Table of contents for 405 in The Week Junior

International aid and rescue teams have been sent to Morocco to help those affected by a very powerful earthquake that struck on 8 September. At the time The Week Junior went to press, more than 2,900 people had died and 5,530 people had been injured. What happened? At 11pm on 8 September, an earthquake struck in the High Atlas Mountains, near the city of Marrakesh. It was felt by people all over Morocco, as well as in nearby countries, including Algeria and Portugal. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8, which is considered as strong. Earthquakes between 6 and 6.9 can cause lots of damage in populated areas. Lots of buildings in Marrakesh have been damaged or destroyed, particularly in the old parts of the city. Remote villages and towns…

Spain Football chief resigns over kiss The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, has resigned after kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her permission. The kiss happened as Spain celebrated winning the Women’s World Cup final on 20 August. Eighty-one footballers had said they would not play for Spain while Rubiales was still president. Texas, US Dinosaur footprints revealed Hot and dry weather in the state of Texas has revealed 110-million-year-old dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park. The footprints, which had been hidden under water and mud, belonged to two types of dinosaurs: the Acrocanthosaurus, which looked a bit like a Tyrannosaurus rex, and the long-necked Sauroposeidon. Mexico City, Mexico Runners disqualified for cheating Around 11,000 runners have been disqualified from the Mexico City…

The Latin name for these clever birds is garrulus glandarius – to be garrulous means to be very talkative, and jays are known for this as much as for their love of acorns. Jays live all around the UK, except northern Scotland. They are light brown with black, white and light-blue feathers. At this time of year they can be found hopping around under oak trees, searching for acorns. Jays are known for “caching” – storing food away for when there is less about. Each bird can bury up to 5,000 acorns in autumn. However, they don’t always remember where they put them, so their caches sometimes grow into oak trees. Jays have a screechy call but can mimic other bird sounds. Attract these birds to your garden by putting…

Southern white rhinos In South Africa, 2,000 southern white rhinos that have been bred in captivity will be released. The rhinos will get used to living in the wild in secure areas where they will be safe from hunters. They are often killed for their horns, which some people wrongly believe can cure illness. Mexican flamingos Hurricane Idalia, which hit the US in August, has blown flamingos that are thought to be from Mexico into the US state of Florida. Jerry Lorenz, a bird expert in Florida, said, “We have never seen anything like this.” However, he thinks the birds will probably fly home before winter.…

The Tribuna of the Uffizi by Johann Zoffany is a painting of the Tribuna room in the Uffizi museum in Florence, Italy. The painting shows a large number of Zoffany’s copies of some of the world’s most famous artworks. Can you spot six of these by their clues? Turn to page 29 to find out what the works are called and who created them. 1. A woman veiled in blue looks up 2. Men, women and children try to escape the frame 3. Two winged statues are in love 4. Four thoughtful men ponder life 5. A woman looking right at you 6. A marble statue of two men wrestling…

Do you love feeling part of a group? Whatever your interests are, the new school year is a great time to join a club or activity, or even start your own. Group activities build confidence Whether you love music, sports, art or reading, there are lots of ways to join in group activities like a drama club or sports team. As well as meeting people who share the same interests as you, getting involved helps you discover skills you may not know you have. “Being part of a team can really give you confidence,” says The Week Junior reader Jossie, aged 13. “Especially when you shout encouragement to each other or have a laugh about something that’s happened. You also get to meet people who go to different schools or…

Books and the People Who Make Them by Stephanie Vernet. Illustrated by Camille de Cussac (Prestel) Go behind the scenes and follow a book on its journey from the writer’s notebook to the reader’s hands. Along the way you’ll find out about the fascinating world of publishing, including everything from book design to printing presses, as well as related topics like fan fiction and audiobooks. A Children’s Literary Treasury edited by Anna James (British Library Publishing) Anna James has compiled these stories from children’s literature. A brilliant way to find new favourite reads, it will introduce you to characters from around the globe by sampling classic authors and exciting new writers. Writes of Passage: Words to Read Before You Turn 13 by Nicolette Jones. Illustrated by Mary Kate McDevitt (Nosy…

Historian and author J.T. Williams tells The Week Junior, “There’s a Ghanaian word – sankofa – that means ‘To move forward, you must first know and understand your past.’” Williams has delved into the past of black British history through her series of books The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries. The books are set in 18th century London and follow the adventures of Lizzie Sancho and Dido Belle, two 12-year-olds who unite to solve crimes. Characters in the books are inspired by real figures in black British history. Ignatius Sancho, Lizzie’s father, was the first person of African heritage to vote in a British parliamentary election. He was born an enslaved person (considered the property of someone else) but taught himself to read and write and became a music composer and…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Sound of laughter (2,2) 3 Prickly desert plant (6) 8 When the Sun is blocked by the Moon (7) 9 ___ and paper, writing equipment (3) 10 Bike with an engine (10) 13 Sleeveless parts of some suits (10) 17 Electric fish (3) 18 Honey-makers’ home (7) 19 Trousers cut above the knee (6) 20 Deep source of water (4) Down 1 Back of the foot (4) 2 Word of greeting (5) 4 Tool for chopping logs (3) 5 Theme to talk or write about (5) 6 Musician whose instrument is their voice (6) 7 Brussels ___, green vegetable (6) 11 Four-leaf ___, lucky symbol (6) 12 Caramels, mints etc (6) 14 Dwelling made of snow…

Re-Cycle By sending bikes to Africa, Re-Cycle changes lives. For many people in Africa, bicycles are the only form of transport (due to a lack of cars or public transport outside cities). Bikes mean people can get to school or work. This month, Re-Cycle is running a challenge to get you cycling to raise money to send more bikes to Africa (it costs £32 to send one bike, so start off aiming for this amount). You can also donate unwanted bikes. To find out more, ask a grown-up to check re-cycle.org…

1 In which country did the G20 meeting take place? ◻ a) Brazil ◻ b) India ◻ c) Switzerland 2 True or false? The prisoner who escaped from Wandsworth prison was said to be dressed as a chef. ◻ True ◻ False 3 In which US state were dinosaur tracks recently found? 4 Where is the Whanganui River? ◻ a) New Zealand ◻ b) Australia ◻ c) Panama 5 True or false? The first sailing boats were probably built by Vikings. ◻ True ◻ False 6 The core of a tennis ball is usually made from what material? 7 What is the world’s largest fish? ◻ a) Ocean sunfish ◻ b) Great white shark ◻ c) Whale shark 8 True or false? Italy was considered the heart of the grand…

If you would like to help people affected by the earthquake, talk to an adult about donating to charities that are raising money to support them. Charities such as Islamic Relief, Global Giving and Doctors Without Borders are aiming to provide healthcare and shelter for people. UNICEF is focusing on supporting children and families affected by the disaster. Moroccan community groups around the UK are also raising money to provide those in need with supplies, such as blankets, food and water. If the news is worrying you or making you sad, have a look at theweekjunior.co.uk/advice…

NORTHERN IRELAND Almost £1 billion has been awarded to Northern Ireland and nearby areas in Ireland. Since 1998, peace programmes such as this one have funded 23,000 projects. They help local communities and build useful things including the Peace Bridge and new homes. GOLDEN EAGLES IN SCOTLAND Golden eagles, which are extremely rare, are thriving in southern Scotland thanks to the help of bird experts. There are now around 46 golden eagles in southern Scotland. Earlier this year, eight golden eagle chicks were moved by conservationists to a secret location to help them. The birds are now nesting together. A YOUNG SCOUT Five-year-old Xander has just become the UK’s first Squirrel Scout to receive all 17 badges. Squirrels is a Scouts programme for four and five-year-olds. In Xander’s first year…

In the UK there are two laws that protect animals and nature. The Animal Welfare Act ensures that animal owners look after them and the Environment Act protects UK wildlife for future generations. However, the Rights of Nature (RoN) movement goes further than this – giving legal rights to animals and natural entities for their own sake, not just for the sake of humans. This means treating each species or natural feature as an individual subject, like a person, with its own rights that can be enforced by law. Some experts believe that this is essential to repair the damage that humans have done to the natural world. Others say that this idea is unrealistic and threatens activities such as producing food. So what do you think? Should nature have…

Every year, almost all of the 330 million tennis balls made worldwide are thrown away. Lots of them end up in landfill, where they can take up to 400 years to decompose. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) – the organisation that governs world tennis – is trying to find out if tennis balls can be produced and used in a way that is kinder to the planet. Tennis balls are made from an air-filled rubber core, which is coated in glue and covered in felt. The felt is a blend of natural wool and plastic fibres that can’t be recycled. Although rubber can be recycled, the glue that holds the felt covering onto it is so strong that the two can’t be easily separated. The best quality tennis balls –…

Shark ecotourism (when people pay to swim with wild sharks) could be making it more difficult for the big fish to find food and breed, according to a new study. Ecotourism is a type of tourism that aims to avoid harming the natural world. The study of whale sharks – the world’s largest species of fish – came up with some interesting results. Joel Gayford, a researcher from Imperial College London, England, and his colleagues, examined 39 videos of whale sharks swimming in the Bay of La Paz, Mexico. The videos were filmed from above, and 20 of them showed the sharks swimming alongside a person. The other 10 videos showed sharks swimming alone. The sharks were more likely to behave in a disturbed way when humans were present. This…

There are world championships in popular sports such as athletics, football and rugby. Did you know there is also a World Bog Snorkelling Championships, where competitors must battle their way through cold and muddy waters? The wacky event takes place each year at the end of August, near the town of Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. More than 150 people entered this year and there were prizes in adult, junior and international categories. In the unusual sport, competitors had to snorkel along a boggy channel in the fastest time they could. The channel is a shallow, muddy trench cut through a wetland area. All the entrants wore a snorkel, mask and flippers and they had to complete two lengths of the 60-metre bog. The main rules were that proper swimming strokes…

From Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean to Long John Silver in Treasure Island, pirates are often shown in books and films as daring adventurers but were they really? An exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, Cornwall, Pirates: Explore Beneath the Surface, takes a good look into the history of pirates and the legacy they have left behind. Starting in the 17th century – the “Golden Age” of piracy when there were around 5,000 pirates at sea – the show has displays of costumes, globes, maps, telescopes and weapons. You can find out about the man who inspired the character of Long John Silver and discover what the pirates of the Caribbean were like. The objects on display also include some real “pieces of eight”, which were Spanish…

(Walker Books) In New York, a young spy and a top video game designer are murdered in strange circumstances. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in London, teenage superspy Alex Rider has other things to think about – like exams, holidays and skateboarding. However, all the time, the sinister organisation Nightshade is circling ever closer. When his best friend Tom is taken, Alex is forced to embark on a dangerous mission. What are Nightshade planning? What does it have to do with the latest high-tech gaming system? And can Alex stop this gang of deadly assassins before it’s too late? This is the 14th thrilling adventure in the Alex Rider series, which has sold 21 million copies. Alex’s latest mission is as daring and exciting as ever, right up to its action-packed…

Every September, World Car Free Day encourages people to leave their cars at home and explore where they live by walking or cycling. This year’s event is on 22 September and there are some useful apps and websites to help you join in. Pokémon Go celebrated its seventh birthday in July and has added its latest feature – called Routes – designed to get players walking. These are paths that have been made by players in their area, which you can follow to see local sights (and, of course, to spin PokéStops and battle in the game’s Gyms). These are found in the Route tab in the game’s Nearby menu, and the game lets you record your own and submit them to be reviewed. If they are accepted they will…

A bookshop chain (that means one company that owns several shops) has finally been forgiven for changing its name more than 10 years ago. The Apostrophe Protection Society was annoyed when Waterstones got rid of an apostrophe from its title. Waterstones was founded in 1982 by a man called Tim Waterstone, and for 30 years the company was called “Waterstone’s”. In 2012, the company changed the name to make it simpler to use in text messages and email addresses. Apostrophe fans were not happy with such inaccurate punctuation. However, the chairman of the Apostrophe Protection Society, Bob McCalden, has finally decided to let it go. “Language changes,” he said.…

Leaders from around the world finished the G20 summit (important meeting) on 10 September. The G20, which stands for “the group of 20”, brings together leaders from many of the richest and most powerful countries to discuss issues that affect the world. The group welcomed the African Union (AU) as a member. The AU is made up of 55 African countries that work and trade together. This year’s two-day meeting took place in India’s capital, New Delhi, from 9 to 10 September. The theme was “One Earth. One Family. One Future”. The leaders, including the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, discussed subjects including the war in Ukraine and climate change. The countries’ representatives promised to try to triple the amount of renewable energy that is produced around the world by…

The Government has ordered an investigation after a man escaped from jail in London and spent three days on the run. Daniel Khalife managed to get out of Wandsworth Prison on 6 September. He was caught, and on 11 September he appeared in court charged with escaping prison. What happened? Khalife was working in the prison kitchen and wearing a chef’s uniform when he escaped. It is thought he used a food-delivery truck that was visiting the jail, possibly strapping himself to the bottom of the vehicle using bed sheets. Khalife, who is 21, is a former soldier who was being kept in prison until his court trial, which had been set for 13 November. He had been charged with three crimes, including spying for another country. How was he…

The UK is rejoining Horizon Europe, an important science research group paid for by the European Union (EU). The EU is a collection of 27 countries that work and trade together. The UK left the EU in 2020, but has been allowed to rejoin Horizon. This will help UK-based scientists to get money to pay for their research. Sir Adrian Smith from the Royal Society, a famous UK organisation that promotes science, said, “Science is all about international collaboration”.…

Last month, 12-year-old Tom Marsh competed in the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race as part of a team of 16 sailors. The Fastnet Race is a sailing route from the Isle of Wight, England, to a point off the south of Ireland, and then to Normandy, France. Tom and his team completed it in just under five days. Tom raised more than £6,000 for Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT), a sailing charity that sends young people from disadvantaged backgrounds on life-changing adventures at sea. Tom told The Week Junior, “I just thought it was amazing what they do and that I’d like to help out.” At the start of the race, Tom explains, each person was assigned a part of the boat to look after. “I was the starboard runner” (starboard…

The Royal Mint, the organisation that produces UK coins and banknotes, is making jewellery from old X-ray film (X-rays are photographs of a person’s or object’s insides). The film contains small amounts of silver that can be taken out to make jewellery. Hospitals sell the old X-ray film, which they sometimes have to pay to keep in storage. Sean Millard from the Royal Mint said, “This means responsibly sourcing materials which have the potential to reuse our planet’s precious resources.”…

The River Gara in Devon, England, is set to welcome 200 water voles as part of a project to boost the species’ numbers. Over the next two years, another 600 water voles will be released in the area. In the UK, water voles have disappeared from 94% of the places where they used to live because they were hunted by mink, a non-native species that arrived from North America. ● HABITAT: In burrows on river banks. ● SIZE: 20 centimetres plus a 12-centimetre tail. ● DIET: Bulbs, grasses, plants and roots. ● FUN FACT: The character “Ratty” from the book The Wind in the Willows is not a rat – he’s a water vole.…

These days you can study art and famous buildings without leaving home by looking them up online. One hundred and fifty years ago, however, the best way to see important objects and places was to visit them yourself. In the 18th and 19th centuries, rich young men (often just out of university) would go on the “grand tour”. They would take a long trip, supposedly to study the history of European culture, but they also had a busy social life and went to lots of concerts and parties – a bit like an early version of a gap year (time off between school and university, when some young people go on foreign trips). What was the grand tour? It was a kind of educational holiday that would last a few…

Great Britain rowing team At the Rowing World Championships, Great Britain won six gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic At the US Open tennis event, Gauff (pictured) won the women’s final and Djokovic took the men’s title. Britain’s Alfie Hewett won the men’s wheelchair singles. Mahika Gaur The 17-year-old cricketer took three wickets against Sri Lanka in her first one day international (ODI) match for England. England won the game. German basketball team Germany won the men’s Basketball World Cup for the first time. They defeated Serbia 83-77 in an exciting final.…

Favourite board game? A game called Balderdash. It involves words, famous people, film titles, strange laws and abbreviations. Basically, you have to guess what’s true and what’s… balderdash (rubbish)! It’s about the one person in the world who doesn’t have a superpower. Last time you laughed out loud? Watching Extraordinary on Disney Plus. Do you have any pets? I have a brilliant Labrador called Chase. What inspires you to keep writing? Everyone and everything in the world has a story and I want to tell them! What do you have in common with Alex Rider? The only thing we have in common is that I hope I can help make the world a better place.…

Holly King-Mand is a writer, presenter and campaigner for literacy (the ability to read and write) who has inspired thousands of children to study English and become better students. Holly loves the “back to school” time of year. Here, she has collected some tips for putting together your very own brilliantly useful homework schedule. Homework can be hard to organise, especially if you’ve recently started secondary school and are suddenly getting more than you’re used to. It can help to create a structured plan of when, where and how you will complete your homework so that you never have to hand it in late or incomplete. Gather materials A homework schedule can be drawn on to paper or card – and the bigger it is, the better. You might like…

An artist has created a magnificent sculpture of London’s Tower Bridge using 25 kilograms of sugar. Michelle Wibowo spent more than 150 hours producing the sweet, 0.76-metre-tall copy of the famous landmark. It was one of a number of pieces of art made from sugar or salt that were on show at an exhibition in London earlier this month. Wibowo, from Haywards Heath, England, said it had been “really fascinating” looking into the design history of Tower Bridge to make her piece.…

We were preparing this week’s issue when news started to come through about floods in Libya. When we choose what to cover on our news pages, we want to be sure that we are reporting the facts. As we went to press, it was still unclear how bad the damage is and how many people have been affected. We plan to cover it in the next issue when we can report facts with confidence. Even at this stage, however, the damage is obviously severe. If you are worried by the news, or it is making you unhappy, please have a look at theweekjunior.co.uk/advice and talk to a grown-up you trust. Remember, too, that millions of people stand ready to help others when they need it. The response to the earthquake…

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The charity Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People pays for research across the UK to help more children beat the illness. There are lots of ways you can get involved. You could buy a gold ribbon pin badge in your local Cancer Research shop and wear it in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. You can help to raise money by donating any clothes you have grown out of or don’t want any more. Ask a grown-up to take them to a TK Maxx store as part of the Give Up Clothes for Good campaign. To find out more about the illness and the science behind the treatments, go to tinyurl.com/TWJ-cancerresearch…

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: Mrs Hession School: North Cheshire Jewish Primary School, Cheadle “I would like to nominate my Year 4 and 5 teacher Mrs Hession for Teacher of the Week. She is leaving our school this summer after 26 years! She is a brilliant teacher who makes every lesson engaging and fun. She is especially good at teaching English and telling stories. We will all miss her. Thank you so much, Mrs Hession.” Isla 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 if cereal is better than toast… “I have cereal for my breakfast every morning and never have toast. Cereal is faster to make.” “Toast with strawberry jam is unbeatable as it is sweet, filling and yummy!” “Cereal is quicker. You don’t have to wait for the toaster to PING.” “No, I like the crunchiness and the softness of the butter.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…