Monday 3 May, 2021
Space X splashdown; the world’s first 3D printed house; Quiet day at the footy; and Aussie ‘angry bird’ voted most attractive.
LINKS
SpaceX splashdown: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1388750333262761988
3D Printed House: https://apnews.com/article/europe-lifestyle-business-technology-environment-and-nature-1baf2dd9c40752ea20d8b4dbb9925323
The Flintstones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL7beNWNLEQ
Tawny Frogmouth video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIDWjGkOnhM
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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Well aren’t you all a clever bunch of small people? New figures released by the government yesterday show that Australian kids have broken new records in terms of the number who are vaccinated.
No – we’re not talking coronavirus vaccines – we’re talking about the vaccines that kids routinely get in Australia and many other countries to help protect them from lots of other nasty illnesses.
According to our government in Canberra – who keep track of these sorts of things – more than 95 percent of five year olds in Australia rolled up their sleeves for a series of jabs at the beginning of this year: the highest rate on record.
Around the world, the average rate of vaccination of five year olds is 86 percent – which means we are a world leader when it comes to being brave and copping a needle in the arm. Well done you.
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And we have splashdown! That’s the technical term given to when a space capsule returns from outer space and splashes down into the ocean. Which is what happened late yesterday afternoon, in waters off Florida in the United States, when four astronauts who had spent six months aboard the International Space Station returned to Earth.
It’s a big deal because Space X is hoping to build a space tourism industry – ferrying paying customers to and from space. So you know: that could be someone like you or me.
Sometimes space capsules land back on earth, other times, they splashdown at sea – where the crew float around until they are collected by one of the many ships that wait for their arrival. Welcome back astronauts!
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 The Netherlands – where the world’s first 3D printed house has been built.
Wait. What? A 3D printed house? Yes indeed – a two-bedroom bungalow that was made almost entirely by a 3D printer.
3D printers are amazing pieces of technology – capable of building pretty much anything you can imagine. And for a country that has a growing population – as The Netherlands does – on a planet that’s looking for ways to make the way we live our lives more environmentally friendly – building houses using 3D printer technology is a win-win. And get this: the entire house took only 120 hours to build.
The 3D printer placed down layer upon layer of concrete to create the walls of the bungalow, which looks a lot like a big grey boulder with windows. Like something out of the Flintstones. Which is a reference none of you will get – but your parents or teachers might. I’ve stuck a link to photos of the house – and to a clip of The Flintstones – in today’s episode notes.
SPORTS TIME
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It was an eerily quiet local derby over Perth way yesterday when Western Australian AFL rivals, the West Coast Eagles took on the Fremantle Dockers at Perth Stadium.
A local derby is when two teams from the same area face each other in a competition. And with the Eagles headquartered in Perth and the Dockers in neighbouring Fremantle – huge crowds were expected for the big match.
But following a mini-COVID outbreak in Perth on the weekend, linked to a quarantine hotel security guard, the WA Premier Mark Mcgowan ordered that there be no crowd in attendance. So far, there’s been no lockdown announced in Perth as a result of the COVID cases – and fingers are crossed it will remain that way. As for who won? The West Coast Eagles – 20 12 – 132 to 11 7 – 73
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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It’s the angriest looking bird on the planet, but according to a poll examining Instagram likes, Australia’s own tawny frogmouth has been declared to be the most photogenic feathered creature in the world.
What does photogenic mean? It means something looks appealing in a photograph.
And why would a bird that looks like it has a permanent frown be judged to be the most photographically appealing bird in the world? According to the pollsters, it has something to do with the fact that unlike most birds, the tawny frogmouth – which is often confused with being an owl – has both eyes on the front of its head – not on the side – giving it a more human look. And what a pair of eyes they are … check out the link in today’s episode notes to a video about tawny frogmouths. And make sure you watch until you see the chicks … the very definition of adorable.
Q+A CALL OUT
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Quick! Are you ready for Naplan? It’s coming up next week. But don’t worry! It’s just a test. And it’s certainly nothing to get worked up about. And to prove it, we’ve invited Peter Titmaniss, one of the grown ups responsible for creating the test to take the Squiz Kids hotseat and answer any and all questions you might have. But today’s the last day to get your questions in for Peter – by emailing [email protected]. You won’t be allowed to ask him the answer to number 3, but he’s likely to have lots of good information about how schools use NAPLAN results, and advice on how to stay cool as a cucumber during the testing period. There’s a prize for the best question! So get cracking already!
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’s the name of the space company who’s capsule just landed back on Earth?
- In which country has a 3D printed house just been built?
- Which Australian bird has been voted the most photogenic in an Instagram poll?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s May 3 …the Labour Day public holiday in Queensland and Northern Territory … lucky ducks … and just a normal day at school for the rest of you lot. Hashtag: not fair!
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today …. Peyton from Shoal Bay, Charlie from Esperance and Dean from Doreen.
And some belated birthday shoutouts to…
Hugh from Collaroy Plateau, Max and Charlie from Paralowie, Abigail from Kingsgrove, Jake from NSW, Jessica from Newcastle and Lucy from Lane Cove
Classroom shoutouts… Class 3/4c at Range Bank Primary School, classes 5M and 5T at Beaconsfield Primary School, Mr Stuart’s year 5/6 class at Boorowa Central School, class 2B and Miss Bousfield at St John The Apostle in Narraweena and class 5B St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Rochedale
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Space X
- The Netherlands
- Tawny frogmouth