Innehållsförteckning för Issue 159 från The Week Junior US

Violence that broke out in the African nation of Sudan on April 15 has worsened in recent days. When The Week Junior went to press on April 25, people were facing shortages of food and water, others were fleeing to safety, and the US had evacuated its embassy in the capital. The conflict is between two rival groups in the nation who are fighting for control. What is the history of the conflict? In 2018, Sudan’s citizens held widespread protests against President Omar al-Bashir, a dictator (leader with total power) who had run the country since 1993. Together, civilians and the military overthrew al-Bashir and set up a new government, with the goal of turning it into a democracy (when people choose their leaders). But in 2021, two military leaders—General…

A DINOSAUR MAP A team of French cyclists created a “GPS drawing” by following a route that looked like a dinosaur when it was mapped out by GPS. They set a world record with the 636-mile-long route, which took 43 hours and 47 minutes. RETURNING TO THE FIELD Less than four months after collapsing on the field during a National Football League game, Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin was cleared to play again. Hamlin’s heart stopped after a tackle on January 2. “This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story,” he said. BECOMING A FATHER When an orphaned eaglet arrived at a bird sanctuary in Missouri, it needed an older bird to raise it. Staff knew the right guy for the job: Murphy, a bald eagle…

Award-winning TV host, illustrator, and educator Mark Kistler has had a passion for art since elementary school. He has also written 20 books, including his latest, Half Hour of Pencil Power. During his childhood, Kistler’s mother encouraged his love of art. She let him create murals on his bedroom walls and draw with peanut butter on the kitchen floor, he told The Week Junior. When he ran afterschool art classes for kids during high school, he realized he also enjoyed teaching art to others. In 1981, Kistler began teaching 3D drawing workshops at schools in Southern California. The workshops drew the attention of a public television producer, leading Kistler to his big break in TV at the age of 21. He began hosting The Secret City.an art show on PBS…

Seagrass, an underwater plant that grows in meadows on the ocean floor, is an essential source of shelter, food, and oxygen for marine life. It also helps prevent global warming by storing carbon, a harmful gas. However, scientists don’t know exactly how much seagrass is at the bottom of the ocean. With the help of tiger sharks, an international team of researchers has discovered the world’s largest seagrass meadow on the seafloor near the Bahamas. Seagrass meadows are home to many different types of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Large predators, such as sharks, also spend a lot of time there looking for prey. Seagrasses can grow in very deep and murky waters, making them difficult to find. But sharks can dive deep into the water and explore areas people cannot…

There are about 500 Asiatic lions left in the world, and they all live in the Indian state of Gujarat. Efforts to save the species have been so successful that experts say there is now overcrowding, so a new sanctuary is opening. • LIFE SPAN: 16 to 18 years • HABITAT: Forests, grasslands, and deserts • SIZE: Up to 500 pounds and 9.5 feet long • DIET: Animals, from small rodents to deer • FUN FACT: Asiatic lions have shaggier coats and shorter manes than African lions.…

For decades in the US, Cinco de Mayo has been celebrated with parades and festivals honoring Mexican heritage. The day started with an important event in Mexico’s history. What is Cinco de Mayo? The Spanish words Cinco de Mayo translate to May 5 in English. While the holiday is relatively small in Mexico, it has grown throughout the US to become a major occasion celebrating the heritage of more than 37 million people of Mexican descent who live in this country. People sometimes confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day, which is a separate holiday on September 16 that celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spain. It began with a battle Mexico declared independence from Spanish rule in 1821. Forty years later, in 1861, France invaded Mexico with support from Spain…

A Massachusetts company says it is “turning waste into wool.” Long Wharf Supply Co. makes sweaters from a soft yarn consisting of oyster shells, recycled water bottles, and wool and cotton. Each sweater in the SeaWell collection uses four to five oyster shells and eight recycled water bottles that would otherwise end up in landfills. Oyster shells can become poisonous over time, and plastic bottles take hundreds of years to break down. The company hopes the sweaters will reduce waste and clean up the seas for the future.…

The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Georgia is hosting the world premiere of the exhibition Trolls: Save the Humans by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. It is a story about six giant trolls who have noticed humans are harming the planet and want to help them connect to it. The trolls will be on display until September 17. Dambo’s trolls are made of reclaimed wood. About 14 years ago, he decided to use only recycled materials in his art. He sees his work as part of a cycle: People cut down forests to make things that get thrown away, then he uses that trash to make art that tells stories about protecting nature. Atlanta Botanical Garden spokesperson Danny Flanders told The Week Junior that Dambo’s work is “a natural fit for the…

Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street (Prime Video) “This series is about a boy named Gortimer Gibbon, who lives in the suburbs with his best friends, a girl named Mel and a boy named Ranger. Each episode has a new story about their lives. The show features good themes, such as friendship and honesty. There are three seasons of the series, and it follows the characters through middle school. Some episodes contain magical elements, while others deal with issues about normal life. What I like most about the show is that the characters are relatable.” Cleo, 12, Arizona Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Scholastic Press) Plum’s acceptance into the Guardian Academy sets her off on a fantastical adventure where she can hone her ability to communicate with plants and animals. A boat takes Plum and other accepted students to Lotus Island. There, they’ll train to become Guardians, magical creatures with healing powers. Classes in breathing and meditation help students learn how to transform into an animal. A little homesick, Plum has trouble concentrating in class. But she excels at caring for a baby goat. To remain on the island, she must pass a test showing she can transform into an animal. So far she hasn’t been able to do it. Will she get the hang of it? If so, which animal will she be? This book, the first in a new fantasy series,…

City Spies: City of the Dead By James Ponti (Aladdin) The fourth book in the series takes the team of young spies to Egypt and the ancient City of the Dead. They are there to investigate a mystery surrounding artifacts. This book spotlights Kat, the team leader who can see patterns in numbers. Ages 8–12 Fall of the School for Good and Evil By Soman Chainani (HarperCollins) Set in the same universe as The School for Good and Evil series, this book is the second of a duology (a pair of related novels) that take place before original stories begin. As the rivalry between twin brothers Rafal and Rhian increases, they kidnap someone from the outside world. Ages 10 and up Katie the Catsitter: Secrets and Sidekicks By Colleen AF…

Keyword crossword Once you have completed the crossword, transfer the letters in the yellow boxes, in order, into the boxes below to get the answer to the Keyword question. ACROSS 1 Satellite, rocket ship, or orbiter, for example 7 Posted restriction on a driver’s speed 8 “It’s a small ___” (Disney theme parks ride) 9 The part of a cereal box that tucks into a slot when closed 11 Eighth (and farthest) planet from our Sun 13 Strange-looking creature in a nightmare or scary movie 14 Instagram or Brainly, for example 16 Country that is famously shaped like a boot 18 Person whose job involves posing for fashion magazines 20 “Good health!” in German (said after someone sneezes) DOWN 1 Banana ___ (ice cream treat) 2 Body part that the…

This week I was very excited to read about the coral reefs that have been discovered in the Galápagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador (p3). The international team of scientists who made the finding said the reefs are in excellent condition and bursting with marine life. They weren’t expected to be found due to the extensive damage that occurred in the 1980s, when unusually warm water on the surface of the Pacific Ocean caused most of the reefs in the area to die. The newly discovered reefs survived, however, and are thriving. “Galápagos surprises us again,” said Jose Davalos, Ecuador’s environment minister. One reason the reefs lived is because they are in a protected area, proving that conservation efforts are important. If you have an idea for helping the…

An uncrewed SpaceX rocket launched in Texas on April 20 and flew for about four minutes before exploding. Starship, at 394 feet tall, was the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. NASA (the US space agency) wants to use a Starship rocket for Artemis, a mission planned for 2025 that will send astronauts to the Moon. SpaceX said the explosion occurred because several engines on the rocket failed, causing it to lose altitude (height above Earth) and veer off course. The upper section of the rocket also failed to separate from the bottom, triggering a self-destruct system. No injuries have been reported, although dust and debris spread throughout the nearby town of Port Isabel. Despite the explosion, NASA officials and SpaceX said they consider the launch a success. “With…

On April 18, Fox News, a cable TV network, announced it would pay $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems, a company that makes voting hardware and software, to settle a lawsuit (legal dispute) Dominion had brought against it. The payment is one of the largest financial settlements in a defamation case in US history. What was the lawsuit about? In 2021, Dominion filed a lawsuit against Fox for defamation. Defamation occurs when an organization knowingly publishes or broadcasts a false statement that damages the reputation of another organization. In 2020, Fox hosts said on the air that Dominion’s voting machines had been manipulated to help President Joe Biden defeat former President Donald Trump in the US Presidential election. Evidence gathered by the Dominion lawyers revealed that the Fox hosts knew…

United Kingdom Protests held for Earth Day Activists from the environmental group Extinction Rebellion (XR) and more than 200 other organizations participated in a protest in London, England, during Earth Day weekend. Over four days, protesters held signs, danced, and wore costumes to bring attention to climate change. The event marked a change for XR, which in the past used disruptive protest tactics like throwing paint but recently vowed to use more peaceful methods. Madrid, Spain School features nature-inspired design Students have helped to design an elementary and middle school that is connected to nature. Reggio School has a drawbridge entrance, walls made from mashed cork (which provide a home for insects), and a two-story-high indoor rainforest. The school was designed by Spanish architect Andrés Jaque, who asked students and…

Named for its dramatic landscape that resembles the Moon’s surface, this national park was an active lava field 2,000 years ago. Astronauts from the Apollo 14 mission visited the park to study volcanic formations before their journey to the Moon. A loop road takes visitors through some of these formations, including cinder cones and spatter cones. The park also has more than 500 caves, with more being discovered each year. As the lava began to cool, animals started living here. Today, these include species such as yellow-pine chipmunks and lava tube beetles.…

Black vultures Europe’s biggest bird of prey, also called the monk vulture, has returned to Bulgaria after 36 years of being considered extinct in the country. About 72 vultures were recently released in the wild as part of a reintroduction effort. Monarch butterflies The number of monarch butterflies migrating from the US and Canada to central Mexico for the winter dropped by 22% this past season. Extreme temperatures and loss of trees may have caused the decline, experts say.…

Mole poblano The most famous dish of Cinco de Mayo is mole poblano, which originated in Puebla. Mole is a sauce made from up to 40 ingredients, like chilies, dried poblano peppers, and chocolate. It’s both sweet and spicy. This thick, dark sauce is served on chicken, stuffed peppers, and other foods. Chalupas This popular Mexican street food is made of thick fried tortillas, which are topped with salsa, shredded meat, chopped onions, and queso fresco. Chalupas can be folded over and held in your hand, making them a perfect treat to enjoy during Cinco de Mayo festivities. Chiles en nogada This dish was created in the early 1800s for Mexico’s first emperor. The colors of the Mexican flag—green, white, and red—are represented on the plate. A pepper is stuffed…

Scientists recently identified an extinct species of eagle that was the largest to have ever lived in Australia. Named the Dynatoaetus gaffae, or the Gaff’s powerful eagle, it had a nearly 10-foot wingspan and foot-long talons. It was about twice the size of the wedge-tailed eagle, the largest bird of prey currently living in Australia, and was the third-largest eagle known to exist in the world. Fossils (impressions or traces of ancient plants and animals preserved in rocks) of the eagle were discovered in 1959 in Mairs Cave, in a mountain region in the state of South Australia. These included a claw and part of a wing bone. In 2021, a team of researchers found a partial skeleton in the cave, including a skull and leg and wing bones. These…

From April 20–23, the Chevron Championship was played at The Club at Carlton Woods near Houston, Texas. It is one of the five major tournaments each year on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. The event had been played at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, for the past 51 years. It used to be known as “The Dinah” because of its longtime celebrity host Dinah Shore. This year’s winner was Lilia Vu of the US. She mounted a major comeback on the final day, which ended with a sudden-death playoff. It was the first major title of her career. The field of 132 golfers at the tournament included the top 10 women in the world. The thrilling battle for the championship title, however, came down…

Coach’s Name: Truman Word Team: Barracudas (swimming) “Coach Truman always motivates the team to swim our best. At my very first swim meet, which happened this year, he helped me overcome my fear of competing. He is at every swim meet to help the team achieve their goals. Coach Truman is also a great coach because he makes every member of the team feel like they belong. He also cheers us up if we do not meet our goals and tells us, ‘You will get them next time.’” Margaret, 10, Texas 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.…

Happy City Birds Dambo once worked as a street artist. Instead of making graffiti, he chose to put up birdhouses. He began the project in 2006, and there are now thousands around the world. The Future Forest In 2018, Dambo worked with a Mexico City team, which included trash collectors and their children, to build a colorful forest out of 6,000 pounds of plastic waste. It featured flowers, animals, trees, and plants. Happy Wall Versions of this pixel art have been displayed in several countries. It has wood blocks that are black on one side and a color on the other. People turn them to create their own images.…

Chimp Empire (Netflix) From the co-director of the acclaimed 2020 documentary My Octopus Teacher comes this new four-part documentary about the Ngogo chimpanzee community in Uganda. It visits their forest habitat and reveals how the group’s power structures and family dynamics work. Peter Pan and Wendy (Disney+) The story from J.M. Barrie’s 1904 novel Peter Pan has been reimagined into a new live-action film. Although there are some changes from the original story, it still follows a girl named Wendy and her younger brothers on a thrilling journey to Neverland with Peter Pan. Frog and Toad (Apple TV+) This new animated series is an adaptation of the beloved children’s books of the same name. Frog, who loves adventure, is best friends with Toad, who prefers being close to home. In…

If you were at Guardian Academy, what creature would you try to be? Something that flies or swims. Not a giant land snail, which is what no one in the book wants to be! Is Plum based on anyone? Plum is a bit like me. She’s very close to her grandparents, and I was very close to mine. She lives on a tiny island with only her grandparents. While growing up, I sometimes felt isolated the way she does. Do you meditate? Yes. I’m not great at it, but I enjoy it. It does help me. What is a big takeaway from this book? I hope kids realize they have the power inside of themselves to solve their problems. That’s true for all of us. Our challenge is to unlock…

In model building, people build small, accurate versions of buildings, cars, ships, trains, and more. This is typically done by using a model kit that includes small wooden or plastic pieces, paint, and stickers. It’s a hobby that has been around for decades, and there are new models to choose from every year. Here’s how to get started. Choose a kit The first step to building a model is picking a kit. Consider selecting a model of something you like. Visit a hobby shop or look at specialty model building sites like modelerscentral.com. Some kits are very complicated, so look for one that’s made for beginners or for kids. (Save the harder sets for after you have more experience.) The models will represent actual objects “to scale.” For example, a…

A new type of sneaker that can be worn forward or backward has been released by the New York–based art group MSCHF (pronounced “mischief”). Worn forward, the BWD shoes look like ordinary sneakers with a big hole in the toe box. Worn backward, they resemble chunky sandals. The shoes went on sale on April 11 and have already sold out, despite their unusual design and a price tag of $135. Not everyone is impressed, though. “It’s a shoe that doesn’t even really work,” fashion writer Adam Cheung said in GQ magazine.…

Thank you to everyone who has shared their ideas about protecting the Earth! The form is available 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.…

We’d love to see pictures you’ve taken or pictures of you in them! Have an adult email them to us at hello@theweekjunior.com, along with anything you would like us to know about what you’re doing in the photo. “I love The Week Junior because it is a way for kids to know what’s going on in the world. It’s nice to have an original magazine that is on paper and not online. My sister and I like to read the magazine together.”Nadia, 11, Florida “I live in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where the Boston Marathon starts! Every year, when the runners go past my house, I love cheering them on and giving them high fives.”Avyan, 8, Massachusetts “Making the creamy potato soup was so fun and delicious!”Eva, 8, Ohio…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Coleman School: Wentworth Elementary School “Mr. Coleman is the best teacher because he makes school fun but we still learn a lot. On the first day, he brought out his Rubik’s Cube and showed us how to solve it. Later in the year, he got a grant to get us all Rubik’s Cubes so we could learn algorithms and hand-eye coordination. Almost every day, he tells us funny, embarrassing stories about himself to make us laugh. Mr. Coleman is the best fifth grade teacher ever.” Quint, 10, Maine 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.…

Rebecka Peterson, a high school teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been named National Teacher of the Year. Peterson, who received the award at a White House ceremony on April 24, has been teaching math at Union High School for 11 years. The Council of Chief State School Officers said it honored her for always finding the positive in her classroom. Peterson will serve as an education ambassador for a year, visiting schools across the US.…

In February, the publishing company Puffin released new versions of some books by Roald Dahl that had been edited to remove or replace offensive language. Dahl’s original work included terms that were once considered acceptable but that many people today find upsetting, such as describing characters as “fat” and “ugly.” Puffin said it changed those words and others so the books “can continue to be enjoyed by all.” Many people criticized the move, however, saying it amounted to censorship (bans on people’s ideas or language). Others say it’s good to remove outdated and hurtful language. What do you think? Should publishers revise old books? Yes—times and language change Society’s values are always changing. What would have been acceptable to say or do 50 years ago might not be OK anymore.…

The world’s largest seed bank, at the Wakehurst wild botanic garden in the UK, has announced that it now holds more than 40,000 wild plant species. Researchers from London, England, created the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) more than 20 years ago to preserve rare, threatened, and important wild plants. Nicknamed “the Noah’s Ark for plants,” its underground vaults store about 2.4 billion individual seeds from 190 countries. Any seeds that arrive at MSB are dried, cleaned, x-rayed for signs of pests, and then stored at -4º F. They can survive for hundreds of years like this, but scientists remove the seeds every 10 years to see if they can still grow into plants. The MSB ensures that if a plant becomes extinct (stops existing) in the wild, it can be…

Miles, 8, Illinois Scott Johnson Animal Care Professional, Ectotherms, Naples Zoo Although cobras are one of the most feared venomous snakes, survival isn’t easy for them in the wild. Some wild cobras can live about 20 years, but unfortunately, most don’t make it to their first “hatch day,” due in large part to predation. At zoos, we are seeing them live 15 to 20 years. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Naples Zoo at napleszoo.org.…

Nearly 200 years after the legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven died, scientists have collected his DNA from samples of his hair. This DNA (the chemical that carries all the information about a living thing’s body and characteristics) has provided more information about the health problems he experienced in his lifetime. Beethoven, who was born in Germany, died in 1827 at age 56, likely because of problems with his liver. His other health issues included chronic stomach problems and hearing loss, which began in his 20s. He was almost completely unable to hear later in life. When Beethoven died, many people took locks of his hair as a keepsake, which was a common practice at the time. A team of researchers recently gathered eight hair samples that were said to be…

Tin Hearts is a new puzzle adventure game. It was recently released for the Nintendo Switch and will be available on May 16 for PlayStation platforms, Xbox One, and PC. Last year it was named the Most Wanted Nintendo Switch Game at the Gamescom convention. The game is set in late 1800s England, inside the magical home and workshop of Albert J. Butterworth, a genius inventor. He lives with his wife, Helen, a brilliant musician, and their daughter, Rose. Their story unfolds in the game’s action and cut scenes, where you watch the family sticking together during hard times. Play revolves around a small army of wind-up tin soldiers, a cheerful and fearless group of little heroes. In order for them to move around the Butterworth house, you build paths…

“Mr. Lemoncello has opened a library in Alexandriaville, Ohio. It is no ordinary library. It has holograms, escape games, breakout games, and much more. A boy named Kyle and a few other kids from his school have been invited to the new library. Without realizing it, they end up locked inside the library and they must find a way out. Can Kyle and the others escape the library?” Anika, 13, Maryland Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Woodworking In woodworking, as with model building, you can use a kit to make objects, like a shelf or birdhouse. Ask an adult for help if you’re using any tools. Robotics This area of science and engineering involves building machines, such as robots. Many schools and communities offer robotics clubs. Sculpture One way to create a sculpture is to use your hands to shape items out of clay. Or challenge yourself to build a piece with items in your family’s recycling bin or natural items found outside. Brick building If you already like building with Lego bricks, take your skills to the next level by sketching a design of something to build and following it. You can make adjustments to your creation as you go. Or try a set from…

Bees are an important part of our ecosystem because they act as pollinators, spreading pollen from plant to plant, which allows food crops to grow. However, bees are under threat as their natural habitats get taken over for other uses, like building developments. One way you and your family can help the bees is by participating in “No Mow May,” where you skip mowing the lawn for the month of May. This will let your grass grow longer and sprout weed flowers (like yellow dandelions), which bees can use as food. Talk to your family about participating in No Mow May, and consider spreading the word to friends, too.…

1 Which shark species helped scientists find the world’s largest meadow of seagrass? a) Tiger b) Great White c) Bull a □ b □ c □ 2 The Oakland Athletics baseball team announced they will move to what city? ___________ 3 The new National Teacher of the Year teaches what subject? a) English b) History c) Math a □ b □ c □ 4 True or false? Scientists were able to collect Ludwig van Beethoven’s DNA from his teeth. True □ False □ 5 In the book Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test, what animal does Plum care for? a) Baby owl b) Baby goat c) Baby deer a □ b □ c □ 6 What did researchers recently discover in the waters of the Galápagos Islands? ___________ 7…