Table of contents for 465 in The Week Junior

People in Spain have come together to help those affected by flash floods in parts of the country. A flash flood is caused by sudden heavy rain. What happened? On 28 October, heavy rain began in some areas of eastern and southern Spain, in particular the province (region) of Valencia. There was so much rain that rivers overflowed. The local Valencian government sent out flood warnings to people’s phones but the flooding had already started so it was difficult for some to get to safety. More than 200 people died and others are injured or still missing. The flooding destroyed bridges and buildings and left thousands of people without electricity. Chiva, a town that was hit very hard by the floods, had more rain in eight hours than it had…

Since she was eight years old, Dawn Wright has wanted to be an oceanographer. This is a type of scientist who studies the ocean. Now she is known as “Deepsea Dawn” and gets to explore the ocean during missions where she scans and creates maps of the ocean floor. Only 26% of the ocean floor is mapped in detail at the moment but Wright wants to change that. In 2022, she made history when she became the first black person to visit Challenger Deep, the deepest known point of the Earth’s seabed, exploring some unseen places. She said seeing what the ocean was like that deep down was “wonderful”.…

Wroclaw Zoo in Poland has revealed that Sumatran tiger cubs – three males and one female – born in July are doing well. The critically endangered cats are part of a breeding programme to boost the wild population. ● LIFESPAN: 15 to 20 years.● HABITAT: Rainforests on Sumatra island, Indonesia.● SIZE: Up to 2.5 metres long and weighing 120 kilograms.● DIET: Wild animals, such as deer and monkeys, and fish.● FUN FACT: Sumatran tigers are keen swimmers and have developed webbed toes to help them.…

What is World Kindness Day? World Kindness Day is held every year on 13 November to encourage people to be kinder to each other. Kindness is a simple and powerful way to show you care. It’s something you do to help another person, not because you have to but because you want to make their life easier or happier. Mindfulness teacher Frances Trussell says it’s a win-win situation. “Being kind helps you feel good about yourself. You’re reinforcing the image you have of yourself as a kind person and that’s key to liking yourself. Think of a time you enjoyed being kind to someone and notice the positive feelings that arise.” Jaime Thurston set up the School of Kindness, which runs kindness workshops and assemblies in schools and also hosts…

Flight by David Long. Illustrated by Terri Po (Faber Children’s) Explore the story of flight, from the first hot-air balloons to journeys to the Moon. This fascinating book by David Long is rich with scientific and historical detail about all sorts of things including the Wright Brothers’ first flight and the latest space travel. High by Jess McGeachin (Hachette) What’s going on above your head? Meet creatures who live high in the treetops; birds that ride the wind; people who have climbed the highest mountains; and night-time’s most dazzling stars. Covering everything that happens above us, from the earliest flying machines to modern skyscrapers, this beautiful book will take you to new heights. Flight DK Eyewitness (DK) Go on a visual tour of the world of aircraft and the history…

Name: Suzi The Worst Day Ever! Aliens! Spaceships! Poo-scented air fresheners! by James Bishop “Silly, adventurous, supernatural. This crazy book brought me out of this world. Other children will love it for its wacky adventures.” 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…

Holly King-Mand is a writer, presenter and campaigner for literacy (the ability to read and write) who has inspired thousands of children to learn English. Holly loves creative writing and here she shares her top tips for writing a ghoulish ghost story. The idea of ghosts, also known as spectres, has been around since ancient times in lots of countries. According to legend, a ghost is the soul of a dead person, which exists separately from its body and is able to haunt, or appear, on Earth. Whether you believe in spectres or not, ghost stories have existed for centuries. They were very popular in the 19th century, when people were fascinated with the supernatural (things that can’t be proved by science). Writing a ghost story is a great opportunity…

As we were sending the magazine to the printers it was announced that Donald Trump had won the US presidential election. Sometimes when breaking news happens on our deadline day, we’re rewriting news stories right up until the last minute. However, nothing can change our press deadline! We’ll report on the result in more detail in our next issue. Our cover this week sends out a happy message. Coming up with a nice thing to do for someone else really boosts your mood. It redirects your thoughts, stretches your imagination and makes you happy, picturing how your good deed will make that person feel. You’ll find out just why kindness is such a powerful and positive force on page 19. Next week is Anti-Bullying Week (11–15 November) too. Is your…

The BBC TV show Gladiators is asking children aged seven to 11 to design a special fitness gadget to help with sporting performance. All that is needed is “the desire to explore and create”. The device must use the pocket-sized micro:bit computer, which helps you learn how to code. The winning school will receive a visit from a Gladiator, a £500 voucher for computing equipment and have their design turned into a prototype (an early version of a product). The deadline for entries is 6 December. To get your class involved, ask a teacher to visit the website at tinyurl.com/twj-microbit 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…

OVER THE GARDEN WALL FANS The Cartoon Network channel and Wallace & Gromit animation studio Aardman have released a short stop-motion film for the 10th anniversary of Over the Garden Wall. In it, the show’s main characters – Greg, Wirt and Beatrice – are carved wooden puppets. A TINY HIPPO On 30 October, a pygmy hippo calf was born at Edinburgh Zoo. She has been named Haggis, after the traditional Scottish dish. Pygmy hippos are endangered, and there are only around 2,500 left in the wild. Jonny Appleyard from the zoo said, “It is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already.” MUSIC LOVERS A lost piece of music by the famous 19th century composer Frederic Chopin has been found by a museum worker. Robinson McClellan spotted the manuscript,…

Do you think wearing a more comfortable uniform at school could help you learn? Lots of students wear smart blazers, ties and shoes to school but Summerhill Academy in Bristol, England, has opted to let its pupils wear an “active uniform”. This includes black tracksuit bottoms, shorts under skirts and black trainers instead of shoes. The idea is that pupils will be ready to be active at any time and can run around and exercise more easily during break periods. Teachers at the school also say that some pupils don’t like changing into a PE kit and this saves any embarrassment. However, some people think wearing a smart uniform helps you feel disciplined and puts you in a good frame of mind to learn. What do you think? Should uniforms…

These plump birds are the UK’s largest species of pigeon, found in parks, gardens, woodland and farmland. You might recognise the “cooing” call of the woodpigeon. The birds are about 40 centimetres long with a 78-centimetre wingspan. They can appear clumsy and often take off with a great flapping of wings. Adult birds are mostly grey with white patches on their necks and wings, which you can see when they fly. Woodpigeons eat fruit, leaves and seeds and they can gobble up a lot because they store some of it in a “crop” – a pouch in their upper chest. At this time of year, they are often seen flying south in large flocks. It’s not known exactly where they are all going but many arrive in Spain and Portugal.…

Starchy foods, such as bread, noodles, pasta, potatoes and rice – are popular all over the world. Starch is a type of carbohydrate, one of the three main nutrients in food (see panel), which are an important part of the human diet. Now, a study has revealed that humans’ love for these foods can be traced back more than 800,000 years, to the DNA (a chemical that carries information about a person’s body and characteristics) of our ancestors. In the study, researchers analysed the genomes of 68 ancient humans, including one that lived 45,000 years ago. A genome is a complete set of DNA. The researchers focused on a specific gene called AMY1 (genes are segments of DNA). AMY1 produces a substance called amylase, which helps humans break down starch…

Cycle-ball and artistic cycling are popular sports in Germany, and the country’s athletes enjoyed success at the Indoor Cycling World Championships, which took place in the north of the country at an arena in Bremen. Cycle-ball is played on a small court with a goal at each end. Two teams of two people play against each other on special bikes that can spin and move easily. Riders use balance and technique to control the ball with their wheels. A flick of the handlebar can shoot the ball at the opponent’s goal and players also pass and tackle by making contact with the ball through their bike. Players can head the ball but only the goalkeeper can use their hands. Touching the ball or the floor with feet is not allowed.…

Did you know that “Albion” is an ancient name for Great Britain? In the latest fantasy adventure by Kieran Larwood, “Grand Albion” is a land full of strange magic. In this world, six guilds (groups) are fighting for power and secret schemes threaten to destroy the weakest – the crumbling Leaf Guild. Enter Jed, an orphan with a unique and extraordinary gift: he can transform into a “half-tree”, with skin as tough as bark and the strength of a mighty oak. With the help of some new friends, Jed must learn to harness his abilities, before he faces the cunning Lord Cromwell and Lady Ireton in the dangerous Punchbowl tournament. Can Jed become a hero, save his guild family and restore peace to Grand Albion? Featuring magical forests, highwaymen and…

Childrenfor Change is a collection of new articles, illustrations, poems and stories. It is designed to inspire readers to take action – however big or small – to protect planet Earth. Published on 4 November as a free ebook, Children for Change explains the causes and effects of climate change and teaches us the things we can all do in our daily lives to build a healthier future for our planet. Edited by author and former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq, the ebook includes contributions from lots of the UK’s favourite children’s authors, including former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho; the author of the Tom Gates series, Liz Pichon; and Draw With Rob creator Rob Biddulph. Environmental campaigner and presenter Chris Packham and chef Jamie Oliver have also written pieces, showing…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Strap for controlling a horse (4) 3 Pretty cloth strip for tying hair (6) 8 Board on which an artist mixes colours (7) 9 Boat paddle (3) 10 Dental cream in a tube (10) 13 Toy that floats in the bath (6,4) 17 Large area of salt water (3) 18 Royal residences (7) 19 Country next to Norway (6) 20 Apple pip, for example (4) Down 1 Cable, thick string (4) 2 House made of snow blocks (5) 4 Frozen water (3) 5 Footballer’s shoes (5) 6 Hospital workers who work with doctors (6) 7 Figure made by a sculptor (6) 11 Foot-propelled pleasure boat (6) 12 Flavoured potato snacks in a bag (6) 14 Orthodontic…

Books Abroad is a small Scottish charity that, since 1982, has promoted literacy, education and understanding to help people in developing countries escape from poverty. The team collects good quality second-hand books and sends them across the world, for free. About 125,000 books are distributed every year and, so far, more than four million books have been sent to libraries and educational establishments in poor areas worldwide. You can find out more about the charity at booksabroad.org.uk…

Teacher’s name: Ms Husthwaite School: Belvedere Infant School, Kent “Ms Husthwaite is really nice and sweet. She taught me how to be responsible and take care of my things. She also helped me to be friendly with everyone in my class, so we all could have fun together. Ms Husthwaite made learning easy and fun, and I love her so much!” Hamza 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 country runs the Tiangong space station? ◻ a) The US ◻ b) Russia ◻ c) China 2 True or false? Kemi Badenoch is the new leader of the Liberal Democrats. ◻ True ◻ False 3 What is the Vatican’s new mascot called? 4 What percentage of primary schools in the UK have a uniform? ◻ a) 79% ◻ b) 99% ◻ c) 49% 5 True or false? Most of the Earth’s ocean floor has been mapped in detail. ◻ True ◻ False 6 How old is Jonathan the tortoise, the world’s oldest known living land animal? 7 Which birds live in colonies of up to two million? ◻ a) Chickens ◻ b) Penguins ◻ c) Ostriches 8 True or false? The ancient Maya people used to make tortilla…

Once upon a time at 10 o’clock in the morning, hundreds of people went to the Barbican Centre in London and “turned into pickled onions”. That might sound like the start of a silly story but it happened when Michael Rosen appeared at The Week Junior Book Festival on 29 October. Rosen performed poems and told stories and was joined by poet and rapper Christian Foley, who invited the crowd to rap along with his remixed nursery rhymes. Award-winning authors Rob Biddulph, Cressida Cowell and A.F. Steadman also appeared. Biddulph talked about where ideas come from, held a live draw-along with the audience and played the guitar as he read from his new book I Follow the Fox. Cowell revealed how childhood holidays on a remote island inspired her to…

At 19 years old, Zara Rutherford became the youngest woman to fly solo around the globe. Now 22 years old, she has written about her adventures in her new book, I Flew Around the World. Rutherford told The Week Junior that during her journey, “I met such unique and amazing people,” including NASA scientists doing climate-change measurements and a female rescue helicopter pilot. She also saw wildfires, a volcano and seals on an iceberg. On the entire trip she was accompanied by her trusty co-pilot, a cuddly toy called Miffy. Rutherford admits she found it hard being the only girl in her flying group when she was younger but she didn’t let that stop her. From a young age, Rutherford says, “I liked understanding things and finding out why they…

Like humans, lots of wild animals like to spend time together and socialise. Lionesses will eat together after hunting; elephants usually live in herds of between eight and 100; and orcas stay with their families for their whole lives. However, according to a collection of recent studies, some animals become less sociable as they get older. One of these studies looked at house sparrows on Lundy, a small island off the coast of Devon, England. The island is quite isolated, so the sparrow population stays the same and scientists are able to study their lives very closely from the moment they hatch. The research revealed that older house sparrows have smaller social circles than younger ones. Dr Jamie Dunning, who was involved in the research, said it could be because…

Sheila Chepkirui and Abdi Nageeye At the New York City marathon, Chepkirui was the women’s champion and Nageeye finished first in the men’s race. North Korea women’s under-17 football team They won the Under-17 Women’s World Cup final after beating Spain in a penalty shootout. Duncan Scott The British swimmer won the men’s 200 metres freestyle and 400 metres freestyle events at the short course World Cup event in Singapore. Anna Davies On 2 November, Davies scored five tries to help the England women’s rugby league team beat Wales 82-0.…

The Natural History Museum, London, has revealed the winners of its annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The award-winning entries captured the wonder of wildlife. The overall title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year went to Shane Gross for a photograph of western toad tadpoles. He took it while snorkelling through lily pads in Cedar Lake, Canada. Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, from Germany, was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year. His winning image shows a springtail (a tiny, insect-like animal) standing next to a blob of mould. One of the judges said Alexis had shown incredible patience, skill and attention to detail to take the photograph. The winning picture in the 11–14 category was taken by Parham Pourahmad, from the US. Alberto Román Gómez,…

Tell us your favourite place to be in nature. I love all of nature, so that’s a tough choice! But probably in the woods or by the sea. If you were a tree, which one would you be? I think I would be a big old oak tree with lots of squirrels and jays scurrying around in my branches. What is your favourite thing about Jed, the main character? I love his courage and determination, and the way he risks everything to help his friends. Do you write by hand or on a computer? I make all my notes and plans by hand, but type up the story on a computer. Name the top three qualities your heroes must have. They definitely have to be brave, they must be resourceful…

Next year is a big anniversary for the puzzle video game Tetris: its 40th birthday. The original version was created in 1985 by a Russian games developer called Alexey Pajitnov. It involves arranging different-shaped blocks (called “tetrominoes”) to form full lines, which then disappear. The aim is to stop the blocks stacking up to the top of the screen. Since 1985, the game has been released for nearly every games console and mobile device. It’s had lots of different versions that have introduced new features or ways to play. Tetris Forever collects some of the best of those games in one place and is released for PlayStation, Xbox and Switch consoles, as well as PCs. There are 15 versions of Tetris to try, including a recreation of the very first,…

Name: Cadu and Malu “We went to Brazil and visited the turtle project Aruanã, a not-for-profit organisation which monitors turtles’ development in the region. It also looks after the ones who get hurt before returning them safely to their environment. We received a full class about turtles in the area (including a monthly activity they do at Itaipú Beach with volunteers) and the academic research run by universities from Rio de Janeiro. For anyone visiting Rio, it is worth checking the day of the volunteer activity and try to participate as it is absolutely gorgeous!” 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?…

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 if timed tests are fair on students… “No, I know the answers but feel under pressure and can’t think when there is a timer.” “Yes, this is so teachers know what level you are at and it puts your brain to the test.” “No, it’s not fair on people with special needs.” “Yes, teachers will understand that it won’t show all of what you can do.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…