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58 Articles

Nobel peace prize winner announced

On 6 October, the winner of the Nobel peace prize was revealed. It is one of the most famous awards in the world, and this year it was awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican). What are nuclear weapons? Nuclear weapons are bombs that cause huge destruction. They work by releasing the energy in the nucleus (the centre) of certain types of atoms. An atom is the smallest piece of matter that exists; they are so small, they can only be seen under a special microscope. However, the energy in an atom’s nucleus is very powerful and when it is released, it causes a huge explosion. Have they been used? Yes. Scientists in the US began working on an atomic bomb in the early 1940s. The first…

Nobel peace prize winner announced

An important prize

The Nobel peace prize began in 1901 and is said to be the world’s most important peace prize. It is named after Alfred Nobel, a Swedish engineer and inventor. When he died, he left his money – around £160 million in today’s money – to set up a series of awards to recognise great people working in the fields of chemistry, literature, medicine, peace and physics. Previous winners include Martin Luther King Junior in 1964. He campaigned for equality in the US. Winners receive a medal, a certificate and £845,000. This year’s winners will receive their prizes at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway, home of the Nobel Peace Center, on 10 December.…

An important prize

Thousands protest against vote

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Barcelona in Spain on 8 October to march for Spanish unity. Around 350,000 people waved Spanish and Catalan flags to show that they want Spain and Catalonia to remain as one country. Exactly one week before the march, on 1 October, Catalonia, a region in north-eastern Spain, held a vote, known as a referendum. Its aim was to find out whether citizens wanted independence from the rest of the country. Around 42% of the region’s voters took part in the referendum and 90% of these people voted for independence. The Spanish government said that the vote was illegal and said that if Catalonia declared independence then it would be breaking the law. Many people who live in Catalonia want to…

Thousands protest against vote

Speaking out about mental health

On 10 October it was World Mental Health Day. First held in 1992, the day raises awareness of mental health issues and aims to get people talking. Earlier this year, as part of the Heads Together campaign, Prince Harry spoke about how he had struggled to cope with the death of his mother, Princess Diana. Harry hoped that this would encourage other people, particularly men, who are less likely to talk about their problems, to speak out. It worked. Recent research conducted on behalf of Heads Together has showed that an estimated 1.2 million more men spoke about their mental health in May, compared to three months earlier, because of the campaign. Last Sunday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry announced the next stage of their project.…

Speaking out about mental health

IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…

A HELPING HAND One of the world’s most famous pianists, Lang Lang, has injured his left arm. It’s meant he’s had to cancel concerts. So that Lang Lang’s appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York could go ahead, a talented 14-year-old pianist, Maxim Lando, stepped in. He played all the left-hand notes for the performance. A SPECIAL REUNION A survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire in London has been reunited with her cat. Kerry O’Hara, 53, escaped from the sixth floor but was convinced she’d never see her beloved Rosey again. Two months later, Rosey was found on a street near the tower and her microchip was scanned. “She recognised me straight away”, O’Hara said. THIS NOVELIST The British author Kazuo Ishiguro has won the 2017 Nobel prize for literature.…

IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…

Coughing fit gets in the way of May

Making a speech in public, as anyone who’s tried it will know, can be hard. On 4 October, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, was reminded just how hard it can be, when a speech she gave at the Conservative Party conference did not go to plan. What’s a party conference? A party conference is when members of a political party gather each year for a big meeting. They’re an opportunity for members to share their political beliefs and discuss ideas. This year the Conservative Party conference ran 1–4 October. On the last day, the Prime Minister delivered a speech. What did she say? May used her speech to announce that tuition fees – the money that students pay to universities – wouldn’t increase. She also announced plans for councils to…

Coughing fit gets in the way of May

THE WEEK IN HISTORY

14 October 1066 The Battle of Hastings The Battle of Hastings was one of the most important battles in English history. It was fought just over 951 years ago on 14 October 1066, between William, Duke of Normandy, and King Harold II, King of England. In September 1066, William sailed to England from France with a large army. Thousands of men were killed in the battle, including King Harold who, according to legend, was hit in the eye by an arrow. William won, and eventually became King of England.…

THE WEEK IN HISTORY

Was King Arthur really real?

For centuries, stories of the legendary King Arthur have been told, but no one knows for certain whether he really existed. One archaeologist recently revealed his theory that King Arthur was an imaginary figure created to be a “Celtic superhero” during the 12th century. Dr Miles Russell, from Bournemouth University, believes that Arthur was actually based on five real historical people, including a Roman general, Magnus Maximus.…

Was King Arthur really real?

Cartoons over real creatures

Would you be able to recognise an adder over an Arbok, or a wren over a Wigglytuff? Researchers from Cambridge University set out to discover how much children know about nature using sets of picture cards. They showed images of Pokémon characters and British wildlife to groups of four to 11-year-olds, to see if the children could identify them. Around 80% of the group over the age of eight were able to name the Pokémon, whereas fewer than 50% knew the names of the wildlife.…

Cartoons over real creatures

UK gets tough on ivory trade

Every year, tens of thousands of elephants are killed for the ivory of their tusks. The tusks are illegally bought and sold by criminals all over the world. To stop this from happening, the UK government has announced plans to ban the sale of almost all ivory products. The plans were announced by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove. The teeth and tusks of some animals are made from ivory, which is a white, hard material. For hundreds of years, ivory was considered a precious material and it was turned into items such as combs, jewellery, piano keys and religious ornaments. The sale of ivory tusks in the UK has been banned since 1990, but under current British law, people can buy and sell…

UK gets tough on ivory trade

Around the world

Indianapolis, US Vice president walks out of game In recent weeks, many American football players have knelt during the US national anthem before the game. These protests are in response to the unfair treatment of black people in the country. On 8 October, the US vice president, Mike Pence, walked out of a football game after players knelt, because he thinks it’s disrespectful. President Trump tweeted that he’d asked Pence to walk out if they knelt. Costa Rica Storm Nate causes chaos A state of emergency has been declared in several Central American nations, including Costa Rica, after at least 22 people died during Storm Nate. The storm caused torrential rain, landslides and floods. In Costa Rica, more than 400,000 people were without running water, and thousands had to sleep…

Around the world

Should encryption technology be banned?

What you need to know ● WhatsApp is a messaging system with end-to-end encryption. This means that only the people sending and receiving the messages can read them. ● End-to-end encryption means you can send messages securely. It works by transforming electronic information into a jumble that can only be read by someone who knows how to work out the code. ● Amber Rudd is the UK Home Secretary – an important member of the Government. She wants to ban or change the technology that makes encryption possible, because she says criminals and terrorists are using it to send messages. When people use the internet, they often trust it with their most sensitive data. People use encryption to shop online, to manage their money and to keep their messages private.…

Should encryption technology be banned?

The shipwreck hunter

For thousands of years, humans have been navigating the world’s oceans on ships, boats and rafts. Indeed, before the 20th century and the invention of the aeroplane, it was the only way to travel overseas. For as long as there has been ocean travel, however, there have been shipwrecks. There are thought to be as many as three million sunken ships littering the seabed, and David Mearns has taken on the job of tracking them down. Mearns developed his passion for the sea at an early age. As a boy in New Jersey, US, he loved fishing and knew that he wanted to work outdoors, beside water; so when he went to university, he chose to study marine biology. His studies gave him a good understanding of the technology used…

The shipwreck hunter

Exploring starts at home

You might think that nowadays, with technology like the internet and air travel, exploring isn’t what it used to be. It’s true that most of the gaps on the maps have been filled in and that explorers don’t make the kind of discoveries they did in days gone by. However, if you think exploring isn’t the adventure that it once was, says Simon Reeve, you’d be wrong. Reeve is one of the country’s best known adventurers; he’s travelled all over the globe to produce several TV series. As a youngster, though, he hardly ever left the UK. In fact, his only childhood trip abroad was to France. Instead, along with his intrepid granny, he and his brother explored some overlooked places in England. The “magical mystery tours” were inspirational. “Everywhere…

Exploring starts at home

Woman of the future

Goalball is one of the world’s most exciting sports. It’s a game for visually impaired athletes that tests not only fitness and reflexes, but also tactics and nerve. Sarah Leiter is one of the UK’s most promising goalballers – but she’s more than just an athlete. Her evenings may be dedicated to training, but she spends her days researching and studying medicine and scientific research at university. Sarah’s visual impairments are so severe that she needs to use a telescope in lectures, but in goalball she’s found the perfect sport. Her hard work has being reflected in her latest accomplishment – she’s been nominated in the sport category for the Women of the Future Awards. Next, she hopes, she’ll compete at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.…

Woman of the future

Animals at risk from wildlife selfies

When packing for a holiday, one thing most people will pop into their suitcase is a camera or smartphone, so they can capture lots of amazing memories. Many of these holiday snaps end up on social media but a particular type of picture recently caused a stir after it was discovered that some creatures are suffering because so many tourists are eager to have their photo taken with exotic animals. In an undercover investigation, wildlife charity World Animal Protection found that some of the most endangered species living in the Amazon region in South America are facing further threats because of the rising popularity of what are known as wildlife selfies. Since 2014, the number of wildlife selfies posted on the photo-sharing app, Instagram, has increased by 292%. More than…

Animals at risk from wildlife selfies

PLACE OF THE WEEK

Deep in the Wadbury Valley lie the ruins of a disused ironworks, with lots of narrow channels and underground tunnels. Before it was shut down in 1894, The Old Iron Works, also known as Fussells Ironworks, produced various tools including spades and shovels during the late 18th and 19th century. Having been closed now for more than 100 years, many buildings are covered with greenery, such as ferns and ivy, and surrounded by trees. Find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJ-fussellsironworks…

PLACE OF THE WEEK

Religious festival chokes river

More than 60 million people rely on the waters of the Yamuna, a river that flows through Delhi, in India. However, an annual religious festival, which recently came to a close, has left sections of the river choking with flowers, plastic and debris after hundreds of statues and figures were submerged in the water during the celebration. The spectacular Durga Puja takes place every year and lasts for 10 days. Devotees gather to celebrate the Hindu goddess, Durga – commonly pictured with 10 arms and riding a lion – and her victory over Mahishasura, the buffalo demon. Gigantic statues of Durga are created and decorated, before being paraded through the streets. At the end of the festival, these statues are plunged into the Yamuna, which is already said to be…

Religious festival chokes river

Good week / Bad week

Leisler’s bat A roost of rare Leisler’s bats has been discovered in Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park. It’s only the second confirmed site for these mammals in Scotland. The 27 nesting females in the group is a good sign that the forests are providing the bats with a safe place to have their babies. Batteries A poll of around 3,000 UK adults revealed that more than half of them throw batteries in the bin. These end up in landfill, where the toxic contents can harm the environment if they leak into the ground. Shops are now backing a campaign to make it easier to recycle batteries.…

Good week / Bad week

Great spotted kiwi

Experts believe that New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, could be extinct in the wild within the next 50 years. This is because eggs and young chicks are being eaten by predators such as cats, rats and stoats. Only 5% of wild kiwi chicks become adults. ● LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Can reach up to 20 years. ● HABITAT: Found only on New Zealand’s South Island, the great spotted kiwi lives in beech forests, grasslands, hardwood forests and along the coasts. ● DIET: Kiwis eat a wide variety of foods, including insects, crayfish and fruit. ● FUN FACT: The closest relatives to these flightless, pear-shaped birds are the emu and ostrich. STRONG SNIFFERS The kiwi is the only bird on Earth to have nostrils on the tip of its beak.…

Great spotted kiwi

Do animals get hay fever?

Nic Masters Head vet at ZSL London Zoo Yes. In animals from the cat or dog families it tends to show up as inflammation of the skin, and it can be from things they breathe in, like pollen or, more often, things they eat. Some monkeys get symptoms similar to those in humans – runny nose and sore eyes – often due to pollen. We sometimes use the same sort of medicine as that given to humans. Do you love animals? ZSL London Zoo’s Junior Zoo Academy is a great way to learn about creatures from all over the world. Find out more at zsl.org/experiences…

Do animals get hay fever?

Celebrating black history in the UK

Black History Month UK has taken place every year in October for the last 30 years. It celebrates the achievements and contributions of black people from all over the country, in all sorts of fields, ranging from art and music to science and literature. To mark Black History Month (BHM), Prime Minister Theresa May said, “Today, in every walk of life... there are African and African Caribbean men and women whose achievements are not just making our country a better place, but inspiring others to follow in their footsteps to even greater success.” Why do people celebrate it? Throughout history, black people have been treated badly simply because of the colour of their skin. This is known as racism. In the past, incredible successes were sometimes dismissed or even ignored…

Celebrating black history in the UK

What was the slave trade?

BHM aims to raise awareness of how black people were treated in the past. It is hard to believe now, but people used to buy and sell black people as slaves. The slave trade between Africa, the US and Britain was a horrific business that was established in the 17th century. Ships left British ports carrying goods, such as cloth and guns, and headed to west Africa. The goods were exchanged for men, women and children who had been kidnapped. They were packed onto ships and sent to the Caribbean or to North and South America, where they were forced to work, growing crops like sugarcane and coffee. They were not paid for their labour and were treated very badly. The coffee and sugar they grew was sent to Britain…

What was the slave trade?

SIX GREAT BLACK BRITONS

DIANE ABBOTT Diane Abbott was born in London in 1953. After graduating from Cambridge University, Abbott worked for the UK Government. She made history in 1987 by becoming the first ever black woman to be elected to Parliament. She has served as a Labour Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in London for 30 years. As well as a distinguished political career, Abbott also started the London Schools and the Black Child programme, which help black children receive a good edu tion. ca BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH Born in 1958 in Birmingham, Benjamin Zephaniah had trouble with reading and writing at school because of a learning difficulty known as dyslexia. Despite this, Zephaniah grew up to be a world-famous author and poet. His work is influenced by the music…

SIX GREAT BLACK BRITONS

Celebrating 60 years of space travel

On 4 October 1957, the Soviet Union (a group of countries that were once ruled from Moscow, the capital of Russia) made history when it launched the world’s first artificial satellite into space. That satellite was named Sputnik 1, and last week marked 60 years since it blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. A satellite is an artificial or natural object that orbits (moves around) a larger object. In Sputnik’s case, that larger object was our planet. Sputnik helped pave the way for some of the amazing technologies that we take for granted today, such as viewing anywhere on the planet with a click of a mouse or the tap of a screen, or using a mobile phone to call someone on the other side of the world.…

Celebrating 60 years of space travel

Five satellite firsts

Sputnik 2 Launched on 3 November 1957, Sputnik 2 was another incredible achievement because the satellite carried Laika the dog – the first living creature to enter orbit. Score Score was sent into space on 18 December 1958. It was the world’s first communication satellite and it beamed a Christmas message to nations around the world. Ariel 1 Ariel 1 was the UK’s first satellite, launched into space on 26 April 1962. It was used to study different parts of the Earth’s atmosphere. Navstar 1 The first Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite was launched in 1978. The Navstar 1 paved the way for smartphone tech that now shows people their location. The International Space Station The ISS is designed so that astronauts can live on it. Construction began on 20…

Five satellite firsts

Scientists scoop top honours

Every year a special award is given out to people or organisations who have achieved amazing breakthroughs in areas such as chemistry, medicine and physics. This award is called the Nobel prize and there are six in total. The winner for the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine went to Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael Young, who were studying the body clock, also called the circadian rhythm. Every living thing has an internal clock that helps them adapt to the rhythm of the planet. This clock is the reason you want to sleep at night. The scientists found a gene (a short section of DNA that determines things like eye colour) in fruit flies that controls the body clock. The Nobel prize in physics went to Rainer Weiss ,…

Scientists scoop top honours

New sea monster identified

Millions of years ago, when dinosaurs dominated the planet, there were also marine monsters that swarmed through the seas. One of these was a predator closely related to a group of prehistoric crocodiles called Geosaurini. Scientists had thought that the Geosaurini species originated in the late Jurassic period, between 152 and 157 million years ago, but a fossil shows that they evolved millions of years earlier than that. The creature, which has been nicknamed the Melksham Monster after the English town where it was found, was identified as a new species from fossils acquired by the Natural History Museum in London. It lived in warm, shallow seas around Europe more than 163 million years ago. The beast would have been more than three metres long and it had powerful jaws…

New sea monster identified

Google Clips camera

If you’ve ever witnessed a funny moment that you wish you had caught on camera, then this gadget might be for you. Google Clips is a camera that uses artificial intelligence (a computer that performs tasks with human-like intelligence) to capture moments in your home. The camera uses a lens and sensors to “watch” for moments that it thinks you would like to capture. Then it takes a picture or records a video without you needing to press anything. The camera remembers the faces of people and pets that are important to you so it can record moments with them. There’s no screen on the camera, so all of the images and videos are simply transferred wirelessly to your phone. It’s a clever little device, but is it cool or…

Google Clips camera

Why… can some people wiggle their ears?

Ear wiggling happens when a person moves muscles above and behind their ears. In many animals, ear wiggling is useful. For example, cats move their ears so they can hear sounds from different directions. In humans, ear wiggling isn’t essential, although it is a fun party trick. Some research shows that ear wiggling is a genetic trait passed down from one or more parent to a child. However, there have been cases where an ear wiggler’s parents couldn’t wiggle their ears at all. Therefore, scientists think it is probably a mixture of genes and behaviour. Some people even say that it is possible to learn how to wiggle your ears. Do you have a burning science question? Email us at hello@theweekjunior.co.ukand we might just answer it in a future issue.…

Why… can some people wiggle their ears?

Photos of the week

Coming through A British army tank makes short work of a car during training in Wiltshire. Laid back An American football player celebrates in Philadelphia, US. Flock on the block Shepherds in France protest the reintroduction of wild wolves. Space ace A gamer plays Space Invaders on an old computer at a festival in Germany. Bear with me A polar bear tries to catch a lift off the ice in the Arctic Ocean. King with a crown A dragonfly touches down on a kingfisher in South Africa. Seasons change Tourists enjoy the autumn leaves in Fushun, in north-eastern China.…

Photos of the week

Conkers champions crowned

If you enjoy playing conkers in the autumn, maybe one day you could become a conker champion. The World Conker Championships take place every year in the village of Southwick, in Northamptonshire, in England. At the end of the tournament, a conker king and queen are crowned. On 8 October, John Riley and Julie Freeman, from England, competed with more than 200 conker players from 14 countries, and won the adult male and female titles. Riley said he hadn’t played for 70 years. There were also three junior competitions for players aged between seven and 18. The World Conker Championships began in 1965. Two players compete against each other; and the winner of each game progresses to the next round, until eventually there’s a male and a female final. The…

Conkers champions crowned

THE WEEK’S WINNERS...

Max Whitlock The British gymnast won gold on the pommel horse at the World Gymnastics Championships in Montreal, Canada. It was his sixth medal in total at the tournament. Lewis Hamilton He leads the Formula One championship by 59 points after winning the Japanese Grand Prix on 8 October. There are four races left. England men’s football team They qualified for the 2018 World Cup by beating Slovenia 1-0. Northern Ireland secured a play-off spot and may still reach the World Cup. Leeds Rhinos The rugby league club won the Super League Grand Final after beating Castleford Tigers 24-6. It’s the eighth time Leeds have picked up the trophy.…

THE WEEK’S WINNERS...

5 books about the Second World War

Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll (Faber Children’s Books) It’s 1941, and 12-year-old Olive and her brother Cliff have been sent to live in a lighthouse on the Devon coast. Olive soon becomes the lighthouse keeper’s messenger, carrying letters to the village, but when she finds a strange coded note, she is drawn into a dangerous mystery. The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne (Random House Children’s Books) In this powerful story, orphan Pierrot gets a job as a servant in a household high in the mountains of Germany. It is 1935, and the house is the home of Adolf Hitler, the German leader who was soon to wage war across Europe. Pierrot is thrown into a world of terror, secrets and betrayal. The Dollmaker…

5 books about the Second World War

Maudlin Towers: Curse of the Werewolf Boy

With Halloween just around the corner, this is the perfect time of year to settle down with a spooky story. So why not step inside the strange world of Maudlin Towers – a gothic, gloom-laden and gargoyle-infested school for boys? When someone steals the precious School Spoon, unlikely schoolboy heroes Mildew and Sponge have to put their detective skills to work to solve the crime, and save the Christmas holidays. First, however, they must grapple with terrible teachers, awful fellow pupils, ghosts in the attic and a mysterious time-machine. Funny, creepy and packed with amazing illustrations by the author Chris Priestley, this book is ideal for fans of Goth Girl, Lemony Snicket and other weird and wonderful tales. READERS RECOMMEND Arthur, Year 7 The Wizards of Once “The two main…

Maudlin Towers: Curse of the Werewolf Boy

Chris Priestley

What scares you? I’m scared of heights. I’m not keen on small spaces. What was your school experience like? I didn’t go to a boarding school, but they always fascinated me because the children in books and films always seemed to go to them. I can’t imagine not being able to get away from the kids you didn’t get on with, though. I’m not sure I’d have been any happier than Mildew and Sponge are in Maudlin Towers. What was your favourite lesson or teacher at school? English and art were my favourite lessons, so those tended to be my favourite teachers. I also – like Mildew and Sponge – enjoyed history and still do. A lot of my stories have been inspired by my interest in history. Have you…

Chris Priestley

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Every year, the Natural History Museum in London runs a very special competition. Open to anyone, it aims to find the very best pictures taken of the natural world from around the globe. Wildlife Photographer of the Year, as it’s called, has been running for more than 50 years. It was founded in 1965 by the BBC, and took its current form when it partnered with the Natural History Museum back in 1984. The competition is fierce; thousands of entries pour in from countries around the world every year. There’s a grand prize of £10,000 for adult winners, but that’s not what it’s about. People enter because, in the words of one former winner, “This is the most spectacular award for a wildlife photographer.” Wildlife Photographer of the Year isn’t…

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Three tips for top wildlife photography

Research The best photographers do plenty of preparation. First decide what you’re hoping to photograph. Next, find out where you’re likely to find it and ask an adult to help you plan a trip. You shouldn’t have to go too far to take fantastic photos of wildlife. Equipment To get a good view of creatures without getting too close to them, you’ll generally need a long lens to attach to your camera. Most mobile phones have cameras, and there are plenty of attachments for them, too. Patience This is the most important tool in a wildlife photographer’s kit. You can’t always rely on the weather being fine, or on animals being where you want them at the right moment. However, if you give up, you’ll never know what you might…

Three tips for top wildlife photography

The villains return in Descendants 2

The first Descendants film was released in 2015. It told the story of how the children of some of Disney’s most infamous villains cope when they are sent to a school far from their prison island home. The four teenagers – Jay (son of Jafar from Aladdin), Evie (daughter of the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Carlos (son of Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians) and Mal (daughter of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty) – set out to prove to their parents that even though they may have been born with evil in their blood, they can still have good in their hearts. The film was a hit and there was even a spin-off series of cartoon shorts called Wicked World. In the new sequel, Descendants 2,…

The villains return in Descendants 2

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Disney Life, Amazon, iTunes With Halloween just a few weeks away, why not get in the mood by watching a spooky film? The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the story of Jack Skellington as he attempts to bring his annual Halloween organising skills to Christmas instead. There’s some debate as to whether Halloween or Christmas is the best time to watch this popular stop-motion animation from the brain of filmmaker Tim Burton – but there’s no reason why it can’t be enjoyed at both. It’s a fun, macabre, beautifully crafted musical, which shows no sign of age since its release in 1994. It has also inspired a huge range of collectable merchandise.…

THIS WEEK’S WATCH LIST

Landscape Artist of the Year 8pm on 18 October, Sky Arts and Now TV Calling all art lovers! This year’s Landscape Artist of the Year is back. The artists travel to scenic locations and try to capture the beauty of the landscape, and hope that their pictures will be hung in London’s Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. K.C. Undercover 5pm on 16 October, Disney Channel The final season of K.C. Undercover is here and there’s plenty of action ahead. K.C. Cooper may look like your average schoolgirl but she’s also an undercover spy for a top-secret government agency. The season begins with the Coopers fleeing to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – but who can they really trust? Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs 8.30pm on 19 October, ITV Join…

THIS WEEK’S WATCH LIST

This week’s new apps

Math Ninja AR iOS (Free) You may know about-augmented reality (AR) technology – where you point your phone’s camera at the real world and see virtual-reality characters and objects popping up on your screen. It’s been made popular by games like Pokémon Go, but some AR apps are also being used for learning. Math Ninja is one of them – it’s a maths app from Japan, and more than two million young people have already downloaded it. The augmented-reality angle is that it places a little town full of ninjas on the ground (or a table) nearby, and a rotating sign with maths questions hovers above. Each citizen has a number, one of which is the right answer to the sum above. Your job is to find them and tap…

This week’s new apps

GAME OF THE WEEK

Stardew Valley Nintendo Switch (£10.99) Stardew Valley has been steadily growing in popularity on PC and consoles since it was first released in 2016. Now, the company hopes to get even more fans with its release on Nintendo Switch this month. It’s similar to games like Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons, in that you have to run your own farm while making friends with all the characters in your local town. From growing crops and looking after animals to battling monsters in underground mines and rebuilding the town’s community centre, there’s lots to do. The game’s relaxed pace will allow you to take your time and build the best farm you can.…

GAME OF THE WEEK

Get active with new trackers

Millions of adults are wearing activity-tracking devices like Fitbits. Now there’s a colourful new range of these devices aimed at young people. A big company called Garmin that makes sports technology has teamed up with Disney to create a gizmo called the Vivofit Jr 2 activity tracker. The device is designed to be worn on the wrist, and will measure a person’s daily steps as well as how long you’ve been active for. The Disney element comes in the form of a companion app, where missions are completed by being active for at least an hour a day. Minnie Mouse, BB-8 from Star Wars and Marvel’s Captain America are three of the famous Disney characters that will encourage wearers to reach their activity goals. Oh, and it’s also waterproof, just…

Get active with new trackers

Build your own laptop with new Kano kit

You might use a laptop for homework and games, but have you ever thought of building your own? British company Kano has just unveiled its latest kit that lets you do exactly that. The Computer Kit Complete follows on from Kano’s previous build-it-yourself kits, which sold computers and screens separately. The new model comes with its own screen, and as before, you assemble the device yourself. A power board, the latest Raspberry Pi 3 computer, a battery, sound sensor and speaker arrive, ready for you to fit together. Once assembled, the computer’s software will help you practise your coding skills in JavaScript and Python languages and allow you to make apps, games and music with your programming. It also runs YouTube, Google Maps and Minecraft. At £229.99, this is a…

Build your own laptop with new Kano kit

Fancy a combination of swimming, acrobatics and ballet? Then try… Synchronised swimming

Can you imagine running for up to five minutes in water while performing acrobatics, holding your breath, looking graceful and keeping in time to music? That, in a nutshell, is synchronised swimming – or at least how the professionals do it. If you’re a strong swimmer, why not try it yourself? If you’ve got your stage 7 certificate, you’re ready. Tell your swimming teacher that you’d like to learn synchro. You’ll start by learning basic moves from the floating position. Lying on your back, you will learn “ballet leg” (sticking up your leg while keeping your body still) and the “oyster” – where you quickly fold your body and sink under the water. For upright moves, you’ll need to keep treading water using a technique called the eggbeater, where your…

Fancy a combination of swimming, acrobatics and ballet? Then try… Synchronised swimming

WHO, WHAT, WHERE

How do I get started? First, get your stage 7 “Learn to Swim” certificate. Then you can move on to stages eight to 10 of the swimming programme, which teach synchronised swimming. Ask your swimming teacher about this. What makes a good synchro swimmer? You need to be a confident swimmer and also graceful, strong and flexible, and good at keeping in time to the music. Is it for boys and girls? Absolutely. Synchro clubs all over the country welcome both boys and girls. One school recently included synchro as part of swimming lessons and the boys said they enjoyed doing “circus skills in water”. Learn more… ● Find a synchro club: bridgeurl.com/synchroclubs/all ● Watch synchro swimmers: tinyurl.com/TWJ-synchrovideo ● Pass stages eight to 10: tinyurl.com/TWJ-swimskills…

WHO, WHAT, WHERE

Make dreamy hot chocolate

What you need ● 800ml whole milk ● 2 strips of orange peel ● 100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) ● 100g milk chocolate ● 4 tablespoons double cream ● Handful of mini marshmallows ● A saucepan ● A knife ● A chopping board ● A slotted spoon ● A whisk ● A cheese grater Instructions Put the saucepan on a medium heat and pour in milk. Drop in orange peel, and let the milk heat up until it’s almost (but not quite) boiling. Leave it at that temperature, steaming steadily. Chop up the chocolate, saving a piece, then take the milk off the heat and remove the peel with the slotted spoon. Gently whisk the chocolate into the milk until it’s melted and silky smooth. Now, stir in the…

Make dreamy hot chocolate

Walk to school on your own

There is no minimum age at which you are legally allowed to walk to school on your own, but most parents think 10 is about right. Of course, each individual case is different. Some routes, for example, might be longer, or along busier roads than others, while some of you might not feel quite ready to make the step. If you think you are, and want to convince your parents, then you need to recognise the possible risks of walking to school on your own – although it’s better to go with school friends whenever possible. You should know your route back to front – and stick to it, every day. Make sure you stick to the rules of the road and always look both ways before crossing – even…

Walk to school on your own

Make a snazzy soup tin paperweight

What you need ● Soup tin ● Paper ● Ruler ● Pencil ● Scissors ● Felt tips or coloured pencils ● Glue stick ● Pebbles ● Card Instructions Carefully peel the label off an empty tin, then clean the tin out. Lay the label flat on a piece of paper and draw around it, to make a new label. Cut out your new label, and draw something cool. Stick the label on with glue then put pebbles in the tin to weigh it down. Finally, draw round the bottom of the tin on a piece of card to create a lid. Cut this out, stick it in place, and you’ve got yourself a paperweight.…

Make a snazzy soup tin paperweight

Editor’s note

On 7 October, The Week Junior was at Althorp Literary Festival, where we hosted a pair of poetry workshops. The event was organised to celebrate the launch of our poetry competition, and James Carter, the poet who ran the workshops on our behalf, gave some fantastic tips to help people get started. The competition is open until 21 October, so if you’d like a chance to win prizes, including Sheaffer pens, an Amazon gift card and a brilliant new poetry book, there’s still time to enter. All you need to do is write your own poem on the theme of freedom. It should be no more than 100 words long and can take any form at all – a rhyme, a rap, a haiku or even…

Inspired to dance

“One day, me and my mum were looking at a video of people doing street dancing, and I thought I would like to do that – this was when I was three. My mum signed me up to street dance, but after two sessions, I came out and said I would like to try ballet instead, and I have been doing ballet ever since. I have been to a few ballet schools, and often I was the only boy. For the past two years, I have been dancing with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teachers at Bailey-Cox Dance Academy in Sheffield, and there are boys at every level – it’s really great to see older boys dance and get inspired by them. I now do ballet, tap, musical theatre…

Inspired to dance

Teacher OF THE WEEK

Teacher’s name: Mrs Sims School: St Peter’s School, Devon Mrs Sims is always patient and waits until we understand the work we’re doing and that makes it really easy to learn. She makes lessons fun and treats us like we’re equals. Mrs Sims always helps us and I always feel like I’m at home when I’m with her. She’s the most amazing teacher in the world. Isla, Year 4 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 GET INVOLVED Email your news, viewsandpictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Every reader who has a report, review, Teacher of the Week…

Teacher OF THE WEEK

Sony World Photography Awards

Calling photographers of all ages and abilities: Sony is looking for the greatest snaps you’ve taken this year. There are 10 categories to enter in its competition, from Still Life and Culture, to Nature and Travel. As well as a cash prize and Sony equipment, the winner’s photo will be displayed in an exhibition at London’s Somerset House next spring. The deadline for entries is 4 January. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-sonyphotography JOKEOF THEWEEK What do you call a sheep with no legs? A cloud! Safaa, Year 7 K OKE…

Sony World Photography Awards

“I followed the instructions on page 25 of issue 96 and made this cool T-shirt design.” Ollie, Year 5 “My cat caught a bird in my garden so me and my mum rescued it and we are helping it and feeding it until it gets better. I named it Sam.” Freya, Year 6 “I went on a sleepover at the British Museum. Me and my mum slept under famous statues. It was amazing to be in the museum at night because it was so quiet.” Defne, Year 6…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam @TheWeekJunior You can download the free PopJam app from the App Store or GooglePlay. Some scientists believe that smaller dinosaurs could have survived until the present day. We asked our Popjammers if they would like to live in a world with dinosaurs… “Yes but if they were vegetarians” @cheerleading_unicorn “It would be scary to live with dinos” @EvieTheTiger1239__B “That would be awesome” @crazy_kitty_980 “I wonder if they would like us” @ninanoo004 On 30 September Birmingham put in a bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. You said... “WOW! Imagine if the bid was accepted. All of the major athletes would be there!” @RobinDawn “I’m VERY excited” @Martinez_twins_lover “That’s great” @Emoji_Puppy996 Tell us what you think of this week’s issue. We’ll give you a shout…

That’s unbelievable!

A remarkable reunion When a cat was found missing in Derbyshire, the animal charity, the RSPCA, was keen to return it to its home as quickly as possible. There was one problem, however. The cat’s microchip said it was from Sweden, which meant that the charity was unable to trace its owner. The situation seemed hopeless, until the RSPCA turned to social media. The response was incredible, with Cookie’s picture being spread far and wide; even the Swedish Government offered to help. Finally, Cookie’s owner, who moved to England from Sweden with her cat in 2015, was tracked down, and the pair have been reunited – a year later. Spotted: a bunny on the bus In the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the White Rabbit runs around exclaiming that…

That’s unbelievable!

How much of this week’s news can you remember?

1After whom is the Nobel peace prize named? a) Albert Nobel b) Alfred Nobel c) Alexander Nobel 2True or false? King Arthur’s sword was called Camelot. 3In which country is a solar-powered car race taking place? 4Who is the UK Home Secretary? a) Theresa May b) Amber Rudd c) Andrea Leadsom 5In which Paralympic sport does Sarah Leiter hope to compete at Tokyo’s Paralympic Games in 2020? 6Which of these is NOT a close relative of the kiwi bird? a) Ostrich b) Emu c) Swan 7True or false? Children’s TV show, The Clangers,inspired Maggie Aderin-Pocock to study space. 8What was the earlier meaning of the word sputnik in Russian? 9French shepherds recently protested in the streets with their flocks against the reintroduction of which type of animal? a) Wolves b)…

How much of this week’s news can you remember?

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