Innehållsförteckning för Issue 136 från The Week Junior US

Millions of Americans voted in the midterm elections on November 8, deciding hundreds of races across the US. Many of the races were extremely close, reflecting a clear divide between Republicans and Democrats (the two major political parties) in the nation. Why are the midterms important? The midterm elections happen halfway through a President’s four-year term and determine which party controls one or both parts of Congress (the branch of government that makes laws). Congress decides which laws to consider, vote on, and send to President Joe Biden for his signature. That means the party in charge can determine what Biden can accomplish during the last two years of his term. The Senate also approves the President’s nominations for judges and important government posts. Political experts say the midterms serve…

A MILESTONE BIRTHDAY Bessie Hendricks of Iowa celebrated her 115th birthday on November 7, making her the oldest person in the US. A former teacher, she has lived through 21 Presidents. Her son Leon Hendricks said, “Family came first to Mom. Always.” WELCOMING TWINS Twin Asian elephants were born at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York. Twin elephants are rare, and this is the first known successful twin elephant birth in the US. The zoo called the calves a “miracle” and said it will hold a competition to name them. Their sex is not yet known. GIVING AWAY A CROWN When Florida high school senior James Verpaele was named homecoming king, he presented the crown to fellow nominee Parks Finney. Finney, who has a disability that affects how…

British Columbia, Canada Octopus hugs diver A Canadian teacher, Andrea Humphreys, received a hug from an octopus while diving in the Pacific Ocean. When Humphreys began taking photos of the octopus, it turned toward her and wrapped its tentacles around her. It then stayed close to Humphreys and played with her camera. Humphreys caught the encounter on video, which went viral. She told The Guardian newspaper that the hug was “magical.” Dakar, Senegal Activist gets creative to fight pollution Environmental activist Modou Fall, known as “Plastic Man,” is raising awareness of plastic pollution. Fall walks a heavily littered beach wearing a costume made from trash, with a sign in French on his chest that says “no to plastic bags.” His costume is inspired by the Kankurang, a figure in Senegal’s…

This national monument in Arizona is located within the Sonoran Desert, which spans more than 330,000 acres and is one of the few places in the US where you can see the country’s largest cacti. This “green desert” gets its name from the organ pipe cactus, whose branches mimic the musical instrument. Visitors can explore 31 cactus species and wildlfowers through the monument’s many hikes, including the Nature Trail, a short and accessible paved trail. The area is home to the Sonoyta mud turtle, desert bighorn, and birds such as the Gila woodpecker and cactus wren.…

Anni, 13, Oklahoma Andy Snider Curator, Brookfield Zoo Crickets “chirp,” or call to other crickets, by rubbing their front wings together at night because there are fewer predators around to hear them. But some crickets call during the day as well. Only male crickets call. The chirping sound you hear is meant to attract a female mate. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Brookfield Zoo in Illinois at czs.org/BrookfieldZoo.…

Have you ever wished you could snuggle down under your blankets and stay there for the whole winter? Well, it turns out that humans may be able to hibernate like bears and other animals after all—and it could be good for us. Hibernation is when animals go into a cave, tree hollow, or other cozy location and turn down some of the functions in their body. This helps them save energy when it’s cold and there isn’t much food to be found. When an animal is hibernating, its breathing slows and its body temperature drops. Grizzly and black bears don’t eat, drink, or go to the bathroom when they’re hibernating, while animals like bats and hedgehogs sometimes wake up to find food or move to another spot. Although humans don’t…

David Beckham, a famous retired soccer star, is sharing sports and life lessons with kids in the new Disney+ documentary series Save Our Squad with David Beckham. The show follows along as he helps mentor the Westward Boys, a struggling under-14 soccer team in England, UK. Beckham is a former captain of England’s soccer team and played for many top clubs around the world. In 2007, he signed with the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) and gave soccer in the US a boost. He is well known for precision passing and the bend of his free kicks. Growing up, Beckham played in the Echo Premier League. The Westward Boys play in the same league, which instantly connected him and the players. When they meet, the team had not…

Sonic Frontiers is the latest platforming adventure game starring the ultra-fast blue hedgehog. It was recently released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation systems, Xbox platforms, and PC. The main Sonic video game series launched more than 30 years ago. It is known for having different levels filled with wild, fast-paced courses. Frontiers is the 21st game in that series. New games often add locations and characters to the Sonic universe, and some have also introduced fresh gameplay styles. Frontiers does it all and features the franchise’s first open world, giving gamers the ability to move around more than in past releases. When the game starts, Sonic’s enemy, Dr. Eggman, finds an object he believes will help him discover ancient relics on a mysterious island. The island, however, sends Dr. Eggman…

Knitting is a craft where you use yarn and needles to create a series of stitches. When you make several rows of stitches, you can create specific patterns to form items like hats, blankets, and scarves. Many people find knitting to be creative and relaxing. Here’s how to begin. Gather supplies You’ll need a ball of yarn and a set of knitting needles. If you have a friend who knits, you may be able to borrow these to start out. If not, most craft stores sell yarn and needles. For your first project, choose a yarn that’s marked as “medium weight” and needles that are between sizes 8 and 10. Get started All knitting projects start with a step called “casting on,” which is how you attach yarn to the…

From apple to sweet potato, pies are a classic Thanksgiving dessert. But sometimes, when there’s so much food, these delicious pies don’t get eaten. If that’s the case in your family, one way to make sure they don’t go to waste is to host a leftover pie party. Ask friends or neighbors to come over after Thanksgiving and bring any leftover pies with them. With an adult’s help, cut the pies into small slices and put them onto plates. Encourage everyone to try different types of pie. Not only will this gathering help eliminate food waste, but it’s also a great way to spend time with people you may not have been able to visit on Thanksgiving.…

On October 29, 178 people named Hirokazu Tanaka sat together in a theater in Tokyo, Japan, to earn a Guinness World Records title for the largest gathering of people with the same name. Attendees ranged from an 80-year-old man to a 3-year-old toddler, all wearing identical shirts with their name on them. The Tanakas beat the previous record, set in 2005, when 164 people named Martha Stewart appeared on the set of the TV show Martha! “I’m just grateful to my parents,” said one Hirokazu Tanaka.…

Election 2022 certainly has been exciting to follow (pages 2 and 4)! The fact that we still don’t know all the winners a week after Election Day shows how close some races were. One race—to elect a US senator from Georgia—won’t be decided until December. No matter how that vote turns out, we know that the US Senate (one half of Congress) will be controlled by the Democrats. Although the question of which party will control the House of Representatives (other half of Congress) wasn’t officially answered when The Week Junior went to press on November 15, Republicans were predicted to win a majority of seats. If that happens, Congress will be divided, with one party in charge of each half. We’ll see how well lawmakers can work together to…

“We made our version of the cupcake blobs. We made a cake instead of cupcakes, and we didn’t have green candy melts so we used red to make it bloody.”Lev, 9, New Jersey “I was so excited to read about my family’s home country, Iran!”Allegra, 10, California “I had so much fun baking this apple pull-apart bread.”Simona, 9, Kentucky…

1 Which fruit does the head of a maned sloth look like? a) Pineapple b) Coconut c) Papaya a □ b □ c □ 2 In Save Our Squad with David Beckham, the retired athlete mentors young players in what sport? 3 True or false? A study by researchers in the UK proves that goldfish have a memory. True □ False □ 4 What was the first name for the comic strip Peanuts? a) Our Gang b) Small Potatoes c) Li’l Folks a □ b □ c □ 5 What type of animal returned to its enclosure at a Swedish zoo after escaping? 6 According to a new study, what do most young people want their clothing to be in the future? a) Cool b) Free c) Sustainable a □…

On November 9, the World Health Organization (WHO, the agency responsible for international public health) reported that global deaths caused by Covid-19 have dropped by nearly 90% since February. Officials were pleased but said there was still more work to be done. The announcement was made at a virtual news conference from WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said about 9,400 deaths were linked to Covid-19 in the week from October 31 to November 6. In February, weekly reported deaths were above 75,000. Reported cases were also down 15% from the previous week. Ghebreyesus called the numbers a “cause for optimism” but asked governments, communities, and people to continue fighting the virus. “Almost 10,000 deaths a week is 10,000 too many for a disease that…

Voters in 36 states cast ballots for their governor (a state’s top leader) on Election Day, November 8. Voters delivered historic wins in several states, and enthusiasm was particularly high in states with tight races, such as New York and Wisconsin. What happened? A total of 18 Democrats and 18 Republicans were elected governor. Of those, 28 were incumbents, meaning they were the current governor of the state and will return for another term in office. Most victories were called on election night. But in Arizona, all the votes for the governor’s race were not counted until November 14, when Democrat Katie Hobbs was declared the winner over Republican Kari Lake. And although the decision for Alaska’s governor was still being determined when The Week Junior went to press, Republican…

Students used to spend hours practicing their cursive writing, mastering just the right slant, swoops, and loops so they could earn a high penmanship grade. But over the past couple of decades, technology started to take over, and computers and other devices became common in modern classrooms. Typing skills mostly replaced the need for handwriting, and if students needed to write by hand, they used print. Over the years, cursive nearly disappeared. Today, however, 21 US states have added it back into their lesson plans and more are considering doing the same. What do you think? Should schools bring back cursive writing? Yes—it’s more than just tradition Cursive writing is traditional, but it also has other benefits. Many kids write faster in cursive than in print because they don’t have…

Goldfish have a reputation for having no memory or very little memory—up to three seconds. Scientists say this is a myth, however, and a team at Oxford University in the UK has conducted a new study to prove goldfish do have good recall (memory). The researchers examined whether they could train goldfish to measure swim distances. They placed nine goldfish in a narrow fish tank patterned with black and white vertical stripes. On their first swim down the tank, the researchers gave the goldfish an external cue—a researcher dunked their hand in the tank and waved—to turn the fish back to the start. There, they were rewarded with a treat. The goldfish were then prompted to swim the same distance, this time without the help of any external cues. Of…

Charles Schulz, born 100 years ago this month, created a collection of characters and stories that has been printed in at least 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. Welcome to the world of Peanuts. No adults allowed The Peanuts universe started as a comic strip that ran in newspapers from 1950 to 2000. It features a lovable cast of kids led by Charlie Brown, an unlucky but determined boy whom Schulz called “a caricature of the average person.” His bossy but resourceful friend Lucy runs a psychiatry booth and is known to hold a football for Charlie Brown to kick but then she pulls it away. Her younger brother, Linus, is smart and kind, carries a blanket, and is Charlie Brown’s best friend. A gaggle of other children and animals appear,…

Designer Yael Issacharov has developed an air conditioner that works without electricity. The Nave is made of hollow terra cotta and filled with water. The water flows through it and evaporates—a process that absorbs heat, cooling the unit and the surrounding area. Issacharov was inspired by a traditional Palestinian container for storing cool drinking water. Users can adjust the Nave’s temperature settings as well as its size and shape. It comes in three versions: wall tiles, a freestanding room divider, or a cylinder.…

On November 9, the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) revealed its roster for the FIFA World Cup, the biggest tournament in international soccer. The team includes 26 players with an average age of 25.5, making the Americans the youngest squad in this year’s World Cup. It is also the second-youngest team in USMNT history. The World Cup, which begins on November 20 in Qatar, takes place every four years. The US team was eliminated in the round of 16 in 2014 and did not qualify to play in 2018. There is excitement that they are back, but they are also under pressure to prove themselves. A total of 32 teams participate in the World Cup, and they are split into eight groups of four. The US is in a group…

A fantasy world where dreams take place is the backdrop for the new film Slumberland. It follows a young girl as she seeks a way to overcome sadness. lt is now streaming on Netflix. Elements of Slumberland’s plot and characters were inspired by the 1900s comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay. In the movie, Nemo (played by Marlow Barkley) lives with her dad, a lighthouse keeper who tells her stories about Slumberland, a world of dreams and nightmares. After her dad is lost at sea, she finds a map of Slumberland among his belongings. Thinking she may be able to find him there, she visits the world in her sleep and meets Flip (Aquaman star Jason Momoa), a quirky outlaw who acts as her guide. Nemo and…

The Boxtrolls (2014) Available to rent or buy on all major platforms This stop-motion film is from the creators of Coraline and Paranorman. It is set in the town of Cheesebridge, where humans live aboveground and Boxtrolls live below. Boxtrolls are thought to be monsters, but they are actually kind and gentle. About 10 years ago, an orphan boy named Eggs wandered into their community and they have been raising him ever since. At night, he and the Boxtrolls collect the town’s trash and turn it into incredible inventions. They are careful not to be seen by humans, especially evil Archibald Snatcher who wants to get rid of them. When Eggs’s parental figure is captured, Eggs ventures out of hiding to save him and finds help in a girl from…

(Henry Holt and Co.) During recess, Mihi likes pretending to be a princess. Her friend thinks fourth graders are too old to play make-believe. Wanting to be like Snow White, Mihi climbs an apple tree anyway. She gets in trouble with the playground monitor and is sent to the library. There, she meets Savannah and Reese, two girls who also like princess stories. They take candy from the librarian’s refrigerator. After eating it, the inside of the refrigerator turns into a rainbow forest. They step into the forest and learn that they are in the Rainbow Realm, a magical place. They see Cinderella’s mice, who tell them that they can train to be princesses and could get their own fairy tale. But everything is not what it seems. When Mihi…

Project Linus Since 1995, this organization has donated more than 9 million handmade blankets to children in need. Chapters across the US offer volunteer opportunities. (projectlinus.org) Snuggles Project People can donate blankets to animal shelters through Snuggle Project. The website includes directions for making different kinds of blankets. (snugglesproject.org) Magic Yarn Project This group donates knit caps with special designs like pirate emblems or princess hair to children who have been diagnosed with cancer. One way people can help is by donating extra yarn. (themagicyarnproject.com) Warm Up America Volunteers are asked to knit 7-inch-by-9-inch rectangles as their donations. The rectangles are then pieced together to make blankets for senior centers, veterans’ homes, and shelters. (warmupamerica.org)…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Cornell School: Greenwich Country Day School “Mr. Cornell is an awesome teacher. He makes learning in class fun, and he’s really funny. He helped my classmates and me start middle school in really great ways. He took the time to make sure everyone felt happy and comfortable. For example, he took time to explain our schedules and how everything in middle school works.”Clara, 12, Connecticut 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.…

From a young age, Barbara Binns’s passions were reading and doing research. With her latest book, Unlawful Orders: A Portrait of Dr. James B. Williams, Tuskegee Airman, Surgeon, and Activist, she combined them to write a biography that captures American history. Unlawful Orders tells the story of James “JB” Williams (1919–2016), a surgeon who served with the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military pilots, during World War II (1939–1945). While at the Freeman Airfield base in Iowa, he stood up to racist practices through peaceful protest, which contributed to the desegregation of the US armed forces. He was also the physician for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Binns lives in Chicago, Illinois, where she grew up and where most of her stories take place. She began her career…

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has released its Living Planet Report, which found that the Earth’s wildlife populations have fallen by 69% in the past 50 years. The report is produced every two years to show how the natural world is changing so governments, businesses, and conservationists understand what needs to be done to protect the Earth. The team looks at several factors. One is the Living Planet Index (LPI), which examines how wildlife populations have changed over time. A total of 5,268 species across the world are tracked, including birds, fish, insects, and mammals. The change in wildlife varies around the world. South America and the Caribbean were the most affected. In these areas, the average wildlife populations have dropped by 94% over 50 years. Central Asia…

Lions Nine lions—seven adults and two cubs—have been moved to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado after being rescued from Ukraine. Officials at the sanctuary said it was part of the largest rescue of lions from a war zone ever. North American right whales The population of North American right whales declined to an estimated 340 in 2021, down from 348 in 2020. While the decline was smaller than it has been in recent years, the population is significantly down from 481 whales in 2011.…

Charlie Brown The main character—a “lovable loser” who cares deeply about his friends and family—was named after a co-worker of Schulz’s and mostly modeled on Schulz himself. Snoopy No ordinary beagle, Snoopy is a writer, art collector, and “Flying Ace.” Schulz’s childhood dogs included Snooky, a Boston bull terrier, and Spike, a pointer mix. Snoopy was said to be mainly inspired by Spike. Franklin A teacher, Harriet Glickman, wrote Schulz in 1968 to suggest he add a Black character. Charlie Brown soon met Franklin, a friendly, active boy. It was an early example of integration among Black and white characters. Peppermint Patty Schulz modeled this character after a favorite cousin named Patricia. She loves sports and time under the “thinking tree.” She affectionately calls Charlie Brown “Chuck,” and her baseball…

Ancient mammals cared for their young just as we do, a new study has found. The research focused on multituberculates, or multis: squirrellike animals that lived from about 170 million to 35 million years ago. Mammals reproduce and nurture their young in three ways. The earliest mammals most likely laid eggs, as the duckbilled platypus does today. Later, some mammals started giving birth and carrying their babies in a pouch on their bellies. This marsupial style is still common for animals such as kangaroos and opossums. Eventually, some mammals became placental, meaning they began to have longer pregnancies, nurse their babies for a short time, and let the babies become independent quickly. Humans and most mammals today are placental. Scientists used to think that the earlier methods mostly died out…

On November 7, the 2022–2023 National College Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball season began. In Division One preseason rankings, the top three women’s teams were the University of South Carolina, Stanford University, and the University of Texas. The top three men’s teams were the University of North Carolina (UNC), Gonzaga University, and the University of Houston. In the first week, exciting action took place among Top 25 women’s teams. On November 8, 14th-ranked Ohio State University beat fifth-ranked University of Tennessee, 87–75. Ohio State outscored their opponents, 30–13, in the third quarter. By November 14, Tennessee had dropped to 11th in the rankings. That day, they lost a home game to undefeated 12th-ranked Indiana University, 79–67. South Carolina, the 2021 champions, started the season with two dominating wins, including an 81–56…

Coach’s Name: Robert Strauss Team: Swim Gym Swim Team “He is the greatest and pushes us to be the best. He makes practices fun because he gets everyone on the team to do relays. He is always super excited and passionate on the pool deck. He is also our grandpa. He was in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, and swam for Mexico. He has taught us everything we know about swimming. He has so much knowledge, and it seems like it is never-ending.” Vera and Siena, 11, Florida 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.…

Star Trek: Prodigy (Paramount+) New episodes of this animated sci-fi series are out now. The young aliens are still searching for a better future aboard a spaceship they found, and will be joined by characters that include the trouble-causing space captain Thadiun Okona from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Tutankhamun: Allies and Enemies (PBS) November 23 at 8 pm ET It has been 100 years since archaeologists (scientists who study objects left by people long ago) opened the tomb of Tutankhamun, a boy who became ruler of Egypt in 1323 BCE. This first episode of a two-part special visits the tomb and explores Tut’s life and mysterious death. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC) November 24 at 9 am The annual parade will travel through New York City for its 96th…

Were you like Mihi when you were growing up? Yes, in the way that I desperately wanted to believe in magic. I even wrote in my journal, “My friends don’t believe in magic anymore, but I never want to stop.” Did anyone else inspire the book? My little sister. I would read her princess stories and she’d want to add an element of chaos, like zombies. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Jack and the Beanstalk. I write about it in the next book in the series. I love the beanstalk going into the sky and the way Jack discovers a new world. How would you describe a good friendship? The best friendships are the ones that allow you to be yourself and celebrate who you are. Tell us about the…

1. Wait for everyone. When you sit down at a table, don’t begin eating until everyone is sitting and any toasts or blessings have been made. 2. Watch your body language. Sit straight in your chair with both feet on the floor. Avoid slouching or resting your elbows on the table. Also, avoid reaching across the table for dishes. Instead, ask someone to pass the dish to you. 3. Consider utensils. If you’ve been asked to set the table, remember that the fork goes on the left of the plate and the knife goes on the right. If you sit down to a place setting with more than one set of forks and knives, the general rule is to use the ones on the outside first to eat the appetizer,…

Word ladder To change the word WIND into the word FARM, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides the name of a seven-letter item that people read. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) Spot the difference These two pictures of cacti in bloom appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? DO NOT ENTER Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through…

A founding principle of the United States is that it’s a democracy—meaning that citizens hold the power to elect the people who govern them. As a reader of The Week Junior, you may have opinions about America’s democratic process. If so, we want to hear them! Go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to download a form, like the one at right. Fill it out, then have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the submissions on this page in future issues. 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 with your submission. By emailing your submission…

We asked: What is your favorite song and why? “I like ‘Golden Hour’ because I love the beat.” “I love all songs and music, so I’m stumped on this one.” “I love ‘Good 4 U’ by Olivia Rodrigo. It’s so upbeat and fun.” “I really like rock music!” In the big debate, we asked you: Is pumpkin pie better than apple pie? “Yes, I love the texture of pumpkin pie!” “Apple, apple all day!” “Yes. When my uncle makes it.” “No! Apple pie is much better.” “They are both equal to me.” Now tell us: What is one way you try to help the environment?…