The only weekly newspaper for young people
Working with
@Instagram/yoremahm
Issue 501 £1.50 22 – 28 January 2016
10 YEARS
OF AWARD
WINNING
NEWS!*
I’M LIKE A
LITTLE MUM
FirstNews
Issue 501
22nd - 28th January 2016
(YES, REALLY!)
Amy is one of 700,000 young
carers in Britain today.
Here she tells us her story...
Amy with her mum, brother and sister
AMY, 12, is a young carer for three members of her family – her
autistic older brother, her mother who is in severe pain from
illness, and her little sister who has epilepsy and is partially deaf.
Until now, Amy, from Ayrshire, has kept her home life a complete secret
from school because she doesn’t want to be treated differently from
other children.
Amy is a young carer for several hours every day. This means she can’t
take part in after-school activities and has to rush home every night to
look after her family, as well as trying to squeeze in her homework.
She says: “If I don’t get home straightaway, I won’t have time to help
mum make tea for everyone, tidy up and help with jobs – then do my
homework. I miss out on lots of things but don’t mind spending time
with my family.
“I’m doing something every minute at home to help. When I’m not
at home I’m worrying about my family. Since nine years old I’ve been
helping plan the family budget with my mum and now I still continue to
help organise my family.
“Since my little sister was one year old, I’ve had to take care of her –
changing her nappies, feeding her, getting her washed and dressed, every
day. I’m like a little mother because my mother is too ill a lot of the time.”
Turn to page 5 to find out more about young carers.
TOP TEN NAMES FOR SMART PEOPLE (apparently)!
by editor Nicky Cox
WANT to grow up clever? It’s more likely if you have one of these names, says a new study.
Genealogy website MooseRoots looked at their database
of 14,750 names of mathematicians, writers, artists,
philosophers, poets and Nobel Prize winners – and came up
with the most common names for geniuses.
BOYS
1. John
2. Robert
3. William
4. Charles
5. David
6. James
The most common name for men is John and, for women,
it’s Mary.
Check to see if your name is on the list. (I’ve checked three
times and Nicky doesn’t appear – surely some mistake!)
GIRLS
7. Richard
8. Johann
9. George
10. Paul
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper.
1. Mary
2. Elizabeth
3. Maria
4. Anne
5. Margaret
6. Susan
A FLOWER has bloomed in space for the very
first time.
American astronaut Scott Kelly made the
announcement on Twitter that a zinnia plant had
flowered on the International Space Station, with the
tweet: “First ever flower grown in space makes its
debut! #SpaceFlower #zinnia #YearInSpace!” He also
shared a picture of the orange flower.
Although other plants, such as lettuce and wheat,
have been grown in space before, this is the first time
a flower has bloomed. NASA said on a blog that the
zinnias were chosen to “help scientists understand how plants flower and grow in microgravity”. It is hoped that
having plants and flowers on the ISS will help to lift the spirits of the crew, who spend many months away from the
natural environment on Earth.
Scott Kelly / NASA via Twitter
space flower
Schokraie E, Warnken U, Hotz-Wagenblatt A,
Grohme MA, Hengherr S, et al.
HOME
NEWS
SCIENCE
A tiny creatures that were frozen for more than 30
years have been warmed up and brought back to life!
7. Ruth
8. Anna
9. Alice
10. Dorothy
* First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
HOME
NEWS
BIG NEWS
alive again
16
YOUNG
CARERS
AWARENESS DAY
28 JANUARY
PA
BIG NEWS: ‘Space flower’ and SCIENCE: ‘Alive again’
THE CAT WHO LOVES
TAKING SELFIES!
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*
The medical miracles are known as tardigrades.
Because of the way they move, they are sometimes
nicknamed water bears or moss piglets.
Tardigrades are tiny – often less than 1mm long – but
are some of the toughest living things in the world. They
can survive extreme pressures and temperatures, and
Tardigrades can even survive
even the vacuum of outer space.
in boiling water
A report in Cryobiology says that researchers collected
the tardigrades from moss in Antarctica in 1983 and
stored them at -20°C until 2014. One of the tardigrades went on to lay eggs, which hatched into healthy youngsters.
The longest time a creature has been frozen and survived is 39 years. That record was set by a nematode worm.
Glossary
International Space Station (ISS)
A very large satellite which orbits the Earth, in which six
astronauts can live. It is used to learn about space and about
living in space.
NASA
The part of the US government which is responsible for space
exploration. (It stands for National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.)
microgravity
The very weak gravity which is experienced on the ISS. (Gravity
is the force which keeps our feet on the ground and makes
things fall.)
Twitter
A website that lets people publish short messages (of up to 140
characters) to anyone who is interested. Almost 800,000 people
follow Scott Kelly and receive his messages. A message sent
through the site is called a ‘tweet’.
The only weekly newspaper for young people
The ONLY weekly newspaper for young people
Working with
Issue 501 £1.50 22 – 28 January 2016
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN 8-PAGE PULLOUT!
FESTIVE
BAKING
DICKENSIAN
CHRISTMAS
in the 1800s? We
but how about
of different ways,
Christmas Carol
was like for A
Christmas in lots
PEOPLE celebrate time to discover what the holiday Dickens Museum tells all.
in
Charles
take a step back
Price from The
Dickens. Louisa
author Charles
OF FOOD?
DID HE EAT LOTS
and just
at Doughty Street,
FirstNews WHY?
Trying to make sense
of what happened
in Paris
Amy is one of 700,000 young
carers in Britain today.
Here she tells us her story...
Issue 501
22nd - 28th January 2016
you should try
not to worry
snowmen
Krispie Christmas
DID IT TAKETO
HIM LONG
WRITE?
HIS STORY,
WHAT INSPIRED
CAROL?
A CHRISTMAS
300g mini marshmallows
180g Rice Krispies
or
1.
WITH the
festive holidays fast
homes he approaching, join the First
in one of his later
productions and
a theatre, which
of the rooms into
News team as they share
converted one
smallest
their favourite things
he would call the
They would
theatre in the world.
about Christmas…
perform Christmas-themed
They did
family productions.
Tom Thumb
it and“We leave
Dickens stage-managed carrots,
mince pies
performed in it.
and a drink
for Father
Christmas
on
the mantelpiece.”
called Ebenezer
a grumpy man
to become Executive,his former
learnsMarketing
Scrooge, who
the ghost of
visited by Meg
kinder after being
Christmas for Dickens through most of his life,
food. He
his general celebrations
a lot of wonderful
would have included various friends in the run-up
by
big
was gifted turkeys
gave him a very
1838, a lawyer
pie several
to Christmas. In
gave him a Yorkshire turkey the year
turkey and then
him a
publishers gave
after that and
years later. His
one of his
supporters
gave him
one that was
famous in
the family for
just being so
2.
Baking paper
Chocolate Christmas
pudding muffins
the only
weekly
newspaper
for young
lollies
Melt the butter
in a large saucepan
heat. Add the marshmallows
over a low
and cook gently
they are completely
until
melted – make
sure you stir
2. Take the pan off the
“Festive
heat and add
movies
mixing together
until well coated. the cereal,
– Home are my fave3. Dip your
Alone
hands in
be easier to shape a bowl of cold water (it will
On 34th 2, Miracle
the mixture) and
press the
The Santa Street, the cookie cutter shapes,
using the baking mixture into
Clause!” press the
Reporter/Production
paper as a base.
shapes
Then carefully
5. Press a lolly out onto the baking paper.
Co-ordinator,
into the base of
6. To finish, dipstick
the lollipop and
into melted chocolate
leave to set until
Hannah
firm.
and decorate as
you like!
Shopping list:
www.dickensmuseum.com
FIRST NEWS SUBSCRIPTION
LOGO Lite
Shaped cookie
cutters (we used
trees and gingerbread
men)
To decorate
Melted chocolate
or candy
melts (available
from specialist
baking shops)
A selection of
sweets and cake
decorations
1.
3.
the Charles Dickens
From 1 December, host a celebration of
will
Museum in London
Christmas Carol
include the A
Christmas. Events
A Costumed Christmas
Eve. For
Reimagined exhibition,
Dickensian Christmas visit
Walk and A Very
and to buy tickets,
more information
(YES, REALLY!)
to
extraordinarily
1.
“I like going then
large!
mass
in
midnight
back home
getting
2.
hours knowing
the early Christmas will
own Christmas 3.
that Father on his way!”
, with your very
soon be
world of First News
and
Assistant,
feature
STEP into the fascinating
from entertainment
Finance
Advertisement
Matthewsubscription! With everything there are tons of
4.
and science,
sports to animals to enjoy. Don’t forget to test
frantic! Get a question
is tense, fun and
and
stories for everyone fun“One
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in our
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THE latest game a go on the spinner. Collect
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your knowledge
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Sports/Science from 1
or to play games
Ian
Editor,
online, visit
The dining room
“I love our
Christmas
traditional
Eve breakfast!”
Head Of Development
For Schools,
Sarah
people
Traditional mince
Shopping list:
pies
“I love
for sprinkling
–
dinner
1 large egg, plus
Christmas together260g unsalted
1 beaten egg
butter
for glazing
family
all
all the meal with 125g caster sugar,
plus extra
a jar of ready-made
for a big
mincemeat
the trimmings.”
1. Place the flour and
Editor,
butter in a bowl
and
Entertainment rub together using your
Serenalike crumbs.
fingertips until
it looks
Add the sugar
and the egg, then
2.
16
Tip out onto a
lightly-floured
surface and knead
until the pastry
comes
the pastry in clingfilm together into a ball. Wrap
and chill for 10mins.
3. Lightly grease a 12-hole
baking tray. Once
chilled, sprinkle
some flour onto
a clean work
surface and roll
the pastry out
to an even thickness.
circles (or 18 circles
“I like making
Cut out 24
and 6 stars) using
pretty decorative
and place into
a pastry cutter
the baking tray.
or the top of a
biscuits
glass
with my 4. Fill each pastry
circle with a teaspoon
wrapping
girls and
of mincemeat,
them in remaining
pastry circles or
then top with the
bag with
a
stars. Press the
edges down lightly
Brush the tops
a ribbon 5.pretty
of the pies with
to seal.
to 15-20mins
to their
give
beaten egg and
for
or until golden
then cook in the
Head Of grannies.”
brown. Leave to
Subscriptions,
cool and then sprinkleoven
Natasha
INSIDE: Christmas gift ideas, festive bakes and fun facts!
www.drumondpark.com
THE FIRST NEWS
YOUNG
CARERS
CHRISTMAS
COUNTDOWN
AWARENESS DAY
28 JANUARY
8-PAGE PULLOUT
INSIDE!
Amy with her mum, brother and sister
HOW FIRST NEWS
IS STAMPING OUT
BULLYING TODAY
AMY, 12, is a young carer for three members of her family – her
autistic older brother, her mother who is in severe pain from
illness, and her little sister who has epilepsy and is partially deaf.
TODAY around 50,000
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from school because she doesn’t want to be treated
from
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time to
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–
designer
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changing her nappies, feeding her, getting her washed and dressed, every
Continued on page 4
day. I’m like a little mother because my mother is too ill a lot of the time.”
Turn to page 5 to find out more about young carers.
TOP TEN NAMES FOR SMART PEOPLE (apparently)!
by editor Nicky Cox
Pages 2 and 3
PA
BIG NEWS: ‘Space flower’ and SCIENCE: ‘Alive again’
THE FEAR
FACTOR – why
TREAT yourself
and your friends
festive treats.
and family to
We’ve got marshmallows,
some tasty,
muffins and mincehome-made
pies, so tuck in,
folks!
Shopping list:
Christmas celebrations
period.
a bit over the Victorian is that
know
One thing we do was very
that
it was a festival
Street
48 Doughty
heart and
close to Dickens’
a lot of
he celebrated with
at Doughty
enthusiasm. Christmas would have involved
home)
Street (his London various descriptions and
In
a lot of decorating. he wrote over the late 1830s,
that
talked
Christmas pieces
Carol in 1843, he
particularly A Christmasholly, mistletoe and ivy. You
with
been full of a lot
about decorating
house would have
can imagine the
of winter greenery.
the year*
I’M LIKE A
LITTLE MUM
Shopping list:
THE CAT WHO LOVES
TAKING SELFIES!
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*
National newspaper of
Marshmallow
DID DICKENS HAVE
ANY SPECIAL
TRADITIONS?
WHAT WAS LIKE
CHRISTMAS
FOR CHARLES
DICKENS?
changed
2
*
READERS
@Instagram/yoremahm
Working with
Issue 492 £1.50 20 – 26 November 2015
10 YEARS
OF AWARD
WINNING
*
MORE THAN
NEWS!
MILLION
WANT to grow up clever? It’s more likely if you have one of these names, says a new study.
Genealogy website MooseRoots looked at their database
of 14,750 names of mathematicians, writers, artists,
philosophers, poets and Nobel Prize winners – and came up
with the most common names for geniuses.
BOYS
1. John
2. Robert
3. William
4. Charles
5. David
6. James
7. Richard
8. Johann
9. George
10. Paul
The most common name for men is John and, for women,
it’s Mary.
Check to see if your name is on the list. (I’ve checked three
times and Nicky doesn’t appear – surely some mistake!)
GIRLS
FEEL
THE FORCE
3. Maria
4. Anne
5. Margaret
NEW 2.MAGAZINES
Elizabeth
6. Susan
OUT NOW
1. Mary
© 2015 The LEGO Group.
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper.
7. Ruth
8. Anna
9. Alice
10. Dorothy
© & TM 2015 LUCASFILM LTD.
* First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
E2699
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper. * First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
Carefully read this week’s stories then consider the following questions:
Look at the article ‘Space flower’.
1) Why is this a very special blossom?
2) How did astronaut Scott Kelly communicate the news with the world?
3) Astronauts such as Tim Peake live on the ISS for six months at a time. Why do you think flowers and plants
might help “lift the spirits” of the ISS crew?
Look at the article ‘Alive again’.
4) Describe the incredible biological feat which has got tardigrades into the news this week.
5a) What two-word, alliterative description does the journalist use for tardigrades?
5b) Why is this an appropriate description?
6) Find two other nicknames for the creatures.
1: ..................................................................................................................................................
2: ..................................................................................................................................................
7) Put these events in order:
31 years later the creatures were defrosted.
The creatures came back to life and one even went on to have healthy young.
O
They were put in the freezer and stored at -20 C.
Tardigrades were collected in 1982 from moss growing in Antarctica.
8) Tardigrades are quite extraordinary creatures. Find four extreme environments, or conditions, that the tiny
creature can survive in.
1: ...................................................................................
2: ...................................................................................
3: ...................................................................................
4: ...................................................................................
9) Both of these articles are about experiments on nature in extreme environments. Can you explain how each
article is related to this theme?
10) Learning about tardigrades and how plants grow in space could be very useful to humans. But there’s still lots
to learn. What big questions do you think scientists would like to have answered next?
The only weekly newspaper for young people
Working with
@Instagram/yoremahm
Issue 501 £1.50 22 – 28 January 2016
10 YEARS
OF AWARD
WINNING
NEWS!*
I’M LIKE A
LITTLE MUM
FirstNews
Issue 501
22nd - 28th January 2016
(YES, REALLY!)
16
YOUNG
CARERS
AWARENESS DAY
28 JANUARY
Amy is one of 700,000 young
carers in Britain today.
Here she tells us her story...
Amy with her mum, brother and sister
AMY, 12, is a young carer for three members of her family – her
autistic older brother, her mother who is in severe pain from
illness, and her little sister who has epilepsy and is partially deaf.
Until now, Amy, from Ayrshire, has kept her home life a complete secret
from school because she doesn’t want to be treated differently from
other children.
Amy is a young carer for several hours every day. This means she can’t
take part in after-school activities and has to rush home every night to
look after her family, as well as trying to squeeze in her homework.
She says: “If I don’t get home straightaway, I won’t have time to help
mum make tea for everyone, tidy up and help with jobs – then do my
homework. I miss out on lots of things but don’t mind spending time
with my family.
“I’m doing something every minute at home to help. When I’m not
at home I’m worrying about my family. Since nine years old I’ve been
helping plan the family budget with my mum and now I still continue to
help organise my family.
“Since my little sister was one year old, I’ve had to take care of her –
changing her nappies, feeding her, getting her washed and dressed, every
day. I’m like a little mother because my mother is too ill a lot of the time.”
Turn to page 5 to find out more about young carers.
TOP TEN NAMES FOR SMART PEOPLE (apparently)!
by editor Nicky Cox
WANT to grow up clever? It’s more likely if you have one of these names, says a new study.
Genealogy website MooseRoots looked at their database
of 14,750 names of mathematicians, writers, artists,
philosophers, poets and Nobel Prize winners – and came up
with the most common names for geniuses.
PA
BIG NEWS: ‘Space flower’ and SCIENCE: ‘Alive again’
THE CAT WHO LOVES
TAKING SELFIES!
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*
BOYS
1. John
2. Robert
3. William
4. Charles
5. David
6. James
7. Richard
8. Johann
9. George
10. Paul
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper.
The most common name for men is John and, for women,
it’s Mary.
Check to see if your name is on the list. (I’ve checked three
times and Nicky doesn’t appear – surely some mistake!)
GIRLS
1. Mary
2. Elizabeth
3. Maria
4. Anne
5. Margaret
6. Susan
7. Ruth
8. Anna
9. Alice
10. Dorothy
* First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
Carefully read this week’s stories then consider the following questions:
Look at the article ‘Space flower’.
1) Why is this a very special blossom?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
2) How did astronaut Scott Kelly communicate the news with the world?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3) Astronauts such as Tim Peake live on the ISS for six months at a time. Why do you think flowers and plants
might help “lift the spirits” of the ISS crew?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Look at the article ‘Alive again’.
4) Describe the incredible biological feat which has got tardigrades into the news this week.
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5a) What two-word, alliterative description does the journalist use for tardigrades?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5b) Why is this an appropriate description?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
6) Find two other nicknames for the creatures.
1: ..................................................................................................................................................
2: ..................................................................................................................................................
The only weekly newspaper for young people
The ONLY weekly newspaper for young people
Working with
Issue 501 £1.50 22 – 28 January 2016
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN 8-PAGE PULLOUT!
FESTIVE
BAKING
DICKENSIAN
CHRISTMAS
in the 1800s? We
but how about
of different ways,
Christmas Carol
was like for A
Christmas in lots
PEOPLE celebrate time to discover what the holiday Dickens Museum tells all.
in
Charles
take a step back
Price from The
Dickens. Louisa
author Charles
OF FOOD?
DID HE EAT LOTS
and just
at Doughty Street,
FirstNews WHY?
Trying to make sense
of what happened
in Paris
Amy is one of 700,000 young
carers in Britain today.
Here she tells us her story...
Issue 501
22nd - 28th January 2016
you should try
not to worry
snowmen
Krispie Christmas
DID IT TAKETO
HIM LONG
WRITE?
HIS STORY,
WHAT INSPIRED
CAROL?
A CHRISTMAS
300g mini marshmallows
180g Rice Krispies
or
1.
WITH the
festive holidays fast
homes he approaching, join the First
in one of his later
productions and
a theatre, which
of the rooms into
News team as they share
converted one
smallest
their favourite things
he would call the
They would
theatre in the world.
about Christmas…
perform Christmas-themed
They did
family productions.
Tom Thumb
it and“We leave
Dickens stage-managed carrots,
mince pies
performed in it.
and a drink
for Father
Christmas
on
the mantelpiece.”
called Ebenezer
a grumpy man
to become Executive,his former
learnsMarketing
Scrooge, who
the ghost of
visited by Meg
kinder after being
Christmas for Dickens through most of his life,
food. He
his general celebrations
a lot of wonderful
would have included various friends in the run-up
by
big
was gifted turkeys
gave him a very
1838, a lawyer
pie several
to Christmas. In
gave him a Yorkshire turkey the year
turkey and then
him a
publishers gave
after that and
years later. His
one of his
supporters
gave him
one that was
famous in
the family for
just being so
2.
Baking paper
Chocolate Christmas
pudding muffins
the only
weekly
newspaper
for young
lollies
Melt the butter
in a large saucepan
heat. Add the marshmallows
over a low
and cook gently
they are completely
until
melted – make
sure you stir
2. Take the pan off the
“Festive
heat and add
movies
mixing together
until well coated. the cereal,
– Home are my fave3. Dip your
Alone
hands in
be easier to shape a bowl of cold water (it will
On 34th 2, Miracle
the mixture) and
press the
The Santa Street, the cookie cutter shapes,
using the baking mixture into
Clause!” press the
Reporter/Production
paper as a base.
shapes
Then carefully
5. Press a lolly out onto the baking paper.
Co-ordinator,
into the base of
6. To finish, dipstick
the lollipop and
into melted chocolate
leave to set until
Hannah
firm.
and decorate as
you like!
Shopping list:
www.dickensmuseum.com
FIRST NEWS SUBSCRIPTION
LOGO Lite
Shaped cookie
cutters (we used
trees and gingerbread
men)
To decorate
Melted chocolate
or candy
melts (available
from specialist
baking shops)
A selection of
sweets and cake
decorations
1.
3.
the Charles Dickens
From 1 December, host a celebration of
will
Museum in London
Christmas Carol
include the A
Christmas. Events
A Costumed Christmas
Eve. For
Reimagined exhibition,
Dickensian Christmas visit
Walk and A Very
and to buy tickets,
more information
(YES, REALLY!)
to
extraordinarily
1.
“I like going then
large!
mass
in
midnight
back home
getting
2.
hours knowing
the early Christmas will
own Christmas 3.
that Father on his way!”
, with your very
soon be
world of First News
and
Assistant,
feature
STEP into the fascinating
from entertainment
Finance
Advertisement
Matthewsubscription! With everything there are tons of
4.
and science,
sports to animals to enjoy. Don’t forget to test
frantic! Get a question
is tense, fun and
and
stories for everyone fun“One
in the LOGO series
familyofchallenge
six different-coloured
5.
in our
my
THE latest game a go on the spinner. Collect
prizes!
your knowledge
favourite
have
to win great
things is
“The pine
right and you
enter our competitions
still opening
you win.
6.
News Christmas
counters and
smell of Christmas
Order the First
presents
thestocking
is
are
THE
receive
you’ll
me, that
at 4am
All 264 new cards
trees. To
subscription and
with
Book too!with
FANTASTICAL
my brother!”
News Quiz
fully compatible
Christmas!”
Fantastical First Marketing
FirstNews
Assistant,
offer code
the LOGO picture
quotingExecutive,
Editorial
“Chocolate!
Call 01795 592946,
Sophie
board game.
BOOK!
Jenna
blankets! NOVP15 or visit subscribe.firstnews.
QUIZ
start
Pigs in
Subscriptions
Age 8 to adult,
stockists
Sleep! Amazing!” co.uk/NOVP15. 2016.
RRP £19.99. For
January
Sports/Science from 1
or to play games
Ian
Editor,
online, visit
The dining room
“I love our
Christmas
traditional
Eve breakfast!”
Head Of Development
For Schools,
Sarah
people
Traditional mince
Shopping list:
pies
“I love
for sprinkling
–
dinner
1 large egg, plus
Christmas together260g unsalted
1 beaten egg
butter
for glazing
family
all
all the meal with 125g caster sugar,
plus extra
a jar of ready-made
for a big
mincemeat
the trimmings.”
1. Place the flour and
Editor,
butter in a bowl
and
Entertainment rub together using your
Serenalike crumbs.
fingertips until
it looks
Add the sugar
and the egg, then
2.
16
Tip out onto a
lightly-floured
surface and knead
until the pastry
comes
the pastry in clingfilm together into a ball. Wrap
and chill for 10mins.
3. Lightly grease a 12-hole
baking tray. Once
chilled, sprinkle
some flour onto
a clean work
surface and roll
the pastry out
to an even thickness.
circles (or 18 circles
“I like making
Cut out 24
and 6 stars) using
pretty decorative
and place into
a pastry cutter
the baking tray.
or the top of a
biscuits
glass
with my 4. Fill each pastry
circle with a teaspoon
wrapping
girls and
of mincemeat,
them in remaining
pastry circles or
then top with the
bag with
a
stars. Press the
edges down lightly
Brush the tops
a ribbon 5.pretty
of the pies with
to seal.
to 15-20mins
to their
give
beaten egg and
for
or until golden
then cook in the
Head Of grannies.”
brown. Leave to
Subscriptions,
cool and then sprinkleoven
Natasha
INSIDE: Christmas gift ideas, festive bakes and fun facts!
www.drumondpark.com
THE FIRST NEWS
YOUNG
CARERS
CHRISTMAS
COUNTDOWN
AWARENESS DAY
28 JANUARY
8-PAGE PULLOUT
INSIDE!
Amy with her mum, brother and sister
HOW FIRST NEWS
IS STAMPING OUT
BULLYING TODAY
AMY, 12, is a young carer for three members of her family – her
autistic older brother, her mother who is in severe pain from
illness, and her little sister who has epilepsy and is partially deaf.
TODAY around 50,000
Until now, Amy, from Ayrshire, has kept her home life a complete secret
of you diff
areerently
making
as
from school because she doesn’t want to be treated
from
much noise as possible
other children.
part
ofmeans
our Stamp
Out
Amy is a young carer for several hours everyasday.
This
she can’t
Bullying
take part in after-school activities and has to rush
homecampaign.
every night to
look after her family, as well as trying to squeeze
in her at
homework.
Coming
the end of
anhelp
She says: “If I don’t get home straightaway, Anti-Bullying
I won’t have Week,
time to
UK event
mum make tea for everyone, tidy up and helpannual
with jobs
– thenthat
doaims
my
to raise
awareness
homework. I miss out on lots of things but don’t
mind
spendingoftibullying
me
of children and young people,
with my family.
support
of our
“I’m doing something every minute at homeyour
to help.
When
I’mcampaign
not
will help in the fight
at home I’m worrying about my family. Since nine years old I’ve been
against bullying.
helping plan the family budget with my mum and
now
I still conti
nue to
With
celebrities
including
help organise my family.
singer Nadine Coyle and
“Since my little sister was one year old, I’ve interior
had to take
careKelly
of her
–
designer
Hoppen
changing her nappies, feeding her, getting her washed and dressed, every
Continued on page 4
day. I’m like a little mother because my mother is too ill a lot of the time.”
Turn to page 5 to find out more about young carers.
TOP TEN NAMES FOR SMART PEOPLE (apparently)!
by editor Nicky Cox
Pages 2 and 3
PA
BIG NEWS: ‘Space flower’ and SCIENCE: ‘Alive again’
THE FEAR
FACTOR – why
TREAT yourself
and your friends
festive treats.
and family to
We’ve got marshmallows,
some tasty,
muffins and mincehome-made
pies, so tuck in,
folks!
Shopping list:
Christmas celebrations
period.
a bit over the Victorian is that
know
One thing we do was very
that
it was a festival
Street
48 Doughty
heart and
close to Dickens’
a lot of
he celebrated with
at Doughty
enthusiasm. Christmas would have involved
home)
Street (his London various descriptions and
In
a lot of decorating. he wrote over the late 1830s,
that
talked
Christmas pieces
Carol in 1843, he
particularly A Christmasholly, mistletoe and ivy. You
with
been full of a lot
about decorating
house would have
can imagine the
of winter greenery.
the year*
I’M LIKE A
LITTLE MUM
Shopping list:
THE CAT WHO LOVES
TAKING SELFIES!
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*
National newspaper of
Marshmallow
DID DICKENS HAVE
ANY SPECIAL
TRADITIONS?
WHAT WAS LIKE
CHRISTMAS
FOR CHARLES
DICKENS?
changed
2
*
READERS
@Instagram/yoremahm
Working with
Issue 492 £1.50 20 – 26 November 2015
10 YEARS
OF AWARD
WINNING
*
MORE THAN
NEWS!
MILLION
WANT to grow up clever? It’s more likely if you have one of these names, says a new study.
Genealogy website MooseRoots looked at their database
of 14,750 names of mathematicians, writers, artists,
philosophers, poets and Nobel Prize winners – and came up
with the most common names for geniuses.
BOYS
1. John
2. Robert
3. William
4. Charles
5. David
6. James
7. Richard
8. Johann
9. George
10. Paul
The most common name for men is John and, for women,
it’s Mary.
Check to see if your name is on the list. (I’ve checked three
times and Nicky doesn’t appear – surely some mistake!)
GIRLS
FEEL
THE FORCE
3. Maria
4. Anne
5. Margaret
NEW 2.MAGAZINES
Elizabeth
6. Susan
OUT NOW
1. Mary
© 2015 The LEGO Group.
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper.
7. Ruth
8. Anna
9. Alice
10. Dorothy
© & TM 2015 LUCASFILM LTD.
* First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
E2699
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper. * First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
7) Put these events in order:
31 years later the creatures were defrosted.
The creatures came back to life and one even went on to have healthy young.
O
They were put in the freezer and stored at -20 C.
Tardigrades were collected in 1982 from moss growing in Antarctica.
8) Tardigrades are quite extraordinary creatures. Find four extreme environments, or conditions, that the tiny
creature can survive in.
1: ...................................................................................
2: ...................................................................................
3: ...................................................................................
4: ...................................................................................
9) Both of these articles are about experiments on nature in extreme environments. Can you explain how each
article is related to this theme?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
10) Learning about tardigrades and how plants grow in space could be very useful to humans. But there’s still lots
to learn. What big questions do you think scientists would like to have answered next?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The only weekly newspaper for young people
Working with
@Instagram/yoremahm
Issue 501 £1.50 22 – 28 January 2016
10 YEARS
OF AWARD
WINNING
NEWS!*
I’M LIKE A
LITTLE MUM
FirstNews
Issue 501
22nd - 28th January 2016
Amy is one of 700,000 young
carers in Britain today.
Here she tells us her story...
Turn to page 5 to find out more about young carers.
TOP TEN NAMES FOR SMART PEOPLE (apparently)!
by editor Nicky Cox
WANT to grow up clever? It’s more likely if you have one of these names, says a new study.
BOYS
3. William
4. Charles
5. David
6. James
1. John
2. Robert
7. Richard
8. Johann
9. George
10. Paul
Issue 501
GIRLS
1. Mary
2. Elizabeth
22 – 28 January 2016
DID YOU
NASA
KNOW?
The Drinkable Book has pages
of filter paper embedded with
tiny particles of silver. Silver
is antibacterial so, when dirty
water is passed through a page,
bacteria in the water are killed
by the silver particles.
MOULD is the name given to a
wide variety of fungi that grow
with lots of hair-like structures
known as hyphae. Many are
toxic, but some produce useful
medicines, such as antibiotics
like penicillin.
famous
quotes
“Science is organised
common sense where many
a beautiful theory was killed
by an ugly fact”
– biologist Thomas Huxley, who
promoted science education
TINY creatures that were
frozen for more than 30
years have been warmed up
and brought back to life!
Tardigrades can even survive
in boiling water
by Ian Eddy
Schokraie E, Warnken U, Hotz-Wagenblatt A,
Grohme MA, Hengherr S, et al.
Each page is reusable and
the book could help provide
safer drinking water for up to a
year. However there are some
practical issues that need to be
overcome before the book can
be widely used.
Discover more about the
prototype book and see it on
display in the Science Museum.
alive again
Marta Garcia’s winning under-17 picture
from last year of mould on a strawberry
IF you like taking pictures of stuff (rather than just your own face),
the organisers of a science photo competition would love to see
what you can come up with.
The Royal Photographic Society (RPS) is running the International Images
For Science contest and it has a category for under-17s.
It’s not just for professional photographers – the RPS want entries from
students, scientists and anyone else who wants to give it a go. Your picture
just needs to look good and tell a science story.
The 100 best pics will be shown at the British Science Festival in Swansea in
September, and the winner of the under-17 category will get £500 to spend
on some new photography gear.
The closing date is 1 May, so just head to rps-science.org for more info and
to upload your sweet science snaps. Good luck!
solar success
NASA’S Juno probe has travelled further
into space than any other solar-powered
craft in history.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
B) TARDIGRADE FACT FILE
FirstNews
The most common name for men is John and, for women,
it’s Mary.
Check to see if your name is on the list. (I’ve checked three
times and Nicky doesn’t appear – surely some mistake!)
The previous record was set by the European
Space Agency’s Rosetta probe, which travelled
as far as 492 million miles (792 million km)
from the sun. Juno went past this record earlier
Juno will reach Jupiter in July
this month, but still has a long way to go on its
journey to Jupiter. Juno has been designed to see beneath Jupiter’s thick clouds so
that scientists can learn more about the solar system’s biggest planet.
At that distance from the sun, Juno needs a large area of solar panels to collect
enough sunlight, so its three ‘arms’ are all 9m long.
For more pictures and videos, go to firstnews.co.uk
Can you make a fact file on this most unusual creature? Use information found in the article and add to it with your own research.
tardigrades
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. Maria
4. Anne
5. Margaret
6. Susan
7. Ruth
8. Anna
9. Alice
10. Dorothy
* First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
iStock
BY making water safer to
drink, this prototype could
help people living in less
developed countries and
disaster zones.
Science Museum
Can you find three other examples of fascinating or remarkable creatures in
the news? For each one, give the headline of the article, name the creature and
explain why it is interesting.
can a book
make dirty
water
drinkable?
Amy with her mum, brother and sister
AMY, 12, is a young carer for three members of her family – her
autistic older brother, her mother who is in severe pain from
illness, and her little sister who has epilepsy and is partially deaf.
Until now, Amy, from Ayrshire, has kept her home life a complete secret
from school because she doesn’t want to be treated differently from
other children.
Amy is a young carer for several hours every day. This means she can’t
take part in after-school activities and has to rush home every night to
look after her family, as well as trying to squeeze in her homework.
She says: “If I don’t get home straightaway, I won’t have time to help
mum make tea for everyone, tidy up and help with jobs – then do my
homework. I miss out on lots of things but don’t mind spending time
with my family.
“I’m doing something every minute at home to help. When I’m not
at home I’m worrying about my family. Since nine years old I’ve been
helping plan the family budget with my mum and now I still continue to
help organise my family.
“Since my little sister was one year old, I’ve had to take care of her –
changing her nappies, feeding her, getting her washed and dressed, every
day. I’m like a little mother because my mother is too ill a lot of the time.”
Genealogy website MooseRoots looked at their database
of 14,750 names of mathematicians, writers, artists,
philosophers, poets and Nobel Prize winners – and came up
with the most common names for geniuses.
get
snapping
for science
This report is from
our friends at the
Science Museum,
part of the Science
Museum Group.
Science Museum
A) REMARKABLE CREATURES IN THE NEWS
8. science news
16
AWARENESS DAY
28 JANUARY
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper.
Extension Activities
(YES, REALLY!)
YOUNG
CARERS
PA
BIG NEWS: ‘Space flower’ and SCIENCE: ‘Alive again’
THE CAT WHO LOVES
TAKING SELFIES!
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*
The medical miracles are
known as tardigrades. Because
of the way they move, they are
sometimes nicknamed water
bears or moss piglets.
Tardigrades are tiny – often
less than 1mm long – but are
some of the toughest living
things in the world. They can
survive extreme pressures and
temperatures, and even the
vacuum of outer space.
A report in Cryobiology says
that researchers collected
the tardigrades from moss in
Antarctica in 1983 and stored
them at -20°C until 2014.
One of the tardigrades went
on to lay eggs, which hatched
into healthy youngsters.
The longest time a creature
has been frozen and survived is
39 years. That record was set by
a nematode worm.
The only weekly newspaper for young people
The ONLY weekly newspaper for young people
Working with
Issue 501 £1.50 22 – 28 January 2016
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN 8-PAGE PULLOUT!
FESTIVE
BAKING
DICKENSIAN
CHRISTMAS
in the 1800s? We
but how about
of different ways,
Christmas Carol
was like for A
Christmas in lots
PEOPLE celebrate time to discover what the holiday Dickens Museum tells all.
in
Charles
take a step back
Price from The
Dickens. Louisa
author Charles
OF FOOD?
DID HE EAT LOTS
and just
at Doughty Street,
FirstNews WHY?
Trying to make sense
of what happened
in Paris
Amy is one of 700,000 young
carers in Britain today.
Here she tells us her story...
Issue 501
22nd - 28th January 2016
you should try
not to worry
snowmen
Krispie Christmas
DID IT TAKETO
HIM LONG
WRITE?
HIS STORY,
WHAT INSPIRED
CAROL?
A CHRISTMAS
300g mini marshmallows
180g Rice Krispies
or
1.
WITH the
festive holidays fast
homes he approaching, join the First
in one of his later
productions and
a theatre, which
of the rooms into
News team as they share
converted one
smallest
their favourite things
he would call the
They would
theatre in the world.
about Christmas…
perform Christmas-themed
They did
family productions.
Tom Thumb
it and“We leave
Dickens stage-managed carrots,
mince pies
performed in it.
and a drink
for Father
Christmas
on
the mantelpiece.”
called Ebenezer
a grumpy man
to become Executive,his former
learnsMarketing
Scrooge, who
the ghost of
visited by Meg
kinder after being
Christmas for Dickens through most of his life,
food. He
his general celebrations
a lot of wonderful
would have included various friends in the run-up
by
big
was gifted turkeys
gave him a very
1838, a lawyer
pie several
to Christmas. In
gave him a Yorkshire turkey the year
turkey and then
him a
publishers gave
after that and
years later. His
one of his
supporters
gave him
one that was
famous in
the family for
just being so
2.
Baking paper
Chocolate Christmas
pudding muffins
the only
weekly
newspaper
for young
lollies
Melt the butter
in a large saucepan
heat. Add the marshmallows
over a low
and cook gently
they are completely
until
melted – make
sure you stir
2. Take the pan off the
“Festive
heat and add
movies
mixing together
until well coated. the cereal,
– Home are my fave3. Dip your
Alone
hands in
be easier to shape a bowl of cold water (it will
On 34th 2, Miracle
the mixture) and
press the
The Santa Street, the cookie cutter shapes,
using the baking mixture into
Clause!” press the
Reporter/Production
paper as a base.
shapes
Then carefully
5. Press a lolly out onto the baking paper.
Co-ordinator,
into the base of
6. To finish, dipstick
the lollipop and
into melted chocolate
leave to set until
Hannah
firm.
and decorate as
you like!
Shopping list:
www.dickensmuseum.com
FIRST NEWS SUBSCRIPTION
LOGO Lite
Shaped cookie
cutters (we used
trees and gingerbread
men)
To decorate
Melted chocolate
or candy
melts (available
from specialist
baking shops)
A selection of
sweets and cake
decorations
1.
3.
the Charles Dickens
From 1 December, host a celebration of
will
Museum in London
Christmas Carol
include the A
Christmas. Events
A Costumed Christmas
Eve. For
Reimagined exhibition,
Dickensian Christmas visit
Walk and A Very
and to buy tickets,
more information
(YES, REALLY!)
to
extraordinarily
1.
“I like going then
large!
mass
in
midnight
back home
getting
2.
hours knowing
the early Christmas will
own Christmas 3.
that Father on his way!”
, with your very
soon be
world of First News
and
Assistant,
feature
STEP into the fascinating
from entertainment
Finance
Advertisement
Matthewsubscription! With everything there are tons of
4.
and science,
sports to animals to enjoy. Don’t forget to test
frantic! Get a question
is tense, fun and
and
stories for everyone fun“One
in the LOGO series
familyofchallenge
six different-coloured
5.
in our
my
THE latest game a go on the spinner. Collect
prizes!
your knowledge
favourite
have
to win great
things is
“The pine
right and you
enter our competitions
still opening
you win.
6.
News Christmas
counters and
smell of Christmas
Order the First
presents
thestocking
is
are
THE
receive
you’ll
me, that
at 4am
All 264 new cards
trees. To
subscription and
with
Book too!with
FANTASTICAL
my brother!”
News Quiz
fully compatible
Christmas!”
Fantastical First Marketing
FirstNews
Assistant,
offer code
the LOGO picture
quotingExecutive,
Editorial
“Chocolate!
Call 01795 592946,
Sophie
board game.
BOOK!
Jenna
blankets! NOVP15 or visit subscribe.firstnews.
QUIZ
start
Pigs in
Subscriptions
Age 8 to adult,
stockists
Sleep! Amazing!” co.uk/NOVP15. 2016.
RRP £19.99. For
January
Sports/Science from 1
or to play games
Ian
Editor,
online, visit
The dining room
“I love our
Christmas
traditional
Eve breakfast!”
Head Of Development
For Schools,
Sarah
people
Traditional mince
Shopping list:
pies
“I love
for sprinkling
–
dinner
1 large egg, plus
Christmas together260g unsalted
1 beaten egg
butter
for glazing
family
all
all the meal with 125g caster sugar,
plus extra
a jar of ready-made
for a big
mincemeat
the trimmings.”
1. Place the flour and
Editor,
butter in a bowl
and
Entertainment rub together using your
Serenalike crumbs.
fingertips until
it looks
Add the sugar
and the egg, then
2.
16
Tip out onto a
lightly-floured
surface and knead
until the pastry
comes
the pastry in clingfilm together into a ball. Wrap
and chill for 10mins.
3. Lightly grease a 12-hole
baking tray. Once
chilled, sprinkle
some flour onto
a clean work
surface and roll
the pastry out
to an even thickness.
circles (or 18 circles
“I like making
Cut out 24
and 6 stars) using
pretty decorative
and place into
a pastry cutter
the baking tray.
or the top of a
biscuits
glass
with my 4. Fill each pastry
circle with a teaspoon
wrapping
girls and
of mincemeat,
them in remaining
pastry circles or
then top with the
bag with
a
stars. Press the
edges down lightly
Brush the tops
a ribbon 5.pretty
of the pies with
to seal.
to 15-20mins
to their
give
beaten egg and
for
or until golden
then cook in the
Head Of grannies.”
brown. Leave to
Subscriptions,
cool and then sprinkleoven
Natasha
INSIDE: Christmas gift ideas, festive bakes and fun facts!
www.drumondpark.com
THE FIRST NEWS
YOUNG
CARERS
CHRISTMAS
COUNTDOWN
AWARENESS DAY
28 JANUARY
8-PAGE PULLOUT
INSIDE!
Amy with her mum, brother and sister
HOW FIRST NEWS
IS STAMPING OUT
BULLYING TODAY
AMY, 12, is a young carer for three members of her family – her
autistic older brother, her mother who is in severe pain from
illness, and her little sister who has epilepsy and is partially deaf.
TODAY around 50,000
Until now, Amy, from Ayrshire, has kept her home life a complete secret
of you diff
areerently
making
as
from school because she doesn’t want to be treated
from
much noise as possible
other children.
part
ofmeans
our Stamp
Out
Amy is a young carer for several hours everyasday.
This
she can’t
Bullying
take part in after-school activities and has to rush
homecampaign.
every night to
look after her family, as well as trying to squeeze
in her at
homework.
Coming
the end of
anhelp
She says: “If I don’t get home straightaway, Anti-Bullying
I won’t have Week,
time to
UK event
mum make tea for everyone, tidy up and helpannual
with jobs
– thenthat
doaims
my
to raise
awareness
homework. I miss out on lots of things but don’t
mind
spendingoftibullying
me
of children and young people,
with my family.
support
of our
“I’m doing something every minute at homeyour
to help.
When
I’mcampaign
not
will help in the fight
at home I’m worrying about my family. Since nine years old I’ve been
against bullying.
helping plan the family budget with my mum and
now
I still conti
nue to
With
celebrities
including
help organise my family.
singer Nadine Coyle and
“Since my little sister was one year old, I’ve interior
had to take
careKelly
of her
–
designer
Hoppen
changing her nappies, feeding her, getting her washed and dressed, every
Continued on page 4
day. I’m like a little mother because my mother is too ill a lot of the time.”
Turn to page 5 to find out more about young carers.
TOP TEN NAMES FOR SMART PEOPLE (apparently)!
by editor Nicky Cox
Pages 2 and 3
PA
BIG NEWS: ‘Space flower’ and SCIENCE: ‘Alive again’
THE FEAR
FACTOR – why
TREAT yourself
and your friends
festive treats.
and family to
We’ve got marshmallows,
some tasty,
muffins and mincehome-made
pies, so tuck in,
folks!
Shopping list:
Christmas celebrations
period.
a bit over the Victorian is that
know
One thing we do was very
that
it was a festival
Street
48 Doughty
heart and
close to Dickens’
a lot of
he celebrated with
at Doughty
enthusiasm. Christmas would have involved
home)
Street (his London various descriptions and
In
a lot of decorating. he wrote over the late 1830s,
that
talked
Christmas pieces
Carol in 1843, he
particularly A Christmasholly, mistletoe and ivy. You
with
been full of a lot
about decorating
house would have
can imagine the
of winter greenery.
the year*
I’M LIKE A
LITTLE MUM
Shopping list:
THE CAT WHO LOVES
TAKING SELFIES!
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*
National newspaper of
Marshmallow
DID DICKENS HAVE
ANY SPECIAL
TRADITIONS?
WHAT WAS LIKE
CHRISTMAS
FOR CHARLES
DICKENS?
changed
2
*
READERS
@Instagram/yoremahm
Working with
Issue 492 £1.50 20 – 26 November 2015
10 YEARS
OF AWARD
WINNING
*
MORE THAN
NEWS!
MILLION
WANT to grow up clever? It’s more likely if you have one of these names, says a new study.
Genealogy website MooseRoots looked at their database
of 14,750 names of mathematicians, writers, artists,
philosophers, poets and Nobel Prize winners – and came up
with the most common names for geniuses.
BOYS
1. John
2. Robert
3. William
4. Charles
5. David
6. James
7. Richard
8. Johann
9. George
10. Paul
The most common name for men is John and, for women,
it’s Mary.
Check to see if your name is on the list. (I’ve checked three
times and Nicky doesn’t appear – surely some mistake!)
GIRLS
FEEL
THE FORCE
3. Maria
4. Anne
5. Margaret
NEW 2.MAGAZINES
Elizabeth
6. Susan
OUT NOW
1. Mary
© 2015 The LEGO Group.
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper.
7. Ruth
8. Anna
9. Alice
10. Dorothy
© & TM 2015 LUCASFILM LTD.
* First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
E2699
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper. * First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
AIM OF THE NEWS COMPREHENSIONS
News reports are unique non-fiction texts. Being real, they naturally engage children, and with the range of topics that
are covered, help to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the wider world outside the classroom.
The reports are ideal for short, focused comprehension or discussion activities. Along with the opportunity to find
fascinating facts and appreciate the opinions of those involved, there is plenty to be inferred and deduced to understand
in more depth what is being reported. Like authors, journalists play with language, so news ‘stories’ are rich nuggets of
text to investigate and provide the opportunity for a wide range of reading skills to be practised each week. These skills
should fit within most schools’ reading and literacy programmes.
TEACHER ANSWER GUIDE
The teacher answers are intended to provide a guide to the reading skill each question is practising. Suggestions are
given for a STARTING POINT response that pupils could give. Further suggestions then give a fuller, more DEVELOPED
RESPONSE that students will work towards to reach and exceed the standards required at the end of primary school.
For a list of these reading skills used to reference questions, please email [email protected].
CURRICULUM REFERENCES for ENGLAND
A reference is given for the elements from the national curriculum programme of study for English that will be assessed
in the Y6 reading test in May 2016 (along with the relevant Assessment Focus strand for school continuing to use these).
Look at the article ‘Space Flower’
1) Why is this a very special blossom?
READING SKILL: Infer information and ideas
(NC 2c / SATs CD 2d(i) / AF3)
Starting point:
• It flowered in space.
Developed response:
• It was grown on the International Space Station and is the first ever flower to blossom in space.
2) How did astronaut Scott Kelly communicate the news with the world?
READING SKILL: Explain key information and details
(NC2a / SATs CD 2b(ii) / AF2)
Starting point:
• Twitter
Developed response:
• He used the website Twitter to send people a short message and a photograph.
3) Astronauts such as Tim Peake live on the ISS for six months at a time. Why do you think flowers and plants might help “lift
the spirits” of the ISS crew?
READING SKILL: Infer information and ideas, and explain and justify with evidence
(NC 2c & 8 / SATs CD 2d(ii) / AF3)
and
READING SKILL: Developing personal ideas / responses based on understanding gained from reading, discussing and
understanding a news story
(NC 6, 7 & 8 )
Starting point:
• They will be nice to look at.
• Perhaps the astronauts are missing plants.
Developed response:
• Six months is a long time to spend in the strange environment of space. The astronauts may well be missing the natural
environment of Earth (trees, plants and animals) so flowers and plants might help to cheer them up.
Look at the article ‘Alive again’.
4) Describe the incredible biological feat which has got tardigrades into the news this week.
READING SKILL: Explain key information and details
(NC2a / SATs CD 2b(ii) / AF2)
Starting point:
• They have come back to life after being frozen.
Developed response:
• Some tardigrades were frozen for more than 30 years and they have been thawed out and have come back to life! One
even went on to have young.
The only weekly newspaper for young people
Working with
@Instagram/yoremahm
Issue 501 £1.50 22 – 28 January 2016
10 YEARS
OF AWARD
WINNING
NEWS!*
I’M LIKE A
LITTLE MUM
FirstNews
Issue 501
22nd - 28th January 2016
(YES, REALLY!)
16
YOUNG
CARERS
AWARENESS DAY
28 JANUARY
Amy is one of 700,000 young
carers in Britain today.
Here she tells us her story...
Amy with her mum, brother and sister
AMY, 12, is a young carer for three members of her family – her
autistic older brother, her mother who is in severe pain from
illness, and her little sister who has epilepsy and is partially deaf.
Until now, Amy, from Ayrshire, has kept her home life a complete secret
from school because she doesn’t want to be treated differently from
other children.
Amy is a young carer for several hours every day. This means she can’t
take part in after-school activities and has to rush home every night to
look after her family, as well as trying to squeeze in her homework.
She says: “If I don’t get home straightaway, I won’t have time to help
mum make tea for everyone, tidy up and help with jobs – then do my
homework. I miss out on lots of things but don’t mind spending time
with my family.
“I’m doing something every minute at home to help. When I’m not
at home I’m worrying about my family. Since nine years old I’ve been
helping plan the family budget with my mum and now I still continue to
help organise my family.
“Since my little sister was one year old, I’ve had to take care of her –
changing her nappies, feeding her, getting her washed and dressed, every
day. I’m like a little mother because my mother is too ill a lot of the time.”
Turn to page 5 to find out more about young carers.
TOP TEN NAMES FOR SMART PEOPLE (apparently)!
by editor Nicky Cox
WANT to grow up clever? It’s more likely if you have one of these names, says a new study.
Genealogy website MooseRoots looked at their database
of 14,750 names of mathematicians, writers, artists,
philosophers, poets and Nobel Prize winners – and came up
with the most common names for geniuses.
PA
BIG NEWS: ‘Space flower’ and SCIENCE: ‘Alive again’
THE CAT WHO LOVES
TAKING SELFIES!
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*
BOYS
1. John
2. Robert
3. William
4. Charles
5. David
6. James
7. Richard
8. Johann
9. George
10. Paul
* The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper.
The most common name for men is John and, for women,
it’s Mary.
Check to see if your name is on the list. (I’ve checked three
times and Nicky doesn’t appear – surely some mistake!)
GIRLS
1. Mary
2. Elizabeth
3. Maria
4. Anne
5. Margaret
6. Susan
7. Ruth
8. Anna
9. Alice
10. Dorothy
* First News weekly readership is 2,042,199. Source: Opinion Matters 2014. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17.
5a) What two-word, alliterative description does the journalist use for tardigrades?
READING SKILL: Recognising effect of language choices
(NC 2f & 3 / SATs CD 2g / AF5&6)
Starting point:
• medical miracles
5b) Why is this an appropriate description?
READING SKILL: Recognising effect of language choices
(NC 2f & 3 / SATs CD 2g / AF5&6)
Developed response:
• It seems miraculous that the tardigrades can come back to life after being frozen – it is almost impossible to believe.
• They are ‘medical’ miracles because it is their bodies which are amazing. Their ability to survive being frozen and boiled
seems to go against all that we know about how bodies work.
6) Find two other nicknames for the creatures.
READING SKILL: Identify information
(NC 2a / SATs CD 2b(i) / AF2)
1.
water bears 2. moss piglets
7) Put these events in order:
READING SKILL: Identify information
(NC 2a / SATs CD 2b(i) / AF2)
• 31 years later the creatures were defrosted. - 3
• The creatures came back to life and one even went on to have healthy young. - 4
• They were put in the freezer and stored at -20 OC. - 2
• Tardigrades were collected in 1982 from moss growing in Antarctica. - 1
8) Tardigrades are quite extraordinary creatures. Find four extreme environments, or conditions, that the tiny creature can
survive in.
READING SKILL: Explain key information and details
(NC2a / SATs CD 2b(ii) / AF2)
Developed response:
• freezing
• boiling
• extreme pressure
• the vacuum of outer space
9) Both of these articles are about experiments on nature in extreme environments. Can you explain how each article is
related to this theme?
READING SKILL: Infer information and ideas, and explain and justify with evidence
(NC 2c & 8 / SATs CD 2d(ii) / AF3)
Starting point:
• One is about an experiment in space and one is about an experiment where things have been frozen.
Developed response:
• ‘Space flower’ is about an experiment to grow flowers in the extreme environment of space - an environment without
gravity.
• ‘Alive again’ is about an experiment where tiny creatures have been frozen for 30 years and then brought back to life.
10) Learning about tardigrades and how plants grow in space could be very useful to humans. But there’s still lots to learn.
What big questions do you think scientists would like to have answered next?
READING SKILL: Infer information and ideas, and explain and justify with evidence
(NC 2c & 8 / SATs CD 2d(ii) / AF3)
and
READING SKILL: Ask questions to deepen understanding
(NC2b / SATs CD not tested / AF2)
Starting point:
• How do tardigrades come back to life when they’ve been frozen?
• Why don’t they die?
• Can we grow lots of flowers in space?
• Could we grow food on the space station?
Developed response:
• How do tardigrades manage to mend their bodies, or stop them from being destroyed?
• Once we know this, is there anything we can learn which would help us protect or mend our own bodies?
• Could we make materials similar to tardigrades which are very tough and robust?
• Will plants grow in space as well as they do on Earth?
• Could we grow enough plants to feed people on long space journeys?