Innehållsförteckning för Issue 235 från The Week Junior US

On October 1, the 2024 winners of the MacArthur Fellowships, prestigious annual awards also known as “genius grants,” were announced. The 22 recipients include a children’s book author, an astronomer, a violinist, a legal scholar, and a dancer and choreographer. What are the fellowships? The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an organization that funds creative solutions to urgent global challenges. It was established in 1970 by John (1897–1978), an insurance and business executive, and his wife, Catherine (1908–1981), who worked with him. In 1981, the foundation began awarding MacArthur Fellowships, which recognize people who have made important contributions in a variety of fields. The award comes with a grant of $800,000, which the organization says is not a reward for past accomplishments but an investment in a…

SQUASHING THE COMPETITION A giant pumpkin named Hank the Tank won the National Pumpkin Weigh Off, earning first place at 2,453 pounds. Grown in a greenhouse in Oregon, Hank was 296 pounds shy of setting a new world record. A LONG WAY DOWN Four high school students in Pennsylvania set a record for dropping an egg from the greatest height without breaking it. Their egg, protected with straws, a plastic bag, and other materials, survived an 83-foot drop. “We never imagined this idea would take us this far,” one student said. STAYING HOME The governor of Massachusetts issued a special permit to let a beaver stay in the wildlife rescue center where she was raised and become an educational animal. Wildlife officials wanted Nibi, age 2, to be set free,…

One of the journalists covering this year’s elections is Lester Holt. He has been the anchor of NBC Nightly News since 2015, and in 2020 he launched NBC Nightly News: Kids Edition, a program designed to help young people understand what’s happening in the world. (The show streams at 4 p.m. ET on NBCNews.com, NBC News NOW, and the NBC News YouTube channel.) He spoke with The Week Junior about elections and the importance of critical thinking. Why do you think kids should take an interest in elections? Although they can’t vote yet, kids do live with the decisions adults make. It’s important to understand the process, including how we elect our leaders and what we should expect from them. It’s kids’ country too. What is the role of a…

Eli Strull Curator of education and guest experience, WNC Nature Center Goats will sometimes seek touch. Like us, they are all individuals. If a goat leans in when touched or presents a certain part of its body, that could indicate its preferences. For strengthening relationship bonds, back rubs and treats can help. Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the WNC Nature Center at wildwnc.org.…

Mindfulness meditation is the practice of calming your mind and reducing negative thoughts. It has been used to treat pain in many cultures for centuries, but scientists thought it only worked because of the placebo effect (when a person feels better from a fake medical treatment because they believe it’s real). A new study has found, however, that the practice actually affects the brain and reduces pain. In the study, scientists from the University of California San Diego divided 115 participants into four groups. The groups were given different pain reduction methods: mindfulness meditation, fake meditation, a placebo (substance with no actual medicine), and an audiobook. The researchers applied a painful but harmless heat sensation to the back of the participants’ legs and scanned their brains before and after their…

At The Week Junior, we know children have strong views about the upcoming election and the issues facing America. So we worked with YouGov, a company that conducts polls, to survey 799 children, ages 8 to 14, across the US to gauge their opinions. Kids’ belief in their own power came through loud and clear: 89% said they believe they should have a say on issues that affect them, 88% said they wish adults listened more to kids, and 76% believe their actions can make a difference in the world now. Kids also said they care most about making daily life more affordable, protecting people’s rights, and ensuring that everyone has healthcare and a good education. Here’s what else young people had to say. What is the #1 quality you…

Citizen Nation, a new four-part documentary series airing on PBS, follows groups of teens from Nevada, Virginia, West Virginia, and other states as they prepare for and participate in a national competition called We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. We the People tests students’ knowledge about constitutional democracy, history, and civics (the rights and duties of citizens) in a format that is modeled after government hearings. We the People is run by the Center for Civic Education, a group focused on helping young people understand the basis of the US government and their role in it as citizens. To be part of the competition, students take a special class at school where they learn about and discuss issues and write speeches. In state-level and national competitions, they deliver…

Inside Out 2 PG (Disney+) “This movie came out in June and is already a favorite that I can relate to a lot. It is the sequel to Inside Out, which was about Riley, a young girl, and the emotions in her mind: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. In the sequel, Riley is a teen and there are new emotions in her head like Anxiety (my favorite!), Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui (boredom). Anxiety wants to take over Headquarters and sends Joy and the other original emotions to a vault in the back of Riley’s mind. They have to get back to Headquarters to stop Anxiety and restore Riley’s sense of self.” Che’maris, 13, Connecticut Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your…

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave one of the most famous speeches in world history—the Gettysburg Address. In it, he referred to our democracy as a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Those words are at the heart of every election held in our country, including the one coming up on November 5, and they are also the reason we created this special Election Preview issue for you. It’s packed with articles about many different aspects of this major event, including the results of our nationwide survey of kids’ opinions (p14), an explainer on the Electoral College (p16), a selection of exciting races to watch (p18), and ideas for getting involved (p24). We hope the issue gives you a greater understanding of what’s happening and inspires…

“I watched the Presidential debate. Thank you for recommending it!”Vihaan, 9, Michigan “I love it when my mom picks me up from school and gives me the great news that my magazine has arrived! I can’t wait to get home to read it.”Amy, 10, California “The pickles I made from the recipe in your magazine are really yummy and getting better by the day!”Ozzi, 12, Colorado…

Some dogs have so many toys that it can be difficult for their owners to keep track of them, especially the well-loved ones that get used—and chewed—the most. So it might surprise you to know that, according to new research, some of our four-legged friends have the ability to remember the names of their toys, even those they haven’t seen for a long time. The research involved five border collies, which are considered to be one of the world’s smartest dog breeds. Two years earlier, these five dogs had been selected for a study based on their ability to recognize the names of their toys. The dogs were originally taught the names of 12 new toys. After a month, researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary tested the dogs to…

At San Antonio Zoo in Texas, 71 Texas horned lizards have recently hatched. The tiny, spiky creatures have been playing in sand and munching on insects. The plan is to eventually release the lizards into the wild. ● LIFE SPAN: About 5 years ● HABITAT: Sandy parts of Mexico and the US ● SIZE: About 2 to 5 inches ● DIET: Mainly ants, sometimes other insects ● FUN FACT: To scare predators away, they can squirt blood from their eyes—as far as 5 feet!…

The dodo is one of the most famous birds ever to have lived and also one of the most mysterious. Considered the first animal to die out due to human actions, it has been portrayed as clumsy, slow, and not very smart. A new study is challenging this image, however. The dodo was a flightless bird with a large, hooked beak that lived on Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean. Adult dodos were up to about 3 feet tall and weighed up to 51 pounds, making them larger than a modern turkey. They likely ate fruits, nuts, and seeds from the forest floor and swallowed stones to break up food in their bodies, which some modern birds do as well. Few dodo fossils or samples of soft tissue have…

On November 5, Americans will go to the polls to choose the next US President. Many will already have mailed in their ballots. But the process isn’t as simple as checking off the candidate they want to win. Voters pick a President by name on the ballot, but they’re not actually choosing that person—they’re voting for members of the Electoral College. What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College was established in the US Constitution (the nation’s highest law). It is a group of 538 people, called electors, from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their names aren’t on the ballot, but they officially elect the President. Each state has the same number of electors as it does representatives in Congress (the branch of government that makes laws).…

On October 6, the top two teams in the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League), the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit, faced off in a match with immense implications for the Pride. They had not been beaten in 22 straight games, and they kept the streak going with a 2–0 win over the Spirit. It is the longest unbeaten streak in NWSL history, and no team in the league has ever gone unbeaten for an entire regular season. In the NWSL, teams earn three points for a win and one point for a tie. With the win over the Spirit, the Pride improved their record to 17 wins and 6 draws (ties), giving them 57 points for the season. Although the regular season doesn’t end until November 3, no other…

Coach’s Name: Katelyn Weber Team: Kealing C “Triangles” (Ultimate Frisbee) “Coach Weber treats each of us so well. She helps us improve our skills with fun drills and extra clarification. One time, I was struggling with a specific way to throw a Frisbee, and to show me how to hold my arm, she put her phone between my elbow and my side to make sure I did it correctly. The cool thing was, it worked! During games, she cheers us on and gives us advice on the sidelines. She’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” Margo, 13, 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…

Jaylen Smith At age 18, he was elected mayor of Earle, Arkansas, in 2022. The rural city has a population of 1,831. In high school, he had been a member of the student government association. Quentin Colón Roosevelt In 2023, the 18-year-old great-great-great-grandson of US President Theodore Roosevelt won a local election for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Washington, DC. He became the area’s youngest elected official. Lilian Hale On her 18th birthday this year, the Washington teen became the youngest state representative ever. She was sworn in as a temporary fill-in for her stepfather, a Marine Corps reservist who went on active duty.…

Gremlins: The Wild Batch (Max) This animated series is set in 1920s China and is a prequel to popular horror-comedy films from the 1980s. In the new second season, heroes Sam, Gizmo, and Elle travel from Shanghai to the American West to track down a new batch of evil Mogwai creatures. Curses! (Apple TV+) The Vanderhouven family is cursed because their ancestors stole ancient artifacts. In season one, dad Alex was turned to stone, but his kids and wife saved him. Season two is out now and follows the family as they try to reverse the curse and solve a new mystery involving Alex. Expedition Amazon (Disney+) (Hulu) National Geographic teams spent two years exploring the Amazon River for this special. Experts include weather scientists doing research at the river’s…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with being President? 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. AIDES AIR FORCE ONE BILL CABINET COMMANDER IN CHIEF DESK ELECTION EVENTS FLAG LEADER MEETING MOTORCADE NATION NEWS OATH OVAL OFFICE PHOTO OPS POLITICS POLL PORTRAIT POTUS POWERS SEAL SECRET SERVICE SPEECH TERM USA VETO WEST WING WHITE HOUSE FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with two words so that the second word is the same as the first word with one letter added at the start, like EIGHT and HEIGHT. The two words will not always rhyme. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1.…

Teacher’s Name: Laura Morris School: German School “I think Ms. Laura is the kindest and sweetest teacher we have ever had. She teaches English, mathematics, and social studies and makes it all really fun. She always picks the best books to read, and she even inspired me to learn sign language. Ms. Laura always makes us feel like we are in a safe space. I am so happy that we have a chance to be with her next year.” Alicia, 10, New York 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.…

October 13, 1792 Cornerstone of White House is laid On October 13, 1792, the first cornerstone of the White House was laid. It was the first public building to be erected in Washington, DC. James Hoban, an Irish immigrant, won a design competition to build the home, which was then known as the President’s House. After eight years of construction, John Adams, the second US President, and his wife, Abigail, became the first inhabitants in 1800.…

America has a complicated history of democracy. Not everyone in the US, even over 18, has always had the right to vote. In the early days of our country, only white men who owned land were allowed to vote. Black people had to fight for the right to vote, and so did women. Now some people are saying it’s time to extend voting rights to younger people too. They are advocating for the voting age to be lowered to 16 and say it will encourage people to get involved in our democracy at an earlier age. But some people feel that under 18 is simply too young. So what do you think? Do you think kids ages 16 and 17 should be allowed to vote? Yes—young people have more at…

The Buffalo National River in Arkansas was designated America’s first national river in 1972. It flows freely for 135 miles through the Ozark Mountains and is one of only a few rivers in the contiguous US (the 48 connected states) that does not have a dam (barrier that blocks water flow). Visitors can paddle the river or hike in the nearly 36,000 acres of wilderness surrounding it, where they might spot the only herd of wild elk in Arkansas. More than 300 species of aquatic life, including freshwater mussels, crayfish, and mudpuppy salamanders, live in the river.…

Whales Some experts are saying that the International Whaling Commission, a group formed in 1946 to deal with global threats to whales, is no longer needed. The group’s former leader said nearly all whaling has stopped and populations have grown. Giant tortoises Plans to build a luxury resort in the Seychelles threaten the habitat of the world’s largest population of giant tortoises, conservationists say. About 150,000 giant tortoises live on the islands that make up the small African nation.…

Smartphones come with advanced cameras that take excellent photos, but they’re not as easy to hold and operate as a traditional camera. To solve that problem, a new device called the Snappy provides an adjustable holder for different-size phones and easy functionality. The Snappy’s rubberized grip has controls on the front and back that can change the camera’s orientation, switch it from photo to video, and zoom in and out. Pushing a button on top of the grip snaps images. The device also includes a ring light that’s controlled with a tap.…

The Electoral College can sometimes create an unclear outcome in an election, especially because there is an even number of electors (538). …one person wins the popular vote and another wins the electoral vote? The winner of the electoral vote is President. This happened in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, but Donald Trump won the electoral vote 304–227. …there’s a tie? If the electoral votes are split evenly, Congress decides the winner. If the popular vote is close in a state, candidates can ask for a recount there. In the 2000 race between Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, this happened in Florida. Bush won the election. …electors change parties? In 2016,…

Dawid Godziek, a thrill-seeking BMX bike rider from Poland, has accomplished the world’s first bike flip on a moving train. A course was built on top of 10 train cars, and Godziek prepared for about 18 months for the feat. On the day of the attempt, he had to adjust to the wind and the speed of the train, but he successfully pulled off several tricks, including a brand-new one: a backflip down a set of stairs at the end of the train. “The whole project exceeded our wildest expectations,” Godziek said. But he warned, “Don’t try this at home!”…

The Week Junior is conducting a national search for 12 students, ages 8 to 14, who want to have their voices heard about the issues and causes that matter to them. This will be our sixth session of Junior Council, and council members will meet directly with The Week Junior editors and mentors. There will be about six virtual workshops held from January through May 2025. A project created by council members may appear in a future issue of the magazine. To apply, go to juniorcouncil.theweekjunior.com to download the application. The deadline to enter is October 24.…

How much of this week’s news can you remember? 1 How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win the US Presidency? a) 100 b) 270 c) 538 a □ b □ c □ 2 Which National Women’s Soccer League team has set a league record for the longest unbeaten streak? a) NJ/NY Gotham FC b) Orlando Pride c) Washington Spirit a □ b □ c □ 3 The Student Podcast Challenge is run by which public broadcasting network? ______________________ 4 True or false? Researchers found that some dogs can remember the names of their toys after two years. True □ False □ 5 BMX rider Dawid Godziek achieved the first bike flip on top of what type of moving vehicle? a) Boat b) Car c) Train a □…