Puzzle Answers
A Boxing. B Gymnastics. C Hurdles. D Netball. E Weightlifting. F Judo.
New words: Stow. Lime. Amen. Pent. COMMONWEALTH CHALLENGE
1 Slap. 2 Time. 3 Omen. 4 Went.
9 Strange. 13 Era. 14 Tibia. 16 Tank. 17 Hear DOWN: 1 Ball. 2 Aid. 4 Sting. 5 Area. 6 Penalty. 10 Train. 11 Nest. 12 Pair. 15 Bee. BIG :MYSTERY Medals. FOUR FIT
ACROSS: 1 Boar. 3 Asia. 7 Ledge. 8 Ice.
GIGGLE IN THE MIDDLE CROSSWORD
POTTER’S PUZZLE Prophet. PATCH’S PROBLEM: Page 14.
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Andrew Stone Published weekly by The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. ISSN 1363-5662. 3 Commonwealth Games and Ed’s Bit 4–5 KA! JAM 6 Proverbially Speaking 7 Patch’s Problem 8–9 Giggle in the Middle 10 Floofs Competition 11 Glasgow Fact File 12–13 KA! World 14–15 Your Space 16 Patch’s Pals Eric the Electric Eel KA! JAM
EDITOR Cara Mott
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PROOFREADER Chris Horne
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DEPUTY EDITOR AND KA! JAM CO-ORDINATOR Ibukun Baku
Hey there, readers! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this issue of Kids Alive! If you would like to get your own copy of Kids Alive! delivered to your home every week, why not ask your parents or carers to take out a subscription* for you? Every week, Kids Alive! includes a cartoon Bible story, a competition, puzzles, jokes, comic strips and topical activities and articles for you to enjoy.
Territorial Headquarters Switchboard – 0845 634 0101
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main
CCommonwealth Games Glasgow 2026
an you believe how many fantastic sporting competitions are taking place this summer? Thanks to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the FIFA 2026 World Cup, there have already been so many spectacular sporting moments to enjoy! However, we reckon there are still plenty of awesome athletic triumphs to come this summer – because the 2026 Commonwealth Games begin on Thursday 23 July!
The Commonwealth Games are a spectacular competition which take place every four years. This year, around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations will be travelling to take part in 10 different sports, including basketball, gymnastics and judo. Swimmers will put on their goggles, boxers will don their gloves and cyclists will grab their helmets – ready to put their skills to the test!
One thing that’s particularly exciting about the 2026 Commonwealth Games is that they’re taking place in Glasgow. This means that as well as watching lots of magnificent events on the TV, some of our readers might get to watch the Games in person! Whether you’re watching the Commonwealth Games from the comfort of your sofa or right where the action’s happening, we reckon you’ll have a fab time seeing some of the world’s best athletes giving it their all!
You can buy tickets for the Commonwealth Games at glasgow2026.com/tickets
You’ll be able to watch the Games on TNT Sports and HBO Max – highlights will also be shown on Channel 5. Scottish viewers can also watch on BBC Alba.
Did you know the Commonwealth Games have a nickname – the Friendly Games? This is because their aim is to bring people from all over the world together through sport. It’s not just about competing and winning – although there will be plenty of medals up for grabs. Instead, the focus is on friendship, respect and celebrating everyone who’s taking part.
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone focused on those three things? Rather than competing with others all the time, we could all run together towards the same finish line, helping others along the way. Why not bring that Friendly Games vibe to your school, church, family or club? You can do that by making sure that nobody feels left out, everyone is treated kindly and all different skills and talents are celebrated. If we do this, we’ll also win something that’s far better than anything else – we’ll be gold medal winners in God’s eyes!
Let God Shape You
Iiwonder if you’ve ever made something out of iclay – it’s kind of messy but it’s lots of fun! If you haven’t made something from clay, you might have used something like FIMO (other brands are available) to make figures, jewellery or ornaments. If you’ve used any kind of clay, you’ll know that as long as you don’t let it dry out you can keep changing and reshaping it until the moment you pop it in a kiln or an oven.
In this week’s cartoon Bible story, the potter represents God and the clay represents his people. God uses the scene to help Jeremiah understand that, with God’s help, people can be changed and reshaped until they’re just how they need to be to do what God asks them to do.
So, how do we allow God to change and reshape us? I find the more time I spend with God – through reading the Bible and talking to him in prayer – the more I understand him and the way he wants me to live. Through that process, God gently changes me and, bit by bit, I become more like the person he wants me to be, which helps me to live his way. I’d love for you to experience that life-changing relationship too.
The good news is, God will never put us in a kiln or an oven. That means if we make a mistake, we can ask God for his help to try again.
says Justin Reeves
Below are pictures of the stages of making a jug. Each picture has a letter on it. From blob of clay to completed jug, write the letters in the spaces provided in the correct order to reveal a word linked to this week’s Bible story.
Tongue Twisters
See if you can say this terrifically tough tongue twister 10 times!
Sixty
silly sisters singing
Angkor Wat
? ? ?
?
Angkor Wat is a place in Cambodia, South-East Asia that really has the wow factor! Built by Suryavarman II and the Khmer people, this temple was created to represent Mount Meru – the place Hindus believe is the centre of the universe and home to their gods. Building Angkor Wat was no easy task, because it’s thought to be the world’s largest religious building! In fact, it’s believed it took around 300,000 workers and 6,000 elephants to construct! Visitors to this magni cent site are fascinated by the decorative carvings that show historical events and mythical stories. Lots of Hindus and Buddhists also make pilgrimages to visit this spectacular site. Many Cambodians love Angkor Wat and it even appears on their national ag.
Patch’s Problem...
HELLO, READERS, I’VE LOST A VERY IMPORTANT OBJECT SOMEWHERE IN THE ISSUE. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME FIND IT? I HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE.
World Wonder
Our world is pretty awesome! All around the globe there are magni cent things to see. So jump in our imaginary jumbo jet and travel the world with us!
What is harder to catch the faster you run? Your breath!
What was the runner’s favourite lesson at school? Jog-raphy!
Crossword Clues
by Neil Locker
across:
1 Wild pig. 3 Largest continent. 7 Narrow shelf-like surface on a wall or cliff, for example.
8 Frozen water. 9 Odd or unusual. 13 Period of history. 14 Leg bone. 16 Glass container for pet fish. 17 Perceive with your ears.
down:
Crossword Clues
1 Spherical object in cricket, for example.
2 Help or assistance. 4 Wasp’s weapon.
5 Region. 6 Spot kick in football. 10 Passenger vehicle on rails. 11 Bird’s home. 12 Duo or twosome. 15 Busy insect.
Answers on Page 2
para bowls judo boxing netball wheelchair athletics swimming gold bronze silver glasgow podium basketball track cycling
He he, he he!
Ho ho, ha ha, he he!
Ha ha, ha ha, ha ha!
Identify the mystery item in the magnifying glass
FOUR FIT
He he, he he!
Ho ho, ha ha, he he!
Place the four words into the numbered rows so that four new words are formed in the columns
OMEN WENT SLAP TIME
by Neil Locker
What’s a boxer’s favourite part of a joke? The punch line!
What do you get when you cross an elephant with a fish? Swimming trunks!
Why do basketball players love cookies and milk?
Because they can dunk them!
What type of race is never run?
A swimming race!
FLOOFS COMPETITION
Do you know what the word ‘ oof’ means? It’s a slang term for an animal which is fantastically uffy – and it’s also the name of the heroes in Penelope O’Neill’s Floofs graphic novel series! The Floofs might look a bit like bunnies, rats or mice. However, these heroes aren’t any animal species that you’ve ever encountered before. A Floof is a Floof – it’s as simple as that! In the rst two books in the Floofs series, the Floofs have been on some spectacular adventures. They’ve had to gure out why stars are disappearing from the night sky, and they’ve even had to outrun an avalanche! Now, in The Floofs Bring the Magic, the Floofs will explore fairy- lled forests, sweeping deserts and secret doors which lead to somewhere else entirely! For the opportunity to win your own bundle of books from the Floofs series, answer the question below and email your full name, age, address and answer to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk Remember to put ‘Floofs Competition’ in the subject box. Your entry needs to reach us by Friday 14 August when the winners will be chosen. You can also enter by lling in the details on the coupon below and posting it to: Floofs Competition, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ.
Name:
Address:
GLASGOW FACT fiLE
FANTASTIC FOOTBALL
Countries from all around the world have been competing against each other in the 2026 World Cup – but it was in Glasgow on 30 November 1872 that the first footie match between two different countries took place. Scotland played England, and the game ended in a draw!
PERFECT PARKS
Even though Glasgow is a massive city (it’s home to more than 663,000 people), it’s surprisingly very green. Glasgow has more than 90 parks and green spaces, including The Hidden Park and the Glasgow Botanical Garden.
UNBELIEVABLE UNDERGROUND
Glasgow is home to one of the world’s oldest underground rail systems – and the only underground metro in all of Scotland! This railway system opened in 1896 and has never expanded beyond its original route.
DELICIOUS DINNER
Fancy a curry for dinner tonight? If you were to order a chicken tikka masala, then you’d be munching on a dish that was invented in Glasgow. That’s right – this famous curry was invented in Glasgow in the 1970s by a chef called Ali Ahmed Aslam!
TERRIfiC TELEVISION
What would you be doing right now if you weren’t reading Kids Alive!? If the answer is watching TV, then you should know that you have Glasgow to thank for televisions. A Scottish inventor called John Logie Baird sent the very first moving TV images to a hotel in Glasgow!
INCREDIBLE INVENTIONS
Lots of awesome inventions have been created in Glasgow. In 1956, the first ultrasound machine was made in Glasgow, which is an important device used by doctors. And in the 19th century, a Glaswegian called Charles Mackintosh made the raincoat!
DURING THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, WHY DON’T YOU SEE IF YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE FAB FACTS ABOUT GLASGOW?
Living a healthy and active lifestyle, and caring for your physical, mental and spiritual well-being
Spectacular Summer
Has your summer holiday already started, or is it creeping up on you faster than a scuttling bug? Without long maths lessons, fab assemblies and bonkers lunchtime antics to keep you busy, you might nd yourself struggling to know what to get up to. In this new series, we’ve got tons of ideas to keep you entertained for the whole summer!
Out and About
Having a Picnic
Picture this – you’re sitting on a blanket in a park on a beautiful, sunny day. Nearby, a few friends are throwing a frisbee. You’ll join in with their game, but only after eating the delicious sandwich in your lunchbox!
It’s hard to beat a good picnic on a sunny day. Why not invite some friends to enjoy a picnic in your garden or in a local park? You could bring some of your favourite snacks and play some fab games. Just make sure you put any rubbish into a bin before you leave!
Save It for a Rainy Day
Heavy rain, fierce wind – sometimes the weather’s so horrid you can’t go outside! The next time it’s a rainy day, try…
Making a Stop-Motion Film
If the sun’s shining and you’re itching for something fun to get up to outside, try…
Stop-motion lms are created by taking photos of objects, and by moving each object slightly between each picture. Once the photos are put together, it will look like the objects are moving completely on their own!
You could make a stop-motion lm using Lego gures, or you could use modelling clay. You could use a piece of fruit from your kitchen, or even a friend or sibling! All you need is a camera – or a parent or carer’s phone or tablet! For some fab tips, check out a video made by a stop-motion pro at bbc.co.uk/newsround/av/55050971 at
Learn Something New
School might be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean that your learning should stop! This week, let’s learn about…
Chess
Bite-size Bible
Chess is a game in which two players take turns to move their pieces, with the aim of trapping the other player’s leader (which is known as the king). Although chess can be tricky, it’s also ridiculously fun. You can nd out more by heading to chesskid.com/learn/articles/how-to-play-chess
Now that you’ve got lots of free time, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to explore more of the Bible. We think you should check out…
Joshua 1:9
Fancy playing a game that will help to improve your problem-solving skills, memory and creative thinking? If the answer to that question is ‘yes’, then we think you should learn how to play chess!
Summer Journal
Are you afraid of spiders, heights or aeroplanes? This week’s Bible verse reminds us that God is always with us, so we have nothing to be afraid of. God is stronger (and far greater) than anything else in this world, so we can trust that he’ll look after us.
let’s
When we trust in God, this can help us to be courageous! We can try things that might scare us, because we have God on our side. For example, we can tell our friends about Jesus! Since God is stronger than anything in the world, let’s choose to be brave and trust in him.
What delicious treats will you bring on your picnic? Use the space below to write or draw about the most scrumptious picnic in the world!
Martha
Age? 7.
Favourite colour? Blue.
Favourite food? Fish and chips and Pringles.
Favourite sport? Swimming.
Favourite bit of Kids Alive!? Reading different profiles.
Favourite Bible story and why? Mary and Martha, because I’m Martha.
Favourite TV programme? Free Rein.
What do you want to be when you’re older? A singer.
Pets? None.
To see your name and birthday printed in a future issue of KA! email your full name and date of birth to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
18 July
James Tye – age 9
22 July
William Bartle – age 10
Hobbies? Cartwheels and colouring. Tell us a joke. Why is six scared of seven? Because seven eight nine! What special skill or talent do you have? Doing splits and bridges. Tell us something interesting about yourself. I’m moving to Congo (DRC)! Is there anything else you would like to tell us? I’ve always wanted to be in Kids Alive!
The Kids Alive! team loves to hear from its readers. And guess what –other readers love reading your news! So why not get in touch? You can email or post your own colourings, drawings and letters. Or you could ask your Sunday school, church or corps leaders to email us or write to us with any news about the fun stuff you’ve been doing at your church or corps.
Email: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ G e t I n T o u c h ! H a p p y B i r t h d a y t o y o u !
We hope the move to Congo goes well, Martha. Get in touch to let us know what it’s like when you get there!
Cool Colourings
Timothy, aged 8, has coloured this firefighter really neatly! We love the extra flames and smoke they’ve added!
William, aged 8, has also sent us a fab Firefighters Colouring –we love it!
We love this World Book Day Colouring from George, aged 11. Great work!
Jerina, aged 7, has done a brilliant job with this Sun Awareness Week Colouring! Look at the super sun shining down!
Tomas, aged 13, has put a lot of creativity into his World Book Day Colouring!
New Junior Soldiers
A junior soldier is a young member of The Salvation Army Agnes, Amelia, Andrea, Birmingham Citadel; Nikini, Nottingham Aspley.
How did your visit to the doctor go, Eric?
She said the reason i’m feeling DOWN IS because I spend SO much time on my own.
She said I need MORE COMPANY.
So I joined a cricket team, but that didn’t last long.
They weren’t at all interested in my excuse that the doctor had told me…
They got fed up with ME MAKING IT TOO EASY FOR THE OTHER team TO catch me when I was BATTING.
