Monday, July 31, 2023
Matildas face do-or-die battle; Aussie world Scrabble champ; the circus elephant that escaped, and look out, it’s a Swift-quake!
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
Circus elephant on highway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcLtbf_-POY
Squiz Kids LIVE! Buy tickets to our Canberra show here:
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/squiz-kids-live/154887
Squiz Kids Book Club: https://www.squizkids.com.au/book_club/
Newshounds
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THE LOWDOWN
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All eyes will be on the Matildas and the world’s number one player, Aussie striker Sam Kerr in Melbourne tonight as they take on Canada in a do-or-die tussle as they fight for their sporting lives.
Sam – who has been off injured – announced on Saturday that she was fit to return to the pitch – and the nation breathed a sigh of relief – after watching our national women’s soccer team sensationally go down on Thursday night against Nigeria.
No pressure, Sam.
Australia needs to win tonight against Canada if they want any chance of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition. Fingers, toes, legs, arms and eyes crossed.
Perhaps providing some inspiration to our footy-playing women are Australia’s netballers, who won convincingly in their World Cup game against Tonga at the weekend. The Diamonds strolled to an 85-38 victory against our Pacific Island neighbours – who, it must be remembered, were unranked in the world 16 months ago but is now considered the 7th best team in the world.
Or maybe the Matildas could look to our all-conquering Aussie swim team in Fukuoka, Japan – who spent the weekend putting the finishing touches to one of the best efforts from Australia ever at a world championships.
Mollie O’Callaghan made history on the weekend by becoming the first woman to win both the 100m and 200m gold medals at the championships. She’s now won a staggering four gold medals at the swim meet.
And it wasn’t just Mollie turning heads in Japan – on Saturday night, Cam McEvoy came seemingly out of nowhere to win gold in the men’s 50m sprint, with a swim that was so fast it left jaws on the ground. Which is totally a thing.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie…
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 Las Vegas – in the United States, where another Aussie triumph has taken place over the weekend. This time, in the competitive sport of Scrabble.
Yep – that word board game your nanna is always wanting you to play with her.
Melbourne’s John Eldar was flying the flag for Aussie wordsmiths everywhere at the World Scrabble Championships at the weekend – beating his English opponent in the grand final thanks to two simple, three-lettered words.
‘Tan’ and ‘cut’ were both artfully employed by the Aussie champ to get the edge on his competitor – because sometimes it’s the simple things.
Mind you, he also threw a couple of doozies down on the board … including: thrimsas – which is some sort of ancient coin – and ‘sosatie’ which is a South African meat dish.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie …
[CCC] And there goes the Classroom Companion Clarion. Kids you might want to ask your teachers or parents to download today’s classroom companion worksheets. You can have your own scrabble tournament by challenging your friends to see who can make the most words with the letters we’ve given you. If you haven’t already signed up for the classroom companion it’s really simple. Just go to [email protected] and the best thing, it’s absolutely free!
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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It might sound like something out of a movie: but the residents of a small Italian town are still giggling this morning after an elephant escaped from a visiting circus over the weekend and took a stroll down a highway to visit the local supermarket.
I’ve stuck a link in today’s episode notes to video of the moment the elephant was spotted wandering down a highway and veering off into the supermarket car park.
Maybe they had a special on peanuts?
Happily the elephant was safely returned to its owners – and no one was injured in the little pachyderm adventure. Pachyderm is the scientific name for elephants – where pachy means thick and derm means skin.
Imagine coming across an elephant in the supermarket aisle? That would make me ele-phaint. (DAD JOKE ALARM) .. ah that pesky dad joke alarm – gets me every time..
POP CULTURE CORNER
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Remember about a month ago when all of Australia was whipped up into a Taylor Swift ticket buying frenzy?
Well the pop star has gone and caused more chaos over the weekend with reports that her concert in Seattle has caused a mini-earrthquake.
I am not even joking.
Seismologists – who are people that monitor and measure the movement of the earth’s crust – report that at the exact time Tay Tay’s concert was taking place in Seattle, in the United States, their instruments recorded seismic activity equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.
They’ve confirmed that it was either caused by the sound system or the systemic jumping of excited Tay Tay concert goers.
Ladies and gents: I give you a Swift-quake … now I have heard everything.
SQUIZ KIDS LIVE!
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Look out Canberra – I’m coming for ya. Announcing SQUIZ KIDS LIVE! – where your favourite podcast comes to life on stage in a fun-filled show for all the family.
Tickets go on sale today for our first ever live show – presented by me, and featuring a bunch of special guests, quizzes, a bit of educational content, Squiz Kids merch – and our first ever, super fun Squiz Kids Disco.
Our first of what I hope will be many live shows around the country is happening in Canberra on Saturday October 14 … and personally – I cannot wait to meet you all.
There’s a link in today’s episode notes for more information and how to buy tickets. All I would say is: hurry! Because there’s only a limited number of tickets and they’re gonna sell fast. I mean, we’re not talking Taylor Swift fast – but you’ll want to get in early so as not to miss out. So get booking 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 …
- Which country do the Matildas need to beat tonight to stay in the World Cup?
- In which country did an elephant take an impromptu trip to the supermarket?
- Which Aussie city will I be visiting in October for the first ever Squiz Kids Live show?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s July 31 – today’s the birthday of both author, JK Rowling and her most famous creation, Harry Potter. Happy Birthday to the boy wizard and the woman who magicked him into existence.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today and tomorrow… Lucas from Paraburdoo, Thomas from Edensor Park, Georgie from Melbourne, Anna from Point Cook, Isabelle from Caulfield North, Lucinda from Eltham, Xander from Caloundra, Charlotte from Rochedale, Sam from Claremont, Will from Heathcote, Lucinda from Larrakeyah, Tahlira from Ashmont, Tyson from Cronulla, Harry from Junee, Eva and Abbie from Abbotsford, Madden from Woongarrah, Olivia from Cannon Hill, Dominic from Cessnock, Christian from Mascot, Flynn from Middle Harbour, Zoey from Orange and Jeff from Millfield.
Belated birthday shout outs go to ….Henry from Cleveland, Dylan from Bondi Beach and Liam from Adelaide.
Classroom shoutouts today go to … class 4Y and Miss D’Sa at St Lukes Catholic Primary School in Revesby, class 3C and Mrs Condie at Epping West Public School, class 3/4RS with Mrs Sharwood & Mrs Robinson at Goulburn South Primary School, classes 4R and PR with Mrs Rathjen & Ms Rintoule at Leongatha Primary School and lastly to Year 4 Boronia and Mr Bourke at Thurgoona Public School in Albury.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Canada
- Italy
- Canberra