Monday, 23 August, 2021
Paralympics here we come!; Antarctic air drop rescue mission; Giants, Demons big weekend; and babbling bats and high-fiving apes.
LINKS
Squiz Kids Survey … (just for adults!) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DWMQFJW
Swysh
Personalised video messages from your favourite sports stars
Squiz Kids Q+A with Paralympian Tian Taylor https://www.squizkids.com.au/squiz-kids-specials/squiz-kids-qa-with-paralympian-tyan-taylor/
Extreme home delivery to Antarctica: https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2021/airdrop-delivers-critical-supplies-to-mawson-research-station/
Cool Science Experiments:
Squiz Kids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squizkids/?hl=en
Got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out? Send us an email at [email protected]
Squiz Kids is proudly supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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When the Paralympics kick off tomorrow, with an opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, if you look closely you might see a temporary tattoo on the arms, legs and torsos of athletes from all over the world.
WeThe15 it will say …
So what does it mean?
It’s part of a major campaign which will be launched at the Games reminding us that 15% of the world’s population lives with a disability.
Around the world, it’s estimated that some 1.2 billion of us lives with a disability – which is just huge. And what better way to celebrate that fact than at a Paralympic Games where – for the next two weeks, we’ll be wowed by the skill, athleticism and all round awesomeness of some of the best athletes in the world.
Some 4,400 athletes from 160 nations will take part in the Paralympics, 179 from Australia. At the last Paralympics, Australia came fifrth in the medal tally, with 22 gold medals – an effort we’re hoping to repeat this time around. The opening ceremony will kick off proceedings tomorrow night – kind of late-ish at 9pm – but maybe you’ll get permission to stay up. In the meantime, make sure you get up to speed on all things Paralympic with our excellent Squiz Kids Q+A with Aussie goalball star, Tian Taylor … I’ve put a link to it in today’s episode notes.
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops, and today we’ve landed in Antarctica. Actually, the point is that we haven’t landed. Bear with me.
It’s winter at the South Pole, and because it’s -25 degrees Celsius, it’s too cold for planes to land there without their engines freezing up.
Usually, the Australian researchers who spend the winter at Mawson Station get their supplies from a ship that can smash through the thick ice to reach them. But this year, the icebreaker broke down – meaning there have been no fresh supplies since March. Wowsers. Imagine if no one in your house had been to the shops since MARCH.
So this weekend the Australian Air Force pulled off a very tricky re-supply mission. After flying the 5,000km to get to Mawson, they air-dropped several months worth of food, medical supplies and mail. Then, the plane turned around and started the journey back – with a tanker transport plane flying alongside, so that it could refuel mid-air. Check your episode notes for a video about the operation, and lovely photos of the researchers eating fresh fruit. How good must that have tasted?
SPORTS TIME
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And it was a big weekend in the sporting world as all the major winter sporting codes in Australia hurtle towards finals seasons.
It’s going to be all all-NSW grand final next weekend for the Super Netball after the Giants beat the West Coast Fever 64-61 on Saturday. The Giants will now face the Swifts in the grand final.
Meanwhile, in AFL, the Melbourne Demons left it to the absolute last minute to kick the winning goal in their clash against the Geelong Cats on Saturday, to just scrape their way to the top of the ladder and claim their first minor premiership since 1964 …
The minor premiership goes to the team that is at the top of the ladder going into the finals.
And speaking of record books, in NRL, the Melbourne Storm pulled off a convincing victory against the Titans on Thursday night to win their 19th game in a row – which is equal best ever with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters from 1975.
And a special shout out to Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah – who clocked the second fastest women’s 100m of all time at the weekend, running it 10.54 seconds.
That’s fast …
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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Ever suspected that humans are just like bats? No, me neither. But a new study of bats by scientists in Costa Rica – which is small country in Central America teeming with wildlife – has found that baby bats and baby humans have more in common than we ever thought. In the same way that babies babbles when they are bubs – making nonsense sounds as they figure out how to speak – baby bats also babble too – making all sorts of silly noises as they work out how to communicate.
Meanwhile – our similarity to apes has also been underscored by a study which found that just like humans – apes greet each and other at the start of a conversation and say goodbye at the end of it.
Scientists studied chimps and bonobos in zoos across the world and found that just like humans, apes begin and ended almost every social interaction with a hello signal and a goodbye signal – be it a wave, a pat, a bumping of heads or a fist bump. That last one may not be strictly true.
SURVEY CALL-OUT
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And it’s a big Squiz Kids Salute to all the parents who have filled out the Squiz Kids survey … you’ve all done your homework over the weekend and the flood of responses is much appreciated.
Teachers … ah teachers ….. Yes, I know it’s a tough time for you out there. But we also know how much you download this podcast each day in your classrooms – and if we’re going to make it even better for you – we really need you to take the five minutes to fill it out the survey. Go on, do me a solid.
And don’t forget: everyone who completes the survey goes in the draw to win their choice of either a $200 Booktopia voucher or a $200 Rebel voucher.
The link to the survey is in your episode notes.. The survey closes tomorrow.
SWYSH
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It’s time for the S’Quiz, but before we jump in … Father’s Day is around the corner? Have you worked out what to give your dad? Let me help you out: Swysh is a cool new service putting Aussies in touch with their favourite sports stars – providing personalised video messages from all the big names in all the big codes – from NRL to AFL, union to cricket. If they’re a big deal in the sports world – they’re on Swysh – and just waiting to send a custom-made message to your Dad this Father’s Day.
You can ask them to thank dad for being the best, talk about a career highlight or entertain him with a funny memory, whatever you like!
And the best bit? Part of the proceeds from every Swysh video goes to charities like the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Variety. Check them out at heyswysh.com – that’s s-w-y-s-h. But get in quick before the top stars sell out. There’s a link to their website in today’s episode notes.”
THE S’QUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- What great big sporting event kicks off in Tokyo tomorrow?
- On which great big frozen continent did a special delivery of supplies have to be air-dropped?
- Baby humans babble like the babies of what other animal species?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s August 23… the start of national Science Week here in Australia. And what better way to celebrate science week than do a bunch of cool experiments – each of which can easily be done at home? I’ve stuck a link in today’s episode notes to a bunch of cool experiments … the Pasta Rocket one is my favourite.
It’s a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today….Grace from Fairfield Heights, Alex from Randwick, Alex from Waitara, Githanjali from West Ryde, Bailey from Kempsey, Sherwin from Henley Beach South, Siena from Blackburn, Beth from Salisbury, Patience from Fawkner, Alia from Oakleigh, Sienna from Balwyn, Elka from Mossvale, Aadil from Lynbrook, Cillian from Bellfield, Molly from Hamlyn Heights, Philip from Belrose, Lincoln from Termeil and Skarlett from NSW.
And a belated birthday wish to… Mia from Springwood.
Plus!! … Because our friends in Melbourne, Canberra and all of NSW are in lockdown – we’re sending out Home Learning Herograms …
to Ms Ingram and Mrs Douglas from 5B at St John the Apostle in Narraweena and thank you from the class for supporting them through lockdown.
Another herogram to Year 1 Echidna Class and Year 4 Dingo Class at the The German Bilingual School in Fitzroy North – who keep learning and working hard in their 6th lockdown. Also to the teachers and parents supporting the kids.
Zoe sends a Home learning Herogram to Anna who teaches 5C at Fairfield Primary School, because she has done an awesome job teaching the class from home this year.
Abby and Evie send a herogram to Mrs Mortlock at Seven Hills West School who teaches fantastic zoom classes – and a shout out to the class KM.
And one more herogram to Ms Hainsworth at Beresfield Public School from Jake in class 5/6H.
Plus a couple of classroom shout outs to those of you not in lockdown…
To Mrs Littlewood and Year 6 at Brisbane Adventist College. And Ruby in Grade 5 sends a shout out to Mrs McAuliffe at Windsor Public School and thanks her for all her help.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Paralympics
- Antarctica
- Bats