Table of contents for 480 in The Week Junior

From 14 to 16 February, the 61st Munich Security Conference took place in Munich, Germany. What is the Munich Security Conference? It is an annual event where politicians and officials meet to discuss the world’s most important security issues. There was much to discuss this year, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On 24 February, it will be exactly three years since Russia tried to invade the whole country. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, gave a speech at the conference. He called on Europe to be united so that no one can “boss it around”. What was discussed at the conference? Spending on NATO was an important topic. NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is a group of…

When she first started playing football as a child, Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones found that the sport suited her really well. “I just had bundles of energy and my brother was a referee, so maybe that was a bit of an influence,” she tells The Week Junior. Some of the people she looked up to when she was growing up are now her teammates, including Chelsea captain, Millie Bright. In 2024, Beever-Jones won the Women’s Super League with her club and made her England debut. She’s now hoping to be picked to go to Euro 2025, an international football tournament taking place in July. “That would be an absolute dream come true,” she says. Her plan is clear. “Score goals,” she says. “I love scoring. It’s always fun.” To prepare for…

Polar bears live in the Arctic, where temperatures can drop below-30° C in winter. Even though it’s very cold, their fur usually appears to be free from ice. A new study has found that the secret to their ice-free fur is that it is covered in grease. A team of researchers studied hairs from six polar bears living in the wild. The hairs were covered in a type of grease known as sebum. The team washed some of the samples so they could test whether ice was more likely to stick to non-greasy fur. They also tested how well ice stuck to greasy human hair. To provide the material for the test, one of the researchers didn’t wash his hair for six days, and then shaved it off and handed…

Antarctic krill (small creatures that look a bit like prawns) are an important food for lots of larger animals, including penguins, seals and whales. It’s estimated there are more than 700 trillion of them in the ocean around Antarctica but there are concerns that fishing and climate change are affecting their numbers. Counting them accurately is a mind-boggling task but scientists have found a way. The new method involves studying how krill numbers change the amount of light seawater absorbs – a process that affects the colour of the water. Researchers collected krill to study this effect. Dr Cait McCarry, from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, said, “We start with seawater, then we add in a krill and take a measurement (of how much light the water absorbs). Then…

Railways criss-cross the UK and it’s hard to imagine our towns, cities and countryside without them. On 27 September, it will be 200 years since the Stockton and Darlington Railway opened in north-east England – an event considered to be the birth of modern railways. Celebrations are taking place all year to commemorate this event, which changed the lives of lots of people. The early days Before railways, people relied on horses to transport goods and people. Horses pulled carriages and later canal boats. The Industrial Revolution, which started in ​ the mid 18th century, changed this. New technology transformed the UK from a country of farming to one dominated by factories. Steam engines (which heated water to create steam, which powered machinery) became popular in the 18th century. The…

Lina Nielsen She set a British indoor record at the Keely Klassic event in Birmingham. Nielsen won the women’s 300 metres race in 36.53 seconds. Jacob Kiplimo The long-distance runner from Uganda, Africa, won the Barcelona half marathon in a world record 56 minutes, 42 seconds. Arsenal Women In the Women’s Super League (WSL), Arsenal defeated their London rivals Tottenham 5-0. Arsenal are now third in the WSL. Leigh Leopards In the opening round of rugby league’s Super League, Leigh Leopards beat defending champions Wigan Warriors 1-0 with a golden point in extra time.…

A lot of movies and TV shows have one or two main A characters but a new series made by the animation studio Pixar (the creators of Inside Out) has quite a lot more. Win or Lose tells the story of eight different people as a school softball team prepares for a big championship game. Softball is like baseball but played on a smaller pitch with a bigger ball. The show’s creators use animation techniques to reveal what each character is truly feeling before the big day. Co-writer and co-director of Win or Lose, Carrie Hobson, told The Week Junior, “You have these overlapping scenes that you’re seeing from one person’s perspective – and then you’re seeing them again from another person’s perspective.” Emotions and experiences are represented in unique…

by Judith Eagle (Faber Children’s) In 1930s London, Charley has grown up behind the scenes of her dad’s theatre, The Wren. She dreams of being a dancer herself and has even begun performing on stage. But Charley’s life is turned upside down when she’s sent away to a horrible boarding school – a place where schoolgirls do unpaid work to fill the pockets of the greedy owners. Then she learns that her beloved theatre home is in peril and decides to escape. Soon, she and new friend Jewel have set out on a journey along the coast to return to London – but can they rescue The Wren? This lively story, full of historical detail, will transport you back to the busy streets of 1930s London. With a great cast…

Ella Dove’s first children’s book, How to Roller-Skate with One Leg, is an inspiring and uplifting story that celebrates friendship, family and overcoming challenges. In the book we meet 12-year-old Maya Bright who has had to have her leg removed by doctors after a road accident on her way to school. Dove is an author and journalist who lost her right leg aged 25 following a running accident. During her recovery, Dove kept a diary about her experiences and decided that she wanted to help others through her writing, and change people’s ideas about what it’s like to be an amputee (someone who has had an arm or leg removed). Dove tells The Week Junior, “I chose roller-skating as the activity that my character learns to do because it’s one…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Tidy the hair (4) 3 Simple counting frame (6) 8 2010 animated Disney film based on Rapunzel (7) 9 Huge Australian bird (3) 10 Dental cleaner (10) 13 Expensive car (5,5) 17 Tin for food or drink (3) 18 Braided hair (7) 19 Thin rope (6) 20 Small vegetable – baked ones come in cans (4) Down 1 Feline creatures (4) 2 Exotic fruit (5) 4 Place to sleep (3) 5 Game with rooks and bishops (5) 6 Cup’s dish (6) 7 Materials (6) 11 Farm implement (6) 12 Lego pieces (6) 14 Passenger ship (5) 15 Machine for lifting heavy objects (5) 16 Open pastry filled with fruit (4) 18 Writing tool (3) Number tower…

Name: Amelia “Last month I took part in the Chelsea & Westminster Swimming Club Gala in London, in the Yellow Hats group. I took part in four races. I was very proud to be awarded medals in all of the races: Golds in 25m fly and 50m breaststroke, silver in 50m freestyle and bronze in 50m backstroke. I was super tired afterwards but celebrated with a delicious dinner of pasta in an Italian restaurant. A few weeks ago I also won the trophy for Bright Beginnings at the CWSC annual awards, given to the swimmer who they think will be one of their future stars!” JOKE OF THE WEEK “Why did the sheep get its make-up bag out? To put on some lip baaaalm.”Cleo What have you been up to…

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 readers whether it is time to ditch Valentine’s Day… “Valentine’s Day is the day of love and without love there will only be hate.” “Love and appreciation should be expressed regularly, not just on a designated date.” “No, it’s a chance to show people that you care about them.” “Yes, it is just a way for companies to make money.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

TWIN PANDA CUBS A pair of twin panda cubs, who are six months old, made their first public appearance at Ocean Park in Hong Kong on 16 February. Large crowds gathered at their enclosure to see the siblings, currently known as “Elder Sister” and “Little Brother”. A MASKED WINNER On 15 February, the winner of this year’s The Masked Singer was crowned. There were three finalists but Pufferfish took home the trophy. The singer beneath the costume was revealed to be Samantha Barks, a musical theatre actor who starred as Elsa in the stage version of Frozen. Barks said, “I’ve had the best time.” A MINIATURE MARVEL A doll’s house that belonged to the author Beatrix Potter has gone back on display at Hill Top, Potter’s former home in Cumbria,…

On 11 February, King Charles announced that Jewish and Muslim faith leaders in the UK had signed an agreement. Chief Rabbi (Jewish religious leader) Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the agreement was important in “rebuilding trust between Muslim and Jewish communities”. Relations between some communities had become strained during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Qari Asim, an imam (Muslim religious leader), said the agreement “can be a beacon of hope and peace”. King Charles described the meeting as “marvellous”.…

Rome, Italy Museum visitors walk over history Last month, a new museum opened near Rome’s Colosseum – an ancient stadium built to stage big events. The museum includes a map of the city carved from marble around 1,800 years ago. Visitors to the Museum of the Forma Urbis at the Archaeological Park of the Celio can view the map under a glass floor and explore the ancient city. Hawaii, US Volcano continues spewing lava On 11 February, the Kilauea volcano again started shooting lava into the air, continuing nearly two months of activity. It has been erupting on and off since 23 December. No areas where people live have been under threat from the lava but some spectators have gathered nearby to watch. In the most recent eruption, some lava…

A team of scientists have noticed that male Amazon river dolphins wee on each other. Often, the dolphin who is being weed on appears to chase the wee and stick its snout into it. The scientists say it could be a form of communication between the dolphins. • LIFESPAN: About 30 years. • HABITAT: Rivers and lakes. • SIZE: Up to 2.8 metres long. • DIET: Up to 53 species of fish, as well as crabs, frogs and turtles. • FUN FACT: This species is born grey but gradually turns pink as it gets older. Male Amazon river dolphins are larger and pinker than females.…

Funny face A Surinam golden-eyed tree frog prepares to call for a mate in French Guiana. By Vincent Premel. Just chilling A Weddell seal rests on an ice floe in the Antarctic. By Sue Flood. Back off A European roller bird confronts an owl in Kiskunság National Park, Hungary. By Bence Máté. No access A badger admires graffiti in St Leonards-on-Sea, England. By Ian Wood. Mountain king A puma strikes a pose in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. By Aaron Baggenstos. WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD…

Making healthy choices is important. Picking the right food gives you the energy you need to do all the things you love. It also helps your body grow, your brain develop, your immune system fight germs and it even strengthens your bones. It’s good for your mental health too. Why make healthy choices? One of the best ways to think of it is that healthy food is great fuel for your body. Lucy Upton, a children’s dietitian (someone who helps young people to eat well), says, “Including different food types and colours helps to provide the balance of nutrition your body needs.” Nutrition is food the body needs to grow and stay well. “When you choose a balance and variety of foods, you’ll have more energy, feel better and be…

Which is your favourite theatre? I love them all. Especially if they have comfy seats, swishy red velvet curtains and ice cream in the interval (salted caramel is my favourite). Have you ever acted in a play? Alas no – I’m too shy and I’d certainly forget my lines. However, I am learning to tap dance, and, with my classmates, performed the Shim Sham (a tap routine) at a Christmas show. If you could travel in time, where would you go? I would travel back to 1930s New York and I’d be an amazing tap dancer with The Nicholas Brothers, who were famous dancers – just like Charley dreams of doing. Can you describe your main character, Charley, in three words? Intrepid (adventurous), passionate and brave. What was the best…

It’s unlikely you’ve been to a restaurant where the chef is cooking your meal after a day fighting giant chickens and fire-breathing peppers in a dungeon. That’s exactly what happens in a new game called Cuisineer. Best of all, though, is that you get to be the chef who’s doing the battling – using a range of kitchen-themed weapons including a spatula, kebab skewer, throwing plates and egg-timer bombs. Half the game involves exploring dungeons, fighting monsters and collecting recipes from around the world. The other half has you running the restaurant and turning those recipes into tasty meals for your customers. Like Minecraft, Cuisineer’s dungeons are split into different “biomes” (environments) including forest ruins, lava-filled caverns, frozen ice fjords and swamps. You’ll be able to find different kinds of…

All aboard a floating gravy boat Popular animated characters Wallace and Gromit teamed up with a gravy company to offer dining on board a London canal boat. The partnership with Bisto was inspired by the final chase scene in their latest film, Vengeance Most Fowl, which takes place on a canal boat. Diners were welcomed with a gravy cocktail before getting to enjoy a roast dinner. The meal was rounded off with a dessert – served with sweet gravy sauce. Laura Burr from Aardman Animations, which created the characters, said the menu was “cracking!” Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in Lego Artist Vincent van Gogh’s famous paintings of sunflowers have inspired a Lego set. The new kit, which will be available from 1 March, includes 2,615 pieces and 16 sunflowers, and features…

Red Nose Day 2025 On 21 March, Red Nose Day is back for its 40th anniversary. Over the last 40 years, a whopping £1.6 billion has been raised to support more than 100 million people, and you could add to this figure by organising a fundraiser. It’s up to you what you do: you could dress up, take on a challenge and get people to sponsor you, organise a bake sale or get your school to put on an event. The money raised could provide food and homes for families, keep children safe and help support people who have been affected by conflict. To organise a fundraiser for Red Nose Day, or to find out more information, ask a parent, guardian or teacher to visit the website at tinyurl.com/TWJ-rednose2025 GET…

The Thames Tideway Tunnel, or “super sewer”, is now fully connected to London’s sewage network. What is the Thames Tideway Tunnel? It’s a huge tunnel that carries sewage waste away from the River Thames in London. Sewage is waste water that comes from toilets, showers and sinks. The tunnel is 16 miles long and building work started on it in 2016. Why was it needed? Most of London’s sewer network was built Victorian times, during the mid 19th in century. Then, London had a population of around two million people. There are now nearly nine million people living in London, and the sewer network was struggling to cope. When there was too much waste in the pipes, it would overflow into the River Thames. This got worse during heavy rain…

This spring, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has asked for help to track and map the UK’s rare daffodils. The society is eager to find rare daffodils so that they can be protected. For example, the Sussex bonfire daffodil hasn’t been seen for 20 years. Gardening expert Roger Parsons said, “Finding daffodils thought to be lost helps for future plant breeding.” To take part or find out more, ask an adult to search online for “RHS daffodil diaries”.…

On 29 January, the UK Government said it supports a plan to build a third runway at Heathrow. The announcement was made by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the person in charge of how the Government spends the country’s money). Reeves said making the airport bigger would create more jobs for people. It also means more flights will be able to take off and land. However, some people are worried that making the airport bigger will be bad for the planet because planes use lots of fuel. Heathrow Airport aims to submit the plan for a third runway to the Government this summer. Thomas Woldbye, who is in charge of Heathrow, said he hoped it would be built by 2035. What do you think? Should there be a…

This tree is an important source of food for the first insects emerging after winter. Standing about 10 metres tall, goat willow’s bark is grey-brown and develops diamond-shaped cracks as it ages. They are dioecious, which means that trees either have male or female flowers, which appear before the tree even grows its leaves. Goat willow flowers are catkins, which are actually clusters of flowers, usually long and slim. Goat willow catkins, however, look like furry cat paws. On male trees they start out grey and turn yellow with pollen; on female trees they are more green. Bees, flies and hoverflies feed on goat willow catkins and after dark some species of moth are attracted to its branches.…

Zebras, like the Grévy’s zebras we have at Whipsnade, are all born with unique stripy patterns. These stripes are like a human fingerprint and can even help keepers to identify different zebras living in a herd. There’s often debate about what colour zebras’ stripes are. Grévy’s zebras are black with white stripes. We know this because of the colour inside the zebras’ ears. Have you got a question you’d really like to ask a zookeeper? Send your animal, bird or bug questions to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk and it might appear in a future issue.…

On 10 and 11 February, 60 countries pledged to make sure artificial intelligence (AI) is safe and trustworthy, at a big meeting in Paris, France. AI is already used for all sorts of things, including Google searches, banking, robots and more – and the list of possible uses is quickly getting longer. At the meeting, called the AI Action Summit, world leaders discussed the impact of AI and what should be done to manage it. One of the big agreements reached was the Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable AI, which was signed by 60 countries. The statement included a list of priorities for AI that the countries agreed to follow, including making sure it is “safe, secure and trustworthy” and that it has a positive impact on people’s jobs. Another…

From 8 to 16 February, the Invictus Games took place in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada. Over the nine days, around 550 competitors from 23 countries competed in a range of sports. The Invictus Games is an event for people who have been injured while serving in the armed forces. There were 11 activities, including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, swimming and indoor rowing. The Invictus Games are usually held every two years and 2025 was the first time winter sports featured. The winter sports included skiing, snowboarding and wheelchair curling. Team UK scored its first medal by winning silver in wheelchair curling, after a narrow 3-2 defeat to South Korea in the final. In total, the UK won 11 medals in winter sports. Elizabeth Brown won gold in skeleton (racing down…

The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees. Illustrated by Vivienne To (Puffin Books) Benjamiah believes in science and logic, not magic. When he receives a strange gift in the post, he finds himself entering the impossible world of Wreathenwold – a place of dark secrets and fascinating magic. Bird of a Thousand Stories by Kiyash Monsef (Simon & Schuster) Marjan leads a double life – when she’s not at school, she travels around the world taking care of mythical beasts. Now, she must search for the fabled Bird of a Thousand Stories before someone with a sinister plan finds it first. The sequel to Once There Was, this powerful adventure story will appeal to fans of Impossible Creatures. Peregrine Quinn and the Cosmic Realm by Ash…

Name: Zachary Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton “Adventurous, exciting and fun. I love how the characters work together to solve mysteries. It is my favourite and I would love everybody else to try it.” 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 can be found at www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy…

What you need • 680g of frozen raspberries• 100g gr anulated• sugar• 360g plain flour• 1 tbsp cornflour• Juice of one lemon• 280g rolled oats• 400g brown sugar• 340g butter, melted• 1 tsp baking powder• ½ tsp salt• 32cm x 22cm lined• baking tray• Colander• Two bowls• Two wooden spoons These buttery berry treats make a filling snack or a tasty dessert. A bit like a flapjack, but with a delicious layer of raspberries, they are chewy and sweet. The oats provide slow-release energy, which will help you feel fuller for longer. This recipe takes about one hour to make, including about 30 minutes of baking time. It makes 12 to 18 portions, depending on how generous you make your slices! Instructions 1 Preheat the oven to 180° C/350° F/Gas…

This week we wondered whether to put a steam train or London’s super sewer (or the Thames Tideway Tunnel, to give it its proper name) on the cover. Both are magnificent feats of engineering that took lots of imagination. Imagination is such a powerful tool. It creates vivid characters and stories in books, invents ways to connect people, sends astronauts into space and helps computers learn to think a bit like humans. It can produce results that are mind boggling and sometimes a bit scary. That’s why lots of experts are involved as technologies are developed – to make sure that new ideas have positive results. The super sewer is designed to cut pollution in the River Thames. Astronauts explore space to unlock the secrets of the universe and AI…

Teacher’s name: Mr Greenwood School: Sharneyford Primary School, Bacup, Lancashire “Mr Greenwood is an amazing teacher. He is funny, encouraging and extremely passionate about sport, which has inspired me. I really like the way he teaches maths in a fun and exciting way; he has built my confidence. Thank you Mr Greenwood!”Freya 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 At which Paralympic Games did John McFall win a bronze medal? ☐ a) London in 2012 ☐ b) Paris in 2024 ☐ c) Beijing in 2008 2 True or false? Inside Out 2 won the award for Children’s and Family Film at the BAFTAs. ☐ True ☐ False 3 In which city has an ancient map been placed under a glass floor so that you can walk over it  ______________ 4 Which is the largest and busiest airport in the UK? ☐ a) Stansted ☐ b) Heathrow ☐ c) Gatwick 5 True or false? Snowboarder Hiroto Ogiwara made history by landing the first known “2340” (six and a half rotations in mid-air) in a competition. ☐ True ☐ False 6 In which river have 4,900 baby yellow-spotted turtles been released? ______________…