Monday, November 20, 2023
Your daily kids news podcast.
Australia wins the Cricket World Cup; Mulletfest is almost upon us; meet the firefighting goats; and SpaceX gets ready to try, try, again.
LINKS
YouTube’s Hit Pause: https://www.youtube.com/hitpause
Mulletfest Australia: https://www.mulletfest.com.au/
Squiz Kids is an award-winning, free daily news podcast just for kids. Give us ten minutes, and we’ll give you the world. A short podcast that gives kids the lowdown on the big news stories of the day, delivered without opinion, and with positivity and humour.
‘Kid-friendly news that keeps them up to date without all the nasties’ (A Squiz Parent)
This Australian podcast for kids easily fits into the daily routine – helping curious kids stay informed about the world around them.
Fun. Free. Fresh.
LINKS
YouTube’s Hit Pause: https://www.youtube.com/hitpause
Mulletfest Australia: https://www.mulletfest.com.au/
World Children’s Day Resources: https://www.savethechildren.org.nz/educationhub/world-childrens-day/
Squiz Kids Book Club: https://www.squizkids.com.au/book_club/
Newshounds
Get started on our free media literacy resource for classrooms
https://www.squizkids.com.au/about-newshounds/
Classroom Companion:
Teachers! Want to access free, curriculum-aligned classroom resources tied to the daily podcast? Sign up to be a Squiz Kids Classroom and download the Classroom Companion each day. Made by teachers for teachers, differentiated to suit all primary school ability levels. And did we mention it’s free?
Stay up to date with us on our Squiz Kids Instagram!
Got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out? Complete the form on our Squiz Kids website. Link: SHOUT OUTS or / send us an email at [email protected]
Squiz Kids Book Club: https://www.squizkids.com.au/book_club/
Newshounds
Get started on our free media literacy resource for classrooms
https://www.squizkids.com.au/about-newshounds/
Classroom Companion:
Teachers! Want to access free, curriculum-aligned classroom resources tied to the daily podcast? Sign up to be a Squiz Kids Classroom and download the Classroom Companion each day. Made by teachers for teachers, differentiated to suit all primary school ability levels. And did we mention it’s free?
Stay up to date with us on our Squiz Kids Instagram!
Got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out? Complete the form on our Squiz Kids website. Link: SHOUT OUTS or / send us an email at [email protected]
THE LOWDOWN
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It was a weekend of sport not for the faint hearted, meaning that you had to be ready for some drama and some tension. Viewers were quite literally on the edges of their seats.
As was I, very early this morning, as Australia took out the final of the One Day International Cricket World Cup against India. After 45 days and 47 matches where India remained undefeated, Australia won the final match convincingly with six wickets in hand. Travis Head taking out man of the match scoring 137 to help the Aussies to their 241 run target with 42 balls to spare.
The AFLW players also battled it out this weekend for a spot in next week’s preliminary finals. The Adelaide Crows ended the Sydney Swans’ season with a 67 point victory, and Sunday afternoon’s matchup between the Melbourne Demons and Geelong Cats became a nailbiter as the Cats held on to win over last year’s reigning premiers, putting both the Cats and the Crows into next week’s finals against the Brisbane Lions and the North Melbourne Kangaroos respectively.
Meanwhile, over in Las Vegas, young Aussie driver Oscar Piastri started the Formula One Grand Prix way back at number 18 on the grid before driving an almost flawless race, seeing him get up to 3rd place at one point, before dropping back to finish in10th position for McLaren, and gaining extra point for the fastest lap of the race.The race was won by World Champion, Max Verstappen, for the Red Bull Racing team, all while wearing an Elvis-inspired race suit. Viva Las Vegas.
And finally, to the biggest nailbiter of all… The countdown of the top 100 episodes of Bluey…and the winner… Cricket! Where Bluey’s Dad explains that cricket is much more than hitting a ball around. No spoilers, but if you haven’t seen it, you are missing out! Where are those tissues.
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 England, where country doctor, Allistaire Bush, is getting very…bushy!? Dr. Bush, who had always had a very neat haircut, started growing his luscious locks during a COVID lockdown and when the opportunity came around for a cut, he opted for the “business at the front, party at the back” look that is the mullet. Hmm… why is this news I hear you ask? Well, it’s because Dr. Bush’s magnificent mullet has scored him an entry to Mulletfest. An international celebration of mullets to be held in NSW’s Hunter Valley next month.
And if he wins? Dr. Bush plans to cut off the mullet, burn the hair, and place the ashes into an urn in tribute to the tiny trophy that is awarded in the prestigious cricket test tournament between Australia and England, known as the Ashes.
I’ve stuck a link to Mulletfest in your episode notes in case you want to start prepping for next year.
SPACED OUT
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Has anyone ever told you that ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again’? It can be a really annoying thing to hear when something hasn’t gone to plan, but it’s a super important lesson to learn, and one that SpaceX (Elon Musk’s spaceflight company) will be taking to heart this week.
A planned test flight of an uncrewed spacecraft, called Starship, launched from South Texas on Saturday morning, US time. It successfully reached space but couldn’t complete the scheduled 90-minute flight, because a fault caused what Space X described as ”a rapid unscheduled disassembly”. Which is just a fancy way of saying that it exploded.
So why is SpaceX testing these spacecraft? Well, they are partnering with the American Government’s space agency, NASA who are hoping to send astronauts back to the moon in 2025. Elon Musk says that the tests are important, even if they result in explosions, so that they can improve the spacecraft. I think we can all learn something from that.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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If you’ve ever met a goat, you probably know they have an insatiable appetite, meaning that they never feel full …actually, I can relate to that. Anyway, Queensland Rail, the government department responsible for maintaining the railway network, is using this convenient characteristic to their advantage. You see, Queensland is a really big state and train lines run through regions that are not easy to access with mowing equipment, but are accessible by goats.
The goats have been put in charge of clearing the long grass that grows around rail lines using their four stomachs, their nimbleness and their big appetites. And they’re much better for the environment than herbicides that were previously used to poison grasses. The strong acids in the goats’ stomachs destroy the seed of the weeds so they can’t grow back.
We think it’s a maaa-vellous idea. [Mum joke buzzer] The Mum joke buzzer strikes again!
CHRISTMAS ANNOUNCEMENT
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[Christmas Bells] Things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Squiz Kids HQ. Did you know there are only 35 days to go until Santa harnesses up the reindeer and hops aboard the sleigh. Mums and Dads have you started your Christmas shopping? If not, never fear, Squiz Kids has you covered this year. We have our very own Merch store with some awesome Squiz Kids branded merch. We’ve got caps, drink bottles, badges and more. The perfect stocking stuffers for your Squiz Kid…or their teacher. Links are in the episode notes and on our website squizkids.com.au. You’re welcome!
(AD STING) HIT PAUSE
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If you thought Squiz Kids was obsessed with fake news and misinformation – and teaching kids to be critical consumers of media – at least we’re in good company. Last week, Bryce sat down with YouTube’s Rachel Lord to discuss our mutual passion – keeping kids safe online by arming them with the skills to spot misinformation and share responsibly. The podcast dives into the key messages behind YouTube’s ‘HIT PAUSE’ series of videos – including how to check the source and spot when someone might not be giving you the full picture. And if that all sounds reminiscent of Newshounds and its ’ ‘Stop. Think. Check’ messaging – well, isn’t that a happy coincidence? You can view the Hit Pause videos via links in today’s episode notes – and listen to Rachel and Bryce’s chat today – if you’re listening on a podcasting app, it should play directly after this episode – otherwise search for HIT PAUSE at any time in our podcast feed.
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 …
- Name the international competition that will be taking place in NSW’s Hunter Valley next month.
- In which year are NASA and SpaceX planning to send astronauts back to the moon?
- How many stomachs does a goat have?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s November 20 … You know how there’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day…did you ever wish there was a Children’s Day? Well today is it people! It’s World Children’s Day. Time to partey. Teachers, I’ve stuck a link to some activities in your episode notes. Have a great day kids!
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today AND tomorrow… Summer from Ashmont, Lincoln from Flagstaff Hill, Eve from Newrybar, Emily from Doncaster, Anushka from Point Cook, Ryan from Epping, Maximus from Bowral, Isaiah from Riverwood, Maisie from Mosman, Emily from Kyle Bay, Chloe from Darwin, Oscar from Heidelberg West, Matthew from West Pennant Hills, Annabelle from Plumpton, Emmi from Coogee, Larna from Valentine, Audrey from Lake Bolac and Freddy from New Lambton Heights.
Belated shout outs go to… Ahmed and Luka from Sefton, Charles from Forest Lake, Saul from Bankstown, Anaisha from Oran Park, Danika from Sydney, Olivia from Marsfield, Time from Bungonia, Zander from Atwell and Sonny listening over in the USA.
Classroom shout outs go to … class 5/6HP and Miss Pollard at Edward Public School in Deniliquin, class 5W and Mr Wells at Valentine Public School, class 5B and Ms Lyn at Villa Maria Catholic School in Hunters Hill, grades 3 – 6 with Miss M at Goornong Primary School, class 5/6A and Ms Humphries at Upwey South Primary School, class 5/6LD with Ms Dickinson at St Mary’s Primary School in Rutherglen, class 5C at The Gap State School, class 3/4F with Ms Faulkner and Mrs House at Parkes East Public School, class 4B and Miss Bendt at Haberfield Public School, class 5/6MN with Miss Norton at St Anthony’s Primary School in Glen Huntley and lastly class 6A and Miss Hickey at Henschke Catholic Primary School in Wagga Wagga.
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The S’Quiz Answers:
- Mulletfest
- 2025
- Four