Innehållsförteckning för Issue 158 från The Week Junior US

Ukrainians are welcoming spring after surviving a long winter of Russian attacks on the nation’s power grid. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 in an attempt to take over the nation. What happened? In October, Russia began a campaign to cut off power across Ukraine, dropping missiles that damaged or destroyed power stations and other utilities. During the coldest, darkest months of winter, millions of Ukrainians were often without light, water, heat, or internet access, and many relied on backup generators. Ukraine has now made great progress in repairing its power grid, and basic amenities are back. People in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, are riding electric scooters, traveling to work on the electric tram, and going to theaters to watch movies. Morale is generally high for Ukrainians who endured a difficult…

TWO GREAT TASTES IN ONE The famous H&H Bagels shop in New York City has turned the classic bagel and cream cheese combo into something new: a stuffed bagel. Instead of spreading the topping on each half of a sliced bagel, H&H stuffs it with cream cheese. A PAIR OF RARE BIRTHS Two extremely rare white bison calves were born a few days apart at a bison sanctuary in Utah. White bison are sacred to Native Americans in the region, and their birth “brings a sense of hope and is a sign that good times are about to happen,” said the National Park Service. The first calf was named Sakari, and Kota was the second. A GRAND ADVENTURE Eleanor Hamby and Sandra Hazelip, 81-year-old best friends from Texas, took an…

NASA, the US space agency, has unveiled a specially designed habitat to simulate living conditions on Mars. The habitat is intended to help NASA learn about the challenges astronauts would face while living on Mars with limited resources. The agency said it hopes to send humans to Mars as early as the 2030s. The habitat, called Mars Dune Alpha, is based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Starting this summer, four volunteer crew members will live in the habitat for one year. The first volunteers have not yet been selected, but NASA says it will look for candidates with strong backgrounds in fields such as science and technology—the same qualifications it looks for in its astronauts. NASA created the habitat using 3D-printing technology, which it may someday use…

In a short amount of time, Maya Eaglin has come a long way in her journalism career. She started out by reading the morning announcements in her elementary school, and now, at age 25, she is a reporter for NBC News and a co-host of NBC’s youth-focused news program called Stay Tuned. Eaglin’s passion for news was inspired by her mom, who worked at a local television station in the Washington, DC, area, which is where Eaglin grew up. Eaglin attended Elon University in North Carolina, where she was the director of the college’s news network. She interned with National Public Radio (NPR) and graduated with a degree in journalism. In 2019, Eaglin joined NBC as a news associate specializing in digital media. Eaglin told The Week Junior that she…

Have you heard the latest buzz? Bumblebees have. According to a new study, trends can pass through a bumblebee colony as bees watch and copy one another’s behavior. This means the bees have a culture, which is a set of shared behaviors animals learn from one another. People once thought humans were the only species to develop cultures, but chimpanzees and some birds have also been found to have this ability. A research team from the UK set up puzzle boxes that offered a sweet-tasting reward when opened. “Demonstrator” bees were taught to open the boxes by pushing a red tab clockwise or a blue tab counterclockwise. Some bees saw the demonstrator bees open the boxes, while other bees were not allowed to watch before trying to open the boxes…

“Do you know why the gills of axolotls are on the outside of their heads?”Evie, 9, New York Becky Heidt Aquarist I, New England Aquarium Similarly to frogs, axolotls are born with external gills and no arms or legs. But unlike frogs, as they develop, their gills remain on the outside of their body. It isn’t known why this happens, but it may give them a larger space to take in oxygen. Axolotls can also breathe through their skin! Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the New England Aquarium at neaq.org.…

A system of interlocking bricks made of sea kelp and seaweed can be used to build floating docks, bridges, homes, and platforms. Seabrick, a Canadian company, says its product is inexpensive and better for the environment than building materials like concrete. The company mixes clay with sea kelp and sargassum, a type of seaweed. The mixture is compressed into bricks that can be snapped together, like Legos. Seabrick says the material also traps gases that harm the planet, like carbon dioxide. The bricks are reusable.…

From April 13–15, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women’s gymnastics championships were held in Fort Worth, Texas. The University of Oklahoma, the 2022 champions, won their sixth national title in nine years. Maile O’Keefe of the University of Utah won the all-around title. Eight colleges competed at the meet, and four made the finals: Oklahoma, the University of Florida, the University of Utah, and Louisiana State University. The events in the competition were the beam, vault, uneven bars, and floor. Oklahoma, the top-ranked team, led at the end of each of the finals’ first three rotations. In the last one, Jordan Bowers had a spectacular floor routine that earned a 9.950. It helped her team edge out second-place Florida by .150 points. The competition was especially memorable for Florida’s…

Award-winning author Judy Blume’s novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, a book about the challenges of growing up and figuring out who you are, has been popular for more than 50 years. For the first time, it has been turned into a film, which arrives in movie theaters on April 28. The story in the book and the movie is set in the 1970s. It is told from the perspective of 11-year-old Margaret Simon, a sixth grader faced with going to a new school, making new friends, family drama, and most notably, puberty (when a child’s body becomes an adult body). She is also trying to figure out her own religious beliefs. In private, Margaret addresses God with questions about her life. The novel has been a bestseller…

“This animated cartoon series, which began in 1987, is based on an action-packed comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The show focuses on four mutated turtles—Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo—who are human-like. They have been trained by their sensei, Splinter, in the art of ninjutsu. With the help of their human friend, April O’Neil, the boys fight the Foot Clan and their leader, Shredder. I love this cartoon—it is hilarious and reminds me of what life was like in the ‘80s.” Reza, 10, California Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Random House) Addie and her parents were a happy family until her mom got hurt in an accident. For the past year, Addie has lived with her dad. When he gets assigned to work on a virtual reality project for a university across the country, they must move there for six weeks. Addie expects to be lonely, but she soon meets Mateo, the son of one of her dad’s co-workers. They test some of the virtual reality games being developed, and Addie likes being in the virtual world as an escape from her problems. At a hospital where Mateo volunteers, the friends come up with an idea to use virtual reality to help patients. Will they be able to pull it off? Although parts of this graphic novel are sad,…

Freewater By Amina Luqman-Dawson (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Homer and his sister flee a plantation, escaping a life of slavery. After crossing dangerous swampland, they reach Freewater, a settlement for formerly enslaved people. But their mom is still at the plantation. Homer sets out to rescue her. Will they all be together again? Ages 10–14 Iveliz Explains It All By Andrea Beatriz Arango, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez (Random House Books for Young Readers) In this story, which is told in verse, Iveliz keeps a journal and writes about her mental health struggles. She is hoping that seventh grade will be better than the previous year. But conflicts with some people in her life are getting in the way of a fresh start. Ages 12 and up The Last…

What you need • 10 wide craft sticks (also called tongue depressors) • 5 rubber bands • Recycled plastic bottle cap • Hot glue and gun • Marshmallow or pom-pom Instructions 1. Stack eight of the craft sticks on top of one another. Wrap a rubber band around the stack of sticks about ½ inch from one end to secure them together. Then repeat with another rubber band about ½ inch from the other end. 2. Take the two remaining craft sticks and place one underneath the stack and one on top to make a cross-like shape (see photo). Use two rubber bands, diagonally over the middle, to hold these two craft sticks in place. 3. Slide the top and bottom sticks so one end sticks out about 2 inches.…

Word search Can you find all these tools 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. BOLT CHISEL CLAMP DRILL DUCT TAPE FILE GLUE GUN HACKSAW HAMMER HEX NUT HOOK JIGSAW KNIFE LATHE LEVEL MALLET NAIL PLANE PLIERS RASP RULER SANDER SCREWDRIVER SHEARS SOLDERING IRON VISE WIRE WRENCH FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with words that rhyme, like OUR and POWER. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) OFF SIDES Make three different five-letter words by using the letters given to fill in the blanks. Out of order The numbers 1 to 9 can fit, one per square, so that no two…

When I was in middle school, I read the Judy Blume novel Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. To me, and to millions of others who have read it over the past 50 years, there was something very special about the story. Growing up isn’t always easy, and I felt the author really understood that. I’ve held onto that sense of appreciation and admiration for the book (and for Judy Blume!) ever since. I was thrilled when I heard the novel was being made into a movie, and I can’t wait to see it! Brielle, our associate editor who wrote the story on page 20, has already seen it—and she gives it five stars. “The film is brilliant at capturing the uncertainty of figuring out who you want to…

“We love camping and reading by the campfire. When we were done playing in the creek, we sat by the fire and read The Week Junior together. Our favorite parts are the puzzles and Photos of the Week.”Amelia, 10, Izzy, 8, and, Oliver, 5, Indiana “We love reading The Week Junior! We especially enjoyed the recipe for the cheesy onion pasta in the April 7 issue. It turned our Sunday dinner into a gourmet experience. Thank you!”Aisha, 11, and Ranvir, 8, Illinois “I’m loving the book Iceberg. Thank you for the recommendation.”Isla, 9, California…

On April 13, thousands of people in Thailand marked the Buddhist new year with the Songkran Water Festival, one of the nation’s most important celebrations. The festival had not been held since 2020, due to the pandemic. Songkran lasts about three days and has roots in Buddhism, a religion widely practiced in Thailand. Water is a Buddhist symbol of renewal, and during Songkran it represents washing away the past year. The festival also honors the end of the dry season and focuses on moving forward. One ancient tradition is for younger people to sprinkle water on the hands of elders to get their blessings for the coming year. Over time, this evolved into crowds gathering in the streets to splash each other with anything from water shooters to tubs of…

The cost of groceries decreased in March, falling for the first time since September 2020, according to new data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, a US agency). The drop was a bright spot in the US government’s aim to lower inflation (rise in the cost of goods and services). What food prices changed? The cost of foods in many categories dropped, and some had steeper declines than others. The price of eggs decreased by 11%, fruits and vegetables dropped by 1.3%, and dairy products dipped by 0.1%. Other foods cost slightly more, such as cereals and bakery products, which rose by 0.6%. Eating at restaurants continued to cost more, with prices increasing 0.6%. What else happened? The rise in inflation decreased in March for the ninth straight…

Canada “Super pigs” heading south Wild pigs that are a nationwide pest in Canada are heading toward the US. The so-called “super pigs,” a cross between domestic pigs and wild boars, were once contained to farms but were let go or escaped 30 years ago. They have spread in Canada, destroying plants and harming native animals. The pigs are close to crossing the US border, and experts worry they will cause damage in northern states. Chichén Itzá, Mexico Ancient disc believed to be scoreboard A carved stone disc thought to be a scoreboard has been found in the ruins of Chichén Itzá, an ancient Mayan city. The Maya civilization existed in Mexico and Central America from about 2000 BCE until 900 CE. The circular stone is believed to be more…

This nature preserve, established in 1974, was one of the country’s first two national preserves. It protects nine different kinds of habitats, including longleaf pine forests and bayous lined with cypress trees. It’s no surprise that this diverse area attracts a variety of animal life, including the American alligator, wild boar, red-tailed hawk, mottled duck, and ladyfish. Four of the five types of carnivorous plants in North America—pale pitcher plants, bladderworts, sundews, and butterworts—inhabit the park. The plants feed on insects after luring them with scents and nectar.…

In New York Harbor stands a small island once known as the Gateway to the New World. Now a historical site, Ellis Island has many stories to tell. How it began Native Americans of the Mohegan tribe called the island “Kioshk” (“Gull Island”). In the 1600s, European settlers began calling it “Little Oyster Island” for the oyster beds surrounding it. In 1774, Samuel Ellis of New York City bought the island and built a tavern on it. Later, it became a fort for soldiers. By the late 1800s, a great change was taking place in US immigration. More people came from Europe to escape drought, famine, and war. In the past, states had processed immigrants. But now the US government took over. On January 1, 1892, the US Immigration Station…

A new study has solved a mystery about the surface of Venus—which turns out to be kind of squishy. Venus and Earth are both rocky planets that are about the same size, and Venus is our closest neighbor in the solar system. The two planets seem similar, but they’re very different. For example, the temperature of Venus’s surface is a scorching 900° F. Another difference is the planet’s outer crust, called the lithosphere. Earth’s lithosphere is a patchwork of tectonic plates (gigantic slabs of rock that move slowly). This movement lets heat escape from the planet. On Venus, the lithosphere is thought to be one solid piece, and how it releases heat has been a mystery—until now. A team of scientists from NASA (the US space agency), led by Suzanne…

The 127th running of the Boston Marathon took place on April 17. It is the oldest marathon in the nation and one of the six major marathons in the world. The 26.2-mile course starts in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and ends on Boylston Street in the center of Boston. There was extra significance to this year’s race because it has been 10 years since terrorists set off bombs at the 2013 marathon. Three people watching the race that day were killed, and more than 260 were injured. Many runners this year participated as a way to honor friends and family who were hurt or died. At 2:49 pm, the time the bombs exploded in 2013, a bell at Boston’s Old South Church rang in honor of the tragic event. Two elite runners…

Coach’s Name: Mark McCarroll Team: Creative Arts and Sports (C.A.S.) basketball “Basketball is about IQ, and Mark has a big brain about basketball. Every move he does, he completes it so smoothly. He pushes you like you are LeBron James working out. It makes me feel stronger and more motivated to keep going. Something he says is, ‘If you don’t finish this drill, you have to do 10 push-ups.’ Do I want the punishment? No! Am I capable of finishing the drill? Yes! That’s how I get better at basketball.” Max, 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.…

Starting out Judy Blume, age 85, grew up loving stories. At college, she got a teaching degree. Her first book, The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo, was published in 1969. She went on to write 28 more. State honors The author was raised in New Jersey, and many of her books are set in the state. She was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2010, and a service area along a New Jersey parkway was named after her last May. Shop owner Blume and her husband, George Cooper, co-founded a nonprofit bookstore in Key West, Florida. Books & Books at the Studios of Key West opened in 2016. It is housed in a building dedicated to art, creativity, and community.…

Rugrats (Paramount+) This animated series, a reboot of a popular show from the 1990s, follows the adventures of Tommy Pickles and his best pals Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil, and Lil. In season two, they will cross frozen tundras, find ancient treasures, and meet Tommy’s baby brother, Dil. Rennervations (Disney+) Actor Jeremy Renner, who plays Hawkeye in some of the Marvel films, helps communities around the world in this reality series. He and a team of experts renovate large vehicles and repurpose them into incredible things such as a mobile water center and a traveling music bus. Big Beasts (Apple TV+) This new nature series visits some of the world’s largest animals in their natural habitats. You’ll learn about giraffes in the African savanna, tigers in India, brown bears in the…

What do you like about virtual reality? I love being transported and immersed in an environment. It can feel like you’ve had a little vacation. Where do you visit using virtual reality? I like going to fantasy worlds that we can’t go to in real life. Is Addie based on anyone you know? Not really. I like to create characters from the ground up. I interview an imaginary character before I start writing the story, and that’s when the character comes to life. What is your inspiration for writing? A famous author once said that “writers write the books they wish they could read.” And I think that’s true. Do you have any hobbies? Yes! I like to go geocaching and I like to go camping, often at national parks.…

You might have clothes you no longer wear, and your friends probably do too. One way to clear out your closets: Trade clothes at a clothing swap party, where friends or family meet up to exchange clothes and accessories (like necklaces and shoes) they no longer wear. Everyone gets to update their wardrobe for free, and the environment wins, too, because clothes are kept out of landfills. Here’s how to plan a swap. Save the date Talk to a family member about hosting a clothing swap party, and pick the date and number of people you want to invite. You could plan to host the event outside on a nice day or have it in your home, or look into reserving a room at your local library or recreation center.…

A great way to help your local environment is to grow plants that are found naturally in your area. Known as native plants, they have adapted to grow in the soil conditions, temperature, and amount of rainfall in your geographical region. This makes them easier for people to grow, whether in a garden or outdoor pots, and they’re environmentally friendly because they will require less extra water and fertilizer to thrive. Native plants, which can include ferns, shrubs, and wildflowers, are also good for your area’s ecosystem because local birds and pollinators rely on them to survive. If you’d like ideas of what to grow, check out audubon.org/native-plants.…

A great day for good dogs It was a day at the beach for fluffy dogs on April 1 as more than 1,200 corgis and their owners met up for Corgi Beach Day in Huntington Beach, California. The twice-yearly festival features a cardigan sweater contest, musical chairs, a limbo competition, and an attempt to set a world record for the most corgis in carriers. “Honorary corgis” from other breeds are welcome at the event, too. Corgi Beach Day isn’t just fun and games, though—some of the proceeds are donated to a dog rescue organization. Mysterious Minion appearances Scrap-metal sculptures of the Minions (characters from the film Despicable Me) keep popping up around the small Australian town of Warrack. Some of the sculptures are designed as works of art, but others…

Thank you to everyone who has submitted a comic! If you would like to create one to send to us, get the form at kids.theweekjunior.com/activities. 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 Junior consent to publish it in the magazine and online. Please get your parent/guardian’s permission before sending anything to us.…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Habib School: The Nightingale-Bamford School “Ms. Habib makes science come to life! She comes up with creative experiments, like the time we pretended we were viruses. We also got to make slime! The activities are complex, and she takes time to make sure everyone understands them. My grandfather was a scientist, and thanks to Ms. Habib, I might want to be one too!” Margaux, 11, New York 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.…

April 28, 1973 Rock album begins historic run On April 28, 1973, the album The Dark Side of the Moon by the British rock band Pink Floyd hit number one on the Billboard 200 charts (then called Billboard Top LPs & Tape). It spent the next 14 years in various spots on the charts, for a record of 724 weeks, before dropping off in April 1988. Since then, it has returned to the charts, racking up more than 950 weeks—more than any other album.…

These days, you can make a smoothie with soy milk, dunk a cookie in almond milk, or pour oat milk over your cereal. Plant-based drinks, also known as non-dairy drinks, have gone mainstream. But the US dairy industry, which produces cow’s milk, argues that these drinks shouldn’t be called “milk” because they don’t have the same taste or nutritional value as cow’s milk. Plant-based drink makers say people use their products just like they use cow’s milk, so they’re essentially the same. And, they say, the two types of drinks can have similar health benefits. What do you think? Should plant-based beverages be called milk? Yes—people are smart consumers Plant-based drinks are nothing new, and they’ve been called “milk” for a long time. There’s been soy milk in China and…

It’s common knowledge that most humans are either right- or left-handed, and it now seems that our canine friends might also possess a preferred paw. Researchers in the UK recently conducted the largest study ever done on paw preferences in dogs. The research team looked at data that had been collected from 17,901 dogs during the BBC news network’s “Test Your Pet” survey. In the study, owners placed a treat inside a tube so their pet had to reach inside to retrieve it. Each owner conducted the test three times and recorded which paw their dog used most often to get the treat. The researchers found that about 74% of the dogs showed a paw preference, while 26% used both paws equally. Of the dogs that preferred one paw over…

A dinosaur species that lived more than 160 million years ago in what is now China had a neck that was about 49.5 feet long, according to a new study. It was more than six times the length of a modern giraffe’s neck and about 10 feet longer than a standard school bus. The species, Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum, was a sauropod, a type of dinosaur known for its large body and long neck and tail. Sauropods are the largest land animals ever known to exist. Their long neck helped them gather food while staying in one spot. It may have also given them more surface area on their body, which helped them release heat and stay cool. Mamenchisaurus was discovered when fossils (impressions or traces of ancient plants and animals preserved…

National Geographic has a new four-part documentary series that provides a fresh look at some of the world’s most remarkable animals. Secrets of Elephants, featuring Kenyan wildlife conservationist and elephant expert Paula Kahumbu, includes never-before-seen footage and highlights the environmental threats the creatures face. It premieres at 9 pm ET on April 21 on the National Geographic channel. It will stream on Disney+ the next day. Each episode of the show is set in a different region, including the rainforests of Congo, home to the elusive African forest elephant. Viewers will also see how urban landscapes in Asia are closing in on elephant habitats. “The series gives us a new reason to care about elephants,” Kahumbu told The Week Junior. To get up-close footage of the animals, the film crew…

Minecraft Legends is a new action strategy game. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation platforms, Xbox systems, and PC. Legends is the fourth spin-off game in the hit Minecraft franchise. Instead of a sandbox game that allows players to build anything they want, wherever they want, Minecraft Legends is a story-driven adventure set in the franchise’s Overworld. The land has been invaded by piglins from the Nether, and you play as the hero, a multi-talented warrior, general, and architect. Your mission is to send the piglins back home before they corrupt and destroy your world. The game starts at a home base where the hero receives special items. Among them are the Flame of Creation, which is essential to building spawners and bringing creatures and allies to…

“The narrators, who are ravens, tell this strange tale of Hansel and Gretel. After running away from their kingdom, they go on many adventures, including being lured into a house made of candy. They go back to the kingdom and fight a dragon, only to realize something they should have known before. This book is a little scary, so I recommend it for ages 10 and up.” Zaharoula, 12, New York Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Make rags If you have stained or torn clothes, cut them into squares. Use them as rags for dusting surfaces, to dry dishes, or as a substitute for paper towels. Add some fun flair If you have an item of clothing that fits well but you’re tired of it, add your own style to it. You can use patches or craft supplies, such as glue-on jewels, to give it a fresh look. Wrap a gift Use fabric instead of wrapping paper to wrap a gift. For example, take an old scarf, wrap the gift in it, and knot it in the center. Create a quilt Do you have T-shirts from trips or events that you’ve outgrown? You can hang on to those memories by making a T-shirt quilt. Using fabric…

1 In the video game Minecraft Legends, which item is needed to lead armies? a) Flame of Creation b) Legendary Lute c) Banner of Courage a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 2 True or false? A type of dinosaur called a sauropod is the largest land animal known to have existed. True ☐ False ☐ 3 Which African country recently became the first to approve the R21 vaccine for malaria? 4 True or false? Most dogs prefer to use their left front paw over their right. True ☐ False ☐ 5 Who wrote the book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? 6 The first person to be processed at the immigration station on Ellis Island came from what country? a) Ireland b) Italy c) Spain a ☐ b ☐…