Table of contents for 398 in The Week Junior

Wildfires have swept through Greece, particularly on the islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia, leading to thousands of people being evacuated. What happened? Local people and tourists were forced to leave their homes and hotels as fire spread across the islands by burning through plants, trees and buildings. More than 19,000 people on the island of Rhodes were moved to safety by plane or boat, while evacuations also took place on the island of Corfu. People sheltered in schools, airports and sports centres. Several travel companies cancelled flights to take tourists to Rhodes, and instead put on extra flights to bring people home. On 24 July, the UK Government said around 10,000 British tourists were still waiting to leave the island, along with Dutch, French and German people. What caused…

CINEMA TICKET SALES UK cinemas have reported their highest ticket sales in four years, partly due to the success of the new Barbie film, which came out on 21 July. The Vue cinema company said that more than 2,000 of its Barbie screenings were sold out on its opening weekend. WOMEN’S FOOTBALL A record-breaking number of tickets have been sold for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which began on 20 July. The event, which is being hosted by two countries – Australia and New Zealand – has so far sold more than 1.5 million tickets. More than 1.1 million tickets were sold for matches in Australia alone. A VERY HELPFUL CAT A cat called Zebby has been named Cat of the Year by the animal charity Cats Protection. Zebby’s owner…

Some parents think that children shouldn’t have to help around the home but many young people are expected to do chores. These range from laying the table and emptying the dishwasher, to taking out the recycling or helping in the garden. Some children lend a hand for free but according to a survey, almost half of parents only hand over pocket money if household tasks are completed. Meanwhile, more and more children are now getting paid for doing specific chores. Many people say it is beneficial for children. Not only does it help your parents but doing chores teaches useful domestic skills and gives you a sense of responsibility, which is good for self-esteem. Other people think childhood should be work-free. What do you think, should you be paid to…

Yaks, oryx and pupfish. Don’t overlook yaks as just cow-like creatures, they’re amazing at adapting to their environment. Ours are named after Harry Potter characters! They have a warm coat for winter, which they shed in summer. Our tiny pupfish and scimitar-horned Oryx (pictured) – named after their sword-like horns – are both extinct in the wild. We are helping to reintroduce oryx to a former habitat in Chad, Africa. Enjoy unlimited visits to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, plus a host of other benefits with ZSL Membership. Find out more at zsl.org/membership/zsl-membership…

Ancient Rome was the centre of a powerful empire that ruled large parts of the world for more than 600 years, starting around 200BC. Many of the buildings constructed by the Romans still stand today, and now a group of scientists have discovered the secret behind their lasting success – a special type of concrete that fixes its own cracks. The Pantheon, once a temple to the ancient Roman gods, was built nearly 2,000 years ago and still has the largest concrete dome in the world that isn’t reinforced. Modern reinforced concrete has steel rods in it to help keep its shape but the Romans didn’t have that technology. Instead, the Pantheon’s builders used a tough material called pozzolanic concrete. This is made with water, volcanic ash and lime, a…

It’s amazing to play in and fun for people to watch.” That’s how Grace Scrivens describes The Hundred cricket competition. Scrivens plays for London Spirit, one of the eight teams taking part in the event, which begins on 1 August. The Hundred is different to other types of cricket. When two teams play each other in a match, each team bowls 100 balls. The batting team aims to score as many runs as possible from the 100 balls, and the team that scores the most is the winner. There is a men’s and a women’s competition. “The Hundred is so fast but easy to understand and follow,” 19-year-old Scrivens tells The Week Junior. “When we’re batting we just try to clear the boundary as many times as possible. You have…

Whether you enjoy the rush of rollercoasters, heart-stopping spooky fun, the thrills and spills of water rides or exploring magical fairytales, the UK’s many theme parks offer something for everyone. One of the main attractions at Oakwood in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is a wooden rollercoaster called Megafobia. Brought from the US to the theme park in 1996, Megafobia recently reopened following an upgrade to make the first drop steeper. Oakwood is the largest theme park in Wales and has plenty of other attractions, too, including Vertigo, the UK’s tallest sky swing (a bit like a bungee jump). Based in Staffordshire, England, Alton Towers is the largest theme park in the UK. The site, which opened in 1980, offers rollercoasters, more than 40 rides and attractions, including an aquarium. This year it’s…

by Jean Menzies. Illustrated by Katie Ponder (DK) Open this gorgeously illustrated book to read stories of goddesses, heroines and powerful women from different cultures. There are 30 stories that take readers from ancient Greece to Japan and New Zealand and beyond. You’ll find tales about the warrior Mulan, the storyteller Scheherazade, the witch Baba Yaga, and many more. Grouped into ”Goddesses of Nature”, “Mermaids and Water Spirits” and “Queens”, the stories include lots of information about their background and origins. You’ll learn how goddesses have been worshipped around the world for thousands of years. There’s also a pronunciation guide for names and a useful explainer for tricky words. This is a real treasure for anyone who loves history and mythology. WIN! We have five copies of Goddesses & Heroines…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 3 Letters Dip Sea 4 Letters Crab Dock Seal Ship 5 Letters Spade Waves 6 Letters Pedalo Shorts 7 Letters Dolphin Sandals 9 Letters Hamburger Surfboard 10 Letters Candyfloss Sandcastle ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 29 Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. ALARM APPLAUSE CONCERT DISCO DRILL DRUMS EXPLOSION FIREWORKS GONG HAMMERING HORN MOTORBIKE PARTY RATTLE SEAGULL SHOUT SIREN SNORING THUNDER TRAIN Puzzles page and quiz answers…

Name: Annabel, Daisy and Niamh “On a Monday lunchtime in our school library, our librarian, Mrs Dewhurst, holds a FANTASTIC bookmark club for all of us to enjoy. Our crafty bookmark club allows us to be creative. Often, we have a theme to work with, ensuring we create bookmarks to accompany most literary events. We’ve covered almost every celebration there is, including all the festivals, special days in the calendar and most recently, Eid. Our librarian is like a magpie always on the lookout for random things we could make use of. We are so grateful for the opportunity to relax while creating.” 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…

1 Where is the most popular tourist destination in Greece? ◻ a) Athens ◻ b) Rhodes ◻ c) Crete 2 True or false? Reusing old buildings usually produces less pollution than building new ones. ◻ True ◻ False 3 In which Ukrainian city have missiles damaged a cathedral? _________________ 4 How much did the users of the GoHenry app earn collectively for their paid chores last year? ◻ a) £30,000 ◻ b) £3 million ◻ c) £30 million 5 True or false? Bagpipes are traditionally associated with England. ◻ True ◻ False 6 Which animal was returned to the wild in the UK in 2022 for the first time in 12,000 years? _________________ 7 In what year did Dennis the Menace first appear in Beano? ◻ a) 1938 ◻ b)…

Three new Members of Parliament (MPs) for England were chosen in by-elections on 20 July. These take place when a constituency (area represented by an MP) becomes available between general elections. Three MPs, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, resigned this year. Labour’s Keir Mather was elected in Selby and Ainsty; Conservative Steve Tuckwell won in Uxbridge and South Ruislip; and Liberal Democrat Sarah Dyke won in Somerton and Frome.…

For Ed Smith, swinging through the trees and having adventures is just a normal day at work. His job is Construction Team Manager at Go Ape, an outdoor adventure company that runs high rope courses in the UK. Go Ape’s courses allow people to get high up in the trees while attached to a supporting harness. The designs feature different ways to travel between the trees, from walking along a rope bridge to daring leaps, such as the Tarzan Swing. This is one of Go Ape’s most popular obstacles, and involves jumping from a platform high in the trees to swing down into a rope net. Smith and his team work together to construct Go Ape’s courses, testing their safety along the way. Smith told The Week Junior, “Zip wires…

In Jamaica, members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) have been discussing the possibility of allowing countries and companies to start deep-sea mining. The ISA makes rules about international seabeds (not belonging to a country) in most of the world’s oceans. Thousands of metres below the sea’s surface, valuable metals and minerals like nickel, manganese and cobalt have built up on the seabed into potato-sized lumps over millions of years. To mine these materials, huge machines with suction pumps pull sand off the seabed and sort through it to find these lumps. It’s still a very new technique that hasn’t yet been used on a large scale. Some companies say that the valuable metals and minerals are vital for creating new technologies, many of which are good for the environment.…

Goshawks, one of the UK’s most difficult-to-spot birds of prey, are thriving once again in the New Forest, in the south of England. The birds, sometimes called “phantoms of the forest”, were nearly driven to extinction in the UK because of a loss of woodland habitats and being hunted by humans. In 2002, a pair of goshawks nested in the New Forest for the first time in more than 120 years. Since then, a team from Forestry England, an organisation that looks after around 1,500 forests and woodlands, has been closely monitoring the birds. The team says that the area is now a stronghold for goshawks. This means it’s a place of safety for them, where they are growing in numbers. This year, they counted 45 goshawk pairs. Forestry England…

On 30 July, Beano is celebrating a special occasion – it will be 85 years since its first issue. Since its launch, young people around the world have been introduced to popular characters like the Bash Street Kids, Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx. Join in the celebrations, dive into Beanotown and find out how the comic has changed since 1938. The birth of a comic Beano started in Dundee, Scotland. The comic’s name comes from “beano”, which meant a party or celebration. The first issue was a 28-page mixture of comic strips and adventure stories that had children as the main characters – which was different to other comics at the time. Mike Stirling, the current head of Beano, told The Week Junior, “That was the really unusual…

Brian Harman The US golfer won the Open Championship. It’s his first victory at one of the four big golfing tournaments, which are known as the Majors. St Helens and Leeds Rhinos St Helens beat York and Leeds defeated Wigan to reach rugby league’s Women’s Challenge Cup final. Zharnel Hughes The sprinter set a British record time of 19.73 seconds when he finished third in the 200 metres race at the London Diamond League athletics event. Jonas Vingegaard Vingegaard, from Denmark, won the Tour de France cycling race for the second year running. The three-week race covered 2,116 miles.…

How many books do you think you have read? I keep track of most of the books I’ve read and the number is somewhere upward of 1,000 – but that’s taken me 31 years. Favourite part in the book? The final chapter on mortal women who do incredible things without being goddesses, witches or warriors. What inspired you to write it? I pored over history and mythology books so much as a child, I basically wrote the book my younger self would have devoured. Goddesses and Heroines was an opportunity to highlight the diversity of mythological women around the world but also the things they share, like their strength and wisdom. What was your favourite subject at school? There was a subject called religious, moral and philosophical studies, asking big…

Have you spotted any brightly coloured critters in your garden, or a park, with pointy noses and heads topped with flowers or leaves? Maybe you’re not looking closely enough… Alternatively, maybe they don’t exist because they were made up for a series of games. That’s the case for the Pikmin, critters who first appeared 22 years ago in the original Pikmin game for Nintendo’s GameCube console. In 2023 they’re back in a new game, Pikmin 4, released for the Nintendo Switch. As in previous games, these tiny, plant-like creatures spend their time outside in the garden, working together to solve puzzles with your help. However, the gardens in Pikmin 4 aren’t on Earth, they’re on a planet where a group of space travellers need rescuing. That’s your job as a…

An original iPhone has been sold at auction for more than £145,000. The device, which was still in its packaging, has 4GB of storage space and was made in 2007 – when the first ever iPhones were released. It would have cost £269 at the time. Technology company Apple stopped making the 4GB iPhone around two months after releasing it because people were choosing to pay more money for an 8GB model with more storage space. This means the 4GB version is particularly rare and prized by collectors.…

Do you ever struggle with boredom? The summer holidays is usually a time for lots of plans and activities, but there is often a point when you’re left twiddling your thumbs. We thought we’d tackle this issue on our Wellbeing page, and it turns out that boredom can actually be a useful thing. Turn to page 19 to find out how you can use it to be more creative and get some ideas for how to find your own fun. We’re continuing to focus on books as our Summer of Reading enters its second week. You can discover all the different superpowers that books can give you on page 23, and how to get the most out of your local library on page 25. One thing I remember reading to…

Did you know that in years to come, scientists and engineers predict that people will be playing football on the Moon? The first Moon football team will need some stylish sportswear to tackle and shoot in space, so the Institution of Engineering and Technology have launched a competition for young people under 13 years old. The task is to produce a home and away kit for Moon United, the world’s first lunar football team, and the winning designs will be turned into real-life kits. You’ll get to keep the kit you design too. The deadline to enter is 15 September. For more information visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-Footballkit…

“On the way back from school I saw a snapdragon flower growing out of the concrete on the road. There were cracks all around it!”Ella “My brother and I are reading The Week Junior in Bermuda amongst the amazing coral life.”Milo and Marley “We made the yummy lemon posset from your recipe and our Grandma said it was the best pudding she’s ever had!”Ted and Henry…

Millions of people have voted in a general election in Spain but the results did not produce a clear winner. The People’s Party (PP), led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo got the most votes, but not enough to achieve an overall majority. This means that it doesn’t have more members of parliament (MPs) than the other parties combined. The PP is a conservative party, which means it stands for traditional values. It’s thought the PP might make an agreement with a smaller party called Vox but even if the two parties joined forces, they still wouldn’t have the 176 MPs needed for a majority in Spain’s parliament. The government is currently run by the Spanish Socialist Workers Party, which did better in the elections than expected. However, it would also need…

A new report has revealed what young people in the UK think about poverty. Poverty affects millions of people in the UK and is being made worse by issues like the rising cost of food and energy. What is poverty? Poverty can be measured in lots of different ways but someone living in poverty will probably struggle to afford certain essential items, and maybe even basics such as food and shelter. The Trussell Trust charity says its food banks have given out record numbers of food parcels in recent years. Food banks are places where people in need are given free food parcels so they don’t go hungry. Emma Revie, who runs The Trussell Trust, said food banks are meant to be a short-term solution for emergencies, and “not a…

Nova Scotia, Canada Heavy rainfall causes major floods Nova Scotia has been hit by severe flooding, caused by the heaviest rainfall in 50 years. A storm began on 21 July and some places had more than 25 centimetres of rain in 24 hours – the same amount that usually falls in three months. The floods caused damage to roads, bridges and buildings, and more than 80,000 people were left without electricity. Béziers, France Cracking down on dog poo A new scheme to discourage people from leaving their dog’s poo in the street is being trialled. Owners have to register their dog’s DNA (a chemical carrying information about a species) with local authorities. Any dog poo found can then be tested to see which dog did it. Owners can be charged…

The Common darter is a pretty dragonfly that can be seen between July and October around watery areas all over the UK. Around four centimetres long with thin bodies, the males are red with yellow patches, while the females are golden brown. Both have black legs with a yellow stripe. Look out for them around lakes, ponds and rivers. Their name comes from their tendency to hover, then dart forward suddenly to snatch their prey – usually flying insects. They like to take their prey to a safe spot to gobble it up. The Week Junior Science+Nature’s Scavenger Hunt is on until 28 August. There are 10 natural things to find and snap, including, “something that travels by air” – see if you can photograph a common darter.…

Rubi von Screwtop Rubidium von Screwtop, who goes by the name Rubi, is a science whizz. Her dad is a top research scientist, so she is surrounded by inventions and experiments. Her wheelchair is kitted out with all sorts of gadgets, including solar panels, a motor and a fridge to keep fizzy drinks extra-cold. Dangerous Dan Dan is Beanotown’s top secret agent. He spends his time fighting evil schemes by the Secret Ministry of Intelligent Rotters Kommittee (also known as S.M.I.R.K.), and testing out the latest spy gadgets. Nobody at Dan’s school knows he’s a spy, and nor do his mum and sister. His dad does because he’s a secret agent too. Betty and the Yeti Betty has a very unusual best friend: a yeti. Betty had to keep her…

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.…

However fun or exciting your summer holiday plans might be, everyone gets bored sometimes. Learning to spot this feeling and doing something about it will make you more creative and help you combat boredom wherever you are. Being bored We all know what it’s like to be bored. Time drags and you feel tired, fidgety and wish you had something fun to do. Boredom isn’t the same as lounging and relaxing; boredom makes you feel restless and not connected to what’s going on around you. Scientists say boredom is your brain saying things aren’t going well and you need to do something more satisfying instead. The Week Junior reader Francesca, who is 13, says, “Boredom makes me feel empty and uncomfortable. I feel alone and want to see my friends.”…

Stupendous Sports: Cracking Cricket by Robin Bennett. Illustrated by Matt Cherry (Firefly Press) Did you know that cricket began as a way for bored shepherds to pass the time? Packed with jokes, cartoons and trivia, this book follows the story of this summer sport from its surprising origins up to the present day. Look out for the other books in the Stupendous Sports series: Rampaging Rugby and Fantastic Football. Andy Murray: A Life Story by Stephen Davies. Illustrated by Sarah Papworth (Scholastic) Andy Murray is probably the UK’s most famous tennis player. Follow his journey to tennis triumph with this biography, which includes fun facts, illustrations and a timeline of Murray’s life. Ultimate Cricket Superstars by Matt Oldfield and Tanya Aldred. Illustrated by Alessandra Valdrighi (Walker Books) Discover 50 game-changing…

Name: Heidi Eragon: Book One – The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini “Outstanding, suspenseful, fantasy. This book is rich with twists, turns and unexpected happenings.” YOUR TURN Email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it’s printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Describe the book in three words, what you liked about it and why you’d 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 futureplc.com/privacy-policy…

Holly King-Mand is a writer, presenter and campaigner for literacy (the ability to read and write). Parents can find more tips and information about Holly’s online classes at hollysclassroom.com Libraries are some of the most magical places on Earth. They provide a wealth of knowledge, offer an escape into other worlds and create opportunities for everyone. If you are new to using libraries, or even if you use them all the time, these tips will help you get the most out of them. 1 Join the club To borrow books and other items from your local library, you will need to join and get a library card. This keeps track of what books you have taken out and when they are due to be returned. Each library will have their…

The Children’s Society For more than 140 years, The Children’s Society has supported children and young people in the UK facing difficult life challenges. They believe everyone deserves a good and happy childhood. The Children’s Society offers children support services like one-to-one therapy, group sessions and advice. They also run campaigns to help improve children’s lives. Their goal is to make sure every child grows up safe, happy, and filled with hope for the future. childrenssociety.org.uk…

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 to arrange delivery of badges, and we will not share them with anyone else. By submitting your reports and pictures, you give consent to The Week Junior to print them in the magazine and digital editions. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, accuracy and suitability. Ensure you have your parent/guardian’s permission before sending anything to us.…

Teacher’s name: Mr Amos School: St Mary’s C.E. High Crompton Primary School, Oldham, Lancashire “Mr Amos is a very good teacher and I don’t know what I would do without him! We have great class rewards to encourage us to do our best!” Luke 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…

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’s ok to limit tourist numbers… “Crowds are not good. We have lots of visitors to beaches near us. Some park on dunes, toilet on paths and chop down trees.” “Limiting tourist numbers will help tackle the climate crisis.” “You should be free to go where you want to go.” “Overcrowding affects the tourist experience.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…