Innehållsförteckning för Issue 164 från The Week Junior US

On June 8, millions of people around the world will mark United Nations World Oceans Day. The theme this year is “Planet Ocean: Tides Are Changing.” What is World Oceans Day? The United Nations (UN, a group of 193 countries working together on issues including human rights and climate change) holds World Oceans Day to raise global awareness of the benefits that the oceans provide and to remind people that the seas require protection. The UN gathers policy makers, scientists, business leaders, and youth activists to inspire people to take action on behalf of the world’s oceans. This year’s theme focuses on the fact that the oceans cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface but have received only a fraction of the world’s attention and resources. That is now starting…

HOPE FOR A SPECIES Five Scottish wildcats were born at Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland. The rare cats are at risk of disappearing in the wild. Calling this an “exciting time for wildcats,” park officials said the kittens are doing very well. RISING TO THE TOP Tharshan Selvarajah, an immigrant from Sri Lanka who lives in Paris, France, won first prize in the annual contest for the city’s best baguette. The traditional bread is a vital part of French culture. Out of 176 entries, his baguette was “very pretty and very, very good,” said a judge. A SURPRISE SPEECH Members of the class of 2023 at Johns Hopkins University were amazed when Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, appeared on a giant screen during their graduation ceremony. Zelensky delivered a speech over…

Award-winning musician and children’s book author Pierce Freelon has united his two passions by releasing a new children’s music album and a new picture book. The album, AnceStars, and the book, Daddy and Me, Side by Side, both honor Freelon’s father, Phil Freelon, who died in 2019. Phil Freelon was a musician and an architect (a person who designs buildings and spaces), and Freelon grew up watching him erect buildings. One of his father’s most notable works is the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Freelon told The Week Junior that his father’s death “had me reflecting deeply about parenting and fatherhood, specifically Black fatherhood.” As a Black man, he said, it was important for him to show a positive image of being a…

A new study has revealed that despite their preference for living alone, solitary animals learn from other members of their species—just like those that live in groups do. Numerous research studies have shown how animals that live in groups boost their chances of survival by sharing information. Honeybees, for example, do a dance to show other bees from the hive where to get the best pollen. Mike Webster from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland did a review of many scientific studies that were done on solitary animals. He wanted to understand more clearly how animals experience social learning—in other words, how they learn from one another. Webster discovered dozens of examples of social learning in solitary animals, including insects, fish, lizards, octopuses, and snakes. Webster gave the example…

Eastern black rhinoceros An eastern black rhinoceros has been born at the Honolulu Zoo for the first time. The male calf, which weighed about 50 pounds, was born to mom Aria and dad Kendi as part of a Species Survival Plan for the critically endangered species. By-the-wind-sailor Thousands of velellas, also called by-the-wind-sailors, have been washing up on California’s shores. The blue jellyfish-like creatures rely on the wind to get around but cannot survive for long onshore. They soon shrink and turn pale.…

When the sun comes out on a rainy day, an arc of colors sometimes appears. Rainbows have fascinated people for centuries. What is a rainbow? Rainbows are circles of multicolored light. They usually appear to us as arches in the sky because the ground blocks the bottom half of the circle. We see rainbows when sunlight hits water droplets—for example, if the sun is out while it’s raining. Rainbows often seem to move as we move because they are an optical illusion—their appearance depends on where we are standing and where the light is shining. The colors in a rainbow typically include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, in that order (often remembered by the acronym Roy G. Biv). The science of rainbows Sunlight looks white, but it…

Scientists investigating two cemeteries in Mongolia have uncovered new information about a mysterious ancient civilization called the Xiongnu empire. Xiongnu was a nomadic empire, which means its people traveled around rather than staying in one place. From about 200 BCE to 100 CE, they controlled an area called the eastern Eurasian steppe, which includes modern-day Mongolia and parts of Russia and China. The Xiongnu were fierce warriors who often invaded parts of China. Not much else is known about the empire because no records written by them have been found. The only known accounts were written by their enemies, which makes them unreliable. The team of researchers studied DNA (a chemical that carries information about how a living thing develops) in 17 skeletons buried thousands of years ago in Xiongnu…

On May 28, drivers competed in the 107th Indianapolis 500, an important event in the IndyCar Series, an elite level of American championship car racing. The race, which is known as the Indy 500, takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. It consists of 200 laps around a 2.5-mile track, making the entire race roughly 500 miles long. More than 300,000 fans attended the event this year. In a thrilling finish, Josef Newgarden became the first American to win the Indy 500 since 2016. It was his first win in 12 attempts. “I just felt like everyone kept asking me why I haven’t won this race,” he said afterward. He added, “I knew we could.” Thirty-three drivers started the race, including British driver Katherine Legge, the only woman…

Coach’s Name: Elli Stanford Team: La Grange Celtics Soccer Club “Coach Elli makes playing soccer so much fun! At games, the focus is not on winning or losing—she just cares if we try our very best. Not only has she taught us about soccer, we have also learned about how to be good and responsible people in life! She makes me love soccer and want to keep playing and improving. I couldn’t ask for a better first travel soccer coach, and I hope she stays in the US forever. We are lucky to have her!” Nora, 8, Illinois 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.…

Washington Chihuly Garden and Glass opened in Seattle in 2012. The museum is filled with the artist’s work, including a 100-foot-long suspended sculpture in reds and yellows. Ohio The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus has 18 installations of Chihuly’s work in its permanent collection. Among them is Yellowtail Chandelier, a 12-foot-long sculpture that was created in 2003. Indiana It took five years for Chihuly’s team to create Fireworks of Glass (2006), which is on display at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The work stands 43 feet tall and is made of 4,800 pieces of glass.…

Lego Ninjago: Dragons Rising (Netflix) This new animated series is set in a Lego world where different realms have mysteriously merged into one. Now a legendary Ninja master must train teen heroes to save the planet from villains who want to use dragon energy to wreck the world. Kamp Koral (Paramount+) The SpongeBob SquarePants prequel series about a young SpongeBob at camp is back with new episodes. Storylines will include SpongeBob and his best friends Patrick and Sandy being placed in separate cabins, and Sandy inventing a device to help avoid doing chores. Shooting Stars (Peacock) See what high school was like for professional basketball star LeBron James. This new movie, based on a book about his life, follows teen James and his friends as they become the top high…

From complex characters to surprising twists, there’s a lot to talk about with friends and family who have also read this fantasy novel. Use these questions to kick off your conversation. Do you think Anna should have to go visit her grandmother in Hawaii every summer? Why or why not? What strategies could Anna use to feel more confident about her heritage around her classmates? How could Anna be a better friend to Kaipo? Did this book remind you of any other stories you’ve read? If so, which ones? What mystical element of the story appeals to you the most? Were you surprised by Pele’s behavior? Why or why not? How does Anna grow as a person in the story? JOIN THE WEEK JUNIOR’S BOOK CLUB Watch a special video…

Roller hockey Sometimes called street hockey, this sport is played at a roller rink or outside. Two teams face off using sticks and pucks to score goals. Artistic skating Similar to figure skating on ice, artistic roller skating is when people perform choreographed routines to music while on roller skates. Routines can include tricks like spins and jumps. Speed skating Athletes on inline skates race around a track to see who can cover a certain distance in the shortest amount of time. Many people compete in both roller-skating and ice-skating events, as the sports are similar. Roller derby This is a contact sport with two teams of five skaters. One skater (who wears a star on their helmet) tries to lap the other team’s skaters in order to earn points,…

ORGANIZE A GROUP CLEANUP Litter—like discarded boxes, bags, or other trash—is not only unsightly but harmful to the environment. If animals accidentally eat trash, it can make them sick, and garbage that ends up in waterways can cause pollution. You can help by organizing a community cleanup, whether at a nearby playground or a beach. With an adult’s help, pick a date, invite friends, and post fliers to spread the word. Include the time and place to meet, and ask everyone to bring garbage bags and gloves. On the day of the cleanup, remind volunteers to be safe and let adults pick up anything sharp. When it’s time to wrap up, remember to thank everyone for volunteering.…

When this issue of The Week Junior went to press on May 30, people across the globe were preparing to celebrate World Oceans Day (p2). We are so pleased that we can bring this day to your attention and hope it inspires you to learn more about the Earth’s largest ecosystem. Oceans are truly incredible. They supply oxygen to the planet, absorb harmful carbon dioxide, and provide a home to millions of species of animals and plants. (See a few of them in our special edition of Photos of the Week on pages 16 and 17.) To continue doing all this and much more, they need protection. Governments, scientists, and nonprofit organizations can do their part, and so can all of us, whether by reducing the amount of plastic we…

Charlie, who is 9 years old and in third grade, told us that a fun activity at his school is when kids put in tickets and some of them get picked to win a special basket during Catholic Schools Week. Charlie also said his school has special shirts that make it stand out. If you’d like to share what’s great about your school, go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to print out a form. 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 of The Week Junior. 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…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Marenda School: Seneca Grade School “Mrs. Marenda is very kind. She will help you if you don’t understand something, and if you get lost, she will get you on track. She is fun and lets us do fun things often. She gives us less homework and allows us to get most of it done in class. She is also very nice to others, and she cares if you need help. Mrs. Marenda is awesome!” Avery, 11, 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.…

How much of this week’s news can you remember? 1 Joe Dituri earned a world record for the longest amount of time spent living where? a) In space b) Underwater c) In a desert a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? The Xiongnu were a nomadic people in what is now Mongolia. True □ False □ 3 In what year did the United Nations officially name June 8 World Oceans Day? a) 1992 b) 1998 c) 2008 a □ b □ c □ 4 The video game Peridot makes digital creatures appear in a real-world environment using what technology? 5 True or false? New research found that sand cats don’t travel far during their lives. True □ False □ 6 Which team recently won its first NCAA…

More than 3,500 stolen historical artifacts were recovered from sites throughout Italy, officials said on May 24. Twenty-one people have been arrested for their role in stealing them. The artifacts were of “inestimable historical, artistic, and commercial value,” a Carabinieri (Italian police) official said. Among them were more than 1,600 bronze and silver coins from a city in northern Italy, dating from the 300s BCE to the 200s CE. Another collection of coins from the time of the Roman Empire was taken from a city near Rome. Ancient vases, plates, and oil lamps were recovered from a town in southern Italy. Many of the artifacts were stolen by people robbing graves and archaeological dig sites. Art theft has been an ongoing problem in Italy, prompting the creation of the Carabinieri…

The White House has announced a deal with Arizona, California, and Nevada to reduce the amount of water these three states take from the Colorado River. The river provides drinking water to 40 million people in seven US states and part of Mexico. It also irrigates (provides water to) 5.5 million acres of farmland. What is happening to the river? The volume of water in the Colorado River has decreased by about 33% in recent years due to drought (severe lack of rain), climate change, and population growth. The reduced volume has led to a greater demand for water. In 2022, the water levels of the river’s two largest reservoirs—Lake Mead and Lake Powell—dropped so much that officials worried that their hydroelectric systems, which provide electricity to millions of homes…

France Government bans short flights The French government enacted a ban on short domestic (within the country) flights. The law prohibits airline travel if it can be substituted with a train ride of 2.5 hours or less. The government hopes the ban will help cut greenhouse gas emissions (gases that remain in Earth’s atmosphere and trap heat, causing the planet to warm up). However, many feel there are too many exceptions to the ban to make any real environmental impact. Catania, Italy Mount Etna volcano erupts The Mount Etna volcano erupted, raining ash on the city of Catania and halting flights to and from its airport. Etna, located on the Italian island of Sicily, is Europe’s most active volcano and its tallest at about 11,013 feet high. The volcano erupts…

Benton Lake, about 50 miles from the Rocky Mountains, is actually a shallow wetland that was created thousands of years ago. The refuge, which also includes prairie lands, can be explored with a nine-mile drive, bike rides, or hikes. It is a habitat for more than 200 bird species, including thousands of snow geese, ducks, and tundra swans in the spring; chestnut-collared longspurs and eared grebes in the summer; and gray partridges and northern goshawks in the winter. Other animals that roam the land include pronghorn, coyotes, and the American badger.…

Each year, the world produces about 440 million tons of plastic waste. Unlike natural materials like paper and wood, which biodegrade (break down) quickly and mix with soil, plastic can take hundreds of years to break down. Now a group of scientists at the University of Sydney, in Australia, have found a way to break down plastic using fungi. Fungi are a group of plant-like organisms, including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. The scientists focused on two types, called Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, which are often found in soil. “Fungi are incredibly versatile and are known to be able to break down pretty much all [surfaces],” said Dee Carter, an author of the study. This “superpower,” as Carter called it, made the researchers curious about whether fungi could help break…

Peridot is a new augmented reality (AR) pet simulator game. It is available now as an app in the Apple App Store and Google Play. It is similar to Pokémon Go, a game that uses AR to make digital creatures appear in an environment. Both games were created by the software company Niantic. When Peridot kicks off, you are presented with three colorful eggs. Inside them are creatures called Dots, which have unique looks and personalities. You choose an egg, and once it hatches, you become what is known as a Keeper. To interact with your Dot, you use the camera on a phone or tablet. As you look at the screen, the Dot will appear where the camera is pointed. Kellee Santiago, head of production at Niantic, told The…

When Malia Maunakea’s son started loving the Percy Jackson series, she got the idea to write a book about Hawaiian mythology. The Week Junior spoke to Maunakea about her new release Lei and the Fire Goddess. Did you grow up in Hawaii? Yes, I was born on Hawaii Island (what’s often called the Big Island) and lived there until seventh grade. I moved to Colorado for college, and that’s where I live now. One day, after my kids are grown, I want to move back to Hawaii. Describe your favorite Hawaiian food. I have a sweet tooth! It’s a toss-up between coconut syrup to put on pancakes and strawberry-mango shave ice with mochi balls and a scoop of ice cream. What do you think is the best quality to have…

1. Start with clean sheets. Pull a corner of a fitted sheet (the one with elastic on each corner) over one of the upper corners of your mattress and tuck it underneath. Repeat with the other three corners of the bed, smoothing out the sheet in between. Place the top sheet evenly over the bottom sheet, and neatly tuck it under the mattress at the foot of your bed and along the sides. 2. Add some layers. Next, place a light blanket on the bed. Drape it evenly, then tuck it under the mattress at the foot and sides. Next, you can top it with your comforter or a decorative quilt. Instead of tucking it in, hang it over the sides of your bed evenly. 3. Arrange your pillows. Slide…

Word ladder To change the word CALL into the word BACK, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides the name of a seven-letter piece of camping gear. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) Spot the difference These two pictures of kids roller skating appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? DO NOT ENTER Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through…

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, both Republicans, have announced they are running for US President in 2024. They join a field of seven other Republican candidates, including former President Donald Trump. Three Democrats have entered the race, including President Joe Biden. Beginning in early 2024, voters will choose which candidate should represent their party in the general election in November 2024.…

Nothing signals the end of the school year like warmer weather, summer plans, and flipping through your brand-new yearbook. Across the US, many students purchase a printed copy of their school’s annual yearbook, which is filled with fun memories and photos of friends, teachers, and classmates. Students often sign one another’s yearbooks, too, with messages they can read again and again for years to come. Yearbooks are a special tradition, but many people say there’s no point in printing them anymore. Instead, there are online versions that students can scroll through and store on their devices. What do you think? Should yearbooks go fully digital? Yes—everything is online these days The average size of a high school yearbook is 140 pages, which uses a lot of paper and is expensive…

Scientists have learned more about the habits of sand cats. These rare cats are slightly smaller than house cats and live mostly in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Their sand-colored fur helps them hide in their desert habitats—which also makes them difficult to study. Researchers recently spent four years studying sand cats in the deserts of Morocco. They spotted 47 sand cats and equipped 22 of them with tracking collars. The biggest surprise was the cats’ range (the area in which a species can be found). Scientists previously estimated that sand cats can travel up to 19 square miles a year, but one cat traveled 679 square miles in six months. The researchers now believe sand cats have the largest range of any small wildcat, more closely matching big…

“Is there any animal that doesn’t drink water?” Adalie, 11, New Jersey Andy Snider Curator, Brookfield Zoo Quite a few species typically don’t drink water, although most will if given the opportunity. Some, including koalas and naked mole rats, get moisture from the plants they eat. The thorny devil, a lizard from Australia, has skin with micro-channels that direct the air’s moisture to its mouth. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Brookfield Zoo at czs.org/BrookfieldZoo.…

Scientists in China have made virtual reality (VR) even more real by using the power of smell. VR is a computer-generated 3D world that people can see through special headsets. The team created a face mask with nine small odor-generating devices in it. If the user approaches an object in VR that would have an odor in real life, such as a flower, the mask releases a comparable scent. The smells come from liquid perfumes stored inside the devices. When a smell is needed, the liquid is heated to 122° F to activate the fragrance.…

Over Memorial Day weekend, men’s and women’s teams competed in the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 lacrosse championships. Northwestern University won the women’s title for the first time since 2012, while the men’s team from the University of Notre Dame won its first title ever. The women’s final was played on May 28 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. In the game, Northwestern, which was the top-seeded (ranked) team in the tournament, beat the third seed, Boston College, 18–6. One Northwestern player made history in the fourth quarter. Attacker Izzy Scane scored a goal that was the 288nd goal of her career and also her 99th of this season, setting new records for her college’s program. She was named the Most Valuable Player…

The exhibition Chihuly in the Garden 2023 recently opened at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. It features new and existing works by Dale Chihuly, an American artist known for large, colorful glass installations as well as drawings and other art. Chihuly, age 81, grew up in Tacoma, Washington. He began studying glass in college and later learned more about glassblowing by working at a glass factory in Venice, Italy. After losing sight in his left eye in 1976, he stopped blowing glass. Instead, he directs a team at Studio Chihuly in Seattle, Washington, to create the works. Many of his pieces are displayed in buildings and gardens around the world. Vickie Campbell of the Missouri Botanical Garden told The Week Junior that Chihuly gets art lovers outdoors and…

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (Netflix) “This movie has catchy songs, fun dances, and empowered characters. The plot is nearly the same as the 1996 movie Matilda but with minor changes. Matilda grows up in a family who does not appreciate her, and she spends most of her time at a mobile library. At school, she meets a super-kind teacher and makes many friends. The teacher realizes Matilda is a genius, but the mean principal does not accept her. Matilda and her friends try to take down the principal and be treated fairly. Matilda is confident, courageous, and not afraid to speak her mind.” Emma, 13, Iowa Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Malia Maunakea (Penguin Workshop) Every summer, Anna travels from her home in Colorado to spend a few weeks with her grandmother, who lives in a remote village in Hawaii. Her grandmother believes in Hawaiian curses, but 12-year-old Anna doesn’t. On a walk in the forest with her friend Kaipo, Anna picks a special type of flower that her grandmother has warned her will upset Pele, the fire goddess. To Anna’s surprise, removing the flower triggers an earthquake and sets off a volcanic eruption. Then a giant hawk kidnaps Kaipo. Could her grandmother have been right all along, or is what happened a coincidence? Anna goes on the adventure of a lifetime as she tries to rescue Kaipo and save her grandmother’s house from a path of lava. Talking animals,…

Roller skating is good exercise, builds balance, improves your mental focus, and boosts your confidence. You can skate around a roller rink to pop tunes or roll through a local park enjoying the outdoors. Here’s how to get started. Put on your gear You can head to a local roller rink, which should have all the gear you need, including skates, a helmet, and pads, to rent for a small fee. (The helmet and pads—like wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads—help protect you if you fall while learning.) Nearly all rinks today offer two kinds of skates: quads and inline skates (also called rollerblades). Quads are traditional skates, with two pairs of two wheels in the front and back. They can be ideal beginner skates for kids because they’re…

Big show for tiny objects An Illinois convention center recently welcomed thousands of people who appreciate the little things in life. People from 21 countries made their way to the Chicago International Miniatures Show to buy and sell itty-bitty objects for dollhouses. The event also included workshops for people who want to learn more about making miniatures. Among the items for sale at prices ranging from $1 to hundreds of dollars: barbecue sets, chocolate fondue fountains, and light-up aquariums. One vendor sold teensy dogs made with real dog hair. A vibrant shoreline surprise A woman searching for aquatic wildlife along a UK seashore came across a colorful surprise. After picking up a large rock, “something extremely bright and unusual caught my eye,” said Vicky Barlow. It was a rainbow sea…

“In second grade, my teacher was able to help me improve my writing skills. During this time, I also fell in love with a horse book. I wanted to write (and ride!) as much as possible. In my free time, I started writing a story that I would want to read—one set in a beautiful location with horses, friendship, adventure, and mystery. With my parents’ support and my aunt’s guidance, I published my chapter book through BookBaby. I have donated some of the proceeds to RideOn, a nonprofit group that specializes in providing kids with access to therapeutic riding. I hope to inspire others to follow their passion!” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear…

“I made the rainbow toast bread from The Week Junior’s April 14 issue, and it was really good.”Oliver, 10, Tennessee “I bought The One and Only Ruby— then I realized it was in The Week Junior too! The book is fun, with lots of animals.”Rachel, 8, New York “I love The Week Junior so much that I keep my past issues to reread!”Hudson, 10, Massachusetts…