Table of contents for 469 in The Week Junior

A group of rebels have taken control of Aleppo, Syria’s second biggest city. The rebels are armed fighters opposed to the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad. It’s the first time since 2020 that rebels have launched a major attack in the country. What happened? The rebels began their recent attack on 27 November, taking control of a military base and 15 villages. They met very little opposition and by 29 November they had reached the edge of Aleppo. Two days later, they had taken control of the city. The rebels are made up of several different groups but they’re being led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a group that wants to remove Assad and his government. What’s the background to the attack? There has been a civil war (a war between groups…

LONELY BANANAS According to new research, shoppers buy more single bananas if they are advertised as being lonely. A sign saying “We are sad singles and want to be bought as well” in a German shop increased sales by 58%. Researchers say this could reduce food waste. ANNIE THE STAR A girl who was named after the main character in the musical Annie is set to appear in the show. In January, Annie Coleman, who is 12 and from Greenock, Scotland, will star as Annie at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow. “My mum says I’ve been singing Tomorrow (a song from the show) since before I could speak,” she said. A GALLERY FOR ANIMALS Animals including a meerkat, a tortoise and a bearded dragon have viewed portraits of themselves at a…

In the UK, children at primary schools eat an average of three school meals a week. This is usually a main meal followed by a dessert. Action on Sugar, a group of health experts at Queen Mary University of London, in England, are worried that children are eating too much sugar. They estimate that if you eat a cake at lunchtime at school, a chocolate bar on the way home and one or two biscuits in the evening, you could be eating up to 92.5 grams of sugar a day. That’s almost four times the recommended daily sugar limit for children. Action on Sugar say that school dinners could be contributing to children going over their daily sugar limits. However some people think it’s fine for children to have a…

One of our smallest animals is a fish called the white cloud mountain minnow. These tiny fish are 2.2 to 2.6 millimetres in body length when they first hatch and they grow to around four centimetres as adults. A freshwater fish, it comes from China and is classed as endangered by the Chinese government. Work is being done to reintroduce more white cloud mountain minnows back into the wild. Have you got a question you’d really like to ask a zookeeper? Send your animal, bird or bug question to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk and it might appear in a future issue.…

From toothbrushes and shampoo bottles to furniture and clothes, plastic is used to make lots of everyday items. When these items are thrown away, some of them end up in the oceans. The plastic, which can take hundreds of years to break down, is known to harm marine wildlife. To tackle this problem, scientists have developed a type of plastic that will biodegrade in seawater. Biodegradable plastics are ones that decay (break down) naturally – but, currently, even biodegradable plastics don’t break down completely in the sea. Instead, they break up into tiny pieces called microplastics, which are often eaten by fish, birds and animals. The new plastic could help solve this microplastic problem. It was created by researchers at the RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science, in Japan. Unlike…

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.…

Things might seem hard sometimes but there is always a way through. Being hopeful and trying not to give up makes it easier to face challenges and solve problems. What does being hopeful mean? Have you heard the saying “the glass is half full”? This means looking at the good things in a situation, rather than thinking “the glass is half empty”. It gives you the power to keep trying when facing everyday challenges, like managing friendships and staying on top of school work. It’s not always easy to be cheerful and positive and it’s natural to feel worried, angry or sad sometimes. However, being hopeful makes you feel more confident and happy, and it can help you overcome things you are worrying about. How is it good for me?…

(Nosy Crow) Antarctica is the coldest and driest continent on Earth – a frozen polar desert. In this new book from first-time author Jack Jackman, Antarctica becomes the setting for a thrilling, action-packed adventure. Aged 11, Maisie lives with her dad, who writes cool-sounding survival books like How to Wrestle a Crocodile and How to Defuse a Bomb. Although his books are full of excitement, Maisie thinks her dad’s real life is dull – he spends most of his time doing origami and jigsaws. Then, on a research trip for his next book, their plane crash-lands in the frozen wilds of Antarctica. Suddenly, Maisie discovers a whole new side to her dad. Can his secret talents help them survive all kinds of dangerous, icy challenges – and find their way…

Growing up, author Hannah Peck loved reading books set in the past, learning about history at school and thinking about how different people’s lives were throughout the centuries. Peck tells The Week Junior, “I was always hankering after the latest Horrible Histories book and for a moment considered becoming an archaeologist” (an expert who studies ancient objects to help us understand history). Now, Peck writes and illustrates children’s books and her latest, The River Thief, is set in the 17th century. It’s filled with magic, adventure and folklore and the story’s setting follows the path of some real-life rivers and towns in England. In the story, we meet young Adderley Bede and her family, who live in and run a watermill by the River Lyde, near the village of Nately…

1 What is the capital city of Norway? ▭ a) Bergen ▭ b) Oslo ▭ c) Trondheim 2 True or false? Liverpool is the first city in the world to be named as an “Accelerator City” by the United Nations. ▭ True ▭ False 3 In which country has the world’s longest tram just been unveiled? 4 According to the NHS, how many grams of “free sugars” should seven to 10-year-olds have each day? ▭ a) No more than 10 ▭ b) No more than 24 ▭ c) No more than 45 5 True or false? The Snowman was written by Michael Rosen. ▭ True ▭ False 6 How many grey squirrels live in the UK? 7 When did Norway start giving the UK a Christmas tree every year to…

A study has found that red squirrels are coming under increasing competition from grey squirrels. However, a team of conservationists has developed a system that could support the red squirrel population – and it is being tested in several woodlands. Red squirrels have lived in the UK for around 10,000 years but it’s thought that there are only around 160,000 left. They once lived in most woodlands but now they’re restricted to northern England, Scotland, the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England and Anglesey in north Wales. By contrast, there are 2.7 million grey squirrels in the UK. Grey squirrels, which were introduced from North America in 1876, are bigger, so they are better at competing for food and areas to live. They also carry a virus…

Trees covered with decorations are a big part of celebrating Christmas. Evergreen trees and plants, which keep their leaves all year round, have traditionally been used to celebrate life and nature. The importance of evergreens Evergreen plants have been connected to the winter solstice for a long time. The solstice is the shortest day of the year, with the least daylight, which takes place around 21 December. In ancient Egypt people believed that at this time of year the weather grows colder because the Sun god, Ra, gets weak. The people decorated their houses with green palm leaves during the winter solstice as a sign of life triumphing over death and of their hopes for the warmer months to come. The first Christmas trees The tradition of Christmas trees as…

England and Jamaica are two of the best national netball teams. In November, they played four games against each other in the new Horizon Series competition. Jamaica won the series thanks to a victory in the final match. The Horizon Series began with two games in Manchester, England. The first finished in an exciting draw when the Sunshine Girls – the Jamaica team’s nickname – scored in the last second to make the final score 49-49. The following day the two nations played again, but this time England (nicknamed the Roses) enjoyed victory by 55 goals to 47. That gave the Roses a 1-0 overall lead. Nine days later, the third fixture took place in Kingston, Jamaica. The Sunshine Girls knew that if they lost, the Roses would lead 2-0…

Every year during the festive season, families around the UK go to the theatre to watch pantomimes. The shows feature colourful costumes, songs, dances, lots of jokes and even some audience participation. Although pantomimes may appear to be a very British style of entertainment, their origins lie in Italian theatre. In the 16th century, actors in Italy performed a type of theatre called “Commedia dell’arte”, which means “comedy of the profession”. The shows were often performed on the street and they usually featured the same characters, such as a young couple in love and servants who made lots of jokes. Commedia dell’arte shows spread across Europe and by the late 17th century, the characters were being used in English comedy shows. The reason that pantomimes became a Christmas tradition is…

That Christmas Available now on Netflix Based on the children’s books by writer and director Richard Curtis, this animated film follows the residents of Wellington-on-Sea and their dreams of having a good Christmas. A blizzard and Santa’s mistake threaten to ruin everyone’s festive season. Junior Taskmaster Available on channel4.com Hosts Rose Matafeo and Mike Wozniak challenge 25 children, aged between nine and 11, to put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test. The best contestants will progress to a semi-final and then the grand final.…

Describe the book in a single sentence. Funny father-daughter adventure (with a touch of the supernatural). You have been to Antarctica before. What was it like? Like floating on a cloud of endless light. It’s very peaceful if you don’t think about how quickly you could freeze, get lost or be attacked by a leopard seal. What were the three most useful things you packed for the trip? A coat with many layers, a camera (with lots and lots of memory) and sunglasses – because when the Sun comes out the glare is tremendous. Is there a place that you haven’t visited yet that you’d love to visit? The world is so full of wonder and my list is so long! The Floating Peaks of China, the Serengeti and the…

Gaming service Roblox is still growing: it now has more than 88.9 million people playing on it every day. However, in the last few months the company has been facing questions about how safe it is for young people to use Roblox. Now Roblox is making a series of changes to address these concerns. The changes include adding new controls for parents and carers, who can link their own Roblox accounts to their children’s. From there they can see how much time their children are spending playing, as well as their friends list. The adults will also be able to set daily screen-time limits. When the time runs out, Roblox won’t be playable until the next day. Roblox is also changing its rules on how young people can communicate when…

At a hot springs spa in Yukon, Canada, people dip their hair in water and then let it freeze into funky shapes. As their hair freezes, people sit in the naturally warm water from underground springs. The pastime has even become a competition called the International Hair Freezing Contest. In recent years, winners have been given cash prizes and helped achieve a Guinness World Record for the most people taking part in a frozen hair competition. Organisers are hoping for a cold winter this year – last winter, temperatures didn’t get low enough to hold the event. It must be-20°C or lower for it to go ahead.…

If you love drawing then this competition is for you. The Young Cartoonist Awards – a competition run by The Cartoon Museum in London – is now accepting submissions for under-18s. Cartoons can be drawn by hand or digitally, and in colour or black and white. Email your cartoon to hello@cartoonmuseum.org by 2 February. The winner will get £250 and their cartoon will be on show at the museum on 20 March next year. A special prize, called the Woodcock Prize, is also given out for the most surreal (strange) cartoon. Ask an adult to find out more for you at tinyurl.com/TWJ-cartoons 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…

An MP (member of Parliament) who was diagnosed with ADHD three years ago is encouraging others with it to get involved in politics. ADHD is a condition that can affect a person’s behaviour and concentration. Sarah Hall is the Labour MP for Warrington South, in England. She wants to raise awareness that girls can have ADHD too (doctors can be less good at recognising it in girls), and to help people get support if they feel they need it. She told BBC News, “I hope that people will look at me and realise that having ADHD… it’s not a barrier to achieving what you want to do.”…

Also called traveller’s joy, wild clematis is a climbing plant that clings and grows into bushes, hedges and trees. Found across the UK, except northern Scotland, it is most visible in winter. The plant can grow more than three metres tall and at this time of year, its seed heads look like wispy hair. They are whitish-grey so they are often referred to as “old man’s beard”. In the past, people in the countryside would often gather wild clematis to decorate their homes at Christmas. Because of the fluffy, white seed heads, the plant is also sometimes called Father Christmas. The plant is a food for several moth species; the flowers support lots of insects; and the seeds are food for birds such as goldfinches and greenfinches.…

Scottish bumble-bees An area of land near Perth in Scotland has seen an increase in its bumble-bee population. The site was previously farmed but rewilded three years ago (allowed to return to its natural state). After two years, bumble-bee numbers increased by 11,500 and the number of bumble-bee species doubled. England’s swimming spots The number of official swimming spots in England that are rated poor or unfit for swimming has increased from 18 to 37. An organisation called the Environment Agency tests the water at 450 sites for bacteria (tiny organisms) which come from sewage (human poo and wee).…

The Christmas pickle In the US, an ornament shaped like a gherkin is hidden in the tree. On Christmas morning, the person who finds the “Christmas pickle” gets the first gift. Some say the tradition started in Germany. Hiding broomsticks Some Norwegians believe that evil spirits and witches come out on Christmas Eve, so families hide all their broomsticks to stop witches from stealing them. The poo log In Catalonia, Spain, a Christmas log is wrapped in a blanket and children care for it until Christmas Eve, when the log “poos” out sweets and treats (not really – they’re put there by adults). A giant Christmas goat Every Christmas in the Swedish town of Gävle, a 13-metre straw model of a goat is put up. The goat was introduced in…

Judd Trump On 1 December, Trump defeated Barry Hawkins 10-8 to win snooker’s UK Championship for the second time. Liverpool Football Club Liverpool beat Manchester City 2-0 in the Premier League, with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah. They are top of the table with 11 wins from 13 games. England women’s cricket team England beat South Africa in all three of their T20 matches to win the series 3-0. England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt was player of the series. Leicester Tigers In Women’s Premiership Rugby, Leicester Tigers beat Sale Sharks 34-17. It was Leicester’s first league win of the season.…

The Detective Society Presents: The Most Unladylike Puzzle Book by Robin Stevens (Puffin Books) Ever wondered what it would be like to solve crimes like schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong? Put your mystery-solving and code-breaking skills to the test with puzzles featuring characters from this bestselling series. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Piccadilly Press) If you’ve enjoyed The Wild Robot movie, you shouldn’t miss the book that inspired it. In this thrilling adventure robot Roz is stranded alone on a remote and wild island. She has no idea how she got there but she knows she must adapt to her strange new surroundings. To survive, she befriends the island’s animal inhabitants. The Colour of Revenge by Cornelia Funke (Chicken House) In this thrilling new fantasy, villain Orpheus…

Name: Jak The Great Crisp Robbery by Pamela Butchart “Fun, exciting, mysterious. It was a fun book full of adventure and risks. It got my adrenaline pumping and I would definitely recommend it.” 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…

All you need is string, glue, paint and recycled packaging to craft these Christmas decorations. You can decorate finished trees with paper stars and mini LED lights. What you need • Thin card (A4)• Scissors• Sticky tape• A thin plastic bag• 6 metres of string• PVA glue• A glue brush• Paints TOP TIP Put a string of battery mini LED lights or an LED tea light inside the tree to light it up. 1 Curl a piece of thin card into a cone and secure it with tape. Trim the card to make it an even shape with a straight base. 2 Cut to size a thin plastic bag or food packet to cover the cone. Stick the edges with tape, tuck the ends inside the cone or cut off…

Don’t you love our cover? It’s always fun choosing the cover image but this week was even better than usual. Basically, we spent a while looking through photos of adorable red squirrels. The story on page 10, about how AI (artificial intelligence) can help boost red squirrels and control grey squirrels, is just one example of how much AI can help us. I’m still trying to imagine even a tiny fraction of the uses to which it can be put but I read a great story during the week about an idea launched by a phone company to outwit scammers. Scammers are criminals who phone people and try to trick them into giving information such as bank details. The phone company is using “Daisy”, a made-up AI granny. When criminals…

Teacher’s name: Miss McGoldrick School: Salterhebble Junior and Infant School, Halifax, West Yorkshire “Miss McGoldrick is a great teacher because she does lots of really fun activities in our RE and PSHE lessons. She also hands out lots of smileys and stickers. She does cool lunchtime clubs like Calm Club and Mad about Musicals. Her singing assemblies are amazing and she always thinks of really good actions to go with the songs.” Adrianna 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! Just write a comment when you vote in our Big Debate poll, or even record a voice note for The Week Junior Show. Last week we asked if British sign language (BSL) should be taught at all schools… “Yes, lots of people use BSL so we should learn it like we learn English to communicate.” “No, it adds pressure on both the students and the teachers.” “Yes, no one should be silenced by the way they speak.” “No, you might not have a lot of time for it during the day.” “I think learning BSL should be optional.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…