Squiz Kids Shortcuts
Each week we take a deep dive into a high-interest news or current affairs topic, answering kids' burning questions about everything from the Olympics to Islam. A new episode is released every Monday morning.
Looking for curriculum-aligned comprehension activities for each shortcut? We've got you covered. And check the episode notes for more resources to dig deeper.
LATEST SHORTCUT
Your Shortcut to… Outlaws and Rebels
This is your Squiz Kids Shortcut to Outlaws and Rebels. The podcast where we dive into the who, what, when, where, why, and how of big news stories.
Squiz Kids Shortcuts dive into the who, what, when, where, why and how of the big news stories.
PREVIOUS SHORTCUTS
Your Shortcut to… Christmas Traditions Around the World
Two billion people celebrate it each year… some in rollerskates… and some with a 12 course meal, which ends with dessert stuck to the ceiling. Over the next two weeks, people in 160 countries will be doing all sorts of things to celebrate Christmas. We’ll take you through where in the world some of our favourite Chrissie traditions are celebrated; what kinds of Christmas food different cultures eat; and why you should watch out for the Krampus.
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Your Shortcut to… Ned Kelly
He was Australia’s most famous bushranger, a lawbreaker to some and a legend to others. This is your Squiz Kids Shortcut to Ned Kelly—the podcast where we dig into the who, what, when, where, why, and how of big news stories.
Your Shortcut to… Climate Change and COP28
Your shortcut to… Climate Change and COP28 LINKS: Classroom Resource 1 – All About Acronyms: https://www.squizkids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Climate-Change-Shortcut_ACRONYMS.pdf Classroom Resource 2 –…
Listen nowThe Circle of Life
In New Orleans, funerals involve a massive street party with music… in South Korea, people might be turned into jewelry… and in Japan, the dead have their favourite foods served to them every August. We’ll take you through WHY we are doing a shortcut on the circle of life; WHAT happens when you die; but mostly we’ll spend most of the pod looking at HOW different cultures celebrate their loved ones when they pass away.
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Your Shortcut to,,, Bushfires
Your shortcut to… Bushfires LINKS: Australian Fire Danger Rating System: https://afdrs.com.au/ Top 10 fire retardant plants for each state: https://www.ozbreed.com.au/articles/top-10-fire-retardant-plants-by-state/…
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The Science of Skeletons
They come out every Halloween… only 2 per cent of animal species have them… and without them, humans just wouldn’t be human. We’ll take you through WHAT our skeletons do; WHY babies have more bones than adults; and HOW we can take care of our skeletons.
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Girl Power!
Girls are more likely to do housework, less likely to go to school, and … they’re doing something about it. October 11 is the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl Child, so it seems like the perfect time to talk about WHERE the phrase “girl power” comes from, WHY there’s an international day for girls, WHAT chores and weddings have to do with it, and HOW superheroes and sports stars are a sign of better times.
Listen nowThe Galápagos Islands
It’s home to the world’s only swimming iguanas… fish-eating snakes… and some little birds that changed the course of science. We’ll take you through WHERE the Galápagos Islands are; WHY they are so important to science; and WHAT incredible creatures you’ll find there.
Listen nowMars
It’s the same colour as our red Australian dirt… it could hold clues to life itself… and one of YOU might be the first human to go there. We’ll take you through where exactly Mars is; why people want to go to Mars so badly; and what the Negev desert in Israel has to do with it.
Listen now