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World leaders including US president Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have been showing their support for Ukraine, as the country marks one year since it was invaded by Russia. What happened? On 24 February 2022, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched an invasion, sending nearly 200,000 soldiers into Ukraine. Putin wanted to bring the country under Russia’s control and get rid of the Ukrainian government led by Volodymyr Zelensky. What have been the effects of the war? When Russia invaded, many world leaders feared that Ukraine would quickly be defeated. However, a year on, Ukraine has taken back more than half of the land that Russia took at the start of the war. It is thought that more than 7,000 Ukrainian civilians (people not in the armed services)…

The number of people using cash has been falling for several years. During the pandemic, many shops stopped accepting cash (actual notes and coins) to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, and lots of these shops still only take payment on a card or phone. Children used to put their coins and notes in a money box or piggy bank and took some out to buy something. However, many now have their own cards that they can use in shops and online. Some parents think that cards help young people with money management but others think it is better to stick with cash. Research suggests that people who look after their own money from a young age have a good understanding of finances in later life. What do you think?…

The Marine Conservation Society, a UK charity that is working towards a cleaner ocean, is asking people to help turtles that have washed up on UK and Irish beaches. Since November, there have been 13 sightings of stranded turtles that don’t typically live in UK waters because it’s too cold for them. Usually, there are only five or six turtle sightings reported during winter, so this is high. Experts believe that it could have been caused by stormy conditions off the coast of the US and the Caribbean, which have carried the turtles towards the UK. Young or injured turtles are not strong enough to swim against these colder currents, and they can go into cold water shock, which slows them down even more. The Marine Conservation Society has recommended…

In the race to find new ways to feed the world’s growing population, scientists have experimented with growing meat in a laboratory and turning fly larvae into milk. Now, a London student is trying to move microalgae onto menus. Microalgae are tiny living things. Like plants, they turn light into energy and produce oxygen. Microalgae can bloom (grow) in the salty sea, as well as in fresh water. Microalgae are already added to some foods – they are packed with vitamins and minerals. A type called spirulina is processed into a powder and added to food, like smoothies. However, eating microalgae just because it’s delicious hasn’t happened – yet. Malu Lücking, a student at Central Saint Martins college in London, did a project on microalgae, designing dishes to look and…

More than 500 athletes and para athletes competed at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships on 18 and 19 February at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England. National titles were won in 14 events, including hurdles, long jump, pole vault, shot put and sprinting. At this time of the year, athletes like to take part in indoor events. Soon, the warmer spring and summer weather will mean they can compete outdoors. Daryll Neita and Reece Prescod clinched victories in the women’s and men’s 60-metre race. Neita looked impressive, adding the indoor title to her 100-metre and 200-metre crowns at the outdoor UK Athletics Championships. In the 200-metre event, Success Eduan won her first senior British title. Ellie Baker also won at the championships for the first time, winning gold in the…

Asweet new show is making its way to London, with a dash of dancing, a sprinkle of singing and a pinch of passion: The Great British Bake Off Musical. Since The Great British Bake Off started on television in 2010, it has become extremely popular. The competition has had several on-screen spin-offs, including Junior Bake Off but this will be the first stage adaptation (version) of the show, and it adds songs into the mix. The musical was first performed in Cheltenham, England, for two weeks last summer. Its story follows eight contestants in the famous tent, all competing to be the best baker. Their skills are judged by characters called Phil Hollinghurst and Pam Lee, who are based on the TV show’s real judges, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.…

A Dragon Realm Adventure by Katie and Kevin Tsang (Simon & Schuster Children’s) Twelve-year-old Billy Chan and his friends each share a bond with a dragon. When new dragons fall into the Human Realm, the pals try to reunite them with a lost egg. Magical creatures, a golden elixir and lurking danger make life hard for the young heroes. The Boy With Wings: Attack of the Rampaging Robot by Lenny Henry. Illustrated by Keenon Ferrell (Macmillan Children’s) Tunde is a normal kid with awesome friends, embarrassing parents – oh, and wings, because he is also a secret superhero. When a new kid starts at his school who is better than him at everything, Tunde is suspicious. Could the kid be connected to the sinister, mysterious Facility? The Strangeworlds Travel Agency:…

Name: Amina Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge “Daring, enchanting, secrets. Penelope and Montgomery have to race against time to discover the truth about an asylum.” YOUR TURN Email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If your review is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Tell us what you liked about the book and why you’d recommend it to others, and 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…

On 1 March it is St David’s Day – the patron saint of Wales. Historians think he was born around AD520 and was said by some to have eaten only leeks and drunk only water. To mark the day, try something nicer than just leeks and water: traditional Welsh cakes. The “cakes” are actually more like flat fruit scones and are also known as “bakestones” or “griddle cakes”, after the heavy, flat pan that is used to cook them. They have been popular since the early 19th century and are delicious warm or cold. What you need (Makes about 12) • 225g self-raising flour, with extra for the plate and work surface• ½ teaspoon mixed spice• 100g butter, cut into small pieces, with extra for frying• 85g caster sugar• 50g…

In March 2014, on President Putin’s orders, Russia illegally captured Crimea, an area in the south of Ukraine. Earlier that year, Ukrainian protesters had forced their president, Viktor Yanukovych – who sided with Putin and Russia – out of the country. The protesters wanted closer ties with Europe. Soon afterwards, Russian troops moved into Crimea, which Putin said belonged to Russia. He said it was to protect Russians who lived in Crimea. The Crimean parliament then held a public vote in which 97% of people voted to join Russia. However, Western and Ukrainian leaders said the results were false.…

A WHEELCHAIR ADVENTURER Darren Edwards was paralysed from the chest down after an accident in 2016. He has now became the first person to complete seven marathons on seven continents in seven days in a wheelchair. Edwards has raised more than £50,000 for charity. FINDING A DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT A fossilised footprint thought to belong to a 166-million-year-old dinosaur has been revealed in Scarborough, England. After its discovery in 2021, the fossil was removed from the beach because it was at risk of being lost. There are plans for it to go on display at a museum in Scarborough. LARRY THE DOWNING STREET CAT On 15 February, it was 12 years since Larry the cat arrived at 10 Downing Street, the official home of the UK’s Prime Minister. Since Larry was…

While helping out at her children’s swimming lessons, author A.M. Dassu noticed that one boy always put on his socks too soon afterwards. He inspired her to write a picture book that she called Soggy Socks. Today, many years later, Dassu has published lots of children’s books. Her most recent – Boot It! (see page 23) – is one of the books available to young readers across the UK as part of World Book Day, on 2 March. Schools and libraries are giving out £1 tokens that can be swapped for a book at any bookseller taking part. Dassu aims to tell the other side of stories and to feature different kinds of people in her books. She told The Week Junior that she often finds ideas for her stories…

Do you get told off for feeding your dog scraps under the table? Well, a new study suggests that by doing that (depending on what you give them, of course) you might actually be helping to keep your pet healthy. Scientists from the University of Helsinki, Finland, discovered that the food a dog might come across at home – such as berries, eggs, fish, meat and vegetables – can help keep its gut (digestive system) healthy, and may be better than a diet of only dog food. This is because having more variety in food leads to more variety in the microbes living in the gut. Microbes are tiny living organisms, too small to be seen without a microscope. There are millions of them in human and animal bodies –…

Hedgehogs Scientists have discovered that a hedgehog named Thorvald from Denmark lived a record-breaking 16 years (the previous record holder was nine years old). Scientists were studying his body to see how long hedgehogs can live. Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen said his age is “amazing”. People living by glacial lakes A study says that millions of people who live near glacial lakes – rather than regular lakes – are at more risk of flooding. Glacial lakes form when glaciers melt; climate change means there are more of them and they’re getting bigger. A glacier is a slow-moving mass of ice on land.…

As Wales celebrates St David’s Day on 1 March, tens of thousands of Welsh people are calling for the Prince of Wales title to be scrapped. So who is the current Prince of Wales and what does he have to do with a Welsh prince who rebelled against English rule in the 15th century? Who is the Prince of Wales? Prince of Wales is a title that is traditionally held by the heir to the throne. It is given by the King or Queen. When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, Prince Charles had been Prince of Wales for many years. He became King, and the next in line to the throne, his son Prince William, became the Prince of Wales. William’s wife, Catherine, became the Princess of Wales.…

A company called iHelios, based in Hull, England, has created a way to heat homes that replaces radiators. Radiant is a thin sheeting, developed by iHelios, which can be put in the ceiling, under floors or in panels. The material is powered by electricity, and it produces infrared light, a source of energy that’s invisible to human eyes but can be felt as heat. Instead of heating up the air, infrared heats up objects and people. iHelios says the system is environmentally friendly and will save people money. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

Matt Weston The British athlete won the overall silver medal in the skeleton World Cup. Skeleton is a winter sport that uses a high-speed sled. Lauren James Forward player James scored her first goal for England in a 4-0 win against South Korea in an Arnold Clark Cup match in Milton Keynes. St Helens St Helens rugby league team from England won the World Club Challenge. They beat Australia’s Penrith Panthers 13-12. Beatrice Chebet and Jacob Kiplimo Runners Chebet, from Kenya, and Kiplimo, from Uganda, won the women’s and men’s titles at the World Cross Country Championships.…

The Mandalorian, Series 3 Available on Disney+ from 1 March The Mandalorian, a man from the planet Mandalore, has reunited with Grogu, a baby green creature. As they continue their journey through the Star Wars galaxy, the two will meet old friends and make new enemies. Britain’s Best Young Artist, Series 2 Available now on BBC iPlayer Keen young artists from around the UK come together to compete for the title of Britain’s Best Young Artist. The challenges will test their skills in creating animal art, cartoons, collages and portraits. Catch up on series two. The Children’s Story – A Newsround Special Available now on BBC iPlayer To mark a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Newsround team travels to Ukraine to meet children whose lives have been changed by…

by Natasha Farrant (Faber Children’s) Ravenwood is a scruffy old house in the north of England, surrounded by ancient woods and overlooking the sea. For Bea and Raffy, it’s a beloved home – full of wonderful wildlife and special memories. For Noa, it’s the refuge where she’ll unexpectedly be spending her holidays. The three of them make a promise to spend a perfect summer together. However, Ravenwood is under threat. In their different ways, each of the children is determined to fight and save this magical place. Award-winning author Natasha Farrant’s latest book is a lovely story about family, friendship and defending what matters to you. Thought-provoking and hopeful, it’s also a story about the climate crisis, which will leave you feeling inspired to help protect our precious wild places.…

Whether you have a fun game with friends or join a club and take part in competitions, tenpin bowling is a great indoor game. The aim is to bowl a ball down a long, narrow lane and hit the 10 white “pins” that are arranged in a triangle at the far end. At the end of the game, the player who has knocked down the most pins to get the highest total score is the winner. Bowling balls come in a range of weights. Select one that’s not too heavy to hold. Your thumb needs to fit in the thumb hole and not be too tight or loose. Your middle fingers must fit comfortably in the other two holes. Stand holding the ball while facing the pins. Take a few…

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 115 407 677 815 826 4 numbers 2307 5746 7575 8243 5 numbers 21086 58438 77846 97301 6 numbers 158165 547742 925287 7 numbers 4330238 7350377 7516248 8 numbers 41833165 46462149 9 numbers 707056405 714827038 726750524 Sudoku Place the numbers from 1 to 6 exactly once in each row, column and 2x3 bold-lined box, to complete the grid. Spot the difference These two pictures appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you spot them? Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards…

Happy World Book Day and happy St David’s Day! We couldn’t decide which one to celebrate in this issue – so we chose both. On page 23, we’ve got a brilliant selection of five great reads that are on this year’s World Book Day list, which you can swap for your £1 voucher. We also feature an interview with one of the authors, A.M. Dassu, on page 9. St David, of course, is the patron saint of Wales. Have you ever wondered why the heir to the British throne is called the Prince of Wales? Our All About this week on page 12 explores the history of the title. There are lots of people who think that it should change, and in this year of King Charles’s coronation, it is…

Inspired by the 75th anniversary of the arrival of Empire Windrush (a ship that brought people from the Caribbean to the UK to work for companies like the Royal Mint), the Royal Mint Museum has launched a competition to celebrate those who gave up everything to come and work in the UK. As part of this competition, which will be judged by author Onjali Q. Raúf, school pupils aged eight to 11 are invited to submit stories of no more than 500 words on the theme “crossing continents”. One lucky winner will bag £5,000 for their school library. Enter before the 31 March deadline at tinyurl.com/TWJ-crossingcontinents 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 a…

Teacher’s name: Miss Spain School: Charlton Primary School, Dover, Kent “I would like to nominate Miss Spain as the best teacher ever. We are so lucky to have her as our Year 5 and now Year 6 teacher. She is the best person to talk about any matter. She is a very kind and inspirational teacher who loves and respects all children. Mrs Smith (teaching assistant) and Miss Spain make our class so funny and impressive.”Reina 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…

On 20 February, two more earthquakes struck near the border between Turkey and Syria. These came two weeks after two very powerful earthquakes struck on 6 February in which 47,000 people died. Millions of people have been affected. The more recent earthquakes had magnitudes of 6.4 and 5.8 on the Richter scale, which is used to measure the size of an earthquake. Although these were smaller than the earthquakes two weeks ago, they still damaged buildings and other structures. Some buildings that had been weakened by the previous earthquakes collapsed. The area where the earthquakes struck was mostly empty because lots of people had left after the first earthquakes. Many people have been sheltering in other towns and villages, where volunteers and families offered to help those who have been…

On 15 February, Nicola Sturgeon announced she was stepping down as First Minister of Scotland and as the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP). The First Minister is the most senior politician in the Scottish government, which makes decisions on important issues like education and health in Scotland. Why did Sturgeon resign? In her resignation speech, she said the decision was “right for me, for my party and for the country”. Sturgeon talked about how hard the job is and how little privacy she has. She said, “Giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it… but in truth, that can only be done by anyone for so long.” The SNP’s aim is for Scotland to become an independent country, rather than part…

Ottawa, Canada Outdoor ice track might not open The world’s biggest ice track might have to stay closed for the first winter in 50 years because of warm weather. Ottawa’s 4.8-mile Rideau Canal Skateway usually attracts 22,000 skaters every day but it needs two weeks of very cold temperatures to freeze hard enough to be safe. Ottawa is having its third-warmest winter on record. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Wealthy ancient homes found Researchers have found buildings in the ancient city of Chichen Itza that they believe were home to the city’s most powerful people. The city was founded around 1,500 years ago. The newly discovered buildings include an entrance arch and two houses. Experts say the buildings are where the city’s ruling family would have lived. São Paulo state, Brazil Storm…

As the weather warms and you’re out exploring, you’re more likely to spot the common woodlouse. The 30 species of woodlouse in the UK range in colour from brown to pink but this one is grey. They might look like beetles but woodlice are actually crustaceans, related to crabs and shrimps. Unlike insects, they don’t have a waxy body coating and can easily dry out, so they seek out damp places. They hang out under things like logs, rocks or paving stones. The oval-shaped woodlouse has a thick exoskeleton in seven body segments, each with a pair of legs. Woodlice munch on dead animals, fallen fruit, fungi, leaf litter and poo. They help to speed up decomposition (rotting) and return nutrients to the soil.…

Eurasian lynx Scientists think that France’s Eurasian lynx population could go extinct unless action is taken. Lynxes vanished from France in the 1700s but were reintroduced to Switzerland in the 1970s and roamed back into France. There are around 120 lynxes there but they are closely related to each other, which is bad for their health. • LIFESPAN: Up to 17 years in the wild. • HABITAT: Deciduous forests (forests made up of trees that shed their leaves in autumn) in Russia and Europe. • SIZE: Up to 75 centimetres tall and 30 kilograms. • DIET: Hoofed mammals like deer, and rabbits and foxes. • FUN FACT: Lynxes are so secretive that their presence often goes unnoticed for years.…

Prince of Wales’ feathers The Prince of Wales’ feathers are often associated with the Welsh rugby team. The motto attached to the feathers is German for “I serve”. Historians believe the feathers date back to the 14th century, when they were worn by the Black Prince, the son of King Edward III. The red dragon The famous red dragon that appears on the Welsh flag is known as the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr. It was first used by Welsh kings in the fifth century to represent their power after the Romans left Britain. It was used by Owain Glyndŵr during his campaign and remains a symbol of Welsh pride to this day. The Welsh seal The Welsh seal, formally known as The Great Seal of the Realm, is the official…

Researchers at Penn State University, in the US, have found that tightly coiled curls are the best hair type to protect people’s heads from the Sun. Earlier studies have shown that humans evolved to have thick hair on the top of their heads to prevent them from overheating in sunshine. However, a researcher called Tina Lasisi wanted to find out if different hair types make a difference to heat protection. Lasisi and her team experimented by putting three different wigs on a thermal manikin, which is a model of a human body with heat sensors in it. One wig had straight hair, one had hair with medium curls and one had tightly coiled hair. The manikin was put in a tunnel where the researchers could simulate (imitate) sunshine. The team…

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.…

Do you often compare yourself to other people? Comparisons can help to make decisions and motivate you but they can also pull you into a comparison trap. Why is it so easy to compare yourself to others? Whether it’s the number of goals you’ve scored at football or how many books you’ve read, it’s easy to compare yourself to someone else. Scientists say it’s a natural behaviour that helps humans learn from each other, live happily together and achieve more. Although comparing can be good for you, it’s not always helpful and you can find yourself stuck in a comparison trap. This is when you always measure yourself against others and base your feelings on how well they seem to be doing. Can comparisons be good for you? Becky Goddard-Hill…

Sequels for some of Disney’s most popular animated films – Frozen 3, Toy Story 5 and Zootropolis 2 – have just been confirmed. Frozen 2, which made £272 million in its first weekend in the cinema, saw sisters Anna and Elsa finding their own places in the world but there is no hint so far of how the tale will continue. Zootropolis 2 will no doubt continue following bunny cop Judy Hopps and her sneaky fox sidekick, Nick Wilde. If you can’t wait, there is a spin-off series on Disney+ called Zootropolis+. The first Toy Story film came out in 1995 but in 2019, Buzz, Woody and the toy gang were still having adventures in Toy Story 4. That was said to be the final film in the series but…

Sports games and role-playing games (RPGs) don’t usually mix very well. You are either running, jumping and kicking or hitting balls, or you’re wandering through dangerous dungeons full of monsters and treasure. In Sports Story, you do both. This game, released for Nintendo’s Switch console, is described by its creators as “a sports RPG like no other”. It’s the sequel (the follow-up to a book, film or game that continues the story) to a game from 2017 called Golf Story, which was very popular. This time round, as you may have guessed from the name, it’s about other sports too. You’ll get to swing a tennis racket; ride a BMX bike; kick a football and punch a volleyball, among other sports, as your character explores an island full of athletic…

Favourite animal? Cats. I love how independent they are and also how perfectly evolved to live alongside humans and basically exploit us… Walking or running? Oh goodness, always walking. I can walk for hours, and it’s some of my best thinking time. I hate running. Ever rescued anything or been rescued? I haven’t, but my friend continually rescues birds and hedgehogs. She has a magpie she rescued and freed who comes back regularly to sit on her computer while she is working. I am very, very jealous of her. Any advice for young environmentalists? Don’t despair about trying to save the world. Start with small local projects and the rest will follow. Favourite outdoor space? Oh, so many! Ancient forests, wild beaches, the River Thames in west London. The place…

Where can you play? Tenpin bowling centres are all around the UK. When you arrive to play, the centre will give you bowling shoes to wear and provide the balls to use. Wearing proper shoes allows you to slide on the approach to the bowling lane and help when you release your ball. Just ask a grown-up to look online for bowling near you. What else can help? If you like playing regularly and want to join a local club, then you should think about having your own ball. It will be made to perfectly fit your hand and style of play. You can also get your own bowling shoes and wrist guards.…

A dog gave his owner a scare when he decided to bolt off from his morning walk and travel all the way from Wrexham in Wales to Manchester Airport in England. The three-year-old pooch named Ralph clearly fancied going on holiday and decided to take matters into his own paws. With his owner distracted, Ralph hopped into a taxi with a family who were on their way to the airport. There was no phone number on the dog’s collar, so the cab driver and the passengers had to take Ralph with them to the airport or miss their flight. Thankfully, Ralph and his owner have been reunited.…

Name: Defne “I read your article on the earthquake in south east Turkey, on the border of Turkey and Syria, and used it to create a poster for my fundraising campaign, Read For Turkey Read-a-thon. I am Turkish; our campaign is raising money for Turkey Mozaik Foundation, a UKregistered charity which gives grants to grassroots organisations in Turkey. Right now they are helping earthquake survivors. You can find out about our campaign at justgiving.com/fundraising/readforturkey. We are aiming to raise £10,000 pounds for this cause. All proceeds go to the Turkey Mozaik Foundation.” 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…

“I grew my hair because I wanted to be able to donate it to the Little Princess Trust. I feel really good that I’ve been able to grow it long enough and I get to share this feeling with children who this may help.”Nellie “I was in St Ives, in Cornwall, for New Year’s Eve. Everyone dressed up in fancy dress and walked to the harbour. I was a stargazer and had a toy telescope.”Isabella “I used the QR code for the activity hub to find a craft idea. I made a jewellery bowl for my grandma.”Timothy…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam @TheWeekJunior. You can download the PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. Last week we asked you if people should move to the countryside… “Yes, because it is better for mental health and there’s less pollution.” “It might be better for mental health but you have to travel far to get anywhere.” “The countryside is much nicer than the city which is so busy and stressful.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 In which film does 12-year-old actor Frankie Corio star? □ a) Aftersun □ b) Pinocchio □ c) All Quiet on the Western Front 2 True or false? London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s favourite dessert at school was rice pudding. □ True □ False 3 Which cathedral is the subject of a new exhibition in Paris? 4 What type of container is sometimes used to store money? □ a) Monkey bank □ b) Cow bank □ c) Piggy bank 5 True or false? A.M. Dassu has just published a book called Kick It! □ True □ False 6 The charity Marine Conservation Society asking people in the UK to help which animals? 7 Which Saint do Welsh people traditionally celebrate on 1 March? □ a) St Owain □ b) St David…