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On 24 March, a national day of mourning took place in Russia after a terrorist attack at a concert hall two days earlier. A terrorist attack is an act of violence designed to scare the public. What happened? On 22 March, a group of people entered Crocus City Hall and attacked people. Crocus City Hall is in an outer part of Moscow, Russia’s capital. At least 139 people died and more than 150 others were injured. On 23 March, the Russian authorities said they had arrested 11 people in connection with the attack. Four men accused of being directly involved in the attack were charged with committing an act of terrorism. Why did it happen? On the same day the attack took place, a terrorist group called Islamic State (IS)…

This Easter weekend, millions of chocolate eggs will be eaten all over the UK. Many of these will have been stored in cupboards and others will be hidden around gardens for Easter egg hunts. However, lots of people like to eat chocolate cold from the fridge. Chocolate company Cadbury says a cupboard is the best place to store chocolate, so it’s out of sunlight and “slightly cool, dry and dark”. Chocolate expert Elias Laderach says that refrigerating chocolate masks its flavour. You can always check this for yourself, says Laderach, with an experiment: put one piece of chocolate in a cupboard and another in the fridge, and then taste them. However, many people simply prefer the taste of chilly chocolate. So what do you think, does chocolate belong in a…

Professor Brian David Johnson has a pretty unusual job title; he’s a “futurist”. He tells The Week Junior, “It is as cool as it sounds.” He works with people and businesses to look 10 or 15 years into the future at different things that might happen. He can then help them to take the steps to prepare for the best possible future. How exactly does he predict the future? Magic? “There are no crystal balls anywhere in my office,” he jokes. Instead, he uses a technique called futurecasting. This involves doing research about businesses, interviewing lots of people and looking at different trends to come up with various possible outcomes. Johnson is also a computer and software expert. He started studying computers and how to use them when he was…

From mountain goats trotting through the Welsh town of Llandudno to jackals venturing into parks in Israel, the Covid-19 pandemic prompted many animals to change their behaviour. It seemed as though, while humans had to stay at home, animals were thriving. However, a new study has revealed a more complex picture. Scientists looked at images from more than 5,000 camera traps (cameras that automatically photograph animals when their movement or body heat is detected) around the world. They used them to study the activity of 163 mammal species both before and during the Covid-19 lockdowns. This showed how animals responded to changes in human activity. Overall, the activity of carnivores (meateating animals) such as wolves and bobcats was higher when humans weren’t around. However, the activity of larger herbivores (animals…

YOUR PHOTOS 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.…

Are you planning any funny pranks this April Fools’ Day? Learning to laugh more, especially when things go wrong, is a great way to boost your wellbeing. Why do people love to laugh? Whether you like reading comics or watching funny cat videos, nothing beats a good giggle. Scientists can’t agree on why we find things funny, but they say it involves two parts of the brain. Our frontal lobe works out if what we’re seeing is funny, then the limbic system tells our body to start laughing. Sharing a joke is something that connects humans all over the world. Not all species of animal laugh but chimpanzees can be heard enjoying a chuckle and rats are known to titter when they’re tickled. How is laughing good for you? Like…

As a teenager, Jordan Lees started writing a story about a character who used a magical doll, called a poppet, to cast spells. He would have loved to have had one when he was little, to keep him company or protect him when he felt scared. Lees began to play with the idea of a doll that could come to life and perform magic. He continued to gather new ideas for his story as the years went on. “That world just kept getting bigger,” he told The Week Junior. Eventually, this magical world became the setting for his new book, The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found. It’s about 11-year-old Benjamiah, who believes in science, logic and reason over magic. However, when he gets sent a mysterious doll that…

Mare and Foal Sanctuary The Mare and Foal Sanctuary in the south-west of England rescues horses and ponies that haven’t been looked after properly and gives them lifelong, loving care. The charity also gives people who are struggling the chance to spend some time with ponies and learn about them, because a bond with an animal can really help. People can also play a big part in a pony’s life by adopting one (donating money to help fund the animal’s care). Miniature Shetland Sir Didymus, his best friend Ludo, Geronimo the one-eyed pony and a beautiful grey mare Vogue are all looking for support. Find out more at mareandfoal.org…

The UK has a system for ranking the terrorist threat level it faces, which helps to keep people safe. The level is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and MI5 (the UK’s security service). There are five levels of threat and the UK is currently at level three (five is the highest). The country has been at this level since February 2022, when it was moved down from level four. There are lots of highly trained experts, including members of MI5 and the police, working behind the scenes constantly to stop terrorist acts before they happen.…

GAZING AT TULIPS A festival displaying more than 100 varieties of tulips opened on Good Friday. More than 500,000 tulips were planted at Tulleys Farm in West Sussex, England. “Tulip Fest” also features food from the Netherlands, which is famous for its tulips. STRIKING GOLD A metal detectorist (someone who looks for valuable metal in the ground) has dug up the largest gold nugget ever found in England. Richard Brock had only been searching farmland in Shropshire for 20 minutes when he came across the nugget. It weighs 64.8 grams and is worth £30,000. TURNING TWO A tiny tortoise who lives at the Australian Reptile Park has celebrated his second birthday. The tortoise, called Tiny Tim, had a three-tier fruit cake for his special day. The tasty treat was made…

• Between 80 and 90 million chocolate Easter eggs are sold in the UK every year.• A report found that in 2023 alone, chocolate sales in the UK were expected to be worth around £7 billion.• According to many chocolate experts, the best way to store chocolate is in a cool, dark place at a temperature between 18oC and 20°C.• The average fridge temperature is much lower – between 3°C and 5°C – but a survey published by the chocolate brand Galaxy in 2022 found that 78% of adults prefer to keep their chocolate in the fridge.…

Scientists have found that humans who live in towns and cities are less likely to be able to digest fruit and vegetables properly. A recent study says that people’s ability to process the plants they eat is all down to the microbes (tiny living things) in the gut, but modern diets are changing those microbes. Plants, such as fruits and vegetables, contain a tough material called cellulose. For a long time, scientists didn’t think humans could digest cellulose in the same way that cows and sheep can. However, back in 2003, scientists found gut microbes in humans that can break down cellulose. This new study looked at these microbes in detail. A team from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in Israel, studied human poo and identified a microbe called Ruminococcus,…

As she prepares for an exciting summer of competition, British cyclist Daphne Schrager said, “To get to the Paralympic Games is the pinnacle (the top spot).” Held every four years, the Paralympics start on 28 August in France and feature 4,400 para-athletes competing across 23 sports. Para-athletes have a disability or an impairment. Schrager hopes to compete in track and road cycling events. “I did athletics from the age of 15 before starting as a beginner cyclist at the end of 2019,” she told The Week Junior. Schrager, who has a condition called cerebral palsy, is now a world and British champion. “It’s crazy what you can do in a few years. Everyone in cycling has been so friendly and being on a bike brings so much happiness,” she said.…

The National Trust will be hosting around 200 Easter trails this year. The National Trust is a charity that looks after historic buildings, gardens and areas of countryside in the UK. Wherever you are in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, you won’t be far away from a National Trust site offering Easter and spring-themed events. In Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland is hosting Easter trails for families in 35 places. Going on an Easter trail or egg hunt is a wonderful way to explore gardens, mazes, meadows, parkland, orchards and woods, which are now bursting with buds and flowers and signs of spring. Some of the National Trust’s activities over the Easter weekend and during the school holidays include Easter trails, egg and spoon races, welly wanging (throwing a…

Little Eggs: A Frozen Rescue In cinemas nationwide now After a kidnapped polar bear cub escapes a travelling circus, a group of chickens promises to help him find his family and travel to the South Pole. They are faced with ruthless pirates, an angry sea lion and a group of surfing penguins. X-Men ’97 Available now on Disney+ The X-Men are mutants who have unique superpowers. They protect the world, even though people are afraid of them. In this follow-up to a TV series that aired between 1992 and 1997, the mutants must overcome new challenges and an unexpected future.…

Describe Keedie, Addie and Nina using one word for each character. Fire, spark and ice. What made you want to revisit the world you created in A Kind of Spark? I was spending time on the set for the TV adaptation of A Kind of Spark. It was so surreal, seeing Juniper brought to life and all of the characters walking around. I had tonnes of notes and ideas for returning to the world I had written about, but seeing it come to life inspired me to go back. Tell us about your favourite teacher. Mr Allison from Year 5 and 6. He taught all of us to love reading. What would you say is the biggest lesson in Keedie? I don’t try to write lessons or messages into my…

It is a good time of year for anyone who loves reading. World Book Day was on 7 March, and International Children’s Book Day, a separate celebration of reading, is on 2 April, the birthday of fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen. So, where might you find your next book to read? The Bookfinder section of the BookTrust’s website is a good place to start. You select your age and the types of books you like, and it recommends books. The World Book Day website is a great resource for readers. It has lots of free audio books and a Book Club section with book recommendations, author videos and questions that you can use in discussions with other young readers. Another helpful site is School Reading List, which has reviews of…

The South Lodge hotel in West Sussex, England, is home to a plant known as “Big Rhodey” because it is so enormous. The huge rhododendron bush was planted more than 120 years ago, and now it’s around 80 metres long and nearly 30 metres tall. The head gardener said that he has to use his 50-metre measuring tape twice to fully measure its size. This year, the bush has bloomed a month earlier than usual because the weather has been so wet and mild.…

Do you think you’d be a good secret agent? GCHQ, a UK security organisation, has a new way to recruit spies. It has set treasure hunts in cities around the UK, and budding agents must find the clues to spell out a message. GCHQ officials have said that anyone who can solve the puzzle is smart enough to become a spy. Is this real or are we laying a false trail?* *Rubbish! There isn’t a treasure hunt to recruit the spies, but GCHQ has posted a visual puzzle on social media platform LinkedIn. It is the first UK intelligence agency to advertise for spies on LinkedIn.…

Well done to all who entered the Kindness Poetry competition, part of the Spine Festival 2023. There were three winners – Pravan, Matilda and Kyan – and their poems appear in Spin! 10 Exciting New Voices in Poetry, edited by Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Ruthine Burton. You can read their poems at tinyurl.com/TWJ-Kindness24 too. Here’s what they said: “I paused for one second before jumping like a wild kangaroo when I heard I was a winner of the competition. I loved Pravan and Mattie’s poems too; poems that make me feel like I’m looking inside someone’s soul. Spin! is a kaleidoscope of fascinating thoughts, answering questions I didn’t realise I had.” Kyan “It’s a great feeling to express myself through poetry, especially to share the importance…

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 magazine/digital editions, and mention them on our podcast. 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.…

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 singers should stop swearing… “Yes, it’s kind of rude and it might hurt people’s feelings.” “No. Singers should express themselves as they are, even if that means swearing.” “Yes, it’s inappropriate for younger kids and it sets an example for other people to swear.” “No, as long as they have a clean version.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls. Vote YES if you think chocolate should be kept in the fridge, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties.…

These pretty birds return to the UK in April, having spent winter basking in the warm jungles of West Africa. They are mostly found in the west of the UK, including Wales, because they love mossy damp woodlands that are full of ferns and oak trees. The pied flycatcher is a small bird, about 12 centimetres long. Males are mostly black above and white below, with a white patch on their wing. Females have the same pattern but their feathers are browner. At this time of year, woods where pied flycatchers live are filled with song. The birds like to sit on a perch, waiting for an insect to fly by so they can gobble it up. They can also be spotted foraging on the ground and they like to…

This year marks 150 years since the artistic style known as Impressionism was unveiled to the public, a movement that produced some of the most famous and valuable paintings in the world today. It all started in France in the 1860s, with a group of rebellious (rule-breaking) artists meeting in a café in Paris to discuss an entirely new way of painting. What is Impressionism? Impressionism is a painting style where the artist wants to create an impression or an idea of a scene rather than produce a completely realistic picture. The artists often worked outside instead of in a traditional studio, painting what they saw. They also used quite messy brushstrokes and tried to show natural light. The artists didn’t mind if the pictures looked as if they had…

It’s believed that a religious leader called Martin Luther organised the first Easter egg hunt in Germany in the 16th century. At Easter, Christians mark the death and resurrection (coming back to life) of Jesus Christ. The egg represents the renewal of life and is a symbol of the resurrection, so Luther organised egg hunts for women and children to find hidden eggs. Easter egg hunts were made popular in Britain by Queen Victoria, who had enjoyed them when she was young. In 1833, 14-year-old Princess Victoria wrote, “Mama did some pretty painted & ornamented eggs, & we looked for them.”…

A Kids Book About Money by Adam Stramwasser (DK) Everyone has to deal with money – but how much do you really know about how it works? Presented in a simple and straightforward way, this book will teach you the basics of saving, budgeting and spending. It’s a great guide to understanding money for young readers. Why Money Matters by Deborah Meaden. Illustrated by Hao Hao (Farshore) You might recognise investor and business owner Deborah Meaden from TV’s Dragon’s Den. She shares her expert knowledge of how money works and shapes the world. Part of the Little Experts series, the book is easy-to-read with lots of vibrant illustrations. Rebel Girls Money Matters by Alexa von Tobel. Illustrated by Morgan Goble (DK) Whether your piggy bank is empty or overflowing, you’ll…

Please email your book review to us at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it is printed in the magazine you will receive a Roving Reporter badge. Please 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…

Find a home for mini Easter eggs by creating these colourful little houses, which are made from recycled cartons. They make unusual packaging for a perfect present for someone, or they could make your Easter egg hunt more colourful. You can also use them to store your family’s own Easter treats. What you need • Juice or milk cartons• Scissors• Paper towel• A ruler• A pen• Thick card• Glue• Big elastic bands• Paints• Paintbrushes 1 Cut a washed, one-litre carton into two sections and wipe the inside with a paper towel. Remove the lid from the top section then push the pouring spout inside the carton so it doesn’t stick out. If it won’t push inside, carefully cut it off to make the roof shape flatter. 2 To create the…

Hello and happy Easter holidays! A big thank you to everyone who has taken part in our news survey. We’ve already received more than 500 responses but we want to hear from as many readers as possible. Now the holidays are here, why not try it? You’ll find the questions at tinyurl.com/TWJ-surveynews and we’ll keep it open until 10 April. We’ve also got some fantastic activities for you to try in this issue. One of the most challenging, I think, is this week’s spot the difference (page 26). You could try an Easter egg hunt – there are lots taking place across the UK (page 20), or maybe create your own with your family. If you’re feeling crafty, make an Easter house (page 25) where you can store your eggs.…

The School of Kindness, part of the 52 Lives Charity, believes that “kind” is the most important thing people can be, and wants to celebrate it! Is there anyone in your school who has gone above and beyond to show kindness? Is there a class that has done something amazing to help someone? Has your school worked hard to create a kind culture? The national Kindness Awards celebrate kindness in primary school communities across the UK. You can win amazing prizes for yourself and your school, including a picnic table from NBB Recycled Furniture, clothing from Scamp & Dude and a subscription to The Week Junior. Find out more at schoolofkindness.org/kindnessawards…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Pape School: Windmill Hill Primary, Chapeltown, Sheffield “I would really like to nominate my Year 6 teacher, Mrs Pape. My reasons are that she presents every lesson in a fun way that we can relate to and is always there to help. She teaches her lessons in a similar way that Michael Rosen presents poems, with funny stories to help us remember methods and terms for the SATs ahead.” Ted 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 Leo Varadkar resigned as prime minister of which country? □ a) France □ b) Sweden □ c) Ireland 2 True or false? An ancient fossil was named Kermitops gratus after the TV character Kermit the Frog. □ True □ False 3 Which country has been voted the happiest place on Earth for seven years in a row? _________________ 4 How many Easter eggs are sold in the UK each year? □ a) Between 80 and 90 million □ b) Between 800,000 and 900,000 □ c) Between 80,000 and 90,000 5 True or false? Edward Enninful is British Vogue’s new boss. □ True □ False 6 What is a herbivore? _________________ 7 Which museum has the largest collection of Impressionist paintings in the world? □ a) The National Gallery □…