Innehållsförteckning för Issue 214 från The Week Junior US

China has launched one of the most ambitious space missions in its history, sending an unmanned spacecraft to the far side of the Moon. The effort marks a new phase in what is being called a space race between China and the US. What happened? On May 3, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) launched an 8.3-ton spacecraft named Chang’e 6 from Hainan Island in the nation’s southernmost province. Chang’e 6 will attempt to land on the side of the Moon that is not visible from Earth. The European Space Agency, France, Italy, and Pakistan all contributed technology to the lander. On May 8, Chang’e 6 entered the Moon’s orbit. China is the only country that has landed on that side of the Moon, putting an uncrewed spacecraft there during…

HOPE FOR A SPECIES An endangered Grevy’s zebra was born at an animal park in Missouri. There are fewer than 2,500 of the zebras left in the wild. The birth of the foal, named Roxie, “is both a joyful and historic moment,” said the head of the zoo. RUNNING FOR A RECORD A 61-year-old UK man set a world record for running 1,000 marathons in the fastest total time. Steve Edwards ran his first 26.2-mile race in 1981, at age 18, and has averaged a marathon every 13 days since then. Hitting this goal was “an incredible 43-year journey,” he said. MAKING IT OFFICIAL Lawmakers in Hawaii passed a bill to make the shaka the official state gesture. Used to say hello, goodbye, thank you, and aloha (a Hawaiian word…

Actor Dulé Hill has dedicated his life to the performing arts, appearing onstage and in movies and TV shows. In his latest endeavor, he hosts the new PBS documentary series The Express Way with Dulé Hill, traveling to different regions of the US to meet diverse artists who are making positive contributions to their communities. Hill, age 49, was first exposed to the arts through dance, at age 3. He focused on tap dancing at a school in East Orange, New Jersey, where his mother taught ballet. When he was 10, his passion for tap dancing helped him land the lead role in the national tour of the Broadway production of The Tap Dance Kid. Hill told The Week Junior he continues to tap dance at home in a studio…

Every year, many animals around the world go on long journeys called migrations. Some need to find food while others are looking for a place to find a mate, breed, and raise their young. Migrations can be challenging for animals, but new research has found that farmland along the way can help their progress. In spring, hundreds of thousands of birds living near Poyang Lake, in China, fly north to breed in Siberia, Russia. On the way, they find places to stop and eat to keep their energy levels up for the long flight. Some birds, such as geese, eat grass shoots that start to grow at the beginning of the season. This food source is available for only a few weeks, and rising temperatures caused by climate change can…

Greece’s seas Greece has become the first European country to ban bottom trawling, a fishing method that involves dragging heavy nets along the ocean floor. This can damage the ocean and harm marine life. The ban will take effect in 2026. Coral reefs For the fourth time, scientists have detected a global coral bleaching event. Bleaching happens when ocean temperatures rise too high. Coral gets stressed, releasing the algae (tiny living things) that give it color, and may die.…

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City showcases a vast collection of art that dates back thousands of years. A brilliant idea In 1866, a group of Americans living in Paris, France—then the art capital of the world—were inspired to create a national institution and gallery of art in the US. One of them, attorney John Jay, worked with civic leaders, artists, art collectors, and philanthropists to bring the vision to life. On April 13, 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was officially incorporated (established) in New York City and opened in a modest building at 681 Fifth Avenue. Later that year, the museum acquired its first object, a Roman marble sarcophagus (coffin). The museum’s collections—from European and American paintings to items from ancient times—began to grow. Becoming…

A new drone can quickly reach struggling swimmers and keep them afloat until human help arrives. The TY-3R Flying Lifebuoy has an onboard camera and is controlled by an operator on shore. It touches down on the water and serves as a life preserver for up to two adults. The TY-3R can travel up to 29 mph and work for 10 minutes on a single battery charge. It shuts off its waterproof motors when it lands on water. When the swimmers no longer need it, the drone restarts its motors, takes off from the surface of the water, and returns to shore.…

Afunny new film based on books by Aaron Blabey, author of The Bad Guys, is now on Netflix. Thelma the Unicorn is about a brown pony who wants to be a music star but can’t attract attention. Her life changes after she accidentally gets covered in glitter and pink paint and is mistaken for a unicorn. At the start of the film, Thelma lives on a farm and performs music with her donkey friends. Although she has a powerful voice, “she often feels overlooked because people have told her she is just a plain farm pony,” Lynn Wang, one of the directors, told The Week Junior. Once people think she’s a unicorn, she becomes famous, hides her true identity, and drops her friends. “Thelma wrongly believes she has to change…

“If you haven’t watched this, do! It is a dark and funny TV series based on the books of the same name by Lemony Snicket (the pen name for Daniel Handler). The show is about three children who are orphaned in a fire: Violet, Sunny, and Klaus. At first, they are put in the care of their evil uncle, Count Olaf, who longs for their considerable money. He then tails them as they move around to live with different guardians. If something can possibly go wrong, it does in this humorous, daring, and addicting journey of three once-normal children.” Sylvie, 10, Oregon Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

It’s the summer before seventh grade, and Millie, Nora, and Bea, who used to be best friends, are missing one another. But they’re each too upset to reconnect after having a huge argument about attending the birthday party of a popular girl. That was more than a year ago. Now they’re secretly concerned that they’ll never see one another again because all three have moved away from where they lived. One day, Millie, Nora, and Bea each discover a paper fortune teller that they had made together when they were younger. They’re all surprised to find one, since they had ripped up most of the fortune tellers they’d made on the day of their fight. Then more paper fortune tellers appear. When Nora flips through one, she reads the message,…

The warm-weather months are a great time to try gardening. There are many benefits to growing your own fruits and vegetables, including having fresh produce to eat all summer long. Growing your own food also benefits the environment by helping to keep some of the trucks that transport fruits and vegetables off the road. Here is how you can get started. Choose a space for your garden With an adult’s help, decide where you want to plant. If you have space in a yard, select a spot where the sun shines directly for several hours a day. It should also be an area that drains well. (A good sign is when there are no puddles a few hours after a big rain.) You could also plant a garden in containers.…

Word search Can you find all these things associated with butterflies in the grid? They are hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can be forward or backward. When you’re done, read the remaining letters to get a bonus message. BROOD CATERPILLAR CHRYSALIS COLOR EGGS FLIT GARDEN HEAD INSECT LARVA LEAVES METAMORPHOSIS MIGRATION MONARCH NECTAR PATTERN PERCH PUPA SWALLOWTAIL SWARM THORAX VEINS VICEROY WINGS FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with words that are anagrams of each other, like BOWL and BLOW. 1. If I had been leaning forward even half an———— further, the door would have hit me in the———— when it opened. 2. You’re totally————— if you think that I won’t enjoy watching silly cartoon shows after I have————— up. 3. When our two…

“I brought The Week Junior to read during my breaks at my swim meet.”Ivy, 9, Colorado “I love The Week Junior and got inspired to write my first poem after reading an article on the topic on the How To page.”Riana, 7, New Jersey “I made the banana bread muffins for the student-led market at my homeschool co-op. They were a big hit!”Sam, 12, Ohio…

Block Island is 10 square miles of beaches and grasslands off the southern coast of the smallest state in the US, Rhode Island. The island, which can be reached only by ferry, is a habitat for more than 40 rare or endangered species. They include the American burying beetle, a black insect with orange-red markings, and the Northern harrier, a raptor with a flat, owl-like face. Block Island also has rocky cliffs called Mohegan Bluffs, which rise 200 feet over a beach. Nearly half of the island is protected from land development to conserve the natural, rural landscape.…

Scientists have discovered that the clay robber frog has an ultrasonic scream. Ultrasonic sound has a very high frequency that humans cannot hear. It is thought that the frogs use their scream to warn off predators, such as bats and rodents. ● LIFE SPAN: Unknown● HABITAT: The forest floor in southern Brazil● SIZE: Up to 2.5 inches● DIET: Insects, spiders, and isopods like woodlice● FUN FACT: These tiny frogs open their mouths and throw back their heads when they scream.…

Sphinx of Hatshepsut Dating back to ancient Egypt, around 1479–1458 BCE, this sculpture depicts a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a female pharaoh. Young Mother Sewing American artist Mary Cassatt studied art in Paris, France. She became known for her paintings that captured tender moments between mothers and children, The Thinker There are numerous versions of this bronze sculpture by Auguste Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies Claude Monet found inspiration for his oil…

The 2024 MLB (Major League Baseball) regular season is off to a thrilling start. One team is on an impressive streak, a star rookie made his debut, and several teams recently pulled off exciting late-game victories. When The Week Junior went to press, the Philadelphia Phillies had the best record across all teams. They were in first place in the National League (NL), while the Atlanta Braves had the second best win percentage. In the American League (AL), the top teams were the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees. On May 7, the Orioles kicked off a two-game series against the Washington Nationals. They lost the first game, 3–0, but won the next day, 7–6, in 12 innings. With the victory, the Orioles kept up a streak of not…

Coach’s Name: Illia Song Club: SF Aftershocks (soccer) “Illia runs an all-girls, competitive soccer club that started 28 years ago. He makes practices fun and challenging. He helps us with our footwork and we do fun games like ‘Twos and Threes,’ where we run around and end up piggy-backing each other. It makes us laugh but also makes us stronger! He also makes sure we’re stretching and eating healthy. Illia knows we also need to focus on schoolwork and grades. He’s the best soccer coach ever!” Emma, 10, California 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.…

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief This novel follows a 13-year-old boy who is training to become a unicorn rider. He ends up on a secretive island where unicorns are in danger. Unicorn in New York: Louie Lets Loose! When Louie the unicorn moves from Story Land to New York City to attend a performing arts school, he makes new friends, faces competition from another unicorn, and uses his talent for good. Pick Your Own Quest: Dragon vs. Unicorn Would you rather play the role of a unicorn or a dragon? That’s the first choice you make in this book about two fantasy beasts competing in more than 30 challenges. The book has 25 possible endings.…

A Kind of Spark (BYUtv App) (BYUtv.org) This series is based on an award-winning novel of the same name. It centers on Addie, a neurodivergent (having brain differences) teen. One thing that makes the show special is that many of the actors in it are neurodivergent in real life. Season two recently premiered. Chip ’n’ Dale: Park Life (Disney+) Chip and Dale are beloved Disney characters and chipmunk best friends. In the new second season of this series, they head off on silly adventures as they navigate life in a big city park. Along the way, they are joined by other famous characters, including Pluto and Donald Duck. The Farthest (PBS App) (PBS.org) The space probe Voyager 1 was launched in 1977, and it’s been exploring the solar system ever since. Last…

What inspired this story? I loved making paper fortune tellers as a child, and my daughter went through a phase when she was obsessed with them. Friendship is also my favorite topic to write about, so I brought those ideas together. Is this book a fantasy? While the story has hints of magic, the heart of it is about the girls and their friendship and how they figure out what’s valuable to them. What makes having friendships so vital? Having friends who look out for you and who “get” you is so important. It makes you realize you’re not alone. How do you like to spend your free time? I love taking long walks in New York City, especially in Central Park. Would you rather travel into the past or…

Four zebras were on their way to a new home when they broke out of their trailer on a Washington highway and ran through traffic. People sprang into action, trying to catch them. Fortunately, David Danton happened to be driving by. Danton used to work as a rodeo clown, so he knew what to do. Using rope, a garden hose, and metal panels, he safely ushered the animals into a pen on a nearby horse farm. “Nobody trains you for wrangling zebras,” Danton said, but “it worked out as well as it possibly could have.”…

Cece Kate, who is 9 years old and from Texas, told us she will visit a lake with her cousin and pick up trash because she wants to help animals. Her hope is that there will be no trash on the ground in the future. If you’d like to share your ideas for protecting the Earth, go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to print out a form like the one shown at right. After you fill it out with your ideas and a drawing, have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the submissions on this page in future issues. 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…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Diehl School: Brentwood School “Ms. Diehl is so nice and caring. She’s always there when you need someone to talk to, and she is very supportive when you’re having trouble with your work. Peanut, the guinea pig class pet that Ms. Diehl got, is really nice. Ms. Diehl is also really funny. She is the best teacher!” Isla, 8, California 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.…

Give a gift of The Week Junior for a smart start on summer reading fun! Our Summer of Reading program includes book lists, author interviews, and an exclusive three-book reading challenge with a chance to win an amazing bundle of books! It’s a wonderful way to support a child’s literacy over the summer and to continue to develop a love of reading that will last a lifetime. Perfect for birthdays, graduation, or anytime you want to delight a child you love. To order, SCAN HERE: SUBSCRIBE BY MAY 29 TO JOIN THE FUN. To order a 25 weekly issue subscription of The Week Junior and save 66%, visit theweekjunior.com/smartfun…

In 1999, a Japanese artist created a set of 176 symbols that could communicate information in a simple way, and emojis were born. The original collection included useful objects, like clouds and a car, as well as a heart, which let users express emotions in a text for the first time. By 2010, hundreds more emojis had been added and they were popular around the world. Today, people of all ages send emojis to friends, family, and co-workers. But as emojis become common, some people have expressed concern that they’re replacing words. They think the symbols will diminish our ability to write clearly. What do you think? Have emojis gone too far? Yes—they put writing at risk Using symbols instead of words is taking the easy way out. If emoji…

Adam Boyko Professor, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Most dogs have long tails unless they are surgically shortened (“docked”). But dozens of breeds, including corgis and sheepdogs, carry an inherited trait for short tails (“bobtails”). Naturally short tails also pop up in other breeds, like rottweilers, and scientists are still investigating why. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the College of Veterinary Medicine at vet.cornell.edu.…

One day in 2020, when Ruby Reynolds was 11 years old, she and her father, Justin, went hunting for fossils. They often did this together along the Severn River, near their UK home. On that day, they found two pieces of fossilized bone, one of which was about eight inches long—among the largest they had ever uncovered. Ruby and her dad didn’t realize then that they had found the remains of the largest marine reptile ever discovered. Back home, after their outing, Ruby and Justin searched the internet and found that fossil hunters in a nearby town had found similar fragments. Paleontologists (scientists who study the past through fossils) thought they could be part of the jawbone of an enormous ichthyosaur (“fish lizard”). These extinct dolphin-shaped reptiles lived in water…

Endless Ocean Luminous is a new ocean exploration game. It is out now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. This is the third Endless Ocean game, but it has been 15 years since there has been a new one. The game’s concept is straightforward. Gamers play as a scuba diver who is tasked with carrying out important research in the fictional Veiled Sea. It is filled with more than 500 species of marine life, including real ocean creatures, long-extinct animals, and mythical beasts invented for the game. Thankfully sharks and other giant predators are very friendly, so divers can enjoy exploring without worrying about being eaten. Instead, your goal is to seek out exotic creatures among the coral reefs, caves, rock outcroppings, and the darkest parts of the sea. The diver…

Down to Business By Fenley Scurlock and Jason Liaw (Random House Books for Young Readers) Two 15-year-old friends interviewed leaders from top brands to find out how to start a business. Thanks to their insightful questions, you’ll get practical advice about bringing a business idea to life. Ages 12 and up It’s Not Bragging if It’s True By Zaila Avant-garde with Marti Dumas (Random House Books for Young Readers) In 2021, Zaila Avant-garde won the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Now, at age 17, she has written a memoir, sharing nine secrets to her success and never-before-seen photos. Besides being a spelling champion, she is also a talented basketball player. Ages 8–12 Just Jake By Jake Marcionette, illustrated by Victor Rivas Villa (Grosset & Dunlap) Jake Marcionette wrote the first story…

A plant or seed library is a way to exchange plants or seeds for free. It’s also a great way to help support the local ecosystem. For example, growing more wildflowers helps feed more pollinators, like bees and butterflies. With an adult’s help, you can set up your own plant or seed library. Invite friends to participate. You will need a bench or stand for everyone to put their plants. You can use a binder with plastic pockets to collect seeds for sharing. Make a sign with basic rules, such as “Leave a plant, take a plant.” You can keep your library open through the warm gardening months, then put it away until gardening season next year.…

In one of our most important stories this week, we highlight the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that ended racial segregation in US public schools (p4). Before that case was decided in 1954, it was legal to segregate people in public places because of a principle known as “separate but equal.” This principle, decided in an 1896 case called Plessy v. Ferguson, meant that it was acceptable to separate people by race in schools, on trains, and in many other areas of society as long as the facilities were equal. In reality, however, the facilities weren’t equal—they were inferior for people of color. It took more than 50 years for that idea to be struck down in the Brown case. You can…