Innehållsförteckning för Issue 147 från The Week Junior US

On January 25, the White House announced a new ban on logging and road building in the Tongass National Forest, which covers most of southeast Alaska. The ban reverses a decision made in 2020 to open more than 9 million acres of mostly untouched wilderness to the timber and mining industries. What happened? Tom Vilsack, the US secretary of agriculture, said that logging (cutting down trees for lumber, paper, or other products) and the construction of new roads would no longer be permitted in the national forest. It was the latest move in a 20-year battle over how Tongass should be managed. Federal officials first blocked logging and road building in 2001, but former President Donald Trump overturned that decision in 2020. Current President Joe Biden made the latest change.…

On February 5, the music industry awarded its most prestigious prizes at the 65th annual Grammy Awards. The televised event was held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, and was hosted by comedian Trevor Noah. The Grammys are given out by the Recording Academy to honor music across all genres, including pop, rock, rap, country, and jazz. The four major award categories, known as “the big four,” are Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year. Singer-songwriter Beyoncé made history by breaking the record for most Grammy wins by an artist. Her album Renaissance was named Best Dance/Electronic Album, and she won three more Grammys at the ceremony, bringing her total to 32. In her acceptance speech, she thanked the…

Devin Alexander has made a career out of helping people eat healthy and feel good in their bodies, as both a chef and an author. With her new picture book, The Land of Secret Superpowers: Vegetables, she aims to show the strengths of nutritious vegetables. Alexander grew up in California and intended to study theater in college. But after doing some volunteer catering work, she decided to become a private chef. She attended culinary school and started a catering company. She has appeared as a chef on TV many times, including on the Today show and Good Morning America. “I had two Italian grandmothers who taught me how to cook,” Alexander told The Week Junior. As a teen, she struggled with unhealthy eating habits and feeling confident in her body.…

Although turtles existed even before dinosaurs, scientists didn’t know until recently that the animals use sound to communicate. Now researchers have found that turtles make a variety of noises—even before they hatch from their eggs. Camila Ferarra, a biologist from Brazil, was studying sounds made by South American river turtles, which are also known as arrau turtles. These giant turtles live in the Amazon. Thousands of females lay their eggs on beaches along the nearby Guaporé River. Other types of turtles bury their eggs in the sand and then leave, but South American river turtles wait on the beach for up to two months until their eggs hatch. Ferrara wondered if the mother turtles “talk” to their babies. She used microphones to record their sounds. When she left a microphone…

Squirt the skunk A skunk named Squirt has found a home at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm in the Florida Keys. Squirt was surrendered by an owner who could no longer care for him properly. He joined more than 150 animals at the farm. Glaciers More than 80% of the world’s glaciers could disappear by the year 2100 due to the warming climate, according to a new study. Even if the increase in the planet’s temperature is kept to a minimum, nearly half of the glaciers may disappear.…

Yo-Yo Ma is considered by many to be the best cello player in the world and possibly the best cellist ever. He has said that music is the “glue that joins people together.” His early life Yo-Yo Ma was born in Paris, France, in 1955 to Chinese parents. His mother was a singer and his father played violin. Ma, now 67, began playing the cello when he was 4 years old and gave his first public recital at age 5. During his childhood, he moved to New York City with his family. He was exceptionally talented, and in 1962, when he was 7, he performed live for US President John F. Kennedy. At age 9, he made his concert debut at Carnegie Hall, the famous concert venue in New York…

A new law says that drug companies in the US are no longer required to test their products on animals. The move has drawn praise from animal welfare activists and some drug companies. For more than 80 years, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA, the agency responsible for approving new medicines) has required drug companies to test a new drug on a rodent species (such as a mouse or rat) and a non-rodent species (such as a monkey or rabbit). If a drug was found to be safe and effective in animals, it could then be tested on humans before it became available to the public. Animal welfare activists have argued for many years that animal testing unnecessarily injures or kills millions of animals. And many drug companies say animal testing…

With about one month left in the regular season of college basketball, games are becoming more important and more thrilling. Recently, there were several memorable matchups featuring top teams. On the women’s side, two teams remained undefeated when The Week Junior went to press: the University of South Carolina, who are the defending national champions and ranked number one, and Louisiana State University (LSU), who are ranked number three. On February 5, South Carolina played fifth-ranked University of Connecticut (UConn) in a rematch of last year’s championship final. UConn led at the end of the first quarter, and the score was tied at halftime. The competition stayed tight in the second half, but South Carolina came away with an 81–77 win. Their forward Aliyah Boston scored 26 points, including 14…

Coach’s Name: Pasquale Maio Team: The Bloody Sharks (soccer) “Coach Pasquale is nice, motivational, and funny. From the start, he has pushed us to our limits and he has made us get better and better. We always have fun with activities, and he always makes the practices fun. The best part about him is that he always makes sure everyone is OK and that everyone has a good time and is enjoying themselves. Without him, we would not be the soccer players we are today!”Allegra, 13, 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.…

The music The show’s music was overseen by award-winning musician and producer Raphael Saadiq. It features elements of pop, R&B, and jazz to reflect the many cultures of New York City. Artistic inspiration The creative team was influenced by famous artists from the New York City art scene, such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. They also looked at graffiti that made the city gritty but colorful. The setting The Lower East Side of Manhattan is rich in history. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, immigrants arriving from Europe and Asia built communities there. Later, they were joined by artists, musicians, and trendsetters.…

A Charlie Brown Valentine (Apple TV+) In this animated special featuring the Peanuts characters, Valentine’s Day is keeping everyone busy. Charlie Brown is trying to impress a girl, Snoopy is writing poems about the holiday, Lucy and Sally are waiting to get special cards, and Peppermint Patty seeks a date to the dance. Puppy Bowl XIX (HBO Max) (TBS) (Animal Planet) (Discovery Channel) (discovery+) February 12 @ 2 pm ET This annual event raises awareness for rescue dogs and pet adoption. It will feature a game between two teams, Ruff and Fluff, made up of 122 puppies from 67 shelters across the country. Next Level Chef (Fox) Season two of this cooking competition, hosted by chef Gordon Ramsay, kicks off after the Super Bowl on February 12. It has a…

Mysterious and thought-provoking, The Windeby Puzzle lends itself to discussions about history and science with friends and family who have also read it. Here are some questions to get your book club conversation going. What do you think happened to the Windeby Girl? Did you like how the chapters alternated between fiction and nonfiction? Why or why not? If you could give Estrild’s story a different ending, what would it be? Which character do you think showed the most bravery and why? How did the illustrations before each chapter help set the tone? Some of Lois Lowry’s books have been turned into films. Do you think this book would make a good movie?…

DonorsChoose On this group’s website, teachers can upload lists of classroom supplies they need. Donors can then help cover costs by contributing money so teachers can buy the supplies. donorschoose.org Kids in Need Foundation This group offers free resource centers that educators can visit to get needed classroom supplies. Teachers can also get help with lesson plans for their classrooms. kinf.org Operation Backpack People who volunteer with this organization collect and distribute backpacks filled with essential school supplies to thousands of students in need every year. voa.org/operation-backpack Teach for America Many schools don’t have enough teachers. This group trains college graduates so they can become teachers where the need is greatest. teachforamerica.org…

As The Week Junior was preparing to go to press, a powerful earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, causing widespread damage and killing thousands of people. We report on this in our Around the World section (p7) and will publish a more detailed story about the rescue and recovery efforts next week. In the meantime, many nonprofit organizations are providing assistance in the region and asking for help. If this is something you would like to participate in, talk to an adult about what your family could do, such as making a donation or hosting a bake sale or other event to raise money. If you do take action, please tell us about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. We also invite you to fill out and submit the new form we’ve published in…

“I love The Week Junior! I always curl up in my bed at night to read it. I learn so much about things around the world!”Miyou, 11, California “I was so surprised to win the book! I can’t wait to read it! Thank you so much!”Oscar, 9, Wisconsin “I had fun making the cherry blossoms! They’re a nice decoration for our house!”Scarlett, 8, Pennsylvania…

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: Who is your favorite author? “My favorite author is Shannon Messenger. She wrote Keeper of the Lost Cities.” “Rick Riordan, he writes about different cultures and mythology.” “Coco Simon. She wrote the Sprinkle Sundays series.” “Lemony Snicket because of A Series of Unfortunate Events.” In the big debate, we asked: Should screen time be restricted? “Yes. It gives kids some time to use their imagination.” “No. Technology is part of today’s life and kids need to learn self-control.” “I think families should agree on a limit for each day.” “It depends on the person, but screen time can be bad if used…

From January 28 to February 4, a balloon the size of three school buses drifted 60,000 feet high in the skies above the US and Canada. The balloon came from China and crossed over Alaska and Canada’s Northwest Territories before traveling southeast from Idaho to South Carolina. US officials said the balloon lingered over military sites and was carrying sensors and surveillance equipment to spy on the US. Chinese officials, however, said the aircraft was used to track weather and had blown off course. On February 4, a US military aircraft shot down the balloon over the Atlantic Ocean. The US will collect and study the wreckage of the balloon. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to visit China on February 5 and 6. The trip was meant…

Members of Congress are calling for police reform following the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, after he was beaten by police officers in Memphis, Tennessee. Police reform aims to maintain safety while reducing violence. What did the lawmakers do? On February 2, the Congressional Black Caucus met with President Joe Biden at the White House to encourage him to pursue police reform. The group is currently made up of 57 Black members of Congress (branch of government that passes laws) who seek to be “the voice for people of color.” The caucus wants to pass a bill that would overhaul police activities. Some of the recommended steps include creating a federal list that tracks police misconduct, mandating that federal officers wear body cameras while working, and providing…

United Kingdom Healthcare workers go on strike On February 6, tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance workers across the UK went on strike (stopped working as a form of protest) to demand better pay. It was the largest coordinated effort between healthcare workers in the 75-year history of the state-run National Health Service. The UK is struggling with inflation (price increases), which the government said is the highest it’s been in 40 years. Château d’Oex, Switzerland International balloon festival lifts off Thousands of people traveled to Château d’Oex, a town in a snowy valley of the Swiss Alps, for the 43rd International Hot Air Balloon Festival. The festival featured 60 balloons from 15 countries, as well as displays from planes, skydivers, and paragliders. Thomas Spildooren, a hot-air balloon pilot,…

This park in southern Arizona has passageways that run for 2.4 miles underground. It is famous for mineral structures, including one of the world’s largest soda straw stalactites (hanging rock formations) and the biggest formation of brushite moonmilk, which forms when bat poop mixes with limestone. (About 1,500 bats live in the cave for part of the year.) There are also several hiking trails above ground, allowing visitors to explore the Whetstone Mountains and spot animals including javelinas, Gila monsters, Broad-billed hummingbirds, and mountain lions.…

A famous bald eagle named Jackie laid her first two eggs of the season at her nest in California’s San Bernardino National Forest. Jackie has been the star of a live camera feed since 2017 and is caring for the eggs with her partner, Shadow. 20to30yearsin the wild NorthAmericamostlyin forests Theirwingspanreachesupto 80 inches long Fishotherbirds reptiles, and mammals Baldeaglesareknownto steal fish from other animals rather than catching their own.…

Scientists have found a way to digitally “unwrap” the 2,300-year-old mummy of an Egyptian teenager. Known as the “Golden Boy,” the mummy was buried in an inner and outer coffin. His body was adorned with 49 precious amulets (a small object believed to provide protection from evil), which offer insight into ancient Egyptian beliefs and ritual burial practices. The Golden Boy was discovered in 1916 in southern Egypt, in a cemetery in Nag el-Hassay that was used from about 332 BCE to 30 BCE. It has been stored in the basement of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the capital city, and was never opened. To “unwrap” the mummy, a team led by Sahar Saleem of Cairo University used technology called computerized tomography (CT). With CT scanning, they took hundreds of…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced the nominations for the 2023 Oscars (top film award). Among the nominees in the best documentary short category is The Elephant Whisperers. The 40-minute film, on Netflix, focuses on a couple in India who care for orphaned elephants. The film is in Tamil (a language spoken in India) with English subtitles but can also be watched with English dubbing. The Elephant Whisperers was filmed within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in southern India. It was directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, who grew up in the area. The main elephant in the film is Raghu, whose mother was killed when he was a calf. Raghu was placed in the care of a local couple, Bomman and Bellie, who live in an area for…

Hogwarts Legacy is a new role-playing adventure game. It was just released for the PlayStation platforms, Xbox systems, and PC. It will be released for the Nintendo Switch in July. The game is rated Teen. The action in the game takes place in the Wizarding World from the Harry Potter franchise, but the story is separate from the books and films and has all new characters. It is set in the 1800s, and you play the game as a fifth-year student who just transferred to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your character will take part in a traditional wand ceremony and sorting ceremony and join one of the school’s four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. (Players who have an account on the official Wizarding World website can link…

The Week Junior spoke to Lois Lowry, author of The Windeby Puzzle. She has written more than 50 books for children and young adults. Her books Number the Stars and The Giver are Newbery Medal winners. How did you find out about the Windeby Girl? Early in the pandemic, I spent a lot of time reading. That’s when I ran across a reference to the Windeby Girl. My library was closed, so I did more research online and became fascinated. Are any of your other books similar to The Windeby Puzzle? The closest is Number the Stars. It is set against real historical events that took place in Denmark in 1943, and I created a fictional family who participated in those events. What’s your favorite kind of puzzle? I like…

Crisscross Each of these dances fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 4 letters HULA SWIM 5 letters CONGA MAMBO POLKA RUMBA 6 letters CHA-CHA NAE NAE SHIMMY WATUSI 10 letters TARANTELLA 11 letters CONTINENTAL HARLEM SHAKE 12 letters MASHED POTATO VIRGINIA REEL ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters T-H-E. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? Spot the difference These two pictures of a turtle appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? Take five Five 5-letter things associated with knights are hidden in this grid. For each one, the first letter is somewhere in the first column, the second is somewhere…

A lucky pair of socks Connor McDavid, captain of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers, recently revealed that he has worn the same pair of socks during every game of his eight-year career. McDavid’s toes now stick out through large holes, but he loves the grip he gets from this particular pair and insists that they bring him good luck. In January, the company that makes the socks sent him some new pairs. There’s been no word yet on whether he has worn them. Delivering a time-out On January 25, a college basketball game was interrupted when a man walked onto the court with a food delivery. He seemed to be searching for the person who had ordered the meal. The man nearly ran into one of the players before…

“I am working on a project called “The Wonder Project.” It is inspired by the book Wonder, which was written by R.J. Palacio in 2012. The idea for this project came from something that happened to me this year in school. I got into a fight with one of my best friends. We made up and are friends again, but I thought it would be a good idea to find a way for kids to talk about the way we treat one another. I think the book Wonder is a good way of learning about making good choices, even when things are hard and people are different. I wrote some study questions and summaries of chapters that I think would help kids talk about character and good choices if they…

How much of this week’s news can you remember? 1 How old was renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma when he gave his first public recital? a) 5 b) 7 c) 9 a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false□ The book The Windeby Puzzle combines fiction and nonfiction. True □ False □ 3 Which soccer player became the all-time leading scorer for Tottenham Hotspur? a) Jamie Vardy b) Raheem Sterling c) Harry Kane a □ b □ c □ 4 Scientists found that South American river turtles were doing what in their eggs before they hatched? 5 Who broke the record for most Grammy Awards ever won by an artist? a) Beyoncé b) Samara Joy c) Lizzo a □ b □ c □ 6 What is the edible water…

SETTING A SUPERSIZE RECORD After 177 years of being misidentified, a giant water lily was confirmed as a new species—and the largest of its kind. Experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens in the UK named it Victoria boliviana. The plant grows to nearly 10 feet wide. A SURPRISING DISCOVERY The British Museum has unveiled a very rare find: a gold necklace that dates back to 1530 or earlier and bears the symbols of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. The café owner who found the jewelry with a metal detector in a field said it was a “once in 30 lifetimes” experience. A BABY-NAME REVEAL Meet Petunia! Nearly 19,000 people voted in an online poll to name the baby pygmy hippo born at the Metro-Richmond Zoo…

Joe Acaba has been named chief of the Astronaut Office by NASA, the US space agency. A former teacher and veteran of multiple spaceflights who has worked on the International Space Station, Acaba is the first person of Hispanic heritage to hold the position. His responsibilities will include managing astronaut resources, making crew assignments, and playing an “integral role” in preparing astronauts “for the challenges ahead,” NASA said.…

During the Covid-19 pandemic, signs appeared at many shops declaring that they had gone “cashless”—refusing coins and bills and only accepting contactless payments from a debit or credit card or a payment app on phones. Some stores had already begun moving away from cash years earlier, and many still continue to do business this way. In fact, in a 2021 survey, 22% of small-business owners said they think US society will be fully cashless within 10 years. But some people have argued that it is unfair to turn away customers who want to pay with cash. What do you think? Should stores be allowed to refuse cash? Yes—the time for cash has passed Store owners should be able to choose how to run their businesses. Most people use debit or…

Scientists have observed adult male jaguars, who usually like to be alone, forming friendships that can last for years. Male jaguars don’t usually interact with other jaguars unless they are mating or fighting over territory. But a recent study found evidence of the big cats patrolling territories, resting, and eating together. Researchers gathered information about jaguars across South America using tracking devices and camera traps (a camera that takes a picture when a sensor detects movement). They found two jaguar friendships. One pair in Brazil stayed together from 2006 to 2014. Another pair in Venezuela spent time together from 2013 to 2018. No one knows if they are still together. Other pairs were spotted too, but each was seen only once. The scientists think these friendships could be a response…

Casper Peters Biologist Aide, Birds & Mammals, Adventure Aquarium They are related to dolphins, but not as closely as you might think! Vaquitas are a kind of porpoise, a marine mammal that looks similar to dolphins. Porpoises have flat, spade-shaped teeth while dolphins have pointy, cone-shaped teeth. Vaquitas are more closely related to narwhals. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Adventure Aquarium at adventureaquarium.com.…

Scientists in the US have created a smart glove that translates Braille into speech for people with visual impairments. Braille is a system of raised dots that represent words and letters. A person reads by feeling the dots with their fingertips—but many people who are visually impaired cannot read Braille. The glove, called BrailleWear, has a camera, light, and speaker. As the camera sees the dots, the glove says the words out loud. The designers hope users who hear the words as they touch the dots will be able to learn Braille.…

On February 1, Tom Brady, who is considered one of the best players in National Football League (NFL) history, announced that his 23-year career as a quarterback has come to an end. In a video he posted on social media, he told fans, “I’m retiring. For good.” Brady also said he was retiring in February 2022, but he changed his mind 40 days later and played another season. The former University of Michigan player, age 45, spent the majority of his NFL career with the New England Patriots. He helped them win six Super Bowls (the NFL championship game). He joined the Buccaneers before the 2020 season and spent three seasons with that team. In his first year there, they won the Super Bowl. No other quarterback has won seven…

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is a new animated series based on Marvel’s hit comic books of the same name. It follows Lunella Lafayette, also known as Moon Girl, Marvel’s first African American teen girl superhero, as she learns the importance of family, community, and responsibility. The series premieres on the Disney Channel at 8 pm ET on February 10 and on Disney+ on February 15. In the Marvel Universe, Lunella (voiced by Diamond White)is the world’s smartest person. She was 9 years old in the comic strip, but she’s 13 in the TV series. When Lunella accidentally brings a red T. rex named Devil Dinosaur into the present day, she realizes they can team up to protect her New York City neighborhood. Devil Dinosaur was part of Marvel’s Moon-Boy…

TheAppleDumplingGang🄶 Disney+ orrenton demand “This film is about three orphans who are unexpectedly taken in by bachelor Russell Donovan. After the kids discover a huge gold nugget in a mine, a pair of outlaws make a failed attempt to steal it. The gold is worth a lot of money, so people in town fight over who should be made the children’s guardians. The kids, who want to stay with Mr. Donovan, turn to the outlaws for help. It is a really funny movie with lots of hilarious mix-ups, facial expressions, stunts, and plot twists that keep you laughing the whole time. It makes you want to watch it over and over again.” Mabel, 13, Minnesota “This film is about three orphans who are unexpectedly taken in by bachelor Russell Donovan.…

By Lois Lowry, illustrations by Jonathan Stroh (Clarion Books) The format of this book may be unlike anything you’ve ever read. It contains two fictional stories and three nonfiction chapters. It begins with the true story of German workers who found bones inside a peat bog (a type of wetlands) in 1952. Scientists determined the bones were from the 1st century, during a time period called the Iron Age. They believed these bones belonged to a small teenager they called the Windeby Girl. In the next chapter, author Lois Lowry creates a story about what happened to the girl, whom she names Estrild. Wanting to be a warrior even though it would have been forbidden, Estrild strives to break out of the expected female role. In doing so, she seals…

Besides being a great place to learn, school offers a great opportunity to make friends, try new things, and give back to others. At this point in the school year, there is plenty of time for you to take advantage of opportunities and activities that your school offers. It’s also a good time to think of ways to make a difference and improve your school. Here’s how to get started. Reach out One option for learning more about what happens around your school is to be involved in activities, clubs, and teams. All of these help you to meet more people, including teachers and staff, who can give you an idea of needs your school might have. For example, get to know your student council or government. Ask if you…

An artist from Canada has taken balloon sculpting to a whole new level. Mark Verge is an eight-time world champion balloon artist whose designs include a life-size version of the car from The Flintstones animated TV series and a 39-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex, which was made from 1,400 balloons. He has also built a larger-than-life model of a Minion wearing its trademark blue overalls and holding a rocket launcher, all made out of balloons.…

What book, TV series, or podcast makes you laugh the most? Do you have a favorite joke to share? Is there a cartoon (or something else) you find especially funny? For a chance to be included in our upcoming Humor Issue (Issue 153), send us what you think is funny and why, along with your first name, age, and the state you live in. Have an adult email what you write, along with your photo, to hello@theweekjunior.com. 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 to us, you give The Week…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Scribner School: Bernice A. Ray School “Mr. Scribner is one of the funniest people you will meet. He will make your fourth grade year so fun that you will want to stay forever. He is so good at explaining everything we need to learn, including math, science, and social studies. He has definitely made my fourth grade year one of the best.” Louisa, 9, New Hampshire 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.…