Innehållsförteckning för Issue 125/126 från The Week Junior US

On August 24, President Joe Biden announced a plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for people who borrowed money from the federal government to pay for college. The move will affect about 45.5 million Americans and could erase college debt for about 20 million people. What is in the loan forgiveness plan? Biden said the plan will eliminate up to $10,000 in student loans for borrowers who earned less than $125,000 last year. Those who received Pell grants are eligible for another $10,000 in loan forgiveness. Pell grants are a form of aid the federal government provides for college students from low-income families. The plan will also continue a policy that allowed borrowers to temporarily stop making loan payments during the Covid-19 pandemic. That rule has…

A MASSIVE MOTH An atlas moth has been spotted in the US for the first time. The species, which can measure up to 10 inches wide, typically lives in the tropics. Officials who confirmed the sighting in Washington called the moth a “gee-whiz” insect. BUILDING BIG A group of Chicago teens has gotten creative for a cause. They made a Ukrainian flag out of nearly 5,000 blue and yellow cereal boxes to show their support for the war-torn country. Their 34-by-86-foot project raised more than $27,000, and the cereal will go to a food bank. A TALENTED GOAT A goat named Cheech won a talent contest at Riverside Park in New York City. Cheech and his pals Skittles, Elenor, and Big G were brought to the park in June to…

Ottawa, Canada Famous portrait goes missing Police in Canada are investigating the disappearance of a famous photo of Winston Churchill, who was prime minister of the UK during the 1940s and 1950s and died in 1965. The photo, taken by Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, was installed in the Château Laurier hotel in Ottawa in 1998. After a hotel worker saw the photo hanging improperly, it was found to be a fake, most likely hung in place of the real photo during the theft. Calabria, Italy Cuba to send doctors to Italy Cuba will send 497 doctors to southern Italy’s Calabria region starting in September. The Italian region has been facing a doctor shortage since 2010, Reuters reported. Cuba’s “army of white coats” are dispatched around the world during…

At 620 feet high, Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon. Located 30 miles from Portland and part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area, the waterfall attracts more than 2 million visitors each year. It gets water from the underground springs from Larch Mountain. Bobcats, yellow-bellied marmots, California ground squirrels, Peregrine falcons, Pacific tree frogs, and garter snakes live here, along with various species of salmon, including Chinook salmon. In the spring, visitors witness the blooming of more than 800 types of wildflowers.…

Dan Peterson Aquarist, Minnesota Zoo You’re right that only male seahorses have babies. The male and female dance with their tails intertwined while the female deposits her eggs into a special “brood pouch” on the male’s belly. It protects eggs until they hatch and hundreds of babies are ready to leave the pouch. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Minnesota Zoo at mnzoo.org.…

Two parents have designed a baby shoe that never has to be thrown away. Young children grow out of their shoes quickly, so they wear a pair of shoes for only a short period of time. The shoes often end up as trash. The Woolybubs newbie is made from a special type of plastic that is durable but dissolves when placed in boiling water for about 30 minutes. The shoes can also be composted (broken down into a mixture that improves soil) in certain facilities. Woolybubs is also developing toddler shoes that can be recycled.…

RPG Time: The Legend of Wright is a new adventure game. It is available now for the Xbox systems, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 and will be released for PC on September 13. The game is designed to look like it was hand-drawn in a notebook. It was inspired by handmade games the developers used to make and play as kids. It will appeal to fans of tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, people who like drawing fantastical creatures, or anyone with a big imagination. The adventure is set in Cardboardia, a land created by fictional 10-year-old Kenta. He is a talented animator who wants to design games. Action unfolds across comic-book-style panels, with new challenges or surprises on every page. RPG Time’s main character is a brave young hero…

A Dog’s Life By Ann M. Martin “Squirrel has had a hard life. Growing up in a barn with cats is just the beginning, not to mention that she’s a dog. Squirrel goes on a mission after a fox threatens Squirrel and her family, and her mother gets killed. Squirrel is faced with many challenges and obstacles, and she handles them head-on. Join Squirrel in a book full of adventures, cliff-hangers, and plot twists.” Rylyn, 12, Georgia Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Bike parade Ask kids to decorate their bikes and then ride in a line down the street so everyone can appreciate their creativity. Afterward, give out awards to the bikes with the top decorations. Spoon race Have kids race while balancing a small water balloon on a large wooden spoon. The first person to reach the finish line without dropping the balloon wins. Driveway bowling Add a scoop of sand to each of 10 empty two-liter soda bottles. Arrange them in a triangle at the end of a driveway, and have players try to knock them down by rolling a playground ball at them. Photo booth Place fun accessories and a disposable or Polaroid camera in an area where groups of people can put them on and take pictures of…

If you pack your lunch, consider thinking about the bags and containers you use. The more of those items that are reusable, the more trash is kept out of landfills. Start by asking an adult if you can get a reusable lunch bag. Look for a sturdy one that can last for more than one school year. Now take a look at the containers you put your food in. Aim to trade disposable plastic bags for reusable containers made of metal or plastic. If you need a fork or spoon, bring one from home that you don’t throw away. Finish off your lunch with a reusable water bottle, too. Wash the items after school so they’re ready for the next day.…

One of our goals at The Week Junior is to publish stories about young people doing amazing things—and this issue is packed with them. You can read about Mack Rutherford, the 17-year-old pilot who made history with his solo flight around the world (p3); Maxwell Frost, who won an election in Florida and, at age 25, could become the first person of his generation to hold office as a member of the US House of Representatives (p5); the 10- to 12-year-old players on the team from Hawaii who won the Little League Baseball World Series (p18); and Liya Chu, who won the Master Chef Junior competition at age 10 (and is interviewed on p21 by Olivia, a 9-year-old member of our Junior Council). I am so impressed by all of…

“I love to read and write stories, and I also enjoy sewing. These were all hand sewn by me.”Aiden, 12, California “There is no better beach read than The Week Junior!”Tara, 9, Virginia “I was glad to have my Week Junior for rainy vacation days on the River Shannon in Ireland.”Jack, 8, Massachusetts…

Following record-setting temperatures around the world, some scientists have proposed naming heat waves like they name other extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. The goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of heat waves, which are a public health threat. Extreme heat leads to thousands of deaths around the world every year. “Heat, unlike other natural disasters, is silent and often not seen,” said Kurt Shickman, a scientist who is advocating for naming heat waves. He said that doing so could prompt communities and individuals to take steps to prepare for them. Other scientists and agencies, such as the World Meteorological Organization, cast doubt on whether naming heat waves would have an impact. Some cities are already taking steps to name heat waves. The first was Seville, Spain, which…

On August 25, the state of California announced that it will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. The move is intended to help slow down climate change and is expected to lead to major changes in the auto industry. What happened? The California Air Resources Board announced a rule requiring that all new passenger vehicles sold in the state be free of emissions from greenhouse gases (gases that remain in Earth’s atmosphere and trap heat, causing the planet to warm) by 2035. The regulation will take effect gradually. By 2026, 35% of all new cars must release zero emissions, and by 2030 that number must reach 68%. People can keep driving gas-fueled vehicles that were bought before 2035, and they will still be able to buy used…

Many schools in the US have a dress code—a set of rules that state what students can and cannot wear to class. Unlike uniforms, dress codes let students wear their choice of clothing, within limits. Some common rules state that students can’t wear clothing with logos, offensive words, holes, or thin straps. Often, shorts and skirts must extend past a student’s fingertips and stomachs can’t be shown. Dress codes can also include hairstyles or headwraps. School administrators say these guidelines help keep students focused on learning. But others say dress codes are unfair, outdated, and inconsistent. What do you think? Should school dress codes be eliminated? Yes—dress codes can cause harm Dress codes are totally unfair. They almost always apply to clothing that’s worn by girls, not boys, and studies…

In Liberia, a sanctuary is caring for pangolins, an endangered species. Liberia has the most forest of any country in west Africa, so it is very biodiverse (meaning a large variety of plants and animals live there). The country is home to three of the world’s eight species of pangolin. Pangolins are sometimes mistaken for reptiles, but they are the world’s only scaly-skinned mammals. They live in parts of Africa and Asia and are some of the world’s most trafficked (caught and sold illegally) animals. The animals are sold for their meat and scales, which some people believe can cure illness. The Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary takes in pangolins and cares for them until they can be released back into the wild. Most of them have been retrieved from illegal traffickers.…

The idea behind the sandwich—two slices of bread or a split roll with a filling in between—may be simple. But it has inspired thousands of variations. Where did this portable, packable meal come from? Start of the sandwich As early as the first century BCE, a rabbi created a holiday tradition of placing nuts and apples between two pieces of matzah, a crisp type of bread. This combination can still be found on seder plates during Passover today. Sandwiches did not get their name until the 1700s, however. Legend has it that a British statesman, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, loved to play cards. Instead of stopping his games to eat, he was said to request roast beef between slices of bread so he could enjoy his meal…

Scientists in Germany built a four-legged robot the size of a Labrador retriever that taught itself to walk in an hour. The team behind the machine, which is named Morti, hope it will help them understand how baby animals take their first steps. Many animals learn to walk shortly after being born. They often fall over when taking these early steps, but they learn from their stumbles and make adjustments. To do this, they rely on reflexes from their spinal cord—a bundle of natural signal-carrying fibers that connect the brain and other parts of the body. Morti the robot also learned from its mistakes. Its designers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems put sensors on its feet and created a computer model of its spinal cord. As Morti…

2022 NATURE TTL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS…

America’s National Parks is a new National Geographic documentary series that takes viewers on a journey through five parks across the US: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Big Bend, Badlands, and Hawai’i Volcanoes. It highlights the wildlife, explores the stunning landscapes, and emphasizes the importance of protecting the natural world. All five episodes are now streaming on Disney+. This series was produced by the team behind BBC’s Planet Earth and Disneynature’s Earth. Each episode has a special message from First Lady Jill Biden and is narrated by country music star Garth Brooks. Producer Anwar Mamon told The Week Junior that one goal of the series was “to show an intimate side to the parks and unpack what makes them special.” To capture images from the parks that visitors typically don’t see, the…

The Rookie (2002) Disney+ This sports drama is based on the true story of baseball player Jim Morris. He became a Major League pitcher when he was 35, an age when many players retire. Growing up, he dreamed of playing baseball. He was on track to play in the minor leagues after college until a shoulder injury ended his career. Flash forward, and he’s now a high school teacher and baseball coach in his small hometown in Texas. He still has remarkable talent and can throw pitches at 98 miles per hour. To encourage the kids on his team to work harder, he makes a deal with them: If they win the district championship, he will try out for a big league team. When they win, Jim has to live…

By Margi Preus, illustrated by Armando Veve (Amulet Books) In the town where Tag lives, children aren’t allowed outside until age 15. When Tag’s older sisters broke the rule, they were swept away by fierce wind. Tag’s parents have not been able to find her sisters. Now, seven years later, one sister’s old hair ribbon magically guides Tag to a window in the attic where she can escape. Tag goes to meet a boy who sent her a mysterious note. It turns out that his younger brother was also taken. They embark on a dangerous adventure to the mountains, where they think they might find their siblings. They encounter dragons and trolls along the way. Inspired by the Norwegian fairy tale “The Three Princesses in the Mountain Blue,” this fantasy…

Rise Up By Amanda Li, illustrated by Amy Blackwell (Andrews McMeel Publishing) This collection contains profiles of 29 children and young adults changing the world. You may have heard of a few of the activists, but many of them may be new to you. It also has tips on how you can make a difference in your community. Ages 8–12 Who Is Greta Thunberg? By Jill Leonard, illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez (Penguin Workshop) The teenage climate activist was 8 years old when her class watched a film about global warming. It inspired her to help protect the environment. This book covers her childhood in Sweden and how she started her climate protests. It has a timeline of her life. Ages 8–12 Kid Activists By Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Allison Steinfeld…

Word search Can you find all these words about bowling in the grid? They are hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can be forward or backward. When you’re done, read the remaining letters to get a bonus message. ALLEY BALL RACK BUMPERS FINGER HOLES FRAME GAME GRIP GUTTER LANE PINS ROLL SCORE SEATS SHOE RENTAL SPARE SPLIT STRIKE SWEEP BAR THROW WOOD FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with two words so the second word is the same as the first word with one letter dropped, like THROUGH and THOUGH. 1. I drank a lot of water with my spicy dinner, but I was ——————— again —————— minutes later! 2. There’s a funny ———————of a dancing cow on the side of the milk ——————. 3.…

“This summer I wanted to help my local animal shelter, which was at capacity for dogs. I started Penny’s Posies, and every morning my mom and I went out to pick flowers in our backyard garden to make bouquets. My mom helped me advertise in our neighborhood. I sold 26 bouquets, and many people gave extra donations. I raised $740 in less than three weeks! The money went toward helping animals that need extra medical care. I had so much fun! I got a tour of the animal shelter and I even got to hold a snake! ” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. JOKE OF THE WEEK What animal…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Beth School: Bloom Learning Community “Ms. Beth always makes it easy to understand any subject we’re learning and makes learning interesting and fun. She is also my mom, and she started my school with a friend. She’s kind and nice to everyone and always includes people. She loves learning, and she takes us on exciting field trips and makes us smile! I love her so much, and she is probably the nicest person in the world!”Sabina, 9, Ohio Nominate your teacher for Teacher of the Week! Send your reason for the nomination, a photo of your teacher, and your school’s name and address to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

1 In the fantasy novel Windswept, the main character lives in a town where children can’t go outside until they are what age? a) 10 b) 13 c) 15 a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 2 True or false? Pangolins are the world’s only mammals with scaly skin. True ◻ False ◻ 3 What color pearl did a man eating dinner at a Delaware restaurant find inside a clam? _________________________ 4 In what year was the first recipe for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich published in the US? a) 1837 b) 1901 c) 1924 a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 5 True or false? Yosemite National Park was the world’s first national park. True ◻ False ◻ 6 What did a robotic dog named Morti teach itself to do?…

Comedian and actor Kenan Thompson has been making people laugh for more than 20 years. In August, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He will host the Emmy Awards (top awards for TV) for the first time on September 12. From the time he was a child, Thompson seemed destined to perform. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he started taking acting classes at age 5. His first role was in a church production of the musical The Wiz, in which he played Toto. But bigger success didn’t come right away. He went on almost 100 auditions before landing a commercial. His first big break came when he was hired to review movies on CNN’s weekly kids’ news show. When he was 14, Thompson was cast…

A recent survey of tigers in Nepal found that there are an estimated 355 of them living in the wild, nearly three times the number in 2009. Tiger populations throughout Asia have been declining, mainly because of poaching (illegal hunting) and habitat loss. In 2010, Nepal was one of 13 countries that pledged to double its number of tigers by 2022. Nepal is the first of these countries to release its new tiger numbers. To help the tigers recover, the Nepalese government worked with conservation organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). One key conservation method was to create wildlife corridors—pathways in forests—between tiger populations that were previously separated. This allows the animals to move around freely. Nepal’s government has also enacted harsher punishments for poaching. Another major component…

Black-footed ferrets A total of 21 black-footed ferret kits have been born at the Phoenix Zoo. The species was thought to be extinct, but efforts to reintroduce the ferrets into the wild have shown success. The kits were bred as part of the restoration project. Hippos Ten African countries have had to propose stronger legal protections to prevent hippos from going extinct. Hippos are hunted for their body parts, and they have also been affected by habitat loss and a changing climate.…

A team of scientists was surprised recently when they spotted an unusual creature near the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Now they are wondering if it was a new species. The researchers were aboard the E/V Nautilus, a ship used by the Ocean Exploration Trust to make new discoveries in the world’s seas. The team had released a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) named Hercules to explore the sea bed. Equipped with a camera, Hercules can be controlled from the ship and show the team what is happening deep below the surface. Hercules led the scientists to an unusual sight—a mysterious creature about the same size as the ROV, if not larger. It had a stalk nearly 7 feet long and 16-inch-long tentacles around its mouth. The team thought it was…

From August 17 through August 28, players from the US and other countries gathered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to compete in the 75th Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS). In the championship game, Hawaii defeated Curacao, 13–3. It was Hawaii’s fourth LLBWS title. To qualify for the World Series, hundreds of teams made up of players ages 10 to 12 competed in local, state, and regional games. This year’s LLBWS began with 20 teams, the most in the history of the event. Ten international teams and 10 US teams played in separate brackets, then the winners from each side met in the championship. Before this year, international teams and American teams had each won 37 titles. International teams did not participate last year due to the pandemic. Leading up to the…

Coach’s Name: Kelly Nichols School: Talley Street Upper Elementary “My favorite special at school is P.E. because of Coach Nichols and all the fun Physical Education games we get to play! I know students from 3rd to 5th grade at Tally Street all appreciate her hard work. She not only teaches several P.E. classes a day every day of the week, but also plays a huge part in our Talley Rallies (fun gathering the school does every Friday) and does a lot of the organizing of Field Day, one of the best days of the school year!” Julia, 11, Georgia To nominate a Coach of the Week, send your coach’s name, photo, sport, and team to hello@theweekjunior.com. Include your name, age, state, and a few reasons why your coach is great.…

First park In 1872, Yellowstone National Park in Montana became the world’s first national park. Native people have lived in the area for more than 11,000 years. Special symbol The National Park Service emblem was adopted in 1951. It is shaped like an arrowhead to represent history and archaeology, and the design includes features found in the Famous accessory National Park Service rangers are known for wearing a Stetson-style “flat hat” made of felt or straw. The leather band on the hats features sequoia tree cones made of metal.…

Life by Ella (Apple TV+) This new fictional series follows a 13-year-old who has overcome a battle with cancer. Now she has a new outlook on life and plans to make the most of every day. With the support of her family and friends, she faces her fears and inspires them to do the same. Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles (Netflix) The series’ second season continues the adventures of Yuichi, a teen rabbit samurai living in the city of Neo Edo. With a special sword now in his possession, he must prove he is worthy of its power. Secret Headquarters (Paramount+) In this new action-adventure film, a boy named Charlie and his friends discover a superhero’s headquarters hidden under his house, and they learn that it belongs to Charlie’s dad.…

What inspired this book? I was inspired by “The Three Princesses in the Mountain Blue” fairy tale. I thought it would resonate with kids who were in lockdown during the pandemic and were unable to go out and socialize. Do you like fairy tales? I love them from every culture. I have books about them from all over the world. I like Norwegian fairy tales because they have strong female characters. Do you have siblings? Yes. I had sisters whom I fought with as a kid, but now we’re very close. What makes fantasy novels good to read? I like the separation from the real world. The characters may have similar issues, but they feel different. Favorite school subject? Probably recess. And many of my favorite courses had to do…

With cooler weather coming up, now is a great time to plan an outdoor party with your neighbors. One popular way to gather in the fall is to throw a block party, which is when neighbors on the same street share food and games in their yards, on their streets and sidewalks, or at a park. Here are steps to follow. Get others involved Once you get your family on board, reach out to a few neighbors who might want to help create the plan. If they are interested, you could host a kickoff meeting to brainstorm ideas. You can also use this meeting to split up responsibilities, such as organizing food, games, and communication. Choose a date The first step is to decide when you’re going to have the…

Serving up a candy sandwich A strange new sandwich has arrived at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals baseball team. Its bun is filled with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, bacon bits—and Reese’s peanut butter cups. The candy creation is part of a new program, called Dare to Pair, that celebrates unlikely food combinations at baseball stadiums across the country. So far, Kansas City’s mix of salty and sweet flavors has received mixed reviews on social media. Some taste-testers gave it two (surprised) thumbs up while others said the experiment went too far. Real OR fake? Venice’s new wave of tourists In an effort to boost tourism, the city of Venice, Italy, invited surfers to hang 10 at its world-famous Grand Canal. Two daring people answered the call in…

Would you like to build an experiment for NASA, the US space agency? Now’s your chance! The NASA TechRise Student Challenge is accepting entries. US students in grades 6–12 are invited to form a team (with at least four students and one team leader, such as a teacher) and develop an experiment. A total of 60 teams will receive $1,500 each to build their proposed experiment. The deadline to apply is October 24, and winners will be announced in January 2023. Find out more, including how to apply, at futureengineers.org/nasatechrise. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to hear from you! To have your letters, photos, nominations, recommendations, or ideas considered for inclusion in the magazine, please include your full name, age, and state…

Sign up and follow @theweekjuniorus on PopJam, a social media platform for kids 7–12. Ask an adult to download the app from iTunes or Google Play. We asked: If you could introduce a new subject in school, what would it be? “Cultures! It would be great to know about different customs and diversity.” “Learning about plants and nature.” “I would introduce a hairstylist class.” “Languages of the world.” “Design.” In the big debate, we asked: Should take-out apps be banned? “No. If you don’t have a car, it is very helpful.” “It’s convenient, but restaurants that don’t want to don’t have to.” “My family loves ordering takeout!” “You can get your food quicker if you are in a rush.” Now tell us: What is your favorite sandwich and why?…

Editor-in-chief: Andrea Barbalich Executive editor: Mindy Walker Senior editors: Gail O’Connor, Jennifer Li Shotz Features editor: Joey Bartolomeo Senior research editor: Douglas Grant Staff writers: Felissa Allard, Alisa Partlan Associate editor: Brielle Diskin Associate staff writer: Brandon Wiggins Creative director: Dean Abatemarco Production director: Paul Kramer Senior art director: Victoria Beall Photo editor: Nataki Hewling Contributors: Stephanie Abramson, Lily Alt, Karen Cicero, Erica Clark, Stacy Cousino, Susie Dent, Truman Devitt, Dave Howard, Joy Howard, Jodi Levine, Ruth Margolis, Bari Nan Cohen Rothchild, Melisa Russo, Liz Callahan Schnabolk, Asha Sridhar, Jordan Zakarin Special thanks to: UK editorial team Senior VP: Sophie Wybrew-Bond Managing director, news: Richard Campbell VP, consumer marketing: Nina La France Consumer marketing director: Leslie Guarnieri Head of growth marketing: Colleen Ho Group publisher: Paul Vizza (paul.vizza@futurenet.com) Account director:…