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On 22 January, Ukraine marked the Day of Unity, an event held every year to show the togetherness of the country and its people. What is the Day of Unity? The Day of Unity takes place on the anniversary of the Unification Act. This was signed in the city of Kyiv in 1919. It combined two states – the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the West Ukrainian People’s Republic – to form a united Ukraine. However, it was a long time – more than 70 years – before Ukraine finally became an independent country, free from control by other countries. The first Day of Unity celebration was held in 1939, although it didn’t become a yearly event until 1999. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the day has had…

A FLOCK OF SHEEP A flock of sheep at a farm near Swindon, England, has welcomed four sets of triplets in the space of a week. Although triplets aren’t rare, it’s unusual for four sets to be born in such a short space of time. Farmer Pippa Bolter said the new arrivals were “fantastic”. YOUNG DANCERS At a school in Leeds in West Yorkshire, England, free ballet classes have been offered to 20 school pupils for a whole year. The classes were set up by professional ballet dancer Martin Howland, who says he wants to show young people that “anyone can do ballet”. SAVING A WOODLAND A group of dog walkers and nature lovers have joined up to buy an area of woodland in Scotland to keep it open to…

On 27 January, it is Holocaust Memorial Day. This is when people come together to remember the Holocaust, when six million Jewish people were killed by the Nazis, who ruled Germany, during the Second World War (1939–1945). The Nazis also killed millions of others, including people with disabilities. Everyone killed in other genocides (an attempt to destroy part of or all of a particular group of people) is also remembered on this day. Vera Schaufeld, who was born in Czechoslovakia in 1930, is a Holocaust survivor. She grew up in a small town called Klatovy and enjoyed a normal, happy childhood with her family. Things changed after the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. Her father was arrested and her mother wasn’t allowed to work as a doctor. Soon after that,…

Scientists from the UK are in the Arctic to test out a method of “refreezing” its ice. The Arctic is the northernmost region of Earth and it is extremely cold – but global warming is melting its ice. Over the past 30 years, the oldest and thickest parts have shrunk by as much as 95%. Arctic ice melting is worrying because it makes sea levels rise and it makes the planet warmer because the dark water absorbs the Sun’s warmth, whereas the white ice reflects it back into space. Earlier this month, a team travelled to Cambridge Bay, in Arctic Canada. They cut a hole in the ice and used a pump to bring seawater from below the ice up to the surface. This spread out across the ice and…

The cold, mud, rain and wind can make it very tough to enjoy some sports in the winter. In cyclo-cross, these conditions are all part of the fun as riders race for victory. Cyclo-cross is a sport where competitors race laps around an off-road circuit, such as a field. They face having to ride through mud, up hills and over obstacles and steps. At times they have to get off their bike and run with it, either pushing or carrying it on their shoulder. Cyclo-cross takes place in the autumn and winter when the weather and ground conditions present quite a challenge to competitors. Earlier this month, the British Cycling National Cyclo-cross Championships took place in Falkirk, Scotland. In the girls’ under-14 race, Olivia Poole, riding for Deeside Thistle Cycling…

Onjali Q Raúf’s award-winning novel The Boy at theBack of the Class shares what it’s like to be a child refugee (someone who has fled their home country because of war or the threat of violence) starting a new life in the UK. After a difficult journey escaping conflict in Syria, nine-year-old Ahmet starts school in England, where he gradually begins to make friends with the people in his class. The inspiring story of friendship, kindness and bravery, told by Ahmet’s classmate Alexa, is now coming to life as a play, which opens at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, near London, before touring around the UK until 1 June. Monique Touko, the play’s director, told The Week Junior she quickly realised how much children love the book. This meant Touko…

The InBESTigators Available now on Netflix Ten-year-old Maudie loves solving puzzles, so she decides to form a detective agency with her classmates Ava, Ezra and Kyle. Together, the four of them are determined not to leave a single crime unsolved. Winterwatch Available now on BBC iPlayer Find out how wildlife around the UK survives during the winter months. The new series features families of badgers, foxes and red squirrels. There is also a special music-free episode, so that viewers can immerse themselves in the sounds of nature.…

Writing or drawing? Right now I’d say drawing. But I could change my mind tomorrow. What is your best childhood memory? So many different kinds of happy memories. Here’s one: the arrival of my first dog when I was 10. She was Dixie, an independent shih tzu who meowed. Did you follow rules when you were a child? I definitely did. BUT some of the rules I made up myself. That’s allowed, isn’t it? What is your favourite children’s book? Comet in Moominland was the first Moomin book I found, and I fell in love with the characters, their world and Tove Jansson’s art. Fantastic. I love all the Moomin books. What kind of fidder would you like to be? I’d like to be a Pet Placement Agent, meeting lots…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that helps computers to think, learn and create in a way similar to humans. The last year has seen a lot of new AI apps and tools developed. ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot are two examples of AI chatbots that you can have a conversation with. You could ask them about a subject that you’re studying at school, or a part of history that you’re interested in, or tips for good places to visit on holiday. Teachers might be able to use these apps to create lesson plans to use in the classroom but they have other uses too, like boosting creativity. For example, the AI could help invent characters and write stories. There are also “text-to-image” AIs, like DALL-E and Mid journey, which can create…

A garden in Tasmania, Australia, has been given an award for being truly hideous. Kathleen Murray is the proud winner of the World’s Ugliest Lawn competition. One judge said that all the garden entries were ugly but Murray’s “was really, really bad”. Her garden is very dry with wilting grass, shrivelled plants and holes where animals have dug for food. In fact, the prize is a compliment because the competition aims to reduce water waste by stopping people from watering their gardens.…

Our cover line this week sums up our story on page 5; the weather has truly been wild. I was grateful for the official warnings and made sure I didn’t make any plans that would have to be called off. We write our All About features well in advance, so it was just coincidence that the report on weather forecasting (page 12) appears in this issue. I’m glad to hear that powerful computers are helping out, rather than having to check if sheep are huddling! In our story on page 10, you can read about a team of scientists who want to see if they can help the Arctic ice sheet grow back using pumps and natural forces. Artificial intelligence (AI) is another type of technology shaping our world. On…

Under normal conditions, there would be an election to choose a new president of Ukraine in March this year. However, Ukraine is under martial law (when a country is run by the military in times of crisis), meaning all elections are forbidden. It would be very difficult to hold an election during wartime. Large numbers of people have had to leave their homes, fleeing either to other parts of Ukraine or abroad, so they wouldn’t be able to vote. In November 2022, President Zelensky said it was not the right time to be holding elections.…

Shini Muthukrishnan is the newest presenter on TV show Blue Peter. Muthukrishnan, from Stafford in England, is a content creator (someone who makes video, audio and written material). She is best known for her videos that celebrate her British, Indian and Malaysian heritage. For her first challenge on Blue Peter, Muthukrishnan took part in some aircraft aerobatics (where planes perform stunt-like moves in the air). On being the 43rd presenter to join the world’s longest-running children’s TV show, Muthukrishnan said, “It is such a surreal and exciting feeling. I can’t wait for all the adventures to come!”…

The UK’s tiniest deer is not only similar in size to a sheepdog, it also makes a sort of barking sound. Muntjacs were brought from China to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire, England, in the early 20th century. Today, their numbers are highest in south-east England but they live across the UK. In winter, when food is scarce, they often go into gardens to feed on scattered bird seed and plants. You’re more likely to spot them at dawn or dusk. They have pale red-brown fur, curved backs and black marks on their face – a diamond shape on does (females) and a v-shape on bucks (males). Bucks have short, single antlers that curve back. Muntjacs eat grass, fungi, plants and trees and can sometimes damage woodland by grazing too much.…

Sloths have a top speed of around 1.5 miles per hour. They must save energy because they eat low energy-giving leaves and their stomachs digest food slowly. They have poor eyesight, so climbing trees quickly would be a bad idea. Moving slowly and having special fur that allows green algae (a tiny plant-like organism) to grow on it means that sloths are camouflaged from predators, like jaguars and eagles. 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…

Scientists have long been interested in why some people like vegetables and why others don’t, when eating greens is good for you. A new study has found that other people’s likes and dislikes could play a part. Apparently, watching someone eating vegetables and visibly disliking them could put you off them a bit too. A team from Aston University in Birmingham, England, set about investigating how the facial expressions that people make as they eat affect a person watching them. They asked more than 200 women to watch videos of other adults eating raw broccoli. The people in the videos would have different expressions while eating. They would smile, look neutral (neither happy nor sad) or look disgusted by what they were tasting. The study found that watching people react…

Adele Nicoll and Kya Placide The British pair won gold in the bobsleigh at the Europa Cup in Switzerland. Great Britain hockey teams The women’s and men’s team qualified for this summer’s Olympic Games by winning their qualifying matches. The Paris 2024 Olympics take place from 26 July to 11 August. Lauren James and Khadija Shaw They both scored three goals in the Women’s Super League. James’s Chelsea beat Manchester United and Shaw’s goals came in a Manchester City win. Luke Littler The teenager won his first senior darts title by beating Michael van Gerwen at the Bahrain Masters event.…

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Abridged by Patrice Lawrence (Walker Books) Orphan Jane Eyre leads a miserable life with her unkind aunt and cousins and then at a harsh boarding school. She leaves to become a governess at Thornfield Hall, and soon forms a bond with her young pupil – as well as with the mysterious Mr Rochester. Comic Classics: Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles by Jack Noel (Farshore) Solve a spooky mystery with the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. This comic strip version of a classic novel is packed with doodles and drawings. This book is great for younger readers. Look out for other books in Jack Noel’s Comic Classics series, including Treasure Island. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women: A Retelling by Laura Wood (Barrington…

Name: Amelie The Castle of Tangled Magic by Sophie Anderson “Wonderful, warm and long. When you read it, a magical world forms around you. There are things from real life as well as all the spirits.” 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. Roving Reporter 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…

The theme for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is “my voice matters”. Place2Be, the charity that organises the week, has created this activity to help you express your personality. Just fill the swirl with words and pictures that describe or show the things that matter to you. Send your swirl to us for a chance to see it in a future issue.* Post it to The Week Junior, Future Publishing, 121–141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR. You can download extra templates at tinyurl.com/TWJ-swirl 1 Start in the middle with day-to-day things – like your family, friends, toys and home. For example, a picture of your favourite book. 2 As you work outwards, add things that matter to you in the wider world. It could be wildlife, a place, or…

This charity wants children to know where food really comes from: the soil, not the supermarket. It teaches young people about food by showing them how to grow it, cook it and even sell their home-grown fruit and vegetables at local markets. School Food Matters wants every child in every school to get healthy school meals. It believes that as well as having books and PE equipment provided for them at school, every child should receive a hot school meal. The charity is working to convince politicians to provide delicious school food for all children, no matter where they live. To find out more, ask an adult to have a look at schoolfoodmatters.org…

On 1 February, everyone in the UK is invited to take part in Time To Talk Day. The event is organised by two mental health charities, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with Co-op. The idea is to get people to have conversations around mental health. Find out how you can get your school, sports clubs, friends and family involved on the Time to Talk Day website where there are lots of ideas to help you and others start talking. 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 to arrange delivery of badges, and…

Teacher’s name: Mr Hart School: Henry Chichele Primary School, Rushden, Northamptonshire “Mr Hart is a wonderful teacher because he is so understanding and really helpful if we don’t understand something. He makes learning interesting by making it come alive. He is great at teaching us English because he is creative and helps us come up with amazing ideas. Mr Hart always has a smile on his face when we come into the classroom in the morning.” 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 full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

1 What is the EU about to ban? ◻ a) Greenwashing ◻ b) Greendrying ◻ c) Green labelling 2 True or false? Anglesey is the smallest island in Wales. ◻ True ◻ False 3 How many black rhinos are being moved in Kenya? 4 Which singer was criticised for lip-synching at a ceremony for the US president in 2013? ◻ a) Beyoncé ◻ b) Taylor Swift ◻ c) Ed Sheeran 5 True or false? Shini Muthukrishnan is the 43rd Blue Peter presenter. ◻ True ◻ False 6 In which two countries did researchers study Alpine ibexes? 7 Which insects do numbats eat using their long tongues? ◻ a) Ants ◻ b) Termites ◻ c) Ladybirds 8 True or false? A red sky at night suggests there will be good weather.…

In 2013, Beyoncé was criticised for lip-synching the national anthem at a ceremony for Barack Obama, who was US president at the time. She argued that she only did it because she hadn’t had time to practise and wanted to make sure it was perfect. Later this year, Taylor Swift is coming to the UK for her Eras Tour and many fans have spent hundreds of pounds on tickets. Imagine if Taylor Swift decided to play her songs out of a speaker and pretend that she was singing along. Some people might say they are there to see her on stage and it doesn’t matter as long as the songs sound good. However, others would say that she was misleading the crowd, and the whole point of a concert is…

Humans have long tried to predict the weather accurately. From the hunters and gatherers of ancient times to today’s pilots and farmers, predicting the weather can make the difference between success and failure. Accurate forecasts also save lives. They help sailors stay safe at sea, and help officials warn people about storms. They shape our daily lives, too, like when to walk the dog or wrap up warm. Nowadays, the methods are very high-tech but in the past people studied birds, cows and insects for clues as to what might happen. Ancient forecasting In 650BC the Babylonians (who lived in what is now Iraq and Syria) tried to predict the weather based on the appearance of clouds and other things such as halos (rings of light that form around the…

Animals, like humans, use their bendy spines to be able to move quickly and easily. Scientists have recently invented a mouse-like robot with a flexible spine, helping it to wriggle, squeeze and turn corners with greater ease than robots with rigid spines. The spine has eight joints to help it bend. It allows the mouse to move 17% faster than when its spine was rigid. Bendy spines could one day help robots take part in search and rescue missions, allowing them to wriggle into tight spaces where humans can’t go. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…

Tuning into your intuition can help you understand yourself better and discover what you’re good at. What is intuition? Intuition is a quiet voice inside your head that tells you when something is right or wrong. It’s also known as a “gut feeling” – for example when you know you’ll be friends with someone before you’ve even spoken to them. Author Beatrice Moise describes intuition as “an awareness of your senses, the feeling of butterflies in your stomach or suddenly being aware of your heartbeat or breathing”. Scientists say intuition happens when your brain compares what’s going on around you with experiences stored in your memories. It creates a feeling so fast you often don’t even notice it. It is why you sometimes make speedy decisions that appear from nowhere.…

From Mary Norton’s The Borrowers to Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, there are plenty of books about tiny people who exist undiscovered. The Minute Minders, by Mary Murphy, is a new one to add to the list. Stevie and her dad are “fidders” – tiny people who help humans, although humans don’t know they exist. Fidders work behind the scenes, helping people in all sorts of ways, even matching them with a perfect pet. The Minute Minders solve all kinds of human problems in just one minute per person per day. The first rule for fidders is that they must not let humans know they exist (also true for Mary Norton’s Borrowers). However, Stevie is by nature a rule breaker, and how can she keep the rules when she meets…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Close with a key (4) 3 Dishes for dinners or cakes (6) 8 Pencil or crayon picture (7) 9 Grow older (3) 10 Insect with antler-like jaws (4,6) 13 High-rise structure containing offices or flats (5,5) 17 Almond, cashew or pecan, for example (3) 18 Disc used in a throwing game (7) 19 Able to lift heavy weights (6) 20 Showery weather (4) Down 1 (Box) covers (4) 2 Sailing map (5) 4 ___ cabin, hut (3) 5 Browned bread eaten for breakfast (5) 6 Country next to Norway (6) 7 Part of the hand (6) 11 Chocolate-and-cream pastry (6) 12 Rock fragments (6) 14 Liquid from a kitchen tap (5) 15 Venomous Indian snake (5)…

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 our readers whether schools should be inspected… “No. Inspections put too much pressure on teachers who are working hard.” “Yes, it’s a good measure to ensure good standards.” “No, it’s difficult to compare different school and pupils.” “Yes, it helps the staff know what to improve on or what they did well on.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…