Table of contents for Issue 308 - April 2021 in MiniMag

“To be, or not to be, that is the question?” is a very famous quote from the play HAMLET, written by William Shakespeare. As we celebrate English Language Day and World Book Day on 23 April, it seems fitting to challenge ourselves with a quote from one of the most prolific writers of all time. This past year has come with many ups and many downs and it is an impossible task to ask of someone to always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we are, and will, get through this extraordinary time! In times of darkness, we must pull towards those closest to us and entrust that they can be our strength when we feel weakest. In exchange, when we feel strong and capable, we…

When Maya and Willy bust out of winter lock down early they are catapulted headfirst into a top-secret mission! Entrusted with the care of a sacred orb, Maya and Willy team up with their old pals, Arnie and Barney, to deliver it to its new home atop the mysterious Bonsai Peak. But when their "orb" hatches, Maya and Willy come face to face with their biggest responsibility yet - a smooshy, squishy little princess! This adventure is a LOT more than they bargained for as they must work together to take on bounty hunters and traverse treacherous terrain to return the lost princess to her mountain colony, only to find it hanging in the balance of a turf war. Willy discovers a side of himself that he never expected as…

You will need: • A plate or shallow dish• Jug with water• A paper or polystyrene cup• A toothpick• A piece of steel wool• A large glass jar• A marker pen that writes on glass What to do: 1 Pour water into your plate or shallow dish. 2 Use the toothpick to prick several small holes all over the paper cup. 3 Turn the cup upside down. Place a ball of clean steel wool on the top of the overturned cup. Place the cup with the steel wool, upside down on the plate. 4 Cover the cup with the steel wool with the glass jar. 5 Mark the water level on the jar with your marker pen. 6 Wait a few days, adding water to the plate when necessary. Take note of…

It is usually easier to hear them calling or singing to each other, than it is to actually see them. That is because they are well camouflaged, meaning they blend in with their surroundings. It is important to know which species of frogs and toads live in certain areas. Let’s colour in! Frogs are considered bioindicators, which means they are species of animals that are greatly impacted by the health of the environment. If the water, wetlands and other places they live are polluted or contaminated, they cannot survive. If their habitat is clean and healthy, many species or individuals will be living there, all calling out to each other in a beautiful chorus. Did you know? An estimated half of the 6 300 known species of amphibians are threatened…

Now you see us … now you don’t … On Friday, 2 April, in Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes, only the legendary Sherlock Holmes can find the real thief with the help of his assistant Dr Watson – and Tom and Jerry, of course. Then on Monday, 5 April, the two come together in Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to give the classic Roald Dahl tale a modern twist as they enter the amazing world of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Come along and see if these two will be able to uncover the mysteries only on Boomerang! TUNE IN: Friday, 2 April 2021 and Monday, 5 April 2021 @ 9:55 DStv channel 302 BOOMERANG AFRICA…

DELICIOUS DONUT RECIPE Makes 18 Donuts INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons white vinegar90 ml milk2 tablespoons butter½ cup white sugar1 egg½ teaspoon baking soda¼ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon vanilla extract2 cups sifted all-purpose flourOil for deep frying STEP 1 Stir the vinegar into the milk, and let stand for a few minutes until thick. STEP 2 In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture alternating with the vinegar and milk. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 10 cm thickness. Cut into donuts using a donut cutter. Let stand for about 10 minutes. STEP 3 Heat the oil in a large deep skillet to 190°C. Fry…

The 2020 Word Warrior entries were of high standard and met the following criteria: ✍ Setting the scene with a very good description that summarises what happened before the dialogue. ✍ An interesting dialogue with oomph! ✍ The introduction of captivating characters; friends as well as enemies to Detective Nkomba. ✍ The ending/conclusion that highlights how the case was solved. ✍ The voice of Detective Nkomba. READ compliments and congratulates the following learners whose stories made it to the TOP FOURTEEN: (in no particular order) • Maisha Emungu: Boskop Primary School Teacher C Wernick• Lara Wiehahn: Midstream College Teacher Sharon• Imani Smucker: Blouberg Ridge Primary School Teacher Kammies• Emily Verster: Winston Park Primary School Teacher Hewitt• Raphael Jegels: A.F Louw Primary School Teacher A Tarr• Caitlin Masson: Home Educated Wendy…

A domestic parcel service was introduced in England only in 1883, a full year after the Cape Colony had introduced it. At the Cape, parcel mail initially cost three pennies for every four ounces. Letters, to be dispatched at a higher rate, could not be included in parcels. With the introduction of the parcel service, GW Aitchison, postmaster general of the Colony, recommended that parcels be packed carefully and securely. The rough handling on the mail carts sometimes caused the contents to be damaged extensively. Keeping it dry As a further precaution, articles that had to remain dry had to be packed in an oil cloth because the mail carts often had to cross full rivers. No explosive or dangerous articles were allowed to be sent by mail and such…

Malaria is one of the most serious tropical diseases, which is caused by the transmission of parasites to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes. If untreated, malaria can become a potentially life-threatening disease. Malaria is preventable and curable, yet still it caused more than 400 00 deaths in 2018. Ready to beat malaria Malaria transmission cycle Early symptoms of malaria If you have been in a malaria-risk area within the last six months and begin to suffer from fevers, headaches, sweating, fatigue (extreme tiredness), abdominal pain, diarrhoea, loss of appetite or nausea and vomiting, visit your doctor immediately to get a diagnosis. Remember, you don’t have to have all of these symptoms, nor does any one of these symptoms mean that you definitely have malaria, but it is…

Can you crack the code? Easter Bunny has sent you a special message this Easter. Use the alphabet code above to decipher the Easter message below. Visual literacy Secret codes are great fun and teach you many skills! You will become an expert at recognising pictures and noting small differences at the same time. Answer: Easter is about celebration, joy and happiness.…

Meet the element: It is time to get to know some of the most popular elements on our planet a little better. Oxygen – ready to react The oxygen atom is a bit like that kid at your school who is friends with almost everyone. Oxygen is a highly reactive element that forms bonds with nearly all the other elements on the periodic table. Oxygen reacts with itself to form O2 or O3 (ozone), with hydrogen to form water (H20) and carbon to form carbon dioxide (CO2) just to name a few. Oxygen reacts with glucose to release CO2 and energy. This chemical reaction is called respiration and happens inside cells. Respiration turns food into fuel. Have you noticed that your breathing increases when you exercise or play sports? This…

My heel eerste plakkerboeke Leer ken kleure en ontwikkel fyn motoriese vaardighede in hierdie boeke met kleurvolle prente en herbruikbare plakkers! Uitgewer: Human & Rousseau ISBN: 978-0-7981-8174-7 / 978-0-7981-8175-4 Die kleur van die plakkers moet gebruik word om te bepaal waar die regte plek op die bladsy is om te plak. Kinders sal leer om die primêre kleure te herken met hierdie opwindende eerste plakkerboeke! Met lekker (soms plofbare!) eksperimente wat jy in jou agterplaas kan doen, is die HOE DINGE WERK-reeks elke jong doen-dit-self-wetenskaplike se droom. HOE DINGE WERK in jou agterplaas Alix Wood Uitgewer: Human & Rousseau Biologieeksperimente ISBN: 978-0-7981-8121-1 Maak ‘n eier wat hop, kweek jou eie bakterieë, keer dat ‘n gesnyde appel bruin word, blaas ‘n ballon op met gis … As jy nuuskierig is oor…