Innehållsförteckning för Issue 191 från The Week Junior US

Leaders and climate scientists from around the world have gathered for COP28, an annual conference to address climate change (the long-term changes in weather patterns, including temperature, largely due to human activities). It is taking place from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). What is COP28? The event is held by the United Nations (UN, a group of 193 nations). COP stands for Conference of the Parties and includes 197 countries that have signed onto the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, an agreement made in 1992. At COP meetings, nations decide what steps must be taken to combat climate change and commit to them. They also release and discuss scientific studies. At the third COP meeting in 1997, nations adopted the Kyoto…

A JOYFUL ARRIVAL Two kiwi chicks hatched in Wellington, New Zealand, marking the first time in more than 150 years that the flightless birds were known to be born in the wild there. Kiwi numbers are dropping, and the animal is at risk of dying out. UPDATING A CLASSIC Kraft Mac & Cheese is now available in a plant-based version in the US. The company, which sells more than a million boxes of the classic version every day, said its NotMac&Cheese will offer “the creamy and comforting experience… fans have loved for over 85 years—without the dairy.” It comes in two flavors: original and white cheddar. CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES A rare lobster has been caught in Maine. It is half blue, half red, half male, and half female—a one in 50…

Sean Sherman, age 49, has dedicated his career as a chef to celebrating Native American cuisine. For his efforts, he received the 2023 Julia Child Award, which honors those who make a difference in how people cook and eat. He is the first Native American to be recognized with the award, which comes with a $50,000 grant. Sherman, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, was born and raised in South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. When he was a teenager, his family moved off the reservation to Spearfish, South Dakota. He began working in local restaurants and fell in love with cooking. While working as a cook early in his career, Sherman noticed that the food of Indigenous people was not featured on menus and that Native…

Part of what makes an insect an insect is the fact that it has six legs. If you saw a caterpillar crawling by and counted its legs, however, you might think it had 16. In fact, only six of those legs are real legs—the remaining 10 limbs are known as “prolegs.” In a new research study, a team of scientists in Singapore has revealed the origins of these unusual false legs. Caterpillars use their chunky prolegs to move around and hold onto branches and leaves. Unlike typical legs, however, the prolegs do not have joints. Their movement is controlled by pressure from liquid that passes in and out of them, and they have a set of hooks at their ends that can be used to grip onto objects. Scientists have…

John Alcock and Arthur Brown Alcock, a former fighter pilot, and Brown, a navigator, made the first nonstop flight over the Atlantic Ocean in 1919. Bessie Coleman Known as “Brave Bessie,” Coleman was the first woman of African American and Native American descent to hold a pilot’s license. Not allowed to train to fly in the US, she earned her license in France in 1921. Amelia Earhart Earhart gained fame in 1932, when she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1937, while attempting to fly around the world, Earhart and her plane disappeared. Neither has been found. Chuck Yeager Yeager was a US fighter pilot in World War II (1939–1945). Later, he became a test pilot, flying experimental aircraft. On October 14, 1947, he…

The world’s first vaccine for malaria has been effective at preventing deaths and hospitalizations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Malaria is a disease caused by parasites that are spread by mosquitoes. (A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another species and harms the host species while getting food from it.) Of the 619,000 people who died from malaria in 2021, about 468,000 were children under age 5. The WHO began a pilot program to distribute doses of the first malaria vaccine, called RTS,S/AS01 and known as Mosquirix, in 2019. The program began with three countries in Africa: Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. Children were eligible to receive their first dose ate 5 or 6 months old. Since the pilot program began, nearly 2 million children have…

This year’s college football conference championship games were played across the US on December 1 and December 2. The outcome of several games had an impact on which teams will play in the College Football Playoff (CFP), a tournament that ultimately decides the national champion. In the end, teams from the University of Washington, University of Alabama, University of Texas, and University of Michigan made the cut. In the Pac-12, undefeated third-ranked Washington beat fifth-ranked University of Oregon, 34–31. Oregon had an 11–1 record and needed a victory to have a chance at making the CFP. They had a small lead in the third quarter, but Washington came back strong to secure the win. The weekend’s most anticipated game was the SEC (Southeastern Conference) final, which ended with eighth-ranked Alabama…

Coach’s Name: Anna Nykiel Organization: Gardens Ice House “Ms. Anna makes practice fun and is always full of energy, even at early morning sessions on Saturdays. Ms. Anna is great at showing me how to improve my skills and encourages me to figure out how to fix my mistakes. She also motivates me with her cheers and support during practice and competitions. Ms. Anna is truly the best coach I’ve ever had!” Emlyn, 10, Maryland 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.…

Origin source Chocolate is made from beans (or seeds) from the fruit of cacao trees, which grow in tropical forests. The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word xocoatl. Popular treat Around the globe, the country with the highest percentage of chocolate consumption per person is Switzerland. The average Swiss person consumes about 22 pounds of chocolate each year. Sweet shop The world’s oldest chocolate shop is À la Mère de Famille in Paris, France, (right). It was founded in 1761 by a grocer named Pierre Jean Bernard. It 1856, the store became a confectionery.…

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (Disney+) The latest movie based on Jeff Kinney’s popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is a holiday tale. After middle schooler Greg accidentally wrecks a snowplow, he fears he won’t get the new video game console he badly wants for Christmas. The Boy and the Heron (In theaters) This new movie by legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Ponyo) is set in 1943 during World War II. It follows Mahito, a boy whose mother has died. When a talking heron tells him she may still be alive, he is led to a world shared by the living and the dead. The Platypus Guardian (PBS.org) (PBS app) In this documentary, photographer Pete Walsh befriends a platypus he meets in Tasmania, Australia,…

Do you write or draw a story first? I create maps before I do any writing. When I was a child, I loved drawing maps of fantasy worlds. Maps make a fantasy location feel real to me and give me ideas about how the story is going to unfold. How do you decide which scenes to illustrate? I usually illustrate the most emotional parts of a story. Do you have a special memory from being in school? A lovely teacher gave me a book in which I could write whatever I wanted and it wouldn’t be marked wrong. My first sketches of dragons were in this book. Who is your favorite character in this book? Although I have a real affection for all the characters, I have a soft spot…

A friendly emu’s walk of fame When Sue-Ellen Mitchell needed an animal to protect her family’s ducks and chickens, she adopted Dennisaurus Rex—a 6-foot-long, 100-pound emu. Dennis, as he is more commonly known, has gained celebrity status by taking walks with Mitchell around their Colorado town. Mitchell says many people have asked to take pictures with the flightless bird. Unlike most adult emus, Dennis seems to relish his outdoor adventures. “Only Dennis can tell when he wants to stop walking around,” Mitchell said. “Until that day, I will fulfill his wishes.” Human dominoes stack up the fun A new Guinness World Records title for the largest human mattress dominoes has been put to bed. Employees at a mattress company in the Philippines learned how to fall safely and then lined…

Brynlee, who is 8 years old and in third grade, told us their school is special because it is a small school where everyone feels like family. Students can earn fun tickets for being kind, nice, or responsible and then use them at the school’s big ticket store. She also enjoys her school’s field day. If you want 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.…

How much of this week’s news can you remember? 1 In the game Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a new fruit turns characters into what animal? a) Llama b) Gorilla c) Elephant a □ b □ c □ 2 How many real legs do caterpillars have? a) Four b) Six c) Eight a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? The Wright brothers’ famous first flight was in the state of Ohio. True □ False □ 4 Who was the most streamed artist on Spotify this year? a) Bad Bunny b) Olivia Rodrigo c) Taylor Swift a □ b □ c □ 5 For how many years did the giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang live in Scotland? 6 Christmas trees were first put up in what country…

The Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland is saying goodbye to a pair of beloved giant pandas, who are returning to China after a 12-year stay in the country. Named Tian Tian and Yang Guang, the pandas arrived in Scotland in 2011 as part of an arrangement with China. At the time, the Scottish government said it symbolized a “growing friendship” between the two nations. As the only giant pandas in the UK, Tian Tian and Yang Guang were a big draw for visitors. Zookeepers also worked on conservation of the species, which is at risk of dying out. As the animals departed, zoo officials said they were celebrating “the tremendous impact these two charismatic bears have had…helping to create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.” In November, three…

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the US Supreme Court, the nation’s highest court of law, died on December 1 at age 93. She is being hailed as a trailblazer who paved the way for generations of women to work in politics and law. What were her early years like? O’Connor was born in 1930 in El Paso, Texas. Her parents operated a cattle ranch called the Lazy B, and the house they lived in did not have running water or electricity until O’Connor was 7 years old. She excelled in school, advancing so quickly that she enrolled in college at age 16. She graduated from Stanford University in 1950 and earned a law degree two years later. She married John Jay O’Connor, whom she had met…

Dublin, Ireland Students build mini satellite University College Dublin students have built a mini satellite that was launched into space on December 1. The satellite, which was constructed with support from the European Space Agency, was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite will conduct three experiments in space, and the data will be sent back to researchers in Dublin. France Law passed to protect farmers The French government has passed a law to protect farmers from complaints neighbors have made about farm life. Residents who have moved to rural areas have taken farmers to court over loud tractors, roosters crowing, and smelly animal poop. The law’s goal is to stop residents from filing lawsuits over farm activities that they feel threaten…

This national park is one of the best places in the world to see well-preserved fossils dating as far back as 52 million years. The visitor center also serves as a museum with displays of fish, turtle, insect, bird, mammal, and plant fossils and a large collection of coprolites (fossilized poop). The rest of the park can be explored via hiking trails or a 5.5-mile scenic drive that provides a view of the valley. Today, visitors might see animals such as bighorn sheep, pronghorns, jackrabbits, elk, greater short-horned lizards, black-billed magpies, and chorus frogs.…

“Why does the spotted skunk do a handstand?”Ivy, 8, New York Marco Wendt Wildlife ambassador, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance The spotted skunk is the smallest of all skunks—about the size of a squirrel! When threatened, many skunks try to escape. If they can’t, they hiss and stamp their feet. For this tiny skunk, it is believed that the handstand is a way to appear larger and more threatening to a potential predator. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the San Diego Zoo at sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org.…

A species of shark found in our seas today is a warm-blooded relative of the megalodon, a massive prehistoric shark that died out about 3.6 million years ago, a new study has found. The discovery may help scientists identify modern species at risk and boost conservation efforts related to climate change. Megalodons were about three times bigger than the largest known great white sharks and are believed to be the largest shark that ever lived. Unlike most sharks, they were warm-blooded. That means they generated heat with their muscles like many mammals, including humans, do. About 99% of shark species are coldblooded, meaning they rely on the temperature of their environment to manage their internal temperatures. Scientists believe that being warm-blooded may have contributed to megalodons’ going extinct. They likely…

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, and a new three-part documentary series is following 15 teens competing for spots in it. Science Fair: The Series premieres on National Geographic on December 10 and comes to Disney+ and Hulu on December 11. The series was inspired by the award-winning 2018 documentary Science Fair. Both were produced and directed by Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster. Costantini, who competed at ISEF as a teen, told The Week Junior, “It opened my world.” She said she especially liked that in science fair culture, “science nerds are celebrated like athletes are in the rest of culture.” More than 30 million students from more than 80 countries participate in local or regional competitions to try to…

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a new platform adventure game. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch and is considered one of the best games of 2023. Unlike recent open-world Mario adventures, Wonder is a side-scrolling platform game. Until now, there has not been a completely new Mario game in the side-scrolling 2D format in almost 11 years. The game’s story is set in the Flower Kingdom, a new location for the franchise. In the game, the Flower Kingdom’s ruler, Prince Florian, has invited Mario and his friends there to show them the Wonder Flower. It has the power to change the environment in magical and unexpected ways. After Mario’s archrival Bowser interrupts the visit to seize the flower, it ends up fusing him with his Koopa clown car…

Ingredients ● 1 box cake mix, such as gingerbread, lemon, red velvet, white, or chocolate● ½ cup vegetable oil● 2 eggs● 1 cup mix-ins, such as freeze-dried strawberries, Peppermint Patties, mini Peanut Butter Cups, mini M&M’s, cinnamon, chopped Oreos, or white chocolate chips● Assorted toppings, such as sanding sugar, edible glitter, lemon curd, powdered sugar, snowflake sprinkles, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal Instructions 1. Choose a box cake mix and the mix-ins and toppings that will go with it. See “Choose your cookie combination” (below) for what you will need for the cookies shown. 2. Make a basic cookie dough: Combine the package of cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl and stir ingredients until smooth. 3. Add up to 1 cup of the mix-in you plan…

During the holiday season, most wrapping paper used to wrap presents gets thrown away. This can be harmful to the environment because gift wrap and ribbons end up taking up space in a landfill. However, there are ways you can wrap presents nicely while still being mindful of the environment. One option is to wrap items in brown kraft paper. This paper can be recycled or composted (turned into a mixture that improves soil), which makes it a more environmentally friendly option. You can use string you already have at home to tie packages and add special touches by repurposing holiday decor. Another option is to use gift bags instead of wrapping paper, as bags are more easily reused.…

I was so excited to see the fun ideas for cookies made with cake mixes in this week’s issue (p24). Our team had a vigorous debate about which of the 10 flavor combinations looks most amazing. Gail, Jen, and Joey chose the sparking lemon cookies for their sweet-tart flavor and their shimmer.”I’m drawn to cookies with a little glamour!” said Gail, who edited this story. Alisa, Brandon, and Asha revealed themselves to be chocolate fans, with Alisa choosing peppermint mix-ins and Brandon and Asha going for peanut butter. Vicky and Felissa picked red velvet cookies with white chocolate chips or Oreos. Other vote-getters were M&M’s, strawberry lemon, French toast, and gingerbread—proving there is a sweet treat in this story for everyone! If you make any of these recipes, send a…

“The JFK issue came just when I was in the middle of reading Action Presidents: John F. Kennedy!” Matthew, 8, Michigan “I created this gigantic cardboard giraffe inspired by the recycled cardboard craft on the How To page.” Abigail, 8, Massachusetts “December’s first issue pairs well with our Christmas tree!” Cole, 8, New Jersey…

December 12, 2015 Paris Climate Accord is adopted On December 12, 2015, an agreement to address climate change was reached in Paris, France, by representatives of 195 countries. It established long-term goals, such as putting national laws in place that would keep the increase in global temperature to below 3.6° F. Every five years, nations are expected to submit an updated plan to ensure they are still taking steps to limit climate change.…

For millions of people in the US, putting up a Christmas tree is a treasured tradition during the holiday season. Picking out a newly cut tree, breathing in its fresh scent, and decorating it with twinkling lights and beautiful ornaments are all part of the magic of Christmas for them. Many people also say that growing real trees is good for the planet. Yet more and more Americans are using artificial trees instead of real ones. They say fake trees help reduce the wastefulness and other harmful environmental effects of cutting down and throwing away a different Christmas tree every year. What do you think? Should we stop using real Christmas trees? Yes—they’re a terrible waste Growing a Christmas tree takes about 12 years and requires a lot of land,…

Three major groups have come together to protect nature in Western Canada. The Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation was signed by the Canadian government, the province of British Columbia (BC), and the First Nations Leadership Council, which represents the area’s 200,000 Indigenous people (first people known to live in a place). This is the first agreement of its kind in Canada. Its goal is to preserve 30% of BC’s land and water by 2030. Recent wildfires damaged about 45 million acres of land in the country, and logging (cutting down trees) destroys more than 1 million acres each year. The governments pledged $1 billion to fund the new effort, which will be led by Indigenous people. It will involve wildfire recovery, protecting forests, and restoring species such as caribou…

Orville and Wilbur Wright made the world’s first successful piloted and engine-powered flight 120 years ago. The brothers’ background Wilbur Wright was born in 1867, and his brother Orville was born in 1871. They grew up near Dayton, Ohio, with two older brothers and a younger sister. Their father was a minister, and their mother was a homemaker who enjoyed solving mechanical problems. Wilbur and Orville said that a toy helicopter their father had given them when they were boys first sparked their interest in flight. They opened a bicycle repair shop in 1892 and eventually started making their own bikes. In 1897, they moved their shop to 1127 West Third Street in Dayton. There, using their bike tools, they began to build experimental airplanes. Early attempts to fly The…

A 527-square-foot house that can withstand strong earthquakes was 3D printed in Guatemala. It took 26 hours to extrude (squeeze out) the concrete material and create the exterior walls of the dwelling. The material is flexible, which helps it stay intact in a quake. Workers installed windows, plumbing, electrical wires, and a thatched roof made of palm leaves that is traditional in the region. The house includes a kitchen area and a bathroom. This method of construction produces much less waste than standard building methods.…

From November 29 to December 2, the 2023 US Open Swimming Championships were held in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was one of the most important competitions of the year and the biggest US meet before next year’s Olympic trials. The event attracts top swimmers from the US and some from around the world. This year, among the Americans there were 68 current US National Team members and 34 Olympians. One of the biggest stars competing was US swimmer Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history. She was the winner in several events, including the 800m freestyle, where she won by 14 seconds, and the 1500m freestyle, where she won by nearly 25 seconds. In the 400m freestyle, however, Ledecky lost to Summer McIntosh, age 17, of Canada. McIntosh…

Fans of the classic Roald Dahl book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are about to be treated to a new story about its legendary inventor and candy maker, Willy Wonka. The movie musical Wonka, which arrives in theaters on December 15, is about Wonka at the start of his career. This is the third film about Willy Wonka. The first two—Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)—were based on Dahl’s 1964 book. Wonka is completely original, and director and co-writer Paul King set out to show Wonka before he became the mysterious man depicted in the past films. King said he imagined Wonka “didn’t have a penny to his name, but had a dream of a brighter tomorrow.” The film begins with young…

All Creatures Great & Small (PBS, PBS.org, PBS app) “This show is about a country vet, James Herriot, and is set in 1930s Britain. Each show has a new adventure and new experiences for James, such as healing a sick dog or birthing a calf. There’s a Pekingese dog named Tricki Woo that he cares for in multiple episodes. Tricki’s owner spoils him and doesn’t listen when the vets tell her to stop feeding Tricki cake. Because of watching this show, I might want to be a veterinarian when I grow up. It’s interesting to see how vets’ offices were run in the past. The show is also really funny.” Ingrid, 11, Vermont Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to…

By Cressida Cowell (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Twins K2 and Izzabird are trying to keep their magical powers a secret from their two stepsiblings, Theo and Mabel, whom they bicker with. K2 and Izzabird’s mother insists they not tell anyone that they come from a line of magical explorers. K2 doesn’t even realize his own powers. The maps of imaginary worlds he draws are actually real and part of an “Alternative Atlas” that shows how to travel between worlds. A pirate, who learns that one of them can create the maps, kidnaps Annipeck, the baby sister all four kids share. Setting aside their squabbles, the four kids vow to rescue Annipeck. They travel from Earth to the planet Excelsiar, a terrifying place where man-eating plants can smell fear…

With the holidays coming up, you may be fortunate enough to get gifts from family or friends. Here are ways to let them know how much you appreciate their thoughtfulness. 1. Express your thanks. After you open a gift, say thank you right away and then try to mention something specific you like about what you received. For example, maybe you love the color of the item. 2. Keep it positive. If you happen to not care for a gift you received or already have a similar item, try to respond with the spirit of giving in mind. Instead of saying you don’t like the gift or don’t need it, say, “Wow! What a gift!” or “Thank you so much for thinking of me.” 3. Send a note. Even if…

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 Where a sports spectator can find the game’s current statistics 8 Quarterbacks and pitchers have to do this accurately 9 The speed at which a musician should play 10 Type of movie that’s about people falling in love 12 It made Pinocchio’s nose grow 13 Hooting bird 14 Word describing the makeup of a snowflake or chunk of quartz 16 A sharp knife, or a piece of grass 18 The main part of a tree 19 Extra play added at the end of a game if neither side is ahead DOWN 2 Coating for a Halloween apple 3 Like…

“When my mom and I were invited to go on the literacy and safari tour to Kenya, I didn’t know what to expect. On the trip, I met other kids, such as Soleil, who described going to Kenya as a dream come true and stepping into a different dimension. We got to hang out with author Jerry Craft as well as author Kwame Alexander, who is my uncle. We read books to children at a local primary school, which was lots of fun, and we had so many laughs and jokes together.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. RIDDLE OF THE WEEK What gets smaller every time you bathe? A…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Maar School: Wasatch Waldorf Charter School “Ms. Maar is German, and we learn a lot of German even in our regular classes! She is kind and caring and has so much patience. She moved from Texas to teach my class, and I’m so glad she did. She makes even the hardest problems easy. We did trivia in math and charades in language arts. We made beautiful paintings and amazing pastel artwork. I used to hate school, but now I love it because of Ms. Maar!” Eleanor, 11, Utah 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.…