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… The 2026 Commonwealth Games
In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, we find out WHAT the Commonwealth actually is, HOW the Commonwealth Games began and changed over time, and WHO will be swimming, sprinting, lifting and rolling their way through Glasgow 2026.
Squiz Kids Shortcuts dive into the who, what, when, where, why and how of the big news stories.
PREVIOUS SHORTCUTS
Your Shortcut to… Social Media
We’ll take you through HOW long it’s been around, WHY people love it so much, and WHAT we should be…
Your Shortcut to… YouTube
Your Shortcut to… YouTube We’ll take you through HOW YouTube came into being; WHO are some of the most famous…
Your Shortcut to… Islam
It’s the second biggest religion in the world, and the fastest growing…and for the next month, many believers won’t be eating when the sun is up. We’ll take you through WHAT Islam is… HOW Ramadan is celebrated … and WHY Mecca is so important.
Your Shortcut to… Easter
Your Shortcut to… Easter For the full episode transcript, click here.
Your Shortcut to… The Australian Gold Rush
Your Shortcut to… The Australian Gold Rush LINKS Gold – Australian Government Geoscience: https://www.ga.gov.au/education/minerals-energy/australian-mineral-facts/gold Victorian goldfields for kids: https://www.nma.gov.au/learn/kspace/victorian-goldfields-1854/kids Eureka…
Your Shortcut to… Taylor Swift
Your Shortcut to… Taylor Swift LINKS Christmas Tree Farm (song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN3rDTAdM2oHow Taylor Swift became a billionaire: https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/music/crazy-numbers-behind-taylor-swifts-success/news-story/a309dbe652fa5770d63024f42d02e08f Marjorie Finlay: https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat/65065321/…
Your Shortcut to… The Theory of Evolution
Your shortcut to… The Theory of Evolution LINKS: Charles Darwin – Theory of Evolution Resource (Nat Geo Kids) https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/primary-resource/charles-darwin-theory-evolution/…
Your Shortcut to… Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons
Your shortcut to… Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons. LINKS: Cyclone Experiment – Cyclone in a bottle: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/185919/Cyclone,-cyclone-experiment,-junior,-final.pdf How do hurricanes form:…
Your Shortcut to… Roller Coasters
They used to be known as “Russian mountains”… Australians spend millions on them every year … and on some, it’s impossible not to scream. We’ll take you through when rollercoasters were first invented; why people don’t fall out when they go upside down; and where you can find some of the craziest coasters.