Squiz Kids

Your daily kids news podcast.

In Borroloola, Australia, the townsfolk had to bunk up in safe spots as Megan brought a whoosh of 170 km/h winds and buckets of rain. But guess what? Everyone's safe, proving Borroloola is tougher than a tropical storm!

Your Squiz Kids Shortcut... to Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons

Gulf of Carpentaria Map

Dive into a real-life pirate adventure deep under the sea, where the San Jose galleon sleeps with treasures galore. Gold, silver, emeralds – a whopping $17 billion waiting to be discovered! With archaeologists setting sail for an exploration, who knows what wonders they'll find.

Penguin Island's Little Penguins are throwing a housewarming party for their new, cool nesting boxes! With the sun turning up the heat, these ingenious homes are a game-changer, making sure our feathered friends stay cool and keep the baby penguin party going.

Tasmania is breaking into a victory dance as the Tassie Devils join the Aussie Rules big league! With both men's and women's teams ready to show their stuff, it's time to paint the town green, yellow, and red. Let's hear it for the Devils, making history and bringing the island spirit to the field!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Each fortnight, we give the world globe a spin, and see where we land. Then we take the kids of Australia on an audio excursion to visit that country and its people.

Join Captain Christie Kijurina, on a whirlwind adventure with "Squiz the World" as we dive into the vibrant and diverse world of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Australia's closest neighbor and a rugby league enthusiast's paradise. From the bustling rainforests housing 5% of the world’s biodiversity to the cultural mosaic of over 800 languages, PNG is a land of natural wonders and rich traditions. Discover the heroic tales of WWII, explore the educational strides in bilingual classrooms, and get a taste of local customs and cuisines, like the unique Mumu cooking. Strap in for an audio journey to meet the friendly faces of PNG, learn a bit of Tok Pisin, and uncover the treasures of this tropical haven. Whether it's understanding matrilineal societies or cheering for a potential NRL team, there's no shortage of stories to spark curiosity and inspire young minds to explore the connections between nations and cultures.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Links:

A map of Papua New Guinea: https://www.infoplease.com/atlas/pacific-islands/papua-new-guinea-map

Pineapple and sweet potato skewers: https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/kaukau-na-painap-papua-new-guinean-sweet-potato-and-pineapple-skewers/

Your daily kids news podcast.  

In a sky-high drama, a SpaceX Starship turned into a fireworks show, going kaboom before hitting the ocean, but scientists cheered, calling it a step towards moon trips. No astronauts aboard, just lessons learned and a promise of lunar leaps ahead.

Albert the alligator, the blind pool party legend, got his invite revoked. Decades of splashy fun ended as he’s off to a chill retirement home. Lesson of the day: Swimming with gators is out, inflatable dolphins are in. Bye-bye, poolside chomps!

Italy's rugby team showed the world how to party for second-last place like it's a win! Ditching the wooden spoon, they celebrated a victory of spirit. It’s not about winning; it’s about playing the game and giving it your all. Go, Italy!

A vet turned into a fox mom with a mask, all to help a baby fox feel at home. This furry tale of disguise and giggles shows how far we go for our animal friends. Sneaky, sneaky human, but it's all for a good cause.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Who's smarter, kids or adults?

Your daily kids news podcast.

The princess and the photo fail; Paris’ space invaders; whirlpools from Mars; and the village covered in bird poo.

When the Duchess of Wales got a tad too creative with Photoshop, it sent the world into a tizzy! From health hoax hullabaloos to a forced apology, it's a good reminder to double-check before you double-click.

A mysterious street artist turns Paris into a pixel playground, leaving space invader mosaics everywhere! It's like a blast from the past, but this time, you can spot the invasion from space. Talk about leveling up your art game!

Just when you thought whirlpools were Earth's own twisty treat, Aussie scientists discover Mars has been stirring our seas from millions of miles away! Every 2.4 million years, the planets align to create oceanic twisters. Mind. Blown.

Starlings in England are putting on airshows that leave the crowd below both amazed and, well, covered in bird poo. It's a spectacular, if somewhat stinky, sight to behold. Remember, where there's a flock, there's a...splash.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

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Newshounds

Get started on our free media literacy resource for classrooms

https://www.squizkids.com.au/about-newshounds/

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?

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]

Your daily kids news podcast.

Hey kids, guess what? It's Naplan time. It's not some scary monster, but more like an education selfie, showing off what you know. It's popping up early this year, so your teachers can give you a super-boost in learning. Just relax and do your best.

Today, the globe has stopped in Ghana, where the African Games are underway! Imagine 5,000 athletes from 52 countries playing 30 sports. It’s a sports bonanza with a side of scrabble. Get ready for action, inspiration, and a bit of competition excitement!

In a plot twist straight out of "Ice Age," scientists are on a mammoth mission to turn back time. With a sprinkle of science magic, they’re hoping to bring these furry giants back and maybe, just maybe, cool down our planet a bit. Stay tuned for Mammoths 2.0!

Strap in for the wildest ride with skijoring, where cowboys and skiers unite for a snowy race that’s part video game, part adrenaline rush. It’s a tradition that’s all about fun, bravery, and possibly future Olympic dreams!?

For the full episode transcript, click here.

This is your Squiz Kids Shortcut to the Australian Gold Rush! The call of gold beckons us to find out WHEN the Australian Gold Rush took place, WHO joined the hunt for gold, and WHAT lasting effects the Gold Rush had on the nation of Australia. So, fellow explorers, grab your maps and your gold pans, because here we go!

Classroom Resources

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 stockade: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/eureka-stockade

Gold diggers - Resources Victoria: https://resources.vic.gov.au/geology-exploration/minerals/metals/gold/gold-mining-in-victoria/gold-diggers#:~:text=A%20diggers'%20toolkit%20included%20a,exhausted%20diggers%20leaving%20the%20goldfields.

Chinese on the goldfields: https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/chinese-goldfields/

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Imagine wearing shorts in Hobart in autumn! This weekend, Hobart turned into a sauna, experiencing its hottest night in over a century. Meanwhile, Melburnians had to swap parade plans for cool indoor spots as extreme heat led to event cancellations. A tip for my friends in South Australia: keep your ice cream close, as the scorcher continues!

If you were in Sydney on Friday evening you may have felt the Earth move. A 3.6 quake hit, sending dogs into a barking frenzy and causing a phone call storm. Don't worry, it was more of a jitter than a jolt!

Tonight, millions start their Ramadan journey, fasting from dawn till dusk to honor their faith. It's a month less about missing snacks and more about kindness, patience, and reading the Quran. Maybe you'll notice some classmates are fasting – let's cheer them on!

It's Oscars time! Will Barbie outshine Oppenheimer? Can SpiderMan swing into the top animated spot? It's a glamorous battle of stories, songs, and stunning effects. Let's cheer for our favourite dolls and heroes as they aim for Oscar gold!

Ever heard of crocodile fur balls? Yep, it's a thing! Scientists found these hair-filled surprises, proving crocs can't digest their hairy snacks. Next time you find something gross, just remember: at least you're not coughing up fur balls like a crocodile!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who's been paying the most attention to the week in news.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Imagine tiny invaders with six legs taking over Australia, causing more trouble than rabbits or cane toads! This week, politicians are scratching their heads over fire ants. These little critters are not just pests; they're a pain (literally!) with a bite that packs a punch.

It's like the ultimate superhero face-off, but with voters and candidates! Super Tuesday saw folks in 15 states choosing their champion to run for President. Will it be a Biden comeback or a Trump triumph? The race is on, and it's getting louder than a superhero's boom!

Grab your snacks and supporters gear; the AFL season is kicking off with a bang! From Sydney to Brisbane, it's a full-on sports weekend. Who will be the victor? Stay tuned for thrilling matches and possible munchies shortages!

Squiz-E, the Newshound, is on a mission to bust internet hoaxes! This week, he's digging up deep fakes that look eerily real. Don't be fooled by fake TV reports; Squiz-E teaches us to STOP, THINK and CHECK. Become a Newshound and outsmart the tricksters!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

BBC Earth Experience Family Pass Giveaway

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is currently hosting the BBC Earth Experience. The experience will take visitors on a majestic 360-degree audio visual journey as they marvel and explore iconic landscapes and connect with mesmerising animals on an epic adventure bringing environments to life, all with bespoke narration from Sir David Attenborough. It feels like you have stepped into the natural world and lost yourself in boundless wonder, as you travel to far flung places.

Want to win one of three family passes we have to give away? Simply create a 20-second video of yourself as you pretend to narrate your very own Earth Experience documentary. Email your video to us at [email protected] by this Friday, the 8th of March, with your parents’ permission for us to use the video on our social media, and we’ll announce the lucky winners next Monday.