Thursday, May 4, 2023
Top TV shows under threat; Bulgaria’s man in a box; a hungry student eats an artwork; and an un-bear-lievable surprise at school.
LINKS
Squiz Kids Shortcuts – The real history of Star Wars: https://www.squizkids.com.au/squiz-kids-shortcuts/
Today’s Quick Links:
Bulgarian man in glass box: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgarian-extreme-athlete-shuts-himself-glass-box-help-young-addicts-2023-04-30/
Principal vs Bear
https://nypost.com/2023/05/02/west-virginia-principal-startled-by-black-bear-in-school-dumpster/
Polar bear cub cutefest:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-02/polar-bear-cub-born-at-zoo-in-hamburg/102293642
Dig Deeper:
The life of a baby polar bear:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vgnXRypc4o
Art or not art?:
https://www.thephilosophyman.com/blog/art-or-not-art
Kids + Media Survey Results: https://www.squizkids.com.au/aussie-kids-media-results/
Squiz Kids Book Club: https://www.squizkids.com.au/book_club/april-2023/
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?
Newshounds
Get started on our free media literacy resource for classrooms
www.squizkids.com.au/newshounds
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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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Have you heard of Hollywood? Hollywood is a city in the state of California, in America – it’s known as the birthplace of the film industry. It’s where making movies began. And still today, it’s the epicentre of where movies and television shows are made.
But there is a big issue happening in Hollywood right now – where all screenwriters are going on strike. This means they stop working, because they are upset about their wages. It’s a little complicated, but the writers who write shows for television are paid differently to those who make shows for the streaming services like Netflix. And the whole industry just wants to make it fair for everyone.
So how might this affect us? Well have you considered, who are the people behind your favourite TV shows? Who are the ones that create the jokes that make you laugh? Who are the ones who write the scripts that your favourite actors perform? That put the words, literally, into the mouths of everyone from Bluey to your favourite Marvel superhero?
It’s the writers. So without them – no television show or movie will be made. In fact, the whole industry across America is at a standstill. The last strike was in 2007 and it went on for 100 days. Fingers crossed negotiations today won’t be so drawn out – because that’s a long time watching the same old shows over and over again.
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 Bulgaria … which is nice. We nearly never land there.
And the reason we’re there today is because a man has locked himself in a large glass box for 15 days in the middle of a park.
In the box with him is a treadmill and a single mattress bed. Now why has he done that?
The man is an extreme athlete – and is known for running ultra-marathons (which are really, really long races – like 300 kilometres long) – something he does to raise awareness of different causes.
In the case of the glass box: he wants to raise money and awareness for young people battling with addictions to everything from digital media to energy drinks. I’ve stuck a link to photos in today’s episode notes.
As well as being a physical test, the athlete says 15 days in a glass box will be a psychological test – meaning it will be a test for his mind, as well as his body.
With no one to speak to – or at – for 15 days. I reckon I’d last about half an hour.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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And it’s a bear-a-palooza double header Animal Kingdom this Thursday – with the hilarious tale of the school principal versus the black bear – and the first peek at a brand new polar bear cub born in a zoo.
Let’s start with the principal versus the black bear. Because it’s just too funny. CCTV video has emerged of a school principal in the American state of West Virginia trying to lock the lid of his school’s dumpster – after he’d heard reports a black bear had been sniffing around. Unbenownst to Principal Marsh – the bear had already crawled into the dumpster. Video footage – which I’ve linked to in today’s episode notes capture the moment the bear sticks its head out of the dumpster and comes face to face to with the principal. It’s hilarious.
Meanwhile – Hamburg Zoo in Germany has just released video footage of its newest resident: a polar bear cub. It’s the first time in 21 years a cub has been born at the zoo – so staff are very excited. And yes, because it’s a Thursday – I’ve stuck a link to video of the cute fest in today’s episode notes. You’re very welcome.
POP CULTURE CORNER
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Is a banana taped to a museum wall a work of art? And if so, if someone comes along and eats that banana – is that considered art too?
Those were the questions being asked yesterday after one of the world’s most controversial works of art – a banana taped to a wall – was eaten by an art student in a South Korean museum.
Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s installation – a banana taped to a wall, replaced every two or three days so that it doesn’t go off – has been doing the rounds of modern art museums for years. And get this: it has an estimated value of $120,000. That’s one expensive banana.
What’s an installation? It’s a work of art that sometimes takes up a whole room, art that people have to walk through or interact with.
Which is exactly what a South Korean art student – peeling the nana off the wall and tucking in. I’ve stuck a link to video of it in today’s episode notes.
Why? He said was hungry because he had missed breakfast.
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 sort of animal surprised a principal in West Virginia this week?
- In which country has a man locked himself in a glass box for 15 days?
- What’s the name of the place in America where lots of TV shows and movies are made?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s May 4 – International Star Wars Day … May 4 … May the Fourth … May the Fourth be with you ..geddit? Which is a perfect excuse to remind you all about this week’s Squiz Kids Shortcut … The Real History of Star Wars … a rollicking deep dive in the history and origins of the world’s most popular space fantasy film. Check it out in the Squiz Kids feed on your favourite podcasting app or on our website.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today … Addison from NSW, Lucas from Flagstaff Hill, Abby and Charli from Yass, Jackson from Paraburdoo, Andrew from Campbelltown, Zachary from Maroubra, Ella from Exeter, Sammy from Rose Bay, Mia from Ballarat, Hamish from Cheltenham, Quinn from Middle Harbour, Asante from Ascot Vale, Milla from Narrawong, Sidney from Oxley and Oaklee from Alidade.
And we are returning to our huge list of classroom shout out requests… starting with a special shout out to class 3/4 Honours with Mr Beecher at The Southport School who are well on their way to becoming Newshounds!
Also to class 3G and Ms Galluzzo at Epping West Public School, Room 3 with Mrs Oliver & Mrs Davies at Rosalie Primary School in Shenton Park, class 5 yellow and Miss Pegoraro at Shorehaven Primary School, class 5 Red and Mrs Weier and St Agnes Primary School in Mount Gravatt and lastly class 4 Banksia with Mrs Heffernen at MacKillop Catholic College in Warnervale.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Black Bear
- Bulgaria
- Hollywood