Table of contents for 467 in The Week Junior

On 19 November, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered its 1,000th day. When did the war begin? The Russia-Ukraine war began on 24 February 2022 when Russian forces launched a full invasion of Ukraine. Although Russia has advanced, Ukraine has successfully fought back in places and has been helped by military supplies from countries including the US and the UK (see panel). Russian forces now control around 18% of Ukraine. Since the war began, around a million people have been killed or injured. More than 10 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes because of the fighting. Nearly seven million have gone to other countries. What happened to mark 1,000 days? A special meeting of the European Parliament was held to mark the occasion. The European Parliament is…

UK prisons are very full and keeping people in jail costs the UK Government between £40,000 and £60,000 a year per prisoner. What’s more, many prisoners commit another crime soon after they are released and end up back in jail. Some people think this is because prisoners aren’t helped enough. Overcrowding and boredom from being locked away isn’t good for prisoners’ wellbeing or their future. In Norway, prisoners can do activities such as yoga, and they are offered education and work programmes so that after prison they are qualified to do jobs, such as mechanic or chef. Some people say this approach is good for society in the long run. Others think criminals should be punished, not pampered. What do you think, should prisons be nicer places? Yes – it…

Although gophers (a type of rodent in the US that digs burrows in the ground) are often considered a pest, a new study suggests they might be able to restore land damaged by fire. In 1980, there was a huge eruption of Mount St Helens, a volcano in the US state of Washington. The blast knocked down trees up to 19 miles away and lava (hot liquid rock) flowed across the surrounding land. Afterwards, it was hard for plants to grow in the scorched earth, but hope came from an unusual place – the northern pocket gopher. Scientists thought the creatures’ digging skills could help to restore the land, so they released several on parts of the mountain in 1982. The gophers were only let loose for 24 hours but…

OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024…

We all want to be liked. Sometimes, this means we might say or do something that doesn’t feel right because we want to please someone else. However, it’s important to learn how to be truer to ourselves and become comfortable saying “no”. This is called setting boundaries. What is setting boundaries? Setting boundaries is being honest and respectful about what you like and dislike. That makes you more likely to speak and behave in ways that are true to your feelings. Dr Rekha Vara, a clinical psychologist who helps people care for their mental health, explains that you can think of boundaries as a range. At one end, they could be so rigid (unable to bend) that you avoid getting close to people. At the other, they might be so…

Big Tree by Brian Selznick (Scholastic) In this epic adventure, two tiny sycamore seeds, Louise and Merwin, must try to save the world while searching for a safe place to grow. Award-winning American author Brian Selznick whisks readers away on an amazing journey from prehistoric times to the present in this powerful story. The Girl Who Talked to Trees by Natasha Farrant. Illustrated by Lydia Corry (Zephyr) In this enchanting illustrated collection of seven interlinked (connected) short stories, Olive’s best friend is an oak tree. She listens to the tales the trees tell her, including one of a Persian garden and a forest underwater. Through their stories she discovers their secrets and, perhaps, how to save them. The Book of Trees by Piotr Socha and Wojciech Grajkowski (Thames & Hudson)…

Name: Evie Kidnap on the California Comet by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman “Intriguing, adventurous, thrilling. I absolutely loved this book; it’s an exciting mystery set on a train. You never quite knew who did it until the very end. I strongly recommend 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…

This delicious traditional Irish bread is often eaten with stews and soups or butter and jam. It’s quick to make and, unlike lots of other bread, you don’t have to knead it (squeeze it hard with your hands). The “soda” in soda bread is bicarbonate of soda. This is a raising agent used instead of yeast, which is usually used in bread. A raising agent causes a chemical reaction called fermentation, which makes the dough rise and the bread go fluffy inside. This recipe serves eight people and takes 45 minutes to make. You can replace the buttermilk with the same amount of yoghurt or whole milk. If you use milk, first mix it with a dash of white or apple cider vinegar or lemon juice and leave to stand…

As we were getting this issue ready to go to press, we were also getting ready to shortlist and judge our Christmas cover competition. For weeks we have been receiving your fantastic artworks and my next job today (along with our other judges) will be trying to whittle down the selection. We love the pictures, stories, poems and photos you send in. Just looking at the page opposite, I am impressed by Luca’s amazingly enormous parsnip! I like to grow vegetables too but all I managed was some tomatoes and a few courgettes in the summer. I think I need to take some lessons from Luca. Congratulations too to Josie and Luca for their brilliant Kandinsky fireworks art. We regularly feature readers’ photos in the magazine and last weekend, I…

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 it is ok to have a messy bedroom… “Yes, it’s our bedroom and not someone else’s.” “No, a clean room is a clean mind.” “Yes, cleaning your room takes up a lot of your time.” “No, it’s quite embarrassing when your room is messy and friends come over.” “Yes, although my father doesn’t agree!” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here. If you’ve enjoyed this issue, why not listen to our podcast, The Week Junior Show? Go to tinyurl.com/TWJ-show or scan…

BBC News has reported that Russian forces are capturing territory in eastern Ukraine. On 17 November, for the first time, the US government gave Ukraine permission to use long-range US missiles to attack targets inside Russia. Although the US has supplied Ukraine with weapons throughout the war, it had not allowed Ukraine to fire US-made missiles into Russia. The UK and France are expected to do the same soon. Russia has said this is a serious change to the way the war is being fought.…

A BELFAST MUSICIAN Jordan Adetunji has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Adetunji made his song, Kehlani, at his home in Belfast and says his success shows you can achieve anything from your bedroom and to always keep trying. WELCOMING A CAT HOME After going missing from Cumbernauld, Scotland, last month, a cat called Beans turned up 300 miles away. Owners Cara and Colin McBurnie were contacted by a charity, Cats Protection, saying Beans had been found in Coventry, England. The charity found the McBurnies after scanning Beans’s microchip. TRANSPORTING MEDICINES On 12 November, drones flew blood samples between two London hospitals for the first time. The journey, which takes 30 minutes by road, was completed in two minutes using drones. Dr Hammad Jeilani co-founded…

Every year, people travel to the US to study tornadoes – powerful rotating wind storms shaped like a funnel. The US has more tornadoes than any other country. Paul Knightley, who works in weather forecasting, has visited the US to go “storm-chasing” 19 times since 1998. He told The Week Junior that he’s always been really interested in weather, especially tornadoes because the way they behave is so remarkable. “We still don’t know really why they occur,” he said. Tornadoes can be very dangerous but Knightley said that he doesn’t get that close to them. Chasers need to be quite far away to get a good photo of them anyway, otherwise it’s difficult to capture the funnel shape. Storm chasers need to keep an eye on the weather forecast to…

Emperor penguin An emperor penguin surprisingly appeared on a beach in Australia on 1 November. The bird was spotted by a surfer and is being looked after by a penguin expert. • LIFESPAN: 15–20 years. • HABITAT: Emperor penguins live in large colonies (groups) on ice in Antarctica. • SIZE: Up to 120 centimetres tall and they normally weigh around 40 kilograms. • DIET: Mainly Antarctic silverfish, krill and squid. • FUN FACT: Emperor penguins can go up to four months without eating.…

On 7 November, a portrait of mathematician Alan Turing sold for more than $1 million (£789,000) at an auction in New York, US. An auction is a type of sale where possible buyers offer money. The person who offers the most money gets to buy the item. The portrait was unusual, though – it wasn’t created by a human. In fact, it was the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction. The humanoid robot was Ai-Da, who was developed in 2019 by art gallery owner Aidan Meller and a robotics company. Ai-Da is named after Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician who died in 1852. Lovelace believed that machines could do more than just sums. She has been called the first computer programmer. Ai-Da can paint and…

Three British sailors are taking part in the Vendée Globe, one of the world’s toughest boat races. The event starts and finishes in Les Sables d’Olonne in France. Competitors, who are called skippers, must sail their boat by themselves down to Antarctica, around the huge continent and back – a distance of about 28,000 miles – without stopping. The famous race is held every four years and this year it began on 10 November. Samantha Davies, Sam Goodchild and Pip Hare are the British skippers joined by 37 others attempting to win the difficult event. The leading boats should finish after around 75 days. Others could be thousands of miles behind them and take around 100 days to complete the long journey. The route takes boats south from France down…

A sequel to Moana is making its way to cinemas, and Moana and the demigod Maui are off on another voyage together. The first film, Moana, was set on the fictional Motunui Island, which is inspired by the real Pacific Ocean islands of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Moana asked Maui for help to become a master wayfinder. Wayfinding is a method of navigating (finding a route) without using tools such as a compass. Instead, it relies on studying the sea, stars and the Sun. Moana 2 is set three years after the first film. Moana goes on a new voyage after she gets a call from her wayfinding ancestors. Joined by Maui, Heihei the rooster, Pua the pig and a crew of unlikely seafarers, Moana must travel through waters she’s…

The Wizard of Oz Prime Video, Apple TV Long before Wicked, the children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was made into a musical film. It opens on a farm in Kansas, US, with the main character, Dorothy (played by Judy Garland), saving her dog, Toto, from a wicked neighbour. Dorothy runs away with Toto but they get caught in a tornado. The storm carries them to the Land of Oz, where a good witch gives Dorothy a wicked witch’s ruby slippers. Dorothy must follow the Yellow Brick Road to find her way home but on her journey, she meets a scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion, as well as the wizard. The film won awards and its songs, including Follow the Yellow Brick…

by Lucy Ann Unwin (UCLan Publishing) In the UK, general elections are when people vote to choose Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them in the House of Commons. General elections usually take place every five years and in the run-up candidates and their parties campaign to persuade people to vote for them. In this story, a general election is approaching, and 12-year-old Natalie is determined to be part of the campaign. She wants to make a difference in the world but politics just seems to be about giving out glossy leaflets. Natalie sets about starting a revolution of her own – beginning with smiling at 10 strangers and ending with total chaos and a team of kids inspiring their school to do things differently. Funny, original and full of…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 3 Letters Egg Pen 4 Letters Soil Wool 5 Letters Beans Sheep Stall 6 Letters Apples Piglet Scythe 7 Letters Pasture Turnips 8 Letters Drainage Farmyard 9 Letters Farmhouse Scarecrow Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. CENTRE CROSSBAR DEFENCE DEFENDER FIJI FLANKER HALFBACK KICK MUD PENALTY PITCH PROP PUNT REFEREE RUCK RUN SWERVE TACKLE TRY WINGER Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each circle is the sum of the numbers in the two circles directly beneath it. Spot the difference These two pictures…

Name: Conor “I live in Knaresborough, a beautiful town in North Yorkshire. Every year we have a lot of unusual activities happening. Recently we had the Knaresborough Scarecrow Trail, which runs from 26 October to 3 November. 24 scarecrows were hidden around town, each scarecrow crafted by local businesses. Those who completed the trail were entered into a prize draw to win £50. It was great fun and I always enjoy it. This is only one of many quirky events in Knaresborough. We also have an annual Bunny Hunt, a Tug of War and my favourite, the Bed Race. The Bed Race takes place in June. Ninety beds are decorated based on a theme and paraded through town. They are then raced with a child sitting on the bed, and…

1 The world’s largest coral is around the same size as which animal? ◻ a) A giraffe ◻ b) A blue whale ◻ c) A great white shark 2 True or false? The book Wuschel auf der Erde has been designed to help primary school children learn French. ◻ True ◻ False 3 The city of Lopburi, which has been plagued by mischievous monkeys, is in which country? 4 How many prisons are there in the UK? ◻ a) 40 ◻ b) 99 ◻ c) 141 5 True or false? There are about 120 tornadoes each year in the US. ◻ True ◻ False 6 Which gas do animals and people need to breathe? 7 In which country did an emperor penguin appear on a beach unexpectedly on 1 November?…

Hazel dormice have been found in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The species, which has gingery-brown fur and a bushy tail, is rare and can only be found in a few places in the UK. As part of efforts to protect the mammals, volunteers put out a number of nesting boxes. When they checked the boxes later, they found that dormice had made themselves at home in the Nevern valley – about five miles west of Pengelli Forest, where they are already known to live.…

During autumn, as oak trees start to lose their leaves, you might notice some strange growths on the branches. These are called galls and they are mostly caused by insects feeding on the tree or laying their eggs on it. Galls usually grow in spring, but they’re easier to spot later in the year when leaves are sparse. There are lots of different types of gall. At this time of year, the galls are usually brown and woody, in clusters on twigs. They are known as oak marble galls or oak nuts and are created by tiny gall wasps laying their eggs. The young wasps (larvae) feed on the inside of the gall and then escape in the autumn, leaving behind an empty gall with a small hole in it.…

This autumn, the National Gallery is celebrating its 200th birthday by putting on an exhibition featuring the paintings of artist Vincent van Gogh. Although Van Gogh’s paintings are very famous today, this was not always the case. His early life Vincent van Gogh was born in Zundert, Netherlands, on 30 March 1853. He was one of six children. After leaving school, Van Gogh tried several jobs including buying and selling art in the Netherlands and working as a teacher and religious preacher in England. His Christian faith became more important to him and so he moved to Belgium, where he lived in poor areas, visiting the sick and giving Bible readings. This is where he began to draw and paint. In 1880, he decided his life’s mission would be helping…

Jannik Sinner On 17 November, the Italian tennis player beat Taylor Fritz, from the US, by two sets to zero to win the ATP Finals title. England men’s football team At Wembley Stadium in London, England enjoyed a 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League. Captain Harry Kane scored the first goal. Nelly Korda The US athlete won the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Annika event. England’s Charley Hull finished joint second. Chelsea Women Chelsea beat rivals Manchester City 2-0 in the Women’s Super League. Chelsea are top of the league with seven wins from seven games.…

The Wicked musical, which has been performed in theatres for more than 20 years, is all about the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz (see Film Club). When she was younger, the green-skinned witch was known as Elphaba. The story follows Elphaba while she’s studying at university in the Land of Oz. There, she meets another young woman called Glinda. The two become close friends but soon their lives go on different paths. The show has been adapted into a film starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. It has been split into two films, and the first part is out in cinemas now, rated PG.…

An Almost Christmas Story Available now on Disney+ This animated short film is inspired by the true story of a small owl that was rescued from New York City’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020. When Moon the owl tries to escape the city, he befriends a lost girl named Luna. Together, they have to find their way home. Spellbound Available now on Netflix In this new animated musical film, young princess Ellian has a big problem: her parents have been turned into giant monsters by a mysterious spell. Ellian must journey into the wild to reverse the curse and save the kingdom of Lumbria and her parents. Spellbound is directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek). Jamie Johnson FC (series 2) Available now on BBC iPlayer The Hawx United Academy is…

What is the first step to changing the world? Find something you truly care about changing. If it’s close to your heart, you’re more likely to stick with it and enjoy it, but if you’re stuck for ideas, start with a smile. Tell us your favourite thing about Natalie, your main character. How she can’t help but be good. She makes some very bad decisions and she tries her best to push people away but her goodness always bubbles to the surface in the end. What is your earliest political memory? Asking my parents who they voted for and finding out they considered it a secret. I don’t think they even told each other. If you had a pet rat, what would you name it? Well, our tortoise is called…

Nintendo characters Mario and Luigi are plumbers, so you would think that the nearest they get to water is fixing a leaky tap or a flooded bathroom. However, in Mario & Luigi: Brothership they’re experiencing a much wetter environment: the ocean. In the game, which is released for the Switch console, the brothers set sail in their ship. The game is set in a world called Concordia, which is made up of lots of little islands and lots of sea. Your job is to help reconnect those islands by sailing between them and enjoying adventures with a bunch of characters. This isn’t a platform game like the Super Mario Bros series, though. Instead it’s a role-playing game (RPG) where you explore the islands, battle monsters and solve puzzles. As you…

A beauty contest just for bats On 31 October, a bat called Hoary Potter took the top prize in a beauty competition. The dark-furred hoary bat – named after the famous boy wizard – was praised for his “midnight fur”, “twinkling eyes”, and for embodying (being a good example of) “the magic of the wizarding world”. A white marking on the bat’s forehead was said to look like Harry Potter’s trademark lightning bolt scar. The bat is the third in a row from Oregon, US, to win the competition, which is held to celebrate International Bat Week. Organised by the Bureau of Land Management, the contest raises awareness of how important bats are to the natural world. An opera for babies English National Opera (ENO) and the London Coliseum theatre…

This year, charity Save the Children and Shaun the Sheep have come together to encourage schools and youth groups to celebrate Christmas Jumper Day on 12 December. On Christmas Jumper Day, everyone is encouraged to wear a Christmas jumper. You don’t need to buy a new jumper if you don’t have one – you can upcycle an old jumper with tinsel and baubles, for example. Your school could use the day to raise money for charity. To get your school involved, ask a teacher to visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-jumper 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 Roving Reporter badge if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide…

Teacher’s name: Mr De Salis School: Oreston Community Academy, Oreston, Plymouth “I have a superpower called autism. Even though it’s a superpower, I find some things hard. Mr De Salis helps me every day. He checks in, asks if anything should be different and gives me brain breaks so that I can rest. He has a great sense of humour. Once, when his team lost he put a note on his door saying ‘Don’t talk to me about football!’ (with a smiley face). Mr De Salis makes me excited to go to school every day.” Emily 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…