Innehållsförteckning för Issue 210 från The Week Junior US

On April 9, Europe’s highest court of law ruled that Switzerland had violated the human rights of its citizens by failing to do enough to protect them from the effects of climate change. It was the first climate decision issued by an international court. The ruling is expected to spark similar lawsuits in other countries. What was the legal battle? In 2020, a group of more than 2,000 Swiss women called Senior Women for Climate Protection filed a lawsuit against Switzerland. (A lawsuit is a legal action taken by one party against another to be decided in court.) The average age of the women is 74. They said the government’s lack of effective policy on climate change put them at risk of dying in heat waves and that their age…

A SUN-SATIONAL RECORD A world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as the Sun was set on April 8, the day of the total solar eclipse. The colorful crowd of 309 people (below) in Niagara Falls, Canada, wore yellow suns over red ponchos. KEEPING A PROMISE As a first-year science teacher in 1978, Patrick Moriarty told his students they would reunite for the solar eclipse in 2024. This year, Moriarty kept his word by hosting an eclipse party that 100 former students attended. “It’s a tribute to the eclipse but also the power of teaching,” one said. WATCHING WITH A FRIEND ECLIPSE EDITION NASA head Bill Nelson and Snoopy (shown below) joined thousands of people to watch the eclipse at the Glenn Research Facility in Ohio, the only…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about this issue, visit kids.theweekjunior.com/polls so you can vote in our debate. Vote YES if you think we spend too much on sports stadiums or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The goal of the big debate is to present two sides of an issue fairly in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on this page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties.…

The winding Mississippi River spans about 2,350 miles and holds an important place in American history and culture. Facts about the river Experts believe the Mississippi River started forming about 70 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. It starts in the north at Lake Itasca in Minnesota and travels south to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. The river has many tributaries (smaller river that meets a larger one), including the Missouri River and the Ohio River. When combined with the Missouri River, the Mississippi is the longest river in North America. Early history The area around the river has been inhabited for centuries by Native Americans and their ancestors. The arrival of Europeans in the 16th century brought disease, displacement, and the enslavement of the local population.…

A UK company devised a “cloaking device” that makes people behind it “disappear.” The Invisibility Shield 2.0 creates an illusion by manipulating the light that hits the people and their background. The shield is made of a curved sheet of clear plastic covered with lenses. When light bounces off people behind the shield, the lenses scatter it, making the people invisible from the front. But when light hits the background, which is much wider than the people, the lenses spread it across the shield. It’s visible and blends in with the real background.…

Planet Zoo: Console Edition is an award-winning zoo simulation game. It had been available for the PC but recently was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox systems. In the game, you are in charge of building a zoo, taking care of its animals, and managing its overall operations. It takes many different skills to create a thriving business, but the game provides you with information on how to do the basics. One way to play Planet Zoo is in Career mode, which features many characters and sends you on journeys around the world to find new animals and complete different challenges. In Sandbox mode, your only focus is building a zoo of your dreams. Franchise mode, meanwhile, balances the responsibilities of caring for animals, designing habitats, and growing a business.…

“This is a really fun series, and I loved reading all the books in it. It’s about a kid named Jesse Rigsby who gets sucked into a video game called Full Blast with his best friend. In the first book, they quickly realize they are being followed by a mysterious figure who is trying to kill them. Will they be able to find their way out? I highly recommend you read it.” Alec, 11, Arizona Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Crisscross Each of these world rivers fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 4 letters NILE OHIO 5 letters SEINE 6 letters AMAZON THAMES TIGRIS 7 letters LIMPOPO 8 letters COLORADO COLUMBIA MISSOURI 9 letters EUPHRATES RIO GRANDE 11 letters MISSISSIPPI SUSQUEHANNA ALL THE SAMEEach Each answer contains the letters I-N-N. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? Take five Five 5-letter things that are soft are hidden in this grid. For each one, the first letter is somewhere in the first column, the second is somewhere in the second column, and so on. Can you find all five? (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) SUDOKU To complete the grid, place the numbers…

At age 16, Mina Fedor is the founder and executive director of AAPI Youth Rising (AYR), an organization focused on creating positive change for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). She started AYR three years ago, and today the group has 150 chapters across 35 states. Fedor currently attends high school in Oakland, California. She got the idea for AYR when she and her middle school classmates organized a youth rally in 2021 to speak out against an increase in racist attacks against Asian Americans during the pandemic. They expected about 70 people to attend but instead drew 1,200 supporters. “It was a platform for youth to be able to raise their voices,” Fedor told The Week Junior. One accomplishment Fedor is especially proud of is AYR’s One Day of…

Trillions of cicadas will emerge from the ground in several US states this summer, a historic year for the creatures. Cicadas (pronounced si-KAY-duh or si-KAH-duh) are cricket-like insects that can jump, fly, drink sap from trees, and produce sounds by vibrating their bodies. They do not bite or sting and are harmless to humans. Newly hatched cicadas, or nymphs, live underground until they emerge to mate. There are more than 3,000 species of cicadas, and most of them appear above ground every summer. But seven species in North America stay underground for years before emerging. These are called periodical cicadas. Four of the species emerge on a 13-year cycle, while three follow a 17-year cycle. Large groups of cicadas that emerge together, which may include multiple species, are called broods.…

Louisiana black bear This subspecies of the American black bear is Louisiana’s official state mammal. It was removed from the Endangered Species Act in 2016. North American river otter Once on the brink of extinction because of Roseate spoonbill The “Mississippi Flyway” is one of the most important spring and autumn migratory routes for birds. One that makes this journey is the roseate spoonbill, named for its rose color and long beak that looks like a spoon. It visits the Mississippi Delta in the fall. American alligator Measuring between 9 and 13 feet long, the American alligator is one of North America’s largest reptiles. Louisiana has one of the largest wild alligator populations in the US—nearly one million.…

University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark had one of the greatest careers in college basketball history, and researchers said there are sound scientific principles behind her success. Larry Silverberg and Chau Tran, engineers from North Carolina State University, have studied the mechanics of basketball shots for more than two decades. Clark’s jump shot meets many of their requirements for an ideal shot: It has a high release point, which allows the ball to travel in a clear line toward the basket, and it approaches the basket at a 45-degree angle. Silverberg and Tran said that a successful shot is aimed toward the back of the basket, with a 2-inch gap between the ball and the hoop. The player also releases the ball with a smooth motion. Silverberg said Clark…

COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS UNSEEN IMAGES…

A day that Taylor Swift fans had been waiting for since February has arrived. On April 19, the pop star released her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. It is her 11th studio album, and she announced it was coming while accepting a Grammy (top music award) for her last album, Midnights. Swift is one of the biggest singer-songwriters in the world. In the US alone, she has sold more albums than any artist during each of the past five years. Last year, she was estimated to be worth $1.1 billion, and she is the first musician to bring in that much money from only concerts and songs. Swift has not said much about her new music. However, in a taped speech at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on April…

“This is my favorite movie! The main character is T’Challa, who becomes king of Wakanda after his father dies. T’Challa has an awesome little sister, Shuri, who designs his armor and invents other things. There is also a super-strong general, Okoye, who is also awesome. First T’Challa has to beat a bad guy, Ulysses Klaue, then a mysterious person named Killmonger comes to Wakanda. He challenges T’Challa for the throne and they have a big battle. It is so good! This movie also has great music. I would totally recommend it!” Leo, 9, New York Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) Business is slow for Lina’s family. They are barely getting any orders for their homemade bath bombs, so they can’t afford new clothes for 10-year-old Lina, who has just had a growth spurt. To attract more customers, Lina’s mom wants to hire someone to make videos about the bath bombs and post them on social media. When she finds out she would need to pay $5,000 to hire an expert to create the videos, she decides to do it herself. The first video increases orders, so she asks Lina and her sister to help her film more videos. Since their house is messy, they go to a local furniture store to produce the videos, which receive a lot of attention on social media.…

Black Girl You Are Atlas By Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes (Kokila) Renée Watson, the best-selling author of Ways to Make Sunshine, draws from her childhood for some of these poems, which include haiku and free verse. The subjects range from racial injustice to self-love. The collagestyle artwork is spectacular. Ages 12 and up In and Out the Window By Jane Yolen, illustrated by Cathrin Peterslund (Philomel Books) In addition to being the author of more than 350 novels, Jane Yolen is an esteemed poet. This new collection includes more than 100 of her works on popular childhood topics including school, animals, and sports. One title: “On My Toes: A True Story.” Ages 8–12 Poetry Comics By Grant Snider (Chronicle Books) The dozens of short poems in this collection…

A recent Women’s Super League soccer match between UK teams Arsenal and Chelsea was delayed by 30 minutes after Arsenal players showed up wearing the wrong socks. Arsenal’s white socks were the same color as Chelsea’s, which violates league rules. Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said that just as the game was set to begin, “We were told we couldn’t play with those colors and we had to adapt.” Arsenal bought black Chelsea socks in the team’s gift shop and covered the logo with tape. The game went on, and Chelsea beat Arsenal, 3–1.…

April 23, 1914 First game played at Wrigley Field On April 23, 1914, the first game was played at one of the nation’s oldest baseball parks, in Chicago, Illinois. At what was then called Weeghman Park, the Chicago Federals defeated the Kansas City Packers, 9–1. The park became the home of the Chicago Cubs in 1916 and was renamed Wrigley Field after Cubs owner William Wrigley in 1926. More than 2.6 million people attended Cubs games there last year.…

Stadiums for major American sports teams can cost millions or even billions of dollars to maintain, upgrade, and build. And much of the time, the money doesn’t come from the leagues or teams who use the facilities. Instead, local governments fund the stadiums with taxpayer money, which residents are required to pay every year. But people who pay those taxes may not care about the team or ever visit the stadium. Still, for many residents, having a hometown sports team to root for is an essential part of their city’s culture and a source of local pride, so funding a stadium is worth it. What do you think? Do we spend too much on sports stadiums? Yes—they’re not worth it The money spent on sports stadiums would be better used…

Glacier National Park in Montana has beautiful forests, wide lakes, and tall mountains. The area was formed millions of years ago by the slow shift of glaciers, massive bodies of snow and ice that move under their own weight. Grizzly bears, lynx, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep roam the 1,583-square-mile park. The area’s first inhabitants were Native Americans, who lived there for 10,000 years before it was named America’s 10th national park in 1910. There are more than 700 miles of hiking trails, and the 131 named lakes and waterways are a habitat for trout and other fish.…

“If apes evolved into humans, why don’t they continuously evolve into more human beings anymore?”Peter, 9, Vermont Becky Malinsky Curator of primates, Smithsonian’s National Zoo Humans actually did not evolve from apes—both evolved from a now-extinct common ancestor. Our closest living relatives are chimpanzees, and our lineage split from theirs 7 million years ago. Humans and apes have been on separate branches of the family tree for quite some time! Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Smithsonian’s National Zoo at nationalzoo.si.edu.…

An extremely well-preserved 3,000-year-old village has been discovered in the UK. The site, called Must Farm, was buried in mud and provides a glimpse of life in the Bronze Age. That era lasted from about 2000 BCE to 800 BCE in the UK and marked the first time people worked with metal. Must Farm existed for a short time around 850 BCE, said the archaeologists (scientists who study objects left by people long ago) who found it. The village consisted of several large, round wooden homes, called roundhouses, that were built on stilts above a river. They were about 540 square feet each, with fireplaces and roofs made of straw and clay, and connected by walkways. The village was destroyed in a massive fire a few months after it was…

The 2023–2024 NBA (National Basketball Association) regular season concluded on April 14. All 20 of the postseason spots had been clinched beforehand, but several final games were crucial for determining the playoff seeding (ranking). The Boston Celtics, who compiled the best regular-season record with 64 wins and 18 losses, are the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The New York Knicks earned the number two seed in the East with a win on the final day of the season. They beat the Chicago Bulls by a close score of 120–119 in overtime. Knicks point guard Jalen Bruson delivered 40 points. The Knicks won their last five games and had their best regular-season record since the 2012–2013 season. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver…

Coach’s Name: Karli Demonico Activity: CrossFit “Coach Karli is an inspiration. She works so hard in everything she does. She co-owns and coaches for CrossFit Lake Travis. She is also raising two healthy, funny, sweet boys, and yet she still manages to treat the kids she coaches like daughters and sons! I believe Coach Karli just might be the best coach ever! She makes the people around her feel loved, and she has built a community that feels safe and happy.” Sophie, 12, 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.…

Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog (NatGeo on Hulu and Disney+) Millan is an experienced dog trainer who helps dog owners teach their pets good habits. In the latest season of this reality series, he works with people who are interested in adopting dogs and tries to find them compatible ones. Changing Planet: Coral Special (PBS App) (PBS.org) (PBS) April 24 at 8 p.m. ET This series follows a conservation scientist as he visits threatened ecosystems. This new special, set in the Maldives, highlights innovations such as coral reef nurseries that use music therapy and a high-tech boat that helps young coral grow. Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp (Netflix) In this movie that combines animation and live action, the funny cartoon bird is kicked out of the forest and finds…

What inspired this book? My daughter was constantly asking me for a phone so she could use social media. It made me want to write about a girl who goes viral and encounters the ups and downs of social media. What do you hope kids take away from the story? You need to protect your brain, you need to protect your happiness, and you need to make technology work for you. Why do you enjoy writing middle-grade books? This is the age when kids are having their first conversations about the world, and they’re asking big questions. Any advice for kids using social media? Turn off notifications on all digital devices is my top advice. What three things would you choose to take to a desert island?…

Selling lemonade to help animals Delanie Dennis, age 12, Florida Rescuing animals is a big part of Delanie Dennis’ life. Among her family’s rescue animals are five dogs, three ferrets, two sugar gliders, two horses, two mini donkeys, and a tortoise. This passion for rescue animals inspired Dennis to start Delanie’s Lemonade Stand outside her parents’ restaurant in 2019. The money Dennis has raised, more than $100,000 so far, has helped fund 36 different rescues. This year, she set up her stand outside a New York Yankees spring training game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Dennis raised awareness and money for her cause and also got to throw out the game’s first pitch. “It was unreal,” she told The Week Junior about the experience. “My pitch was perfectly straight…

I was captivated by this week’s story about the breathtaking finding in the ancient ruins of Pompeii, Italy (p3). Underneath thick layers of stone and ash left behind by a volcanic eruption in the year 79, archaeologists unearthed a magnificent home that belonged to a wealthy politician. Within the grand residence was a dining hall with stunning artwork depicting characters from Greek mythology on the walls. The floor, found nearly intact, contained more than a million mosaic tiles. Experts say these discoveries are among the finest ever found at this site—and the world has a team of dedicated scientists to thank. “We have a passion and a deep love for what we’re doing,” said Dr. Roberta Prisco, the chief restorer, “because what we’re uncovering and protecting is [also] for the…

“I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and Super-Cute Kittens during National Reading Month in March!”Elliott, 9, California “We loved the marbled egg dying method from the How To page and plan to do it again!”Addie, 10, and, Finley, 9, Connecticut “I love reading The Week Junior on long car rides. My favorite part is the polls!”Scarlett, 10, Virginia…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Dunbar School: Burnett Creek Elementary “Mrs. Dunbar is an awesome teacher. She makes learning really fun. She lets us ‘create’ our own company to teach us about business. Mrs. Dunbar is really nice and funny. To help us remember stuff like fractions, multiplication, division, and measurement, she plays songs and gives a prize to the most enthusiastic student. She is the best teacher ever!” Ohmi, 8, Indiana 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.…

1 The third installment of the Secrets of … series from National Geographic focuses on which animal? a) Lobster b) Dolphin c) Octopus a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? Mina Fedor helped the American Girl company develop its first Asian American doll. True □ False □ 3 How many states does the Mississippi River cross? a) 7 b) 10 c) 15 a □ b □ c □ 4 What is the title of award-winning poet Ajibola Tolase’s first poetry collection? _____________________ 5 True or false? Japan gave the US more than 3,000 cherry trees in 1912. True □ False □ 6 When did the cicadas of Brood XIX and Brood XIII last emerge together? a) 1803 b) 1903 c) 2003 a □ b □ c □…