Table of contents for 475 in The Week Junior

A massive rescue and clean-up operation is under way in Los Angeles County (LA), in the state of California, US, after thousands of people’s homes were destroyed by wildfires (rapidly spreading fires that begin in areas such as forests or grassland). What happened? The fires started on 7 January in different parts of LA. The biggest fire began in a hilly area called Pacific Palisades and quickly spread to nearby homes. Two more fires broke out in other areas of LA on the same day, and five more started in California on 8 January. Nearly 180,000 people were told to leave their homes, more than 12,000 buildings have been destroyed by the fires and 25 people have died. Officials said at least 16 people were missing. Investigators are looking into…

A SOLO SKIING CHAMPION A former GB para cross-country skier has become the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. Jonny Huntington started his 566-mile journey in November. He had to endure extreme conditions and temperatures for 46 days. DOG LOVERS Several museums in Rome, Italy, are offering a free dog-sitting service to visitors. It means that dog owners can explore the museums while dog minders look after their pooches. The scheme is on offer one day a month at 15 tourist hotspots across Italy. It is part of a plan to get more people to visit museums. AN INCREDIBLE PHOTO During the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, photographer Jerome Brouillet took a picture of surfer Gabriel Medina raising his hand in mid-air as he jumped…

Washington DC, US Funeral for former US president On 4 January, a special funeral began for Jimmy Carter, who was US president between 1977 and 1981. Crowds gathered to pay their respects as his coffin was taken from his home in Plains, Georgia, to the state’s capital, Atlanta, and then to the US capital, Washington DC, for a final service. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Croatia President wins another term Croatia’s president Zoran Milanovic was re-elected on 12 January to serve another five years. Milanovic is from the Social Democratic Party, but the country’s government is currently led by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. Milanovic won with 74% of the vote. He said, “I view this victory as recognition for my work.” Luxor, Egypt Ancient discoveries…

On 5 January, a record number of people turned up to watch a rugby game between Bristol Bears Women and Gloucester-Hartpury Women. Many of the 9,240 fans came to see Ilona Maher, an American rugby player who recently joined Bristol Bears. Maher became very popular during the 2024 Olympic Games when she posted lots of videos and won a bronze medal. She is now the most followed rugby union player on social media. Maher, who scored her first try for the Bears on 12 January, wants to use her star status to highlight other players, too. “We can’t just have one superstar,” she told The Guardian newspaper.…

When the temperature drops to 0o C or lower, and the air is still, water vapour in the air can freeze on surfaces such as grass and turn the world white. Hoar frost is a slightly different type of frost that has a feathery appearance. It can appear on solid surfaces such as leaves, twigs and fences, and it forms when the water vapour in the air hits solid surfaces that are already below freezing point. The fuzzy-looking ice crystals form immediately and can grow like hairs as more water vapour freezes on top. In fact, “hoar” is an Old English word that refers to an old person’s white hair or beard. Hoar frost looks magical and doesn’t damage trees. It melts away as soon as the weather warms up.…

You might think buried treasure is only found in adventure books or films about pirates, but people are still finding precious metals and gems all over the world. The UK’s highest-value treasure recently went on display at the British Museum in London. It’s a collection of silver coins dating back to 1066, worth £4.3 million. They were found in the Chew Valley in Somerset, England, by a group of friends in January 2019. They were testing out a new metal detector (a device that makes a sound or signal when it detects hidden metallic objects). What is treasure and who finds it? Under the UK Government’s Treasure Act of 1996, treasure includes, among other things, coins that contain gold or silver and are at least 300 years old, and prehistoric…

A new study has found that when ancient Romans used to mine for silver, they accidentally exposed themselves to high levels of lead pollution. Lead is a toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust that can be harmful to people’s health. Researchers think the Romans would have breathed in enough to lower their intelligence. Historians already knew that Romans were exposed to lead in their day-to-day lives. Lead was in the pipes that their tap water came from, the pots they cooked food in and the medicines they used. However, a team from the Desert Research Institute in Nevada, the US, had a theory that there was also lead pollution in the air. Ancient texts say that Romans used to get silver from a material called galena, which they would…

YOUR PHOTOS 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.…

Although the thought of learning a skill might seem a bit tricky at first, mastering something new can be fun. Not only that, it can be good for your health. Why learn something new? There are lots of wellbeing gains to learning something new. “The mental health benefits of learning a new skill for children are huge,” says doctor of psychology (an expert in the brain and behaviour) and scientist Dr Sultana Choudhry. “A number of different studies show that learning new skills can boost confidence, build independence, reduce stress and lead to positive behaviour.” If you learn a new skill at a club or class with other people it’s also a great way to make new friends. Trying out a new sport could help you stay fit and healthy,…

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (Pushkin Press) In this classic story, Claudia and her brother Jamie decide to run away from their New York City home and hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There, they find themselves caught up in a mystery that will lead them to the remarkable Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler. The Mona Lisa Mystery by M.A. Bennett (Hachette Children’s) In this third book in an action-packed series, time-travelling thieves Luna, Konstantin and Aidan are part of the Butterfly Club. When they are asked to steal a famous painting, The Mona Lisa, they must call on the help of the renowned magician Harry Houdini, and travel to Paris in 1911 to pull off an art heist in the Louvre…

“Curious, magical, exhilarating. Amy and her brother Liam battle an immortal king with magic. It has plot twists and is an uplifting story about a family being reunited.” 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.…

In April 2024, a report was published about young people’s use of devices. It found that nearly a third (31%) of children aged from eight to 11 felt they had too much screen time. If this includes you, these tips might help you to take control of your screen time in a positive way. The first step is to understand how you use your device. Android and Apple phones and tablets have screen time features in their settings that show you how long you’ve been on the device every day – and the apps you’ve used. You can use this to set your own daily limits. Another good tip is to turn off any notifications – the pop-up messages that apps can show on your homescreen – unless you really…

Thousands of toys hit the ice On 5 January, thousands of teddy bears were thrown onto an ice rink while an ice hockey match was being played in Pennsylvania, US. For 24 years, it has been an annual tradition that when the Hershey Bears score their first goal at a home game called the Teddy Bear Toss, fans throw stuffed animals onto the ice. Hershey Bears describe the celebration as “sweet cuddly mayhem”. Players, including goal scorer Mike Sgarbossa, found themselves skating across the ice surrounded by 102,343 stuffed animals. Afterwards, the soft toys were cleaned up and donated to more than 30 local children’s charities. The wackiest items left on trains Northern Trains, which serves areas across the north of England, has revealed a list of more than 32,000…

1 How many people are expected at India’s Kumbh Mela festival this year? ☐ a) 100 million ☐ b) 200 million ☐ c) 400 million 2 True or false? Musk turtles are also known as smelly turtles. ☐ True ☐ False 3 In which country were people warned not to eat Christmas trees? 4 Where do students at Liberty Woodland School in London go to attend their lessons? ☐ a) Classrooms ☐ b) Woodlands ☐ c) Large tents called “dens” 5 True or false? Coram Voice’s creative writing competition is for children with experience of the care system. ☐ True ☐ False 6 How many eyes do bees have? 7 Where is the UK’s highest-value treasure on display? ☐ a) Sutton Hoo in Suffolk ☐ b) The British Museum in…

On 13 January, the UK Government announced its AI Opportunities Action Plan to boost the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country over the next decade. AI is a computer system that can learn from experience and perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. Why has it been announced? The use of AI is increasing across the world and the Government wants to make the UK a global leader in the technology. AI already plays an important role in the UK. For example, it’s used in hospitals to spot some cancers earlier. Cancer is a disease caused by oddly behaving cells. What’s in the plan? One of the main goals is to train tens of thousands of people in AI by 2030. To make this happen, the Government says…

At Liberty Woodland School in Morden, London, students learn differently. Children spend most of their school time outdoors, and have lessons in large tents called “dens”. But the main difference is that students have Fridays off. The school day is longer – with classes starting at 8.30am and ending at 4.40pm – but there are only four school days each week. On Fridays, teachers plan lessons and support students online with their homework. If parents need to work on Fridays, the school offers a play-based club for pupils. Headteacher Leanna Barrett told the Wimbledon Times that the school “makes children feel free”. However, some people say that a four-day week does not provide enough time for learning. What do you think? Should schools be open four days a week? Yes…

Experts say that bumblebees are starting to build nests in winter due to the effects of climate change. Queen bumblebees normally hibernate (enter a period of inactivity or a sleep-like state) over winter. The warmer spring weather wakes them up so they can lay eggs and create worker bees. However, warmer winter temperatures mean they are now emerging from hibernation earlier. Paul Hetherington, from the charity Buglife, said worker bumblebees were spotted hunting for food in Aberdeen, Scotland, during the Christmas break. He said this showed that queen bees had emerged from hibernation and had begun to start building nests. Bumblebees are at risk of dying if they stop hibernating during winter. This is because they feed on pollen and nectar, which come from flowers – but there are fewer…

On 11 January, the 2025 women’s Ashes cricket competition started in Australia. It is a famous cricket series played between England and Australia over several weeks and is held around every two years. The first match was won by Australia as they beat their opponents by four wickets. In the second Ashes match on 13 January, Australia beat England again, this time by 21 runs. A third match was due to take place on 16 January, after The Week Junior went to press. The competition is made up of seven events. The first three are One Day International (ODI) games, followed by three Twenty20 (T20) matches. The final game, starting on 30 January, is a Test match, which can last up to four days. ODI and T20 matches begin and…

Have you ever woken up from a dream and wondered how your brain managed to come up with something so fun, unusual or even scary? In the world of Inside Out, where people’s brains are controlled by emotions that guide them through everyday life, dreams are created each night by a film studio called Dream Productions. It’s up to the film studio’s actors, directors, writers and set designers to create the perfect dream. Disney Pixar’s new streaming show, Dream Productions, is set between the events of Inside Out and Inside Out 2 and is about the people in charge of 12-year-old Riley’s dreams. In the show, some of Riley’s most memorable dreams over the years have been created by Paula Persimmon, a successful director. However, now that Riley’s getting older,…

Ani and Riri may be twins, but they couldn’t be any more different. Ani is loud, outspoken, chaotic, and dreams of running her own detective agency. Meanwhile, Riri is a quiet book-lover, who likes things to be safe, orderly and predictable. Separated as babies when their parents split up, Ani has grown up in the UK, and Riri in California in the US. But now the girls are being forced to spend the summer holidays together – and it seems that a Great Twin War is about to kick off. Suddenly, everything changes when a murder takes place, and their dad is arrested as the prime suspect. Can Ani and Riri work together to help their family and solve the riddle? This exciting murder mystery is the first in a…

Author Caroline Young has written books about a huge variety of subjects. She writes from her home in Anglesey, North Wales, overlooking the sea, and believes it’s one of the best jobs in the world. Her Friendship Survival Guide won in the Wellbeing category at The Week Junior Book Awards. It’s a gentle, practical guide that offers readers reassuring advice on how to get through the ups and downs of friendships and how to be a kind friend to yourself, as well as to others. “Your friends are absolutely vital”, Young tells The Week Junior. “Being with a true friend feels like putting on a comfortable sweater that always feels good, keeps you warm and gives you that feeling of safety.” It can feel challenging to find the right friends.…

Raising money for a charity or a cause that you are passionate about is a great way to help others and make a positive impact. Plus, it has been shown that doing good deeds helps boost your own happiness too. Of course, fundraising isn’t the only way to help charities. You can raise awareness of important issues by talking about them; donate some of your unwanted things to charity; or help out by volunteering. Fundraising can be a fun challenge, as well as a way to help charities achieve amazing things. From planting trees to building schools or paying for vital services, there are loads of ways charities can put money to good use. The Week Junior has teamed up with online fundraising platform SuperKind to help children make a…

The wildfires in Los Angeles (see our report on page 2) have been headline news for over a week now. Events like this can be scary, but it’s important to remember that they are rare – and that’s why they are in the news. If you are worried or upset by what you’ve read, don’t bottle up your feelings – talk to a trusted adult about it. As our report highlights, people, communities, charities and emergency services are busy helping those affected by the fires while experts are working out how to prevent something similar happening in the future. This week’s issue has lots of positive stories including scientists using technology to learn more about emperor penguins (p10) and a smart garden (p14) that means people can grow vegetables and…

Kindness Awards The School of Kindness, part of the 52 Lives charity, believes that being kind is the most important thing people can be. Its National Kindness Awards, taking place in July, celebrate kindness in primary schools. Is there a child or adult in your school who has gone above and beyond to show kindness? Or a class that has done something extraordinary to help someone? Has your school worked hard to create a culture of kindness? If so you can nominate them for a Kindness award. Entering is free and all nominees receive certificates. Runner-sup and winners will get special trophies and prizes. Submit your nominations by 25 April. Find out more at schoolofkindness.org/kindnessawards GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name…

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 if sandwiches are the best lunch… “Yes, you can do anything with them and they can be filling if you want them to be.” “No, in this weather you need a heated lunch, not just a cold sandwich.” “Yes, I like them because you don’t have to use a knife and fork.” “No, you can easily get bored of them.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Every year, a children’s charity called Coram Voice runs a creative writing competition for children who have experienced the care system. This is the network of organisations and people that look after children when their parents or guardians aren’t able to. Last year, nine-year-old Mali from south Wales won in her age category for a poem titled Different. Mali says her poem is about ‘’me being different to other people that I know”. The poem talks about her two loving dads and challenging times she has overcome. Mali told The Week Junior that winning “feels like a dream come true, and it was like getting a big, warm hug from everyone around me”. She has continued writing poetry and really enjoys writing acrostic poems (when the first letter of each…

At up to 1.2 metres tall, emperor penguins are the largest of their kind. In 2022, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed them as a threatened species, because the Antarctic sea ice that they live on is shrinking. Now scientists are using technology to track them and learn more about how to protect them. One of the ways researchers are able to do this is by looking at images taken by satellites orbiting above the Earth. Colonies (large groups) of emperor penguins can be tracked because their poo stains the ice and can be seen in the images from space. When scientists first started using satellites to look at the penguins, they only knew of 28 colonies. Now, they have identified 66. Even using satellites, it is difficult to…

New research has found that Florida manatees, also known as sea cows, are not native to the US state. Scientists now think that the animals probably only started moving to the area in the 18th century. • LIFESPAN: Up to 60 years in the wild. • HABITAT: Florida’s warm waters, including rivers and coastal areas. • SIZE: Around three metres long, weighing around 500kg. • DIET: Aquatic plants, including seagrasses and leaves from mangroves (trees that grow in coastal waters). • FUN FACT: Unlike humans, manatees lose teeth all through their lives. Their older teeth fall out and new teeth grow to replace them.…

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which took place between 7 and 10 January, gave the world a fascinating look at the technology of the future. The annual event is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, US, and gives companies the chance to show off cutting-edge gadgets and extraordinary machines – some of which are already in shops. Artificial intelligence (AI) was a key feature of many of the items on display this year. AI is a computer system that can learn from experience and perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. One of the stars of the show was the Ropet, a robotic pet that uses AI. Ropet expresses moods and emotions, remembers faces and can chat in different languages. Thanks to a camera built into its nose, it…

Aston Villa In the women’s FA Cup, Aston Villa beat Bristol Rovers 9-0. Brazilian forward Gabi Nunes scored a hat-trick (three goals). Gaël Monfils At 38 years and four months, tennis player Monfils became the oldest winner of an ATP tour singles event. He beat Zizou Bergs in the final of the ASB Classic. James McAtee McAtee scored a hat-trick to help Manchester City defeat Salford City 8-0 in the third round of the men’s FA Cup. Caroline Dubois The British boxer from London defended her World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight championship title against Jessica Camara in Sheffield.…

Do you think you would make a good detective? No way. I’m terrible at guessing the murderer when playing Cluedo or watching mysteries. But I get to play detective when writing. Can you describe Ani and Riri in three words each? Ani is adventurous, dedicated and chaotic. Riri is logical, sensitive and brave. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I love to read books. If I’m not reading then I might be playing Cluedo, watching a mystery, or walking in the countryside. Tell us the last thing that made you laugh. I was telling a friend about chapter four in Murder for Two, where Ani and Riri meet after years apart. Ani quizzes Riri about her interests and it escalates into a hilarious argument. When will…

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