Wednesday, 23 February, 2022
Russia moves on Ukraine; Masks off at school; China’s coriander sundaes; and Josh Giddey’s triple-double record.
LINKS
Squiz Kids for Schools: https://www.squizkids.com.au/squiz-kids-for-schools/
Squiz Kids Apple Subscriber Content: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/squiz-kids/id1494238283
How To Become A Squiz Kids Correspondent: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FH2HA28InnLU6UxE91wrLBAbCMT40Mua/view
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]
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
——
That big problem in the Eastern European country of Ukraine that we talked about last week? Remember: where the neighbouring – and much larger country of Russia was gathering troops on the border they share?
It came to a head yesterday when, as widely expected, Russia sent tanks and troops into the eastern region of Ukraine.
In a nutshell, Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that Ukraine belongs to Russia – and he wants it back.
The people of Ukraine are – for the most part – quite happy being their own country – and yesterday, the Ukrainian president called on other countries of the world to stand up to Russia.
As Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Russia should withdraw its troops and evacuated Australia’s embassy there, other world leaders met at the United Nations in New York to discuss what steps the world would now take against Russia on behalf of Ukraine.
—
Smiles are about to come back into fashion in Queensland and Victoria with announcements in both states yesterday that people would no longer have to wear masks.
From March 4, the masks will come off in schools in Queensland – and assemblies and excursions will once again be allowed.
In Victoria, primary school kids in years 3 -6 will still be required to wear masks in the classroom as the government there is worried not enough kids in that age bracket have been vaccinated. Sorry kids.
SPIN THE GLOBE
——–
Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops – and today we’ve landed in China .. where instead of being asked if they want fries with that … visitors to McDonald’s are being asked if they want a coriander flavoured sundae.
Excuse me for a moment while I go and dry heave …
Coriander – as some of you may know – is an especially pungent herb – used a lot in Mexican cuisine, also in Indian and Thai food. Pungent is a fancy word for stinky or strong.
And while coriander has its fans – and definitely has it’s place in cooking – a coriander sundae is what we might call an acquired taste – which is a fancy way of saying, not very nice.
I remember once visiting a Singapore McDonalds and trying a durian thickshake. Durian is widely recognised as the most vile smelling fruit on the face of the planet. Let’s just say I didn’t finish the shake.
–
Squiz the World: Brazil
Speaking of the big wide world and all its wonderful differences – don’t forget that every Wednesday, Amanda fires up the Squiz Kids Super Fast Supersonic Jet Liner and explores a new and interesting country.
The new segment is called Squiz The World … and this week – we’re off to Brazil.
Did you know that kids in Brazil attend school for only four hours a day? Or that in the Amazon River – the longest river in the world – there are piranhas and pink dolphins?
Squiz The World is out every Wednesday – exclusively for teachers who has signed up to Squiz Kids for Schools, or parents who have signed up via Apple Podcasts to our Subscriber Specials. Check out the links in today’s episode notes to access your free trial today.
SPORT TIME
—
Throwing a three pointer in basketball is about as good as it gets. It’s when you get the ball in the basket from outside the three point line … line that sweeps in a large arc a fair distance from the basket.
So when American basketballer Step Curry shot 16 three-pointers in one single game this week, he entered the record books for the most three-pointers in an All Star game – and scored for his team an impressive 50 points in the process.
Also having a good week in the NBA is home-grown talent, Josh Giddey.
The kid from Melbourne – who recently joined the Oklahoma City Thunder – last week became the youngest ever player to record not one, but three triple doubles.
What’s a triple double? It’s when, in a single game, you get double digit stats in three separate skills – be it points, assists, blocks, rebounds or steals. Trust me – it’s totally a thing.
NEWSHOUNDS
—-
Each Wednesday, we invite Squiz-E the Newshound into the studio to tell us what kind of fake news he’s sniffed out on the internet. And today he’s found a real stinker … it’s a fake news story that’s been shared widely, including by celebrities, warning people to be careful when making their bed. According to the story doing the rounds online, scientists have found that if you shake the doona too hard, you could have a heart attack.
Hmm. Now, Squiz-E always tells us to stop, think, and check. And when I think about this, I wonder: how on earth could shaking a doona make me have a heart attack, any more than going for a long walk, or having a swim at the beach? It just doesn’t make sense. So I checked… and a google search for the headline turns up no such story. What it does find are many reliable fact checking sites, all confirming that the story is a fake. Ah well… looks like I can’t avoid making the bed after all. Thanks, Squiz- E.
THE S’QUIZ
—————–
This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- Which country yesterday sent its troops into Ukraine?
- What herb, with a very distinctive taste, has been used to flavour Maccas sundaes in China?
- Name the Aussie basketballer who set a new NBA record for triple doubles?
SHOUT OUTS
——————-–
It’s February 23 … on this day, 566 years ago, a man called Johannes Gutenberg used his clever invention – the printing press – to publish the world’s first ever book. What book did he publish? It was The Bible.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today …
Annie from Mansfield, Declan from Queanbeyan South and Matthew from South Australia.
Classroom shout outs go to …class 5/6D and 5/6E with Ms Earl and Ms Duggan at Dobroyd Point Public School, Miss Norris and class 3/4 Green at Bowen Public School in Orange, class 4R and Mrs Rennie at Murray Farm Public School in Carlingford and finally to class 5/6V and Mrs Vadala at Abbotsford Public School.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Russia
- Coriander – cilantro, if you’re American.
- Josh Giddey