Wednesday, 26 April, 2023
Big crowds for ANZAC Day; Belgium’s seagull screeching contest; Night sky light show wows Tassie; and our Kids + Media survey results.
LINKS
Today’s Quick Links:
ANZAC Day Shortcut: https://www.squizkids.com.au/squiz-kids-shortcuts/anzac-day/
Seagull screeching contest 2019 – Video: https://youtu.be/Padc5OIPh4k
Aurora australis over Tassie: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-24/strong-naked-eye-aurora-lights-up-tasmanian-skies/102258806
Kids + Media Survey Results: https://www.squizkids.com.au/aussie-kids-media-results/
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
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]
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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The spirit of the ANZACs was alive and well yesterday morning as record crowds turned out to dawn services in cities and country towns all over the country – as the nation paused to give thanks to soldiers who went to war for us.
An estimated 7000 people gathered in Sydney’s Martin Place – where Australia’s first ever dawn service is said to have taken place almost 100 years ago – it was standing room only at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, a rainy start to Brisbane’s day didn’t deter thousands from paying their respects at the city’s early morning ceremony while warm weather in Adelaide saw a big turn out there.
What are ANZACs? ANZAC is short for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – and refers to the troops who fought alongside one another at the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey back in 1915 – so 108 years ago. Famously, it was a disastrous battle for Aussie troops, but their sacrifice, bravery and courage – their ANZAC legend – is what we pay tribute to today.
ANZAC Day is a chance to commemorate – which is a fancy way of saying pausing to remember and give thanks to – all Australians who have fought for our country in multiple conflicts since 1915 – people whose selflessness and sense of duty mean we’re able to enjoy the freedom and quality of life we do today.
If you want to learn more about the history of ANZAC Day, check out our Squiz Kids Shortcut to Anzac Day’ – I’ve stuck a link to it in today’s episode notes.
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 Belgium – where the annual seagull screeching championships have just been held.
Yes – you heard right – I said seagull screeching championships. Because the screech of a seagull is such a pleasant noise – why wouldn’t you want a room full of people screeching like seagulls?
Each year – a bunch of Belgians get together in a coastal town to screech like seagulls in the hope of ‘bridging the gap’ between the much-maligned birds and humans.
Much-maligned is a fancy way of saying they are not very popular, generally speaking.
Can’t think why …
I’ve stuck a link to video of the competition in today’s episode notes. And while I’m tempted to suggest you all have your own competition in the classroom today as a special back to school treat – I have a feeling your teachers and parents might kill me ..
CCC
Ahh – it’s the Classroom Companion Clarion – letting us know that today’s activity sheets are tied to this story in the podcast. Don’t forget each day with the pod, Squiz Kids’ very own primary school teacher Christie produces not one but three excellent literacy activity sheets – tying a news item to the Aussie curriculum. Available free every day of the school term. Genius. Teachers: sign up to Squiz Kids Classroom at our website: squizkids.com.au – because who doesn’t want free daily classroom resources?
WEIRD SCIENCE
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Seagulls aren’t the only majestic thing in the sky – and if you live in Tasmania or happen to have been down in Tassie the past few days – you’d know that a remarkable light show has been playing in the skies above the Apple Isle this past week or so.
It’s called the aurora australis – and is essentially an incredible light show in the night’s sky – where pinks and greens and blues and yellows merge and sway and hypnotise.
Auroras only happen near the Earth’s poles – so up near the north pole, in and around the Arctic Circle- and down around near Antarctica – which Tasmania is.
And get this: they are signs that there’s been a big solar storm on the sun – a storm so massive and powerful that it kicks out gas and particles into space which enter Earth’s atmosphere and create the most stunning light display.
I’ve stuck a link in today’s episode notes to photos of the aurora australis currently wowing our friends down Tasmania way.
NEWSHOUNDS
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EVery Wednesday Squiz-E the Newshound sticks his nose into Squiz Kids HQ to report back on fishy stories he’s sniffed out online … and today Squiz-E’s doing a little bit of post-Easter holiday housekeeping.
Back in February – Squiz Kids sent a survey out to itslisteners, to find out where Aussie kids get their news and information ..and the results are in.
According to the 775 parents and teachers we polled, while 64% of kids get their dose of daily news from Squiz Kids – some 41% of Aussie kids get their news from social media. And while social media – apps like TikTok and Instagram are great for lots of reasons – we’ve always got to be extra careful whenever we come across any information we encounter online to do as Squiz-E says and STOP. THINK and CHECK.
STOP before believing it, THINK about where it’s coming from, who’s writing it and what possible reasons they might have for wanting us to believe something; and CHECK to see if it’s true. It’s what smart Newshounds do.
And if you’re a classroom that’s keen on becoming Newshounds – and joining the almost 1000 other classrooms around Australia that’s started doing our free media literacy program of the same name – hop on to our website squizkids.com.au and get cracking. Did I mention it’s free? Oh – and if you want to see the other results from our kids and media survey – that’s also online at squizkids.com.au.
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 does the acronym ANZAC stand for?
- What’s the name of the light show happening above Tassie this week?
- What sort of birds are people in Belgium imitating?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s April 26, today is International Guide Dog Day .. celebrating the awesome work guide dogs everywhere do helping people with low vision or blindness .. if you’re in Sydney keep an eye out for a special ‘pup up’ event .. yep – that’s right, ‘pup up’ – too cute.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today…
Michael from Junee, Zara from Yass, Laith from Quakers Hill and Josh from Cannon Hill.
And because many of you celebrated a birthday over the Easter holidays – we’re going to press pause on Classroom Shoutouts and spend the next week or so catching up on belated birthday shout outs .. because everyone deserves a birthday shout out .. .. so settle in … it’s a happy belated birthday to …
Brooklyn from Hobart, Fox from Stanwell Park, Orlando and Elly from Holsworthy, Layla from Warrnambool, Milan from Adelaide, Ben from Tarrington, Matilda from Ivanhoe, Tanay from Craigieburn, Kodi from Lake Bolac, Levi from Oak Park, Amelie and Clint from Cronulla, Jayne and Spencer from Paraburdoo, Daniel from Abbotsford, Sofie from Broadbeach Waters, Jack from Wellington Point, Amy from Wellers Hill, Angus from Brunswick West, Kathleen from Woongarrah, Kaden from Oakdale and Ivy from Sydney.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
- Aurora Australis
- Seagulls