sausage dog, Cleo, has been praised in a report by school inspectors. Cleo provides emotional support for pupils at Bedfield Church of England Primary School in Suffolk, England. The inspectors wrote that the pupils were “extremely happy” and that Cleo was “always around for a cuddle”. A VALUABLE WATCH An extraordinary watch that was made for the last queen of France, Marie Antoinette (1755–1793) has gone on display for the first time in the…

When Harlee Hutchinson was three years old, he started litter picking with his parents. They live opposite two fast food restaurants and became annoyed at the amount of rubbish that was left lying around. Now six years old, Harlee wears a high-vis vest, carries a grab-and-grip litter picker and collects rubbish with his parents near their home in Chelmsley Wood, England, around four times a week. He is thought to be Britain’s youngest litter picker. Harlee’s dad Kevin says, “He would go out every day, all day if we let him, he’s just non-stop.” Through litter picking, Harlee has also raised nearly £200 for charity.…

Chinook salmon For the first time in years, hundreds of Chinook salmon are swimming and spawning (laying eggs) in the Klamath River, which flows through California and Oregon in the US. They are back after four dams (barriers built by humans to hold back water) in the river were taken down. The air in Delhi In India’s capital, air pollution hit a record high for this time of year on 18 and 19 November. Schools closed and people were advised to stay indoors – but those who work outdoors had to go out. Pollution in Delhi is caused by the burning of fossil fuels in the city and crops in the countryside.…

Five years after a fire destroyed part of Notre-Dame cathedral, the building is set to reopen on 7 December. The Roman Catholic cathedral is one of Paris’s most famous landmarks and used to attract 13 million visitors a year before it was badly damaged. Its official name is Notre-Dame de Paris, which means “Our Lady of Paris”. What happened in the fire? At around 6pm on 15 April 2019, in the middle of a restoration project, a fire broke out just under the roof. For a while no one realised and the blaze took hold. More than 400 firefighters worked hard for hours but, by the time they had put out the fire, the roof and central spire had collapsed. Fortunately, people had carried lots of artworks to safety and…

Learning to accept people for all the wonderful ways we are different makes the world kinder and more interesting. Everyone is different There are more than eight billion people in the world and everyone is different. This is called diversity and it means everyone is special and unique in their own way. You can be different from your friends because of your religion or culture (when a group of people share the same beliefs and traditions), the colour of your skin, a disability or health condition, the way you learn, the food you eat and even the clothes you wear. When you accept other people’s differences you understand that everyone is equal and deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. Learn from each other Everyone has their own ideas,…

A Really Short History of Words by Bill Bryson. Adapted by Emma Young (Penguin Random House) Did you know we have the Vikings to thank for words such as “glitter” and “sky”? That “goodbye” used to be “god be with you”? Or that “LOL” originally meant “little old ladies”? This history of the English language is jam-packed with fascinating facts about words. Lessons from Our Ancestors by Raksha Dave. Illustrated by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong (Magic Cat) Told through 50 objects, this award-winning book explores forgotten histories. Discover some of the amazing stories of our long-ago ancestors, including the black pharaohs who ruled Egypt and the ancient city that cared about climate change. British Museum: A History of the World in 25 Cities by Tracey Turner and Andrew Donkin. Illustrated by Libby…

Name: Etholle Why Politics Matters by Alastair Campbell “Curious, thought provoking and engaging illustrations. I like this book as it allowed me to learn about things that affect everyone’s lives. It has inspired me to book a tour to the House of Commons.” YOUR TURN Please email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it is printed in the magazine you will receive a Roving Reporter badge. 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…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Small piece in chess (4) 3 Wicker container (6) 8 Shallow box where children can play with buckets and spades (7) 9 Rainbow shape (3) 10 Attempt to blend in with the natural surroundings (10) 13 Tower containing a powerful light to warn ships at sea (10) 17 Adult male (3) 18 Gauze strip to cover a wound (7) 19 Santa Claus’s vehicle (6) 20 Joint in the leg (4) Down 1 Letters or parcels sent by mail (4) 2 Willy ___, character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (5) 4 School craft subject (3) 5 Australian marsupial resembling a small bear (5) 6 Admission voucher (6) 7 Brussels ___, green vegetable (6) 11 Wrinkles the…

Name: Finlay “In the weeks leading up to half-term, I read in The Week Junior about a super tall swing on the very top of a hotel and zwillinge (twin) baby pandas, and I knew I just had to see them! Coincidentally, we were going on holiday to Berlin for half-term, which was exactly where the swing and pandas were. I was incredibly lucky to go on the swing, which was exhilarating and such a jaw-dropping experience. It felt like I was floating above all the tiny people in the platz (square) below. Later that week, I went to the Berlin Zoo and saw one of the two baby pandas. It was so cute and furry, it looked like a tiny pillow. It had recently been mating season for most…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Slade School: Lady Barn House School, Cheadle “Mrs Slade is extremely kind. When somebody is struggling with work she always tries to help in a calm and caring manner. She explains everything really well to help me understand my work, especially English, and gives up her time every morning before class if any of us need any help. She motivates us to work hard by making the work fun and interesting. I really love going to school because of her.” Dhiyan 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 In which country will COP30 be held next year? ◻ a) France ◻ b) Ireland ◻ c) Brazil 2 True or false? Pickleball is to be added to England’s school curriculum. ◻ True ◻ False 3 Which type of fruit is taped to a wall in the artwork Comedian? 4 How many people are estimated to communicate by using BSL (British Sign Language) in the UK? ◻ a) 125,000 ◻ b) 150,000 ◻ c) 175,000 5 True or false? Harlee Hutchinson started litter picking when he was six years old. ◻ True ◻ False 6 Into which London park were Canada geese first introduced in the 17th century? 7 What does “Notre-Dame de Paris” mean in English? ◻ a) Our Lady of Paris ◻ b) The Gargoyles of Paris…

BSL is very important for many deaf people. It allows them to communicate and breaks down barriers between hearing and deaf people. However, most people in the UK don’t know how to use British Sign Language. Some deaf people use lip-reading (also called speech-reading) but the National Deaf Children’s Society says that, when lip-reading, people often need extra information. It also says that lip-reading can be very tiring because you have to concentrate so hard and that only around 30% to 40% of sounds can be lip-read, even in good conditions. Some people say that every child should learn sign language but others say there aren’t the resources available. What do you think, should BSL be taught in all schools? Yes – it makes us a more inclusive society If…

If your local park has a lake, or even a large pond, you might notice some Canada geese nearby. They live in very noisy gaggles (groups) and are easy to identify by their black heads and necks, grey-brown backs, and white patches on their cheeks. They live across most of the UK, apart from the north of Scotland. As their name suggests, Canada geese aren’t originally from the UK. They were introduced from North America in the 17th century to St James’s Park in London. In the 1940s they started to spread across the country and there are now more than 150,000 in the UK. The geese generally stay here all year round but sometimes they are joined by Canada geese that have flown over from North America.…

Newcastle Eagles, Bristol Flyers and London Lions are some of the UK’s top basketball clubs. They play in Super League Basketball (SLB), which is the highest level of women’s and men’s club basketball in the UK. SLB is new for the 2024/25 season and replaces the Women’s British Basketball League and the British Basketball League. The men’s SLB Championship started in November and London Lions have been very impressive, winning their first five games. Their biggest win was against Sheffield Sharks, when they enjoyed a victory by 92 points to 68. Newcastle Eagles are in good form too, with only one defeat in their first four men’s SLB Championship matches. There are nine teams in the men’s SLB who play each other four times during the season. The winner of…

This is when someone is treated badly or unfairly for something that makes them different. Some people are prejudiced because they don’t understand, or feel threatened or scared by someone else’s difference. Others grow up hearing views from friends or family and don’t realise their opinions are hurtful or unfair. Whatever the reason, there is no excuse for prejudice. If you experience this, tell a trusted adult or find advice and support at childline.org.uk…

Before December 2009, Finnish mobile games company Rovio had made 51 games. None had been a success – but its 52nd would become one of the biggest hits in gaming history. That game was Angry Birds, which is celebrating its 15th birthday this December. The game’s designer, Jaakko Iisalo, said Rovio only had enough money for one more game, and it was his job to think up an idea. He’d always enjoyed drawing animals so he doodled some round birds with angry eyebrows. That was the start. The birds were funny but without wings how could they fly? A teammate added a slingshot to launch them and the egg-stealing piggy enemies followed quickly. To test their strange idea, the team asked friends to play the game and give feedback. The…

Raising a rare pink pigeon A rare pink pigeon has been hand-reared at a UK zoo for the first time. The conservation success is thanks to keeper Tom Tooley and his colleagues at Paignton Zoo in Devon, England. They came up with a special technique for looking after baby birds, which helps them to eat their food. Pink pigeons are originally from Mauritius, an island country in the Indian Ocean. Tooley has been working with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation since 2014 to help pink pigeons, which are officially classed as vulnerable to extinction. Fresh air from Lake Como – in a tin Visitors to Lake Como in Italy can buy cans of air to remind them of their holiday when they get home. The makers of the gifts call them…

Are you good at recycling? Do you love organising beach cleans or have you helped to plant trees in your community? Our sister magazine The Week Junior Science+Nature wants to know what young people are doing to protect the planet. By completing a short online survey, you can tell them how you’re helping nature and whether you think world leaders are doing enough for the environment. You can also let the team know what you would like to see in the magazine. The results will be revealed in the February issue of The Week Junior Science+Nature. To join in, complete the survey before 5 December at tinyurl.com/sn-climatesurvey 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…