Innehållsförteckning för Issue 137 från The Week Junior US

On November 16, NASA, the US space agency, launched its Artemis 1 mission, the first step in its larger Artemis program designed to put people on the Moon for the first time in 50 years. The uncrewed Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket ever built, took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It marks NASA’s first lunar mission since the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s, during which 12 men walked on the Moon. What is Artemis? Artemis is a $40 billion program to explore parts of the Moon that humans have never visited and test out technologies that could one day be used on missions to Mars. “The Moon is a good place to learn new science,” NASA wrote on its website. It’s “a place…

Having played Thor, one of the strongest heroes in the Marvel films, for more than a decade, Chris Hemsworth knows a bit about being superhuman. In the new National Geographic series Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, he is testing his own superhuman abilities. The six-part documentary series premiered on Disney+ on November 16. In each episode, Hemsworth tries extreme challenges designed to explore the full potential of the human body and mind. The challenges include walking across a crane on top of a 900-foot skyscraper and swimming in freezing Arctic water. His ultimate goal is to unlock the secrets of how humans can live healthier and longer lives. Hemsworth, age 39, was born in Melbourne, Australia. Throughout his career, he has trained hard to play Thor, the God of Thunder, and…

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has officially listed emperor penguins as a threatened species. A threatened species is one that is at risk of becoming an endangered species (at high risk of becoming extinct, or no longer existing). This listing will give the penguin further legal protection from the federal government. “The listing of the emperor penguin serves as an alarm bell but also a call to action,” said Martha Williams, director of the FWS. Currently, the population of emperor penguins is at about 625,000 to 650,000 animals. The main danger to the species, which lives in Antarctica, comes from climate change (the long-term changes in weather patterns, including temperature, largely due to human activities). Emperor penguins rely on sea ice in Antarctica to avoid predators, hunt for…

Big Asian animals Populations of larger animals typically decline when humans live close by. But in a positive sign for four species in Asia—tigers, elephants, wild boars, and clouded leopards—populations appear to have grown in areas near humans. California parks Wild pigs in Monterey County in California are destroying parks, mainly by ripping up grass. Park rangers have been capturing them, but the pig population is growing faster than the pace at which rangers have been able to catch them.…

Anna Pavlova This Russian star became the first ballerina to tour the world, starting in 1914. One of her bestknown roles, performed thousands of times, was in a short ballet showing the end of a swan’s life. Rudolf Nureyev After leaving Russia in 1961, Nureyev formed a famous partnership with Margot Fonteyn, who danced in the UK’s Royal Ballet. Nureyev broke barriers for male dancers with his expressive style. Raven Wilkinson Born in New York City, Wilkinson was one of the first Black ballerinas to dance with a major ballet company. In the 1950s, Wilkinson toured the US and bravely performed on stage in the segregated South. Mikhail Baryshnikov Known for his high leaps, Russian dancer Baryshnikov moved to New York City in 1974 to become the principal (top) dancer…

Deep sea exploration is a challenging and expensive task that requires special equipment and trained experts. As a result, humans have only been able to explore a small fraction (less than 20%) of the world’s oceans. To make it easier to do this, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed a simple device that costs only about $700 to make. The device is named Maka Niu, which means “coconut eye” in Hawaiian. It uses an inexpensive, readily available Raspberry Pi computer chip and other common materials. Maka Niu has a camera and sensors and can dive down to more than 4,900 feet, which is in the bathypelagic zone, where light cannot reach. Maka Niu can capture video and measure depth, temperature, and salt levels in the water. The team…

On November 20, the 2022 FIFA World Cup began in Qatar. The soccer tournament, which takes place every four years, is the most-watched event in the world and runs until December 18. The defending champion is France. There has been a great deal of controversy about Qatar hosting the World Cup. One key concern is that thousands of foreign workers who came there to help build stadiums and prepare for the World Cup have died due to poor work conditions, according to human rights activists and journalists. The country also has strict and conservative laws that discriminate against certain groups. As a result, many soccer fans, politicians, and celebrities have boycotted the tournament. The former president of FIFA (the Federation Internationale de Football Association, the global governing body for soccer)…

Coach’s name: Ivan Lee Team: Long Island Fencing Center “Ivan Lee is a great coach because he inspires me to be a future fencing champion and he teaches me to believe in myself. He makes me feel confident in myself. He lets me learn strategy in my work and teaches me all the techniques to use in offense and defense. He also made up a quote that I use in fencing: ‘Look, think, act.’ He teaches me to be fierce when the time is right.” Eli, 10, New York 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.…

Inspiration for the story The film was inspired by other stories about adventures to mysterious lands, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne and the film King Kong. Color choices The visuals team assigned each setting in the film a color palette. Avalonia uses warm colors, and the Clades’ farm is filled with cool blues and greens. To set the strange world apart, it does not feature any earth tones or a blue sky. Unique creatures Splat is a blobby blue creature that guides the Clades in the mystery land. It has no face and several legs and arms. Other odd creatures were given funny names, such as Flatty Patty, Poop Pickle, and Transportasaurus.…

Hip Hop Nutcracker (Disney+) The classic ballet The Nutcracker has been reimagined by hip-hop legend Rev. Run. This special production features hip-hop dancers and an appearance by the renowned dance crew the Jabbawockeez. Also look out for world-famous ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov. Best in Snow (Disney+) Five teams from around the world have four days to transform giant blocks of snow in this competition. Their goal is to carve them into creations inspired by Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and the Muppets, in hopes of impressing judges and winning the Best in Snow title. Our Universe (Netflix) This nature series explains how the sun, sea turtles, and the rest of the world came to exist. Vibrant computer-generated images of the cosmos help explain the universe’s 13.8 billion-year-old history, while high-tech cameras provide…

Do you have a favorite book in your Keeper of the Lost Cities series? I’m most proud of Book Four: Neverseen. I took some risks with it. Readers consistently tell me it’s their favorite book in the series, too. Is there a character you relate to most? I try very hard to let the characters be their own people, but the one that’s the most like me is Silveny, which is the sparkly alicorn that’s very exuberant. What did you like reading as a child? I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis a zillion times. I also liked Nancy Drew books and Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books. Is there a superpower you would want? It would be great to be able to teleport and whisk away…

If you’d like to have a group of family and friends over on the weekend, consider hosting a game-day party. This is an event when people come together to watch a sport, often college or professional football, that’s being played live on television. Here’s what you need to know to plan a great game-day party at your home. Choose a game Ask a parent to help you look online for the game schedule of your favorite team. It’s best to choose a weekend game so more people are available to attend. You also may want to choose an afternoon game, instead of an evening game, which can end late. Some games may be more exciting than others to watch as a group. For instance, if your team is facing off…

Since paper is created from trees, being mindful of the paper you use can help the environment. There are a few simple steps you can take. Aim to use a new sheet of paper only when you need to, like making a birthday card for a friend. If you’re practicing your drawing or jotting down a grocery list for a parent, try to use scrap paper, such as the back of a school flyer, a used envelope, or other recycled paper. If you’re printing a document from a computer, choose the double-sided option. This will reduce the amount of paper you use by half. If your family uses paper towels and napkins, ask if you can use reusable towels and napkins more often instead.…

“Halloween is known for candy and not-so-nutritious treats. We wanted to change that. Instead of convincing kids to make healthy choices, we convinced parents to give out healthy treats on Halloween. We went door-to-door and got more than 30 parents to sign up. We gave parents a list of healthy alternatives and also an option to buy a $10 or $20 bag of healthy treats from us. In two weeks, we sold more than $500 worth of treat bags and raised $120 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We not only helped kids get healthy treats but also raised money for cancer research.” 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.…

“I love reading The Week Junior outside with the sheep!”Emmett, 11, Arizona “I love your magazine, so I thought, ‘Why not show you guys?’ I made this delectable frappuccino all by myself!”Sarah, 10, Illinois “I have been collecting The Week Junior for nearly three years now and look forward to reading a new edition every week!”Raphaelle, 11, Florida…

We asked: What is one way you try to help the environment? “I know this is an obvious answer. Plant trees!” “I have picked up trash around my community.” “#teamtrees” In the big debate, we asked: Should schools bring back cursive writing? “Yes, cursive writing makes it easier and faster to write.” “No, because people don’t use cursive writing much anymore. They should teach us typing instead.” “Yes, it can be good to use in the future.” “No, some kids don’t know how to do cursive. It would be hard on top of everything else.” “Sure, why not? It looks good.” Now tell us: What are you most grateful for this holiday season and why?…

After most of the votes from this year’s midterm election were counted, control of the House of Representatives (one half of Congress, the branch of government that makes laws) changed hands, from the Democrats to the Republicans. What happened? On Election Day, November 8, all 435 seats in the House were up for election. It was determined on November 16 that Republicans had won the majority of seats, with 218 in their favor. Even if Democrats were to win all of the remaining seats that were undeclared when The Week Junior went to press on November 22, Republicans would still hold the majority. The Democrats will continue to control the Senate (the other half of Congress). What does this mean? With the House controlled by the Republicans and the Senate…

In this rugged national park in Colorado, steep cliffs of metamorphic rock tower over the roaring Gunnison River. Cliffs plunge 2,722 feet at their deepest, in Warner Point. The Black Canyon’s narrowest point is called the Narrows, with a width of 40 feet. When the first railroad passed through the canyon in 1882, passengers were stunned by the dramatic landscape. Today, it is a popular destination for wildlife viewing as well as stargazing. Visitors may see the world’s fastest bird, the peregrine falcon, hear coyotes’ calls, or spot deer or the yellow-bellied marmot.…

Alex Middlebrook Biologist, Adventure Aquarium Many species of jellyfish, including the crystal jelly and crown jellies, can produce their own light using a process called bioluminescence. They use this light to attract prey. Many of these bioluminescent jellies live in the deep ocean, which is reached by very little to no light. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey at adventureaquarium.com.…

A swarm of bees produces an amazing amount of electricity, new research has found. Scientists say the electricity they create could be strong enough to affect the weather. Small electrical charges are everywhere. There are two kinds of charges—positive and negative—and they attract each other. Spiders spin negatively charged webs, which pull in positively charged insects. As honeybees fly, beating their wings more than 200 times per second, they rub against molecules in the air and collect a positive charge, which helps them attract negatively charged pollen. Insects can also pick up electrical charges by landing on charged surfaces. Scientists measure electricity in the atmosphere by calculating the difference between the charge in the air and the charge at the Earth’s surface. This is called the potential gradient. It is…

The story that began with the popular fantasy film Willow more than 30 years ago is continuing in a new television series of the same name. It premieres on Disney+ on November 30. The unlikely hero of the film and series is Willow Ufgood. When audiences first met him, he was a young farmer who dreamed of being a great sorcerer but was afraid of failure. After a dangerous journey to protect a special baby from evil, he found his magic powers. The new series is set 20 years later and follows Willow as he leads a group of young misfit heroes on another epic quest. It is written for returning fans as well as people who are new to the story. English actor Warwick Davis, who starred in the…

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are two new open-world roleplaying adventure games that were recently released. Both games are exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The first Pokémon game came out in the US in 1998. New generations arrive every few years with fresh regions, characters, and new pokémon to catch. Scarlet and Violet begin the ninth generation. They have more adventures and gameplay options than ever, plus two new rare and powerful Legendary Pokémon. Scarlet and Violet share the same story, location, key characters, and most of the same pokémon. In each game, trainers have the option to begin their adventures with one of three new starter pokémon: Sprigatito (a grass cat), Fuecoco (a fiery crocodile), and Quaxly (a water-type duck). After that decision is made, trainers head to one…

When You Reach Me By Rebecca Stead “I adore this book! It has time travel, friendship, hardship, mystery, and togetherness! The main character, Miranda, starts receiving mysterious notes. She tells her mom about the first note but not about the others. Through all this, her mom is competing on a game show to win money! This book is set in the ’70s. I love how it is all intertwined and connected.” Ellie, 12, Montana Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Brownies Take a tray of baked brownies and cut them into football shapes with a cookie cutter. Use vanilla icing to add white trim to them. Snack mix Combine a few salty and sweet items to create a tasty snack mix. Then stir in chocolate candies, such as M&M’s, in the colors of the team you’re rooting for. Dip and chips Make or buy guacamole. Place it in a serving dish and use sour cream to add thin lines going across the dip that look like yard lines on the field. Serve with tortilla chips. Meat “ball” kabobs Buy premade meatballs at the store. With an adult’s help, cook them according to the package directions. Place them on a platter or thread them onto wooden skewers. Serve with marinara sauce…

Word search BEEF CHOPSTICKS DIM SUM DUMPLINGS EGG ROLL FORTUNE COOKIE HUNAN KUNG PAO LO MEIN MENU MOO SHU NOODLES ORDER PEPPER PORK RIBS RICE SESAME SNOW PEAS SOUP SOY SAUCE SPICY STIR-FRY SWEET AND SOUR SZECHUAN TOFU WOK WONTON Can you find all these Chinese restaurant words 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. FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with words that are homophones of each other (pronounced alike but spelled differently), like DEAR and DEER. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1. While we were at the hotel pool, the ———— let herself into our room, straightened up,…

A GREAT CATCH A historic baseball glove sold for the stunning price of $1.53 million at an auction. Legendary Hall of Fame player George Herman “Babe” Ruth wore the glove when he played for the New York Yankees in the 1920s and 1930s. The auction house called the sale “monumental.” A GRAND ARRIVAL One gigantic Christmas tradition is back. An 82-foot Norway spruce from upstate New York arrived at New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza to be decorated with 50,000 colorful lights. Every year, organizers scout for the perfect tree in a nearby state. “Now it’s a special tree,” said the person who grew it. NEVER GIVING UP A 95-year-old grandmother from Louisiana was named one of this year’s best musicians. Angela Alvarez started writing songs as a teenager in Cuba,…

A historic snowstorm struck western New York state from November 18–21, dropping more than six feet of snow on Buffalo and 80 inches on nearby Orchard Park. The storm set a Buffalo city record for the biggest snowfall in a 24-hour period, with 21.5 inches falling on November 19. It was the third-highest snowfall over a three-day period in state history. Northern New York was also hit hard, with areas near Watertown receiving more than 70 inches.…

November and December are packed with major holidays. It’s a festive season and, these days, a hectic one. In the past, it was common for holidays to be celebrated one at a time. Thanksgiving meant relaxation with family and friends, and people waited until early December to start putting up Christmas lights and Hanukkah decorations. These days, though, people start shopping, decorating—and busting out the Christmas sweaters—the day after Thanksgiving. Some say holiday prep and festivities have gotten out of control. Others like to get a head start. What do you think? Are people celebrating holidays too early? Yes—it steals the joy How can you enjoy Thanksgiving when you feel pressured to start planning for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa while the turkey is still on the table? That’s a lot…

Bison are giving prairie grasslands new life, research has found. Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 170 million acres of North America, from Indiana to Kansas and Canada to Texas. This ecosystem (a group of plants or animals in a certain place that affect each other) supports a variety of wildlife, including other plants, birds, reptiles, and mammals. However, tallgrass was mostly replaced by farmland. Bison once commonly grazed on these lands. These majestic mammals are herbivores (plant eaters), and in recent decades they have been reintroduced in Indiana to the largest remaining tallgrass prairie, which is now a nature preserve. The study, conducted over more than 30 years, showed that the grazing habits of bison have helped to more than double native species in the area. Researchers hope the…

Ballet began as entertainment for royalty in Europe. Today, this graceful style of dance is performed and admired around the globe. Ballet begins The word ballet comes from the Italian word “ballare,” which means “to dance.” Early ballet was performed for the upper class and involved small hops, curtsies, and gentle turns. In the 1500s, ballet spread from Italy to France with the help of Catherine de Medici, who was born in Italy and became queen of France. An enthusiastic supporter of the arts, she funded simple ballets as a form of entertainment in the French royal court. Moving to the stage King Louis XIV, who ruled France from 1643 to 1715, loved to dance. He moved ballet from a fun court entertainment with amateur dancers to the stage with…

Dean Skivington injured his back in 2007 while playing rugby in the UK. He had several surgeries but was still in pain for many years. The only thing that helped was running very cold water on his back, but there was one problem: He couldn’t get the water in his shower cold enough. To remedy this, Skivington invented the CryoShower, a small, portable unit that connects to a shower or bathtub and makes the water run super cold. He said it has changed his life and hopes that the device will one day do the same for others as well.…

The 2022–23 Rivalry Series, a set of seven exhibition games between the women’s national ice hockey teams from the US and Canada, has kicked off. The first three games took place on November 15, November 17, and November 20. The Americans won them all. The US and Canada are two of the world’s top teams. This year, Team Canada beat the US in the gold medal game of the Beijing Olympics and the finals of the Women’s Hockey World Championship. Team USA’s three wins in the Rivalry Series made for an exciting comeback. The opening game took place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Team USA had a 2–0 lead in the second period, but Canada went up 3–2 in the third. A last-minute goal by American forward Alex Carpenter tied…

Strange World, a new animated comedyadventure from Disney, is now playing in theaters. The film was directed by Don Hall, who made Raya and the Last Dragon and Big Hero 6. It was co-directed and written by Qui Nguyen, who also co-wrote Raya. The film is set in a land called Avalonia and revolves around three generations of the Clade family. Jaeger Clade is a celebrated explorer who never returned from an expedition. His son, Searcher, is a devoted husband and father who is famous for discovering pando, a plantbased power source. His son, Ethan, is a helpful and adventurous teen. When something begins to plague pando, Searcher joins a mission to a strange underground world to find out how to save the plant. His wife and Ethan end up…

Fantasy Football (2022) Paramount+ This new comedy centers on Callie Coleman, whose dad, Bobby, is a player in the National Football League (NFL). Bobby is not successful on the field, and the Colemans recently moved because he was traded to a new team. Callie is very into robotics and video games, especially the Madden NFL series. When she discovers she has a magical version of the game that allows her to control her dad when he plays, Bobby becomes a star. The family, however, can’t tell anyone why he is so good. At school, Callie is on the robotics team and has made many friends, but her involvement in her family’s newfound good fortune conflicts with her commitment to the team. With the NFL playoffs looming, how will she handle…

By Shannon Messenger (Aladdin) The ninth book of this popular series has as much drama as previous ones did. Fans are reunited with Sophie, who can read minds. When she was 12, she learned that she was an elf hidden in the human world. She really belonged to the Lost Cities, a secret realm. In this book, Sophie tries to find Keefe, a friend who has gone missing. In the process, she uncovers secrets that were hidden for hundreds of years. Compared to earlier books, Sophie seems more confident in her decisions. While the book solves mysteries, it ends on a cliff-hanger. It’s easier to follow the plot if you read the books in order. The next book, which is expected to be the final one in the series, will…

The Highland Falcon Thief By M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (Feiwel & Friends) A princess’s diamond necklace goes missing on a train trip, and 11-year-old Hal tries to figure out who did it. Will his new friend turn out to be innocent of the crime? The story is the first in the Adventures on Trains series. Ages 10 and up On the Blue Comet By Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (Candlewick Press) In this book set in the 1920s, Oscar and his dad enjoy building model trains. But when the stock market crashes, they lose their home and possessions. The trains end up on display at a bank. When the bank is robbed, Oscar is there. He time-travels into the future to piece together what happened.…

What you need: l 1 16-ounce tub of white frostingl Mixing bowlsl 2½ cups powdered sugar (also called confectioners’ sugar), plus more as neededl Food coloringl Spoonl Sprinkles (optional)l Jars or sealable containers for storage Instructions 1. Since you may want to eat this slime, be sure you start by washing and drying your hands well, as you do when you’re cooking. 2. Scoop the frosting out of the tub and place it in a large mixing bowl. Add the powdered sugar into the bowl and mix well. If it is still sticky when you touch it, mix in another heaping tablespoon of powdered sugar or more until the mixture is a texture that feels smooth to the touch and you can stretch it between your hands. 3. If you’d…

Larry Gordon of Tacoma, Washington wasn’t feeling well, so doctors wanted to do a CT scan (a type of X-ray) to better understand his condition. But Gordon isn’t like most patients: He is a leopard moray eel. To get his unusual scan done, zoo staff transferred him in a plastic tub full of medicated water to keep him calm. Although the 5-foot eel was too long to completely straighten out inside the scanner, the medical team was able to get a detailed 3D image of his body and help him regain his health.…

My brother and several other family members live in the area of New York state that was hit by a historic snowstorm last week (p5). Seeing the photos of such an incredible amount of snow brought back memories of an even bigger storm that struck the region when I was growing up there—the Blizzard of 1977, which dropped more than 100 inches of snow on some counties! I recall the way our community—including firefighters on snowmobiles!—came together to make sure people had the food, water, and heat they needed to get through it. The same kind spirit was shown during this storm, and I am grateful for that. As I write this note, Thanksgiving is two days away and I am feeling grateful for many other things as well, including…

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…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Laurel School: Mesa Union Elementary School “Ms. Laurel is an amazing person, and I am so lucky to have her as a teacher. Her classroom is neat and organized, making it easy to find everything. She is kind and thoughtful, and she makes everyone feel welcome in the classroom. I know that no matter what, Ms. Laurel will always be there for any of her students. She will always be one of my favorite teachers.”Poppy, 10, California 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 A Philadelphia man ate what type of food for 40 straight days? a) Cake b) Pizza c) Rotisserie chicken a □ b □ c □ 2 About how wide is the wingspan of a peacock butterfly? 3 Which university won the NCAA women’s cross country championship? a) North Carolina State b) Northern Arizona c) Stanford a □ b □ c □ 4 The new animated movie Strange World involves a plant-based power source called what? a) Leafo b) Mulcho c) Pando a □ b □ c □ 5 Dale Haney has been the groundskeeper at what famous building for 50 years? 6 True or false? A swarm of bees can generate electricity True □ False □ 7 What is Taylor Swift’s new North American tour called? 8 True or…