Table of contents for 446 in The Week Junior

On 19 June, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. There, he made a pact (formal agreement) with Kim Jong-Un, the supreme leader of the country. What happened? It was Putin’s first visit to North Korea since 2000 and he was treated to a big ceremony to mark his arrival. As vehicles carried Putin and Kim through the city, huge crowds chanted “welcome Putin” and waved flowers and Russian flags. The two leaders exchanged expensive gifts. Putin gave Kim a tea set (a set of items for drinking tea), a dagger (knife) and a limousine (a large, luxurious car). Kim gave Putin an artwork and two dogs of a Korean breed called Pungsan, which is a type of hunting dog. What does the pact say? Putin…

BOOK LOVERS On 22–23 June, Barnes Children’s Literature Festival took place in London. Visitors met authors and illustrators like Lauren Child and Ramzee, and The Week Junior held a young journalists’ workshop with illustrator Rob Biddulph and FunKids presenter Bex Lindsay. A RARE STINKY FLOWER On 18 June, a huge but horrid-smelling flower burst into bloom at Kew Gardens, London. The titan arum plant, also called the corpse flower because of its rotten scent, comes from the rainforests of Sumatra in Indonesia. Its flowering part can grow three metres tall – but only blooms for about 36 hours. SCOTTISH WILDCATS Wildcat kittens have been born in the wild in Scotland. Dr Helen Senn, who runs a project that aims to save the species from extinction, called it “a major milestone…

In the UK, we live in a democracy. This means that citizens aged 18 and over have the right to vote in elections to choose which political party they want to lead the country. It hasn’t always been this way. Women were not allowed to vote until 1918 – and only then if they were over 30. Now, almost everyone who is old enough can vote in elections. At the UK’s last general election, in 2019, only 67.3% of people who could have voted actually did so (this number is known as the “voter turnout”). Millions of people didn’t. Turnouts for local council elections are usually much lower than for general elections. In some countries, voting is considered so important that people have to do it by law. What do…

This tall plant looks like cow parsley, but if its sap (the fluid inside the plant) touches skin it can cause nasty blisters. Giant hogweed was brought to the UK from Asia to be a garden plant in the 19th century but found its way into the wild. Today, it grows all over the UK, particularly on river banks. The plant can grow up to five metres tall. Its hollow stems are green with ridges, white hairs and sometimes purple blotches. Giant hogweed’s big leaves are divided into leaflets with jagged edges. In June and July the umbrella-like flower heads, called umbels, come out. They can be 60 centimetres wide and have clusters of white flowers. Stay clear of giant hogweed, but if you think you’ve got its sap on…

A new study has found that people who use lots of facial expressions are seen as more likeable and are better at negotiating. Negotiating means to discuss something with others to try to reach an agreement. You might negotiate your screen time with your parents, for example. At Nottingham Trent University in England, researchers analysed more than 1,500 conversations between people. The first stage of the research involved setting up a series of video calls to record people’s natural reactions and expressions in different situations. Software called the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) was used to measure how expressive (able to show mood or meaning) people’s faces were. The recordings were shown to more than 170 people, who had to rate the likeability of the people in the videos based…

GB para-triathlon team Great Britain won seven medals at the World Triathlon Para Series in Swansea, Wales. Triathlon consists of swimming, cycling and running. Pfeiffer Georgi Georgi won the women’s road race at the National Road Championships in Saltburn, England, for the third time. She also won the race last year. Tommy Paul At the Queen’s Club Championship tennis final, in London, Paul beat Lorenzo Musetti to win the trophy for the first time. It was the third trophy of Paul’s career. Molly Caudery The pole vaulter won at the Toulouse Capitole Perche athletics event in France and set a British record height of 4.92 metres.…

Mayowa and the Sea of Words by Chibundu Onuzo (Bloomsbury) Ten-year old Mayowa is amazed to discover she has the power to “book jump” – harnessing the emotions inside a story and channelling them into other people. She’s excited to use her incredible ability to make a real difference, but she soon learns she isn’t the only book jumper out there, and that not everyone wants to use the power for good. Hetty and the Battle of the Books by Anna James. Illustrated by Jez Tuya (Barrington Stoke) The library is Hetty’s favourite place at school and since she fell out with her best friends, she’s been spending even more time there. When she learns that the school is planning to close down the library, she knows she has to…

Explaining Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is easy. It’s a game where monkeys inside balls roll around collecting bananas – and it’s every bit as silly and fun as that sounds! Released first for Nintendo’s Switch console, it’s the latest game in the Super Monkey Ball series, which has been going since 2001. The game’s “Adventure Mode” gives you 200 levels to explore, rolling up and down slopes and over obstacles to collect the bananas and get the best possible score. You can play this mode alone, or with up to three friends or family members on the same console or online. Where things really get rumbling is the game’s multiplayer mode, which takes place online. It has up to 16 people competing in different games, all of which involve…

Micro Stonehenge sits on a pin A British “micro artist” has created the world’s smallest Stonehenge sculpture and it’s so tiny, it fits on the head of a pin. The miniature model was created using a microscope (an instrument that can be used to view very small objects), and each stone measures between 0.1 millimetres and 0.7 millimetres – the thickness of one human hair. It took artist David A. Lindon, from Bournemouth, England, three months to make, using micro plastics, special tools and a very steady hand. “A single twitch from my fingers can wreck months of work,” he says. The artist has also created micro versions of popular paintings such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Tapir predicts football results When…

The Big Butterfly Count Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has announced the Big Butterfly Count, which is set to run from 12 July to 4 August. This is a survey that will help the charity collect information about the presence and health of butterflies and moths in the UK to help with conservation efforts. It asks people to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies in any green space, such as a back garden, balcony, park or country lane. It is open to people of all ages anywhere in the country – towns, cities or the countryside. To find out more ask an adult to visit bigbutterflycount.org 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…

Clare Ockwell is electoral services manager at West Berkshire Council in England. It’s her job to organise the teams who work at polling stations (places where people go to vote) in the area. Ockwell has been working in elections for 29 years. When a job first came up in electoral services, she said, “I jumped at it… I had an interest in elections from the word go.” On the day of the general election (4 July), more than 40,000 polling stations will open around the UK. Before becoming an electoral services manager, Ockwell worked as a presiding officer (someone who manages a polling station). Ockwell says the best bit about working in elections is that “you meet everybody and anybody”, and the worst thing is that you have to get…

Vanuatu, a country made up of islands in the Pacific Ocean, took action against pollution in 2018, banning certain types of single-use plastic. A recent report in The Guardian newspaper reveals that the change has worked and plastic pollution has fallen by a lot. In 2018, the authorities in Vanuatu introduced a ban on single-use plastic bags, plastic straws and takeaway boxes made from polystyrene (a kind of lightweight plastic). In 2019, they added artificial flowers and single-use cutlery and plates to the list. The banned items used to make up 35% of Vanuatu’s waste but now account for less than 2%. Before the ban, floating clusters of plastic rubbish that had gathered in the sea used to fill some of Vanuatu’s lagoons (areas of sea separated from the ocean…

The diets of the animals at London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo vary wildly. Some of our largest animals eat a staggering amount of food, while others just have more expensive tastes. Elephants consume a whopping 50kg of food a day – largely hay and pellets. Our penguins and our cheetahs have a smaller but pricier diet – the birds eat fish and the cats like venison (deer meat). 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…

MPA MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS…

Spending time outside caring for plants can help you to feel calm and connected to nature. Get active outdoors Whether you have access to a garden, allotment or plant pots on a balcony, gardening is a great way to get active outdoors. As well as sowing seeds and watching them grow, gardening involves digging, weeding, being aware of the weather and connecting with nature. Clare Dorey creates gardens for schools and community groups. She says gardening is more than just caring for plants. “You get to discover different creatures,” she explains, “like the flying insects that carrying pollen between flowers, and ladybirds that hoover up the bugs that feed on plants.” How is it good for you? Spending time outside has big benefits for your physical and mental health. Studies…

(Hachette Children’s) Kamal and his family are refugees, forced to flee their country because of a war and are now making a new life in the UK. That means Kamal has already been to three schools, and he’s always worried that his family might move again, which would mean him starting at yet another school – like playing the first level of a video game over and over. After an embarrassing incident at his current school, Kamal makes a discovery in the library – a “Cheat Book” that promises to help him be popular. It’s got advice on how to get away with not doing your homework, talking your way out of detention and even squashing the school bullies. Could Kamal rise to the top and earn a place at…

The titles in this category support the emotional and physical needs of young people. The winner will give readers the tools and confidence they need to boost their happiness and wellbeing. There are many parts to wellbeing: family, friendships, understanding your body, resting your mind and staying positive. Friendship Survival Guide By Caroline Young (Usborne) Good friendships are a big part of good mental health. This insightful guide is packed with tips on making friends and being a good friend yourself. Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body By Rachel Greener. Illustrated by Clare Owen (Nosy Crow) This accessible and honest illustrated guide to puberty helps young readers understand the different ways their body may change as they grow older. Roots of Happiness By Susie Dent.…

The sun is out and picnic season has begun. If you’re looking for an alternative to sandwiches, this easy snack is the perfect thing to pack. These savoury pastry treats are full of flavour but simple to make and are delicious warm or cold. They only use a few ingredients and the recipe makes around 30 cheese and Marmite twists. It should take about half an hour in total. What you need • 3 tsp Marmite• 1 egg• 500g puff pastry• 150g grated Cheddar cheese• 2 tbsp black sesame seeds• Two bowls• Whisk• Rolling pin• Knife• Pastry brush• Baking tray• Baking parchment• Wire rack Instructions 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/Gas Mark 7. Put the Marmite into a bowl and heat in the microwave for 15 seconds, until runny. Crack…

This issue has a bit of a Stonehenge theme. It first appears as part of the bigger story about the Restore Nature Now march that took place in London (page 4). Thousands of people travelled from all over the UK to demand better protections for nature and wildlife. On page 5, we’ve got a story about a Sandford St Martin’s Award winner, a film starring a brilliant young climate change activist. You can see the film, I Won’t Stand for It, on BBC iPlayer. Back to Stonehenge, on That’s Unbelievable (page 27) you can read about an artist who has crafted a tiny model of the ancient monument. We’ve also got robot that solved a Rubik’s cube faster than I can imagine and a tapir that is predicting Germany’s results…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Orford-Kemmish School: King’s School, Hove, East Sussex “Mrs Orford-Kemmish is the greatest teacher ever. She is the most supportive girls’ football coach and always motivates us to play our best – even in the pouring rain! She always makes us laugh and doesn’t mind us bothering her at break times (we think!). She does so much for girls’ sports in school and that’s why we think she’s amazing.” Gabby, Erin, Nell and Emilia 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…

The Iberian lynx Thanks to 20 years of conservation work, the Iberian lynx is now classed as vulnerable, not endangered. The cats, whose habitat covers Spain and Portugal, were seen as pests in the 20th century and thousands were killed. Their population has increased from just 62 cats in 2001 to over 600. Waters in England Data from nine water companies in England shows that they made 6,000 releases of raw sewage (human wee and poo that has not been treated) in 2022 when the weather was dry. Raw sewage should only be released when it has been raining and sewers can’t cope with all the liquid.…

By 10pm on Thursday 4 July, millions of people across the UK will have cast their votes in the general election. Polling stations (places where voting takes place) are often in public buildings such as community centres and schools. After they close, the counting of votes begins and the results are usually known by the next day. The voting process is very important. Officials take great care to make sure it is kept secure so that everyone can trust the results. Registration time Once the Prime Minister announces a general election, adults across the UK need to make sure they are registered to vote. If someone has moved house or changed their name since they last voted, they need to register again with their new details. They can do this…

Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) have been looking into what they could use for building on the Moon. Using some space dust and inspiration from Lego, they’ve created a brick that might just work. Just 12 people have set foot on the Moon but with more missions planned in the next few years, building on the Moon could happen. However, carrying stuff to the Moon is expensive, so scientists want to see if they can make materials there. The Moon is covered in a layer of rock and dust called regolith. However, only a little of this has ever been brought back to Earth, so there wasn’t enough of it for scientists to run any experiments. Instead, a team at ESA looked at an ancient meteorite (piece of…

On 22 June, The Blaze won the Charlotte Edwards Cup. They beat South East Stars in an exciting final to win the women’s cricket competition for the first time. The group stage of the Charlotte Edwards Cup began on 18 May with eight teams in England taking part. Central Sparks, Northern Diamonds, Lancashire Thunder, Southern Vipers, Sunrisers and Western Storm were the others. They each played 10 group games, with the four top teams reaching Finals Day. The two semi-finals and the final were played on the same day at the County Ground in Derby. In the semi-finals, The Blaze defeated Central Sparks and South East Stars beat Southern Vipers. The Charlotte Edwards Cup involves a type of cricket called Twenty20 (or T20). The batting team has 20 overs to…

The National Museum of Scotland (NMS) has just opened an exhibition about how video gaming has become so popular. Game On looks at the main developments in the world of gaming from 1962 to the present day. Visitors can play more than 100 games from the last 50 years, all available on the original consoles that they were first released on. From Pac-Man to Super Mario to Tetris, there are lots of different games to play. Dr Geoffrey Belknap, from NMS, told The Week Junior that visitors “can spend hours playing everything”. This exhibition has been touring the world since 2002, but it changes at every venue it goes to. What makes Game On at the NMS special is its focus on the important role Scotland has played in the video…

Kleks Academy (PG) Available on Netflix now To find her missing father, teenager Ada accepts an invitation to Kleks Academy, a magical place run by an eccentric teacher called Mr Kleks. This is a modern film adaptation of a classic children’s book by Polish author Jan Brzechwa. Star Wars: Tales of the Empire Available on Disney+ now Journey to the heart of the Galactic Empire with warriors Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee. Morgan has revenge in her heart and Barriss is a former Jedi who is struggling with her past.…

Do you prefer drawing or writing? Why? Drawing for sure because writing requires a lot of thinking and planning before you start work. With drawing you can just dive in and start doodling. I enjoy coming up with funny facial expressions, designing clothes and putting characters in crazy situations. What was your favourite subject at school? Art, most definitely. I really dug English too because I had a super-enthusiastic and creative teacher called Ms Dickinson who made our stuffy old books come alive. She let me submit a comic as a short story for a homework assignment. Tell us your favourite fact. Astronauts get taller when in space. So, short kings book your Blue Origin flights ASAP. How did you come up with Kamal’s character? I based Kamal on myself…

We need your help to decide which book will win our Children’s Choice book award. Scan the QR code or go to tinyurl.com/twj-vote-2024 to cast your vote. The winner will be the shortlisted book that receives the most votes overall. You can vote as many times as you like for your favourite book. Cast your vote to WIN PRIZES! All Children’s Choice award votes will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 book bundle. Voting closes at 11.59pm on 5 September 2024. Terms and conditions apply.*…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 3 Letters Lap Wet 4 Letters Lido Rope 5 Letters Towel Water 6 Letters Indoor Locker 8 Letters Chlorine Exercise 9 Letters Butterfly Wristband 11 Letters Springboard Temperature Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. CLAM CRAB CUTTLEFISH DOLPHIN HALIBUT HERRING JELLYFISH LOBSTER MARLIN OCTOPUS OYSTER SEAHORSE SEAL SHARK SQUID STARFISH STINGRAY TURTLE WALRUS WHALE Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each circle is the sum of the numbers in the two circles directly beneath it. Spot the difference These two pictures appear to…

Name: Sienna “I was inspired to raise money for the Ukrainian Red Cross after reading an article in The Week Junior. I planned and arranged to have a pop-up stall on the driveway, advertising homemade lemonade, cakes and toys. With local leaflet dropping it was a successful afternoon, the lemonade sold out and most of the bakes were sold. I raised a total of £225!” What have you been up to lately? Which books have you enjoyed reading? What have you made? Have you written a poem or drawn a picture that you’d like to see published on this page? Whatever you have to show or tell us, get in touch at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

We love hearing from you! It’s easy – just write a comment when you vote in our online Big Debate poll, or even record a voice note for The Week Junior Show. Last week we asked you whether bright wrappers should be banned… “No, because then you can find the sweets you want easily.” “Yes, people should not be eating so many sweets.” “No, I like the colours – they look fun even though sweets are bad for you.” “Yes, we should choose what’s in the wrapper, not outside.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

1 What is the capital of North Korea? □ a) Hamhung □ b) Namp’o □ c) Pyongyang 2 True or false? There are 7,000 species of animals, plants, fungi and single-celled organisms in the UK. □ True □ False 3 Which country launched a contest to design better school toilets? ___________________ 4 In which year was the highest turnout for a UK general election? □ a) 1950 □ b) 2019 □ c) 1979 5 True or false? Tinessa Kaur is the first Sikh woman in the UK to receive a special award for barristers. □ True □ False 6 Which type of animal is now classed as vulnerable rather than endangered in Spain and Portugal? ___________________ 7 Which type of stationery can you always find at polling stations? □ a)…