Innehållsförteckning för Issue 138 från The Week Junior US

Beginning on November 24, protests broke out across China as citizens called for an end to the government’s zero-Covid policy. The strict regulations, which have been in place since the start of the pandemic in 2020, are intended to prevent outbreaks of the virus in the nation of more than 1.4 billion people. What is the policy? Under zero-Covid, people who test positive for Covid-19 and their close contacts are isolated. If the virus spreads, Chinese authorities can order immediate lockdowns of apartment buildings, neighborhoods, or even entire cities or regions. The government has used barricades and blocked emergency exits to prevent people from leaving their homes. The lockdowns have caused citizens to be stranded for weeks or months and led to shortages of food and medicine. World health officials…

Marine biologist Callie Veelenturf learned early on that nature needs help from humans. Now, at age 29, her greatest passion lies in ocean conservation. Veelenturf grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, and has a degree in marine biology (study of ocean life). Her favorite animals are sea turtles. “They are independent,” exploring deep parts of the sea and traveling long distances on their migrations, Veelenturf told The Week Junior. Her research with sea turtles took her around the world, from West Africa to Latin America. But she felt like she could do more to help. “It’s not enough anymore to come up with interesting research questions that tap into our deepest curiosities and spend our lives searching for the answers,” Veelenturf explained. That’s why, in 2019, she founded the Leatherback Project,…

A group of scientists set out to estimate the number of ants on Earth. Their results, one said, were impossible to imagine and higher than all previous estimates. According to their research, there are about 20 quadrillion ants—20,000,000,000,000,000, or 20 with 15 zeros—on Earth. That is about 2.5 million ants for every human on the planet. To reach this number, the scientists analyzed 489 studies of ant populations. The studies, from all over the world, covered a range of habitats including cities, deserts, and forests. Those counts of ant populations were made by collecting ants in tiny traps like a plastic cup, called pitfall traps, or counting ants on a sample of leaves on the ground. The 20 quadrillion number, the researchers say, is a conservative, or cautiously low, estimate.…

Fleay’s barred frog The Australian Fleay’s barred frog has developed a natural resistance to a deadly fungus that has wiped out seven other frog species. Scientists are not sure how but hope to study this frog to learn how to help save other frog species. Black-and-white ruffed lemurs A tuberculosis outbreak has killed several animals at the Madagascar Zoo, including eight black-and-white ruffed lemurs, a species that is critically endangered. It is thought that human visitors spread the disease to the animals.…

Borobudur Temple Java, Indonesia The world’s largest Buddhist monument, with more than 500 Buddha statues, sits on a hill on the island of Java. Pyramid of Cestius Rome, Italy Inspired by the Egyptian pyramids, this pyramid stands about 120 feet high and was likely built between 18 and 12 BCE. It is the tomb of a wealthy Roman general named Gaius Cestius. Temple I Tikal Tikal, Guatemala Temple I, also known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar, sits in the ancient Mayan city of Tikal and rises more than 150 feet. The Tikal ruler known as Ah Cacao is buried here. Pyramids of Meroë Meroë, Sudan More than 200 pyramids can be found in Meroë, the last capital of the Kushite Kingdom, which ruled over parts of a region…

Scientists have created detailed digital images of the faces of three people who were buried in a Scottish village called Whithorn between the 1100s and 1300s. The facial reconstructions were made by Christopher Rynn, a scientist and expert on skulls and facial re-creations. Rynn began with 3D scans of the skulls of three people buried in Whithorn. He applied techniques based in archaeology and forensics (scientific analysis of evidence) to estimate each person’s head shape and facial features. One of the faces Rynn re-created was that of a local religious leader, Bishop Walter, who died in 1235. Walter was known to have had an elaborate burial, which means he was important in his community. Another re-creation shows a woman who died in her 20s. Her identity is unknown, but based…

For college football fans, one of the most exciting times of the year is rivalry week, which takes place during the week of Thanksgiving. Over the course of several days, many teams across the country play teams that are their big rivals. One of the most anticipated games this year featured the University of Michigan playing at Ohio State University on November 26. More than 106,000 people filled Ohio Stadium for the annual showdown, which is nicknamed “The Game.” Michigan hosted the matchup last year and won for the first time in nine years. Beating Ohio State on the road is something they hadn’t done since 2000, but Michigan pulled it off this year with a 45–23 victory. With 17 million TV viewers, it was the most-watched regular season college…

Coach’s Name: Mavis Danso Team: DC Soccer Club blue girls U10 “Coach Mavis is super awesome! She pushes us to do our best but doesn’t get angry if we do something wrong. She makes sure that everyone gets the same amount of playing time, while also giving advice from the sidelines and telling us that we are doing great! She tells us what to do better and what we are doing well. She is always proud of us even when we lose. This former World Cup player is the best coach anyone could ask for!” Lucy, 9, Washington, DC 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.…

Who he was Sandro Botticelli’s real name was Alessandro Filipepi. His nickname, Botticello, means “little barrel.” He began studying art at about age 14 and lived most of his life in Florence. Famous work One of the artist’s best-known paintings is The Birth of Venus (right), from about 1485. Depicting the goddess of love and beauty arriving on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, it is part of the Uffizi Galleries collection. Kids in art During the Renaissance, it became more common for art to feature children and adolescents. Botticelli ‘s Portrait of a Young Man (right) depicts a boy who most likely worked as a government page or a musician.…

Mickey: The Story of a Mouse (Disney+) This documentary traces how Mickey Mouse became one of the most recognizable characters of all time. Through footage from the past and present, it highlights creator Walt Disney, the mouse’s debut in a 1928 animated short, his significance in pop culture, and more. Play-Doh Squished (Amazon Freevee) Actress Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) hosts this new series that features teams of adults and kids competing in challenges involving Play-Doh clay. They will need to be fast and creative as they compete for a prize. Guest appearances by famous athletes and actors add to the fun. My Father’s Dragon (Netflix) An award-winning children’s book of the same name inspired this film, which was made by the animation artists behind the films The Secret of Kells…

“Claudia and her brother Jamie run away from home. When they get to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, they think the museum would be a perfect place to stay. They can take baths in the fountain. When they discover a statue that looks like their relative, they try to figure out the mystery of the artist!” Carlisle, 8, Louisiana Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Now that it’s December, you and your family may want to decorate your home for the holidays or for winter. You may have decorating traditions that you maintain each year, but it can also be fun to add extra touches that will make your home feel festive. As the days get colder, you might be spending more time indoors, which is another reason to add some decorations. Here are some ways to get started. Take inventory It’s always a good idea to start with decorations you already have, instead of buying new ones. Even if a parent has already put up some holiday items, there might be leftover decorations you could put in your bedroom. You could also ask if there are any extra supplies from other holidays or events,…

The average family does about 300 loads of laundry a year, which uses electricity and about 6,000 gallons of water. One way to save resources to help the environment is to do less laundry. For instance, if an article of clothing doesn’t have any stains or odors on it, ask a parent if you can wear it again before washing it. This is especially true if you wore something for only a few hours before changing. Many jean manufacturers even suggest that the pants not be washed after every wear to preserve the material. When it’s time to dry your laundry, you can also save on electricity by hanging some clothes on a drying rack instead of using the dryer.…

In San Francisco, California, man’s best friend can now eat man’s best food. A new restaurant, called Dogue, offers multi-course meals for dogs. For $75, pampered pups can enjoy dishes like filet mignon with quail egg and chicken skin waffles. Meanwhile, their owners get a baked good and a beverage. “It’s rare when as a chef, I walk into the dining room…and every single guest has a smile on their face,” said chef and founder Rahmi Massarweh. “There’s something very unique and satisfying about that.”…

December is a very busy month for many people, including the members of the US Congress. They are facing intense pressure over the next month to discuss and pass legislation on a variety of important issues (p4). I wish them the best in their deliberations. With the winter holidays approaching, this is also a busy time of excitement and preparation for families across the country. I hope you enjoy our ideas for decorating your home (p24) and making a gift-giving plan (p25). It’s a hectic time of year for us at The Week Junior, too, as we get ready to create our final issues of 2022. One of our favorite traditions is asking our readers which front cover from the past year was their favorite. You will see this question…

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 are you most grateful for this holiday season and why? “My friends and family. They are always here for me.” “My dog. He has helped me through some hard times.” “I’m most grateful for being healthy this year.” “My friend coming to town since she moved away.” In the big debate, we asked: Are holidays being celebrated too early? “Yes. We aren’t getting enough time to celebrate other holidays that come before.” “No. It makes some people happy. We shouldn’t judge.” “I feel like anyone can start early as long as you have the Christmas spirit!” “Thanksgiving is like preparing us for Christmas, so not really.” Now tell us: What will you do to get into the holiday spirit this year?…

An ancient gold coin written off as fake could be real, according to scientists in the UK. They say the authenticity of the coin, which dates back about 2,000 years, also may prove the existence of the Roman emperor, named Sponsian, who is depicted on it. The coin was found in 1713 in what is now Transylvania, an area once controlled by the Roman empire. In the 1800s, experts said it was a poorly made fake and that Sponsian never existed. The coin was kept in a museum cabinet until recently, when scientists Paul Pearson and Jesper Ericsson examined it under a powerful microscope and analyzed chemicals on it. While many scientists still believe the coin is fake, Pearson and Ericsson said that scratches on its surface prove it was…

After Thanksgiving, the US Congress returned to work to complete what is called a lame-duck session. This is the period between Election Day and the start of the next session in January. What is happening? Lawmakers face pressure to act on several major legislative priorities. Democrats currently control both the Senate and House of Representatives and want to move fast before the next session, when Republicans will take control of the House. At that point, the government will be divided and it will be more difficult to push their priorities forward. What are the priorities in the Senate? One top priority is the Respect for Marriage Act, which guarantees federal recognition of any same-sex marriage that is legal in the state where it took place. As The Week Junior went…

France Letter’s secret code is cracked French scientists have cracked the secret code of a letter sent in 1547 from King Charles V of Spain, the most powerful man in Europe at the time, to his ambassador at the French royal court. The three-page letter was forgotten for centuries and recently analyzed by code breaker Cécile Pierrot and her team. After six months of study, they concluded that the letter reveals the king’s fears about a secret plot to overthrow him. Tunja, Colombia Beetles help break down garbage A company in Colombia is using beetle larvae (baby beetles) to help break down garbage. The tiny beetles, most of which are Hercules beetles, can chew through food waste and turn it into fertilizer. The fertilizer can then be used to help…

National Park of American Samoa At the only US national park below the equator (an imaginary line that circles Earth and divides it into two parts), you can find volcanoes, beaches, coral reefs, and the world’s tallest ocean cliffs. Located about 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean, the park encompasses sections of three islands of American Samoa: Tutuila, Ta’ū, and Ofu. Samoan culture is more than 3,000 years old, and Samoans have inhabited the islands for thousands of years. (Samoa means “sacred earth.”) The park is home to flying foxes, Pacific boas, and collared kingfishers.…

Zoe, 11, Hawaii Thomas Wippenbeck Zookeeper, Smithsonian’s National Zoo The main cause of coral bleaching is rising ocean temperatures. Corals have algae living in their tissue that provide them with nutrients and give corals their color. But under increasing temperatures, the algae stop providing nutrients. The coral expels the algae and turns white. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com Find out more about Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC, at nationalzoo.si.edu.…

Researchers in Germany have found that fish can do math. In a study, stingrays and cichlids (an African fish) were able to add and subtract—even with no fingers to count on. Past research has shown that many animals, including fish, can tell the difference between larger and smaller amounts. For example, mosquitofish prefer to join the largest possible social group and will choose a group of four over a group of three. Cichlids and stingrays can see a small collection of objects and tell right away how many there are, just as a person might quickly notice that there are three cookies on a plate. Scientists wondered if fish could also solve math problems. The team, led by zoologist Vera Schluessel at the University of Bonn, trained the fish to…

The second book in Jeff Kinney’s popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has been made into a new animated film. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is now streaming on Disney+. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid stories are typically told from the perspective of Greg Heffley, a middle schooler who keeps an illustrated journal about his life. Rodrick Rules is about his complicated relationship with his older brother, a lazy, angst-filled teen. Rodrick often picks on Greg or ignores him in favor of his rock band, but the pair actually care about each other. Kinney co-wrote and produced the Rodrick Rules film. Although it’s slightly different from the book, he told The Week Junior he tried to pack in as many familiar details as possible. “Each scene…

Whether you’re heading to another country or just want to expand your vocabulary for school or fun, a phone or tablet can help. There are many apps that can teach you new languages or provide quick translations. Two apps for easy learning are Duolingo and Memrise. Duolingo offers lessons in 41 languages, including French, Spanish, Arabic, Greek, and Japanese. You can even learn a fictional language (one used in books or films), such as Klingon from the Star Trek series. It has quizzes and games to test your skills and can track your progress, too. Memrise also teaches you new words and phrases in foreign languages. The app uses video clips of people from different countries, and hearing them speak helps with practice. Other language learning apps include Babbel and…

Why are gardens special? It’s the magic of nature. I love the before and after with gardening, of seeing what the space can transform into. Are your characters based on anyone you know? My characters are usually a combination of traits that remind me of people I know and from my imagination. Did you read science fiction growing up? Yes, I loved the original Star Wars trilogy. I’ve always been fascinated with outer space. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was young. Any advice for kids? We all have things that make us unique, and sometimes, especially when we’re young, they can make you stand out when you might rather fit in. But these things end up being the magic that makes you who you are. Favorite flower?…

Boats with lights In Greece, it’s traditional at Christmas to see boats decked out with lights and ornaments as a symbol of new life and to thank sailors who devoted their life to the sea. Vegetable carvings At farmers markets in Oaxaca, Mexico, radishes carved into images of holiday scenes and local wildlife are sold. People buy them to display in their homes. Baskets of treats Children in Norway make heart-shaped baskets from paper. Known as julekurver baskets, they are hung in homes or on Christmas trees in hopes they’ll be filled with nuts and candy. Glowing candles During the Hanukkah holiday in Israel, especially on the eighth and final night, many people place menorahs in specially designed glass boxes outside their home or business.…

A SPORTS FIRST Olivia Pichardo, 18, is the first woman to be selected for a Division I college baseball team. The Brown University freshman, who started playing as a girl in New York City, said she’s happy to be “paving the way for other girls in the next generation.” EXTRA GUACAMOLE A team of 300 cooks in Peribán, Mexico, mixed up 10,957 pounds of guacamole, setting a new Guinness World Record. Made for the city’s first Avocado Expo, the batch included more than 20,000 pounds of locally grown avocados, plus onions, tomatoes, peppers, lime, and cilantro. CLEANING UP Videos of Japanese soccer fans picking up trash at the FIFA World Cup—and the Japanese team’s spotless locker room—went viral. In Japan, the thoughtful act is not unusual. “You have to leave…

The world’s largest active volcano, located in Hawaii on the Big Island, began spewing ash and lava on November 27. Occurring after a series of large earthquakes, this was the first time in 38 years that Mauna Loa erupted. Officials said the eruption wasn’t threatening to most of the 200,000 residents living on the island. Those who live near Mauna Loa were advised to make emergency preparations, in case evacuation became necessary.…

From the snowy hills of Vermont to the frozen forests of Alaska to the beaches of California and Hawaii, the US has a wide range of climates. People often pick where they live or travel based on the weather. At this time of year, as temperatures start to drop and we head into winter, cold-weather fans are pulling out their boots and shaking out their sweaters as they prepare for chilly weather fun—and cozy indoor time. Sun lovers, however, are dreaming of long, relaxing days spent hitting the waves, splashing in a pool, or enjoying a picnic in the park. What do you think? Is cold weather better than hot weather? Yes—cold weather is fun indoors and out Cold weather can’t be beat. Nothing is better than building a snowman,…

Dogs can tell the difference between people feeling stressed and feeling calm—by actually smelling the difference on humans, according to a new study. Scientists at Queen’s University in the UK conducted a series of experiments. Four owners volunteered their dogs—Treo, Fingal, Soot, and Winnie—to take part, and 36 humans volunteered too. The people were asked to do a difficult math test. If they became stressed (this was measured by checking their blood pressure), samples of their sweat and breath were taken. First, the dogs were trained to pick out a stressed person’s sample. Then they were given three samples to sniff—one was blank, one was a calm person’s smell, and one was a stressed person’s smell. Out of 720 trials, dogs picked the stressed smell 675 times. Researcher Clara Wilson…

The Giza pyramids are the most famous of all the Egyptian pyramids and perhaps the most famous on Earth. Thousands of years after they were built, they still inspire curiosity and awe. The major structures The first of the major pyramids to be built was the Great Pyramid, in honor of the pharaoh (ruler) Khufu. It is the largest of the Giza pyramids, and construction is believed to have finished in about 2560 BCE. (On its eastern side are three small pyramids, called the Queen’s Pyramids, for his wives.) The next, and second largest, pyramid to be built was the Pyramid of Khafre, who was Khufu’s son, and finished about 2570 BCE. Near Khafre’s pyramid is the Great Sphinx, a statue of a mythical creature that is believed to have…

Researchers in Israel used 3D printing to make wooden objects that start out flat and damp and rise into shapes as they dry. They created ink from wood shavings and printed it in layers and rows of strips. Knowing that wood changes in predictable ways as it loses moisture, the scientists were able to control the final shape of the object by changing the orientation of the strips. For example, a flat rectangle with strips going in different directions dried in a 3D spiral shape. The method could be used to make furniture one day.…

On November 26 and November 27, many of the world’s top female skiers competed at the 2022 Heroic Killington Cup in Killington, Vermont. It is the only women’s World Cup event in the US this season. There were two races: the slalom (a downhill race through a course) and the giant slalom (which runs over a longer course). US skier Mikaela Shiffrin was the defending slalom champion at Killington and had won the event there five times. This season, she had already won the first two alpine World Cup events, a feat no other woman had accomplished in 29 years. During her career, Shiffrin has won 76 World Cups. Only two women have earned more. The first event at Killington was the giant slalom. In her first race of the…

Artwork by one of the world’s most famous Italian painters is now on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (known as Mia). Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi features paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Sandro Botticelli and other artists who worked in Florence, Italy, at the same time he did. Botticelli lived from 1445–1510. This period was during the Renaissance (1300s–1600s), a time of great learning and art in Europe. Botticelli is considered one of the Old Masters, a group of European artists from the 1300s to 1800. Much of the art created at that time was religious, but some of Botticelli’s most famous works are scenes from mythology. For the exhibition, Mia borrowed pieces from the Uffizi Galleries, a major museum in Florence. “Many of the…

Fly Away Home (1996) Available to rent This film is loosely based on a true story. When the mother of a young girl named Amy dies in a car accident, Amy moves from New Zealand to a farm in Canada to live with her father, Tom, whom she barely knows. One morning, Amy comes across some goose eggs that are not being protected by their mother. She takes them home and cares for them, and when the eggs hatch, the goslings (baby geese) look to Amy as a mother figure. The problem is, she can’t teach them how to fly south for the winter. Local authorities, meanwhile, see the geese as a hazard and want to clip their wings. Tom has been developing a small flying machine and decides to…

(Pixel+Ink) The year is 2448. People no longer live on Earth because the plants poisoned the air. Myra attends a school on the Moon. Her parents have magical powers related to math, but Myra’s powers aren’t developing. One day, she stumbles onto an abandoned classroom at school. The robot there leads Myra to a secret slide that goes to a garden. The garden is filled with plants that are feared by the world. Myra worries she may become sick from being near the plants, but they don’t harm her. She eventually learns those plants may hold the key to saving the galaxy from a food shortage. Can she convince the world? This first book in a new series contains many plot twists and intriguing characters.…

New Dragon City By Mari Mancusi (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Three years after dragons attacked New York City, Noah and his dad are struggling to survive underground. Noah and a young dragon team up to try to make peace between humans and dragons. This book may remind you of How to Train Your Dragon. Ages 8–12 The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart By Stephanie Burgis (Bloomsbury Publishing) A young dragon sneaks out of her family’s cave and gets turned into a 12-year-old girl after she drinks a cup of hot chocolate that contains a spell. She has many adventures in the human world, including getting a job at a chocolate shop. The story is full of interesting characters. Ages 8–12 Dragon Mountain By Katie and Kevin Tsang (Union…

1. Talk to others. If you have siblings or cousins you’d like to exchange gifts with, ask an adult if you can start a gifting tradition. You could draw names out of a hat so everyone gives and gets one gift. Or maybe your friends want to make presents for one another. 2. Try a special exchange. Ask an adult to help you look online for the rules for a gift exchange, such as a Yankee Swap. In this exchange, each person brings a gift that anyone would enjoy to a gathering, and they draw numbers to start trading gifts. 3. Make a list. If you’re planning to give individual gifts, make a list of everyone you’ll be gifting to and brainstorm ideas. Ask an adult to help you budget…

Crisscross Each of these things about the environment fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 3 letters AIR SEA 4 letters LIFE SOIL 5 letters TRASH 6 letters ENERGY FOREST LITTER 7 letters COMPOST RECYCLE 8 letters LANDFILL 10 letters ATMOSPHERE CLEAN WATER SOLAR POWER 11 letters ENVIRONMENT MOTHER EARTH ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters M-A-T. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? 1. Sandwich addition often paired with lettuce 2. Comfy part of a bed 3. Activists like Greta Thunberg are concerned about changes in this 4. Word said at the end of a chess match 5. Area of study that includes arithmetic and algebra Take five Five 5-letter things in a…

“I had fun making caramel apple cider with my mom. It tasted like apple pie in a mug!”Sloane, 10, Texas “I made the fruit turkey decorations on Thanksgiving.”Oliver, 13, Florida “We loved making these decorations with friends. It was so much fun!”Mira, 8, and Saanvi, 11, Louisiana “I’m drinking my morning cider.”Charlie, 11, New York “I love The Week Junior. I added my own twist to the fruit decorations from the Thanksgiving issue, and it was SO fun! Thank you!”Nora, 11, Maine “It was so fun making the turkey decorations! I like to read the How To and Around the World sections.”Michaela, 8, North Carolina…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Rogers School: Baker Demonstration School “Mrs. Rogers, my science teacher, is literally the best teacher I have ever had. She is creative and fun and always has the best activities planned. For example, at the beginning of the year, we do this experiment called ‘Saving Fred.’ You have this gummy worm and a Life Savers candy, and you try to get the gummy worm in the Life Savers candy. Also, at the end of the year, we hatch chickens!”Zoe, 10, Illinois 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 pair of chefs recently set a world record for creating the largest size of what type of food? a) Pizza slice b) Sandwich c) Sushi roll a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? Dogs can smell when a human is stressed. True □ False □ 3 What is the theme of this year’s White House holiday decorations? 4 True or false? The new movie Diary of a WimpyKid: RodrickRules is aboutGreg Heffley’s relationship with his younger brother Rodrick. True □ False □ 5 What is the nickname of the annual football game between rival teams Ohio State University and the University of Michigan? 6 True or false? New research has found that fish can do addition and subtraction. True □ False □ 7 A coin…