Table of contents for 478 in The Week Junior

On 3 February, US president Donald Trump agreed to delay introducing 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico. Imported goods are those brought into a country from abroad. Trump announced the tariffs on 1 February, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, which has now come into effect. Trump has said further tariffs could follow (See panel). What’s a tariff? Tariffs are a form of tax. It is money that companies must pay a government if they import goods from certain countries. The tariffs announced by Trump are based on the value of the imported items. If the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico go ahead, then a company will have to pay £25 to the US government for importing an item worth £100, for example. In…

Last year, Jasmin Notarangelo entered the Young Science Writer of the Year award. This is a competition for students, aged 14 to 16, who can submit an essay on any science topic. Jasmin won with her essay about Type 1 diabetes, which affects her mother and grandmother. With diabetes the level of sugar in a person’s blood can go too high, which can cause problems. Jasmin’s essay looked at available treatments. She was “ecstatic” to win and said, “I didn’t think that my writing was good enough… I felt very impressed with myself.” Jasmin said she has always loved reading and writing. When she was younger she related to the character of Hermione in the Harry Potter books. She used to write a lot of fiction, but now enjoys essays…

Scientists have found that mushroom corals can “walk” towards light. Corals are small sea animals that usually stay in one place on a reef. The researchers observed mushroom corals inflating and deflating themselves so they could move towards perfect light conditions. • LIFESPAN: Around 20 years, but it depends on the particular sub-species. • HABITAT: The Indian and Pacific Ocean. • SIZE: Up to 18 centimetres. • DIET: Material from plants and animals and tiny creatures drifting in the water. • FUN FACT: People in Hawaii used to polish their canoes using mushroom coral skeletons.…

Large mammals may have lived alongside humans in South America for several thousand years longer than scientists first thought. South America was once home to creatures such as elephants, sabre-toothed cats and sloths that weighed more than four tonnes. Today, its largest native land mammal (one originally from South America) is the tapir, which weighs up to 0.3 tonnes. Although supersized mammals have long since disappeared from the continent, a new study suggests they lived alongside people for thousands of years before going extinct. For the study, researchers analysed teeth from several animals, including a huge sloth and a large, extinct llama. The teeth were found in Brazil. The results suggested a number of species survived in South America for a long time after the arrival of humans – in…

Corie Mapp The British para-athlete won the overall Para-Bobsleigh World Cup, in Sigulda, Latvia, for the second year in a row. India women’s under-19 cricket team India beat South Africa by nine wickets to win the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup final. Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 7-0. It was their biggest ever win in the Premier League. Charlotte Bankes Snowboarder Bankes, who comes from Hemel Hempstead in England, won two gold medals at the Snowboard Cross World Cup in Beidahu, China.…

A Sick History of Medicine by Jelena Poleksic.  Illustrated by Ella Kasperowicz (Neon Squid) This book describes itself as “a warts-and-all book full of fun facts and disgusting discoveries”. It covers everything from treatments using leeches to inventions such as X-rays. Author Jelena Poleksic is a real-life doctor with a passion for the history of medicine. The Inventor’s Workshop by Ruth Amos. Illustrated by Stacey Thomas (Magic Cat) Award-winning inventor Ruth Amos invites readers to step inside the inventor’s workshop in this inspiring illustrated book. Meet more than 50 inventors and discover the true stories behind amazing inventions that changed the world, including the light bulb and the computer. Around the World in 80 Endangered Animals by Jess French. Illustrated by Brendan Kearney (Hachette Children’s) Jess French is a vet,…

Name: Isla A Storm of Sisters by Michelle Harrison “Heartwarming, wintry, adventure. I loved this book because of the tense and twisting adventures that the sisters go on.” 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…

When Taylor Swift’s stadium concerts in the UK sold out last year, some fans who missed out thought they had a second chance after seeing adverts selling tickets on social media platforms. However, many of those ads were fake: the tickets didn’t exist and people who paid for them lost their money. This is one example of an online scam (a scheme to get money from people dishonestly) but there are lots of others, such as offers of unofficial trades in video games. This is why the theme of Safer Internet Day 2025 (11 February) is “Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online.” Will Gardner, the head of Childnet, the charity that co-organises Safer Internet Day every year, says, “Scams are one of the things…

Cornish tree treasure found A man who was chopping some wood came across a striking pattern inside a tree trunk that looks like a map of Cornwall, England. Jamie MacDonald, from Mevagissey, Cornwall, was surprised to discover the map shape across the log’s growth rings (circular patterns that are formed as a tree grows). He said seeing pretty patterns in wood occasionally happens, but it was “unusual to see one that resembles Cornwall – especially being from Cornwall and the wood was in Cornwall”. After sharing a picture on social media, MacDonald received hundreds of likes. He said he couldn’t wait to display the log at his home. Opera dog wanted An opera director is looking for a friendly dog to star in a new show. The pooch will appear…

Donald Trump has suggested that tariffs on goods the UK sends to the US could happen. However, he said he was getting along well with the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and that issues with the UK could probably be worked out to avoid the extra charges. He has also said he might introduce tariffs on the European Union (a group of 27 countries that work and trade together), saying this would happen “pretty soon”. He argued that although the US buys lots of products from EU countries, the EU doesn’t buy as much from the US in return.…

PEACEFUL ARTWORK Throughout February, you can see a display of 9,000 peace doves at Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, England. Each Peace Dove, made by artist Peter Walker, has been decorated with a message of peace by a local school or community group. A TRADITIONAL MUSICIAN On 2 February, Ellie Beaton was announced as the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician for 2025. At Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Beaton was declared the winner after singing in Doric dialect – a variety of language spoken in north-east Scotland. NEWBORN LAMBS At Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Somerset, England, the first twin lambs to be born this year have been given unusual names. Nik and Nak were named after Nik Naks – a type of crisp snack. Last year, Noah’s Ark Zoo…

Born into an Italian family that made clothes, Rosita Missoni played with scraps of material as a baby. In the 1950s, her name became known when she founded a luxury fashion brand with her husband. Rosita and Ottavio (known as Tai) met in London, when she was a student and he was an athlete at the 1948 Olympic Games. They married in Italy and opened a knitwear shop near Milan. Tai had designed sports clothes and Rosita used her family knowledge of the clothing industry. In the 1960s, they learned how to use traditional knitting machines, which Rosita’s grandparents had used to make shawls. This helped them create the coloured zigzagpatterned knitwear they became famous for. Their first catwalk show (when models parade in front of an audience) was held…

From February, grey herons start heading to communal nesting areas, called heronries. Often in treetops, these can be home to more than 100 nests. The nests can be in use for many years and are often shared with other bird species. Herons’ eggs hatch between March and April. You can spot the adults year-round across most of the UK. Grey herons are tall, with a wingspan of 1.8 metres. They have long, thin legs, a long white neck and a grey back. Their bill and eyes are yellow and they have black feathers above their eyes that hang down their neck. Herons often stand still in rivers, ponds or lakes, waiting to catch a fish. When flying, the birds’ legs stretch out behind them and their neck is pulled in.…

It’s difficult to measure feelings but we can look at changes in behaviour that may reflect them. For example, our white rhino, Fahari, showed protective behaviours when she became a mum. At first, her calf Khulu kept close to her, meaning he may have felt unsure. Both are now much more confident being with the rest of the herd. We like to think this means they now feel safe and happy. 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.…

A Chinese company called DeepSeek has surprised many experts by releasing its own artificial intelligence (AI) software. AI is a computer system that can learn from experience and do things that usually take human intelligence. DeepSeek uses generative AI, which is a type of software that can generate content such as text and images based on the prompt a person types in. For example, you could ask the software to write a shopping list, create computer code, make up a story or you could use it to have a chat. Other popular generative AI tools, most of which were created in the US, include OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. The company behind DeepSeek’s new app is based in China. It has fewer than 200 people working for it. DeepSeek said…

When you make a mistake or say something wrong it’s easy to be hard on yourself. With self-compassion you can be a friend to yourself instead. What is self-compassion? Compassion is when you see someone suffering and want to help. Self-compassion is giving yourself that care and kindness. There are times when being kind to yourself can help – when you mess up or when you’re struggling to do something new. Dr Kristin Neff, author of several books on the subject, outlines three elements to self-compassion: being kind to yourself, understanding that everyone struggles sometimes and noticing your feelings. Why self-compassion is important Self-compassion can reduce stress, build resilience and ease pain. When you’re kind to yourself, you relax, you’re able to think more clearly and see a way forward.…

The 2024 film Wicked has been nominated for an impressive 10 Oscars. The Oscars, also known as the Academy Awards, are the most famous awards in the movie industry and are nearly 100 years old. This year’s awards ceremony will take place on 2 March, in Hollywood in the US. Wicked is based on the musical of the same name. It tells the story of Glinda and Elphaba, who became the Good Witch of the North and the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, which was based on a novel by L. Frank Baum. At the Oscars, Wicked is up for the prized Best Picture award. Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, is up for Best Actress in a Leading Role, while Ariana Grande…

by Jacob North (Simon & Schuster Children’s) In the frozen world of Tundra, young Oswin works hard in the fields. He’s an outsider because he was found on the ice and brought into Tundra. Many of the people look down on him and consider him a “stray”. He’s thrilled when he is unexpectedly summoned to Corridor – a magical school where he will be enrolled as an ice apprentice and learn subjects like Spellbookery and Etymagery. However, life at Corridor is tough and his fellow apprentices treat him with suspicion. Nevertheless, Oswin begins to make friends and when they come under attack from terrifying beasts, he teams up with an unlikely new ally to help save the community. This is the first instalment in an exciting new trilogy, and it…

Jennifer Bell used to work as a children’s bookseller and helped youngsters of all ages find their perfect book. She then became a children’s author herself. In Bell’s Magicalia series we meet best friends Bitsy and Kosh who are swept into a secret world filled with magical creatures, ancient meteorites (space rocks that have landed on Earth) and sinister villains. They soon discover their ability to summon strange beasts called “magicores”, which are conjured from different emotions. The inspiration behind the series came from the author’s fascination with the mysteries of science. Bell tells The Week Junior, “Even though the book has magic, it’s all rooted in real science.” Bell’s favourite subject at school was chemistry and she has always been interested in the relationship between science and magic. “It’s…

Valentine’s Day is on 14 February, and this pretty heart decoration makes a nice gift or a colourful ornament. The heart is a universal symbol of love. Both the red heart and the heartsfor-eyes emojis are some of the most popular, used to communicate love and admiration. Below are some simple steps to creating a cloisonné effect. Cloisonné is a technique where coloured enamel or glass is held in place by metal strips. It is named after the French word cloison, which means “partition”. Usually the metal shapes are crafted with copper or bronze wires but here we use string covered in foil to give a shiny, metal-like appearance. What you need • Paper• A pencil• Scissors• Thick card• Glue• Small brush• String• Foil• Sticky tape• A ribbon• Paints• Paintbrushes…

This month we celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is on 11 February. We heard about Jasmin Notarangelo last year but felt that she was a great person to feature on our People page in this issue about the day. It’s lovely that Jasmin thanks her biology teacher, Mrs Duff. If you’ve got a teacher you think deserves a shout out, you can nominate them for our Teacher of the Week (see opposite). It’s also Safer Internet Day on 11 February and the theme is how to avoid scams online. Some of the tricks are very sophisticated, and I like the idea that by talking, old and young people can help each other spot the cheats and stay safe online. Finally, thank you to all our…

Portico Sadie Massey Awards The Portico Sadie Massey Awards (PSMA) reading and writing competitions are open to seven to 18-year-olds anywhere in the world. The reading award is for book reviews – these can be of any book or graphic novel, and you should explain what the book means to you. To enter the writing competition, create a short story set in the north of England in the past, present or future. You can enter both competitions for free. Everyone who enters in the UK will receive a unique PSMA notebook and bookmark. The closing date is 21 March. Find out more and how to enter at tinyurl.com/TWJ-portico 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…

Teacher’s name: Mr Davis School: Trull Church of England VA Primary School, Taunton, Somerset “Mr Davis is a wonderful teacher – funny, joyful and incredibly talented. Right from our first lesson, he made us feel welcome and encouraged. His skill with the guitar brings a special energy to our class. He makes PE something to look forward to. One time, I was amazed when he walked into a singing assembly with his guitar and played a variety of songs flawlessly. He’s an outstanding teacher.” Josie 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 Which music artist won the best album award at this year’s Grammy Awards in the US? ☐ a) Chappell Roan ☐ b) Beyoncé ☐ c) Sabrina Carpenter 2 True or false? In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 welcomes the Year of the Snake. ☐ True ☐ False 3 In which city has a skate park opened for the first time? ___________________ 4 In Ofcom’s 2024 report, what percentage of eight to 15-year-olds reported using a generative AI tool “for fun”? ☐ a) 40% ☐ b) 63% ☐ c) 81% 5 True or false? The late fashion designer Rosita Missoni used to play with scraps of material as a baby. ☐ True ☐ False 6 How many eyes can scallops have? ___________________ 7 What is the Sun? ☐ a) A star…

A group of rebel fighters called M23, who A have vowed to take control of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), announced a ceasefire on 4 February. The rebels say the ceasefire (a pause in fighting) is so that aid can reach people living there. Evidence shows that the M23 rebels are supported by Rwanda, a neighbouring country in central Africa. Fighting between M23 and the DRC army has been going on for years, and M23 has seized control of areas where minerals (valuable metals) are mined from the ground. The country has lots of minerals, such as gold, copper and cobalt, which are worth lots of money. On 26 January, the fighting got worse when M23 took control of Goma, the capital of the…

On 3 February, the Government announced a new system for how Ofsted will grade schools. Ofsted is a government organisation that inspects education services for young people in England. Schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are inspected by other organisations. How will the system work? Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson outlined how Ofsted’s new grading system will use a report card to judge schools across nine different areas, including behaviour, attendance and wellbeing. Each area will be judged using a colour-coded scale. The suggested grades for each area are: causing concern, attention needed, secure, strong and exemplary. Phillipson said this is more detailed than the previous system, where schools were graded using one word (outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate). The aim is to give parents more information about schools.…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing faster than anyone expected. For tech enthusiasts, the possibilities are endlessly exciting, but some people are concerned about the new technology. The NSPCC, a charity that works to keep children safe, has called on the Government to do more to protect children from AI software. A report by the charity has found that children who use AI can be exposed to content that makes them feel upset. There were also examples of young people using it to be unkind to others. According to a survey, 78% of the UK public think there should be safety checks on generative AI software. The NSPCC wants rules protecting children to be included in laws about AI. What do you think? Should children be allowed to use AI? Yes…

Strict measures to control bird flu (avian influenza) have been introduced across the UK after a rise in cases, particularly in England. Bird flu is a disease that spreads between birds in several ways, including contact with infected saliva (spit) and poo. It can spread to humans but only in rare cases and it doesn’t usually harm them. The disease can also spread to other mammals, such as cats and dogs. The Government’s Food Standards Agency says it is still safe to eat meat and eggs from poultry, such as chickens and ducks, as long as the food is properly cooked. Avian Influenza Prevention Zones are now in place in all regions of the UK. These prevention zones apply to all birds kept by humans, including pets. In these prevention…

Researchers have found a new and environmentally friendly way of catching scallops that involves using pots fitted with lights. A seafood restaurant group called Rockfish has just added the shellfish – now named “Disco Scallops” – onto its menus.Currently, about 95% of scallops in the UK are caught by dredging – dragging heavy metal nets over the seabed to scoop them up. In the process, habitats are harmed and other sea creatures are killed needlessly. In 2022, scientists from a company called Fishtek Marine were trialling pots with lights to try to catch crabs and lobsters, working with a fisherman called Jon Ashworth. They discovered that scallops were drawn to the flashing lights too. Video footage shows the scallops appearing to “dance” into the pots. It is not known why…

Winter is a great time to go stargazing. The cold air is often clearer than in summer, when warm weather can cause hazy skies. It also gets darker earlier, so there’s no need to stay up too late to peer at the stars. This month there are dark skies festivals taking place around the UK, including in Yorkshire and the South Downs in England. At these, budding stargazers can learn more about the night sky. What is a star? Stars look like twinkling lights in the sky but they are actually massive glowing balls of gas with a very hot core. Nearly all stars are made mostly of a gas called hydrogen but the heat and pressure in the core turns some of this into another gas, helium. This process…

On 31 January, France started the men’s Six Nations rugby tournament with a big win against Wales. They won by 43 points to zero at the Stade de France, near Paris, and scored seven tries. It was the first time Wales had failed to score in a Six Nations match. The Six Nations is an important rugby union competition between teams in Europe that is held every year. France, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy all play one game against each other over a six-week period. There is also a women’s Six Nations tournament, which starts on 22 March. France captain Antoine Dupont played brilliantly to help his country beat Wales. He set up three of the seven tries that his team scored. Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey impressed as…

Dog Man may not be your average hero – his head and his body don’t even belong to the same species – but that doesn’t stop him sniffing out crime in a new movie. The film Dog Man shows the half-dog, half-man character being created after a police officer and his dog are involved in an accident. Embracing his new identity, the hero must stop the evil plans of Petey the Cat. Petey’s latest plot is to create a clone (another version) of himself to help him with his wicked ways. However, the clone ends up forming a connection with Dog Man, before falling into the hands of another enemy. To save him, Dog Man must do the unthinkable and team up with his enemy, Petey. In this action-packed adventure…

Makeaway Takeaway Available now on ITVX In this arts and crafts show, comedian Bec Hill uses recycled materials to make her own creations. She shares her top craft tips and inspirational art ideas that children can try making at home. Gladiators (Series 2) Available now on BBC iPlayer The Gladiators are back for another series and, as usual, they are taking on a series of challenges that test their strength and speed. Two new Gladiators, Cyclone and Hammer, have joined the crew. Who will lift the trophy at the end?…

What do you have in common with Oswin? I love finding out new things. I often get obsessed with something and spend all my time learning every fact about it, such as cave diving. What do you enjoy doing in cold weather? Building snowmen. Ice skating. Walking through frosty forests. Reading books with a cup of tea. If I’m really lucky, I may even ski. Do you remember your favourite teacher? There are so many teachers I owe so much to. Especially my school’s learning support department, who helped me understand not just how to manage my dyslexia but thrive because of it. What part of the book did you enjoy writing most? I loved the finale the most. It brings all the emotions, dangers and mysteries building throughout the…

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Tuck Everlasting, a classic novel by Natalie Babbitt. In it, 10-year-old Winnie meets a boy drinking water from a spring which, she discovers, grants the blessing of immortality. As the story unravels, Winnie discovers that eternal life is not as good as it might seem and she must also stop a sinister stranger from using the spring to his own advantage.…

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 128 441 487 672 832 4 numbers 2783 3725 8201 8523 5 numbers 14114 17722 31374 37426 6 numbers 285371 534880 7 numbers 2732418 3837747 5305111 6178163 8 numbers 41152410 61186804 82646368 9 numbers 140372101 203448663 310641580 623413520 Sudoku Place the numbers from 1 to 6 exactly once in each row, column and 2x3 bold-lined box, to complete the grid. Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. CITY COUNTRY DATE FRIEND HOLIDAY HOTEL IMAGE MAIL MESSAGE PICTURE PIER PRINT READ SCENE SEND SHOP STAMP TOWN TRIP VIEW Spot…

“This is me reading The Week Junior outside the Palacio De Velázquez in Madrid. I was visiting my auntie.” Holly “We made bird feeders to sell to people to encourage as many birds as possible in their gardens for the Big Garden Birdwatch. We made £20!”Jack and Barney “There’s nothing my teddy Owl enjoys more than relaxing with her knitting and The Week Junior after a long day at school.” Martha…

We love hearing from you! It’s easy – just write a comment when you vote in our online Big Debate poll, or even record a voice note for The Week Junior Show. Last week we asked if rugby is better than football… “No, football is way simpler and much more fun.” “Yes, the players respect the referee in rugby.” “No. Because there are less goals, the ones in football are all the more exciting.” “Yes, rugby has far more contact and ways to score.” “No, some people don’t like big rough tackles.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…