Have you considered podcast exploration with your middle school students? If not, check out this blog post: Why Should You Use Podcasts in Middle School?
Podcasts have grown popular in the middle-grade classroom, and they have great educational potential. While we are often told about the benefits of using podcasts in the classroom regarding listening comprehension, their benefits go beyond that.
This blog post will discuss the value of podcast exploration in education and how podcasts can engage students in different ways. I will also share a link to download two different Podcast Exploration Choice Boards, one for teachers and the other for students.
Podcast Exploration in Education
Using podcasts in the classroom can have many benefits, so much more than just listening comprehension. For starters, they are great at linking academic content to real-world issues and stories that make learning more relevant and engaging.
They can teach students to critically evaluate the information that is presented, offering real-life examples of how to differentiate between facts and opinions. This is especially important as students learn about media literacy and develop an understanding of how media works, including recognizing bias and detecting misinformation.
Not only that, but they are often told from different perspectives, and we know that exposure to multiple viewpoints can help students develop a more nuanced understanding of topics.
Students are also constantly exposed to different forms of technology, and being familiar with podcast platforms and technology will help to enhance their overall digital literacy skills.
Podcasts are flexible in terms of how they can be listened to anywhere, they can be listened to repeatedly (or students can “rewind” them to hear pertinent information), and they are of great value to students who may need more than just textbook-style learning. However, they also provide a way to make classroom activities more interactive and dynamic and come in a wide variety of topics, helping students to explore topics they are passionate about, which can increase motivation and engagement in learning.
As a bonus, podcasts can help teachers stay informed about the latest trends, research, and best practices in education through professional development podcasts. Listening to podcasts by other educators can also provide new ideas and strategies that teachers can implement in their classrooms.
Using a Podcast Exploration Choice Board
I’ve put together a Podcast Exploration Choice Board that is perfect for teachers who are looking to incorporate podcasts into their students’ daily learning. It comes with 5 categories:
- Daily Warm-Up Podcasts: These are quick listens to start the day.
- Media Literacy & Digital Literacy: Tools to help students navigate and critically analyze digital content.
- Narrative Podcasts: Storytelling that can enhance comprehension and literary skills.
- Professional Development Podcasts: A resource to help teachers develop an understanding of podcasts and how to use them in the classroom.
- STEM Podcasts: Content that supports STEM education and makes complex topics accessible and interesting.
How To Use These Podcast Exploration Choice Boards
These Podcast Exploration Choice Boards can be used in several ways. These podcasts are great for in-class use, homework assignments, or even long-term projects about podcast analysis or creation. You can integrate them into daily lessons, group activities, or individual assignments.
Use the teacher version to get access to the full lesson plans and links for each podcast lesson. Then, upload the student version of the Podcast Exploration Choice Board to your LMS system (e.g., Google Classroom) and provide students with the instructions they need to use it.
For more ideas on using podcasts in the classroom, check out these blog posts: 11 Creative Ways to Use Podcasts With Students or 9 Fantastic Ways to Use Podcasts In The Classroom.
Summaries of the Podcast Exploration Choice Board Podcasts:
Daily warm-up podcasts are a fantastic way to begin daily learning with your students.
KidNuz
KidNuz is a daily news podcast for kids that provides a six-minute podcast that breaks down the day’s top news stories in a way that students can understand. After listening to the daily episode, students can fill out the provided graphic organizer to evaluate what they’ve learned.
Six Minutes
Six Minutes is a podcast told in six-minute episodes. It is about a girl named Holiday who is found floating in the ocean and the mystery surrounding her. Students will be hooked immediately and are sure to look forward to this warm-up. You can follow each episode with comprehension questions and a student discussion.
For more daily warm-ups, check out these 365 Attendance Questions on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD, or you can read this article: 22 Interesting Ways to Use Daily Attendance Questions.
The Cost of Living
Media and digital literacy are hugely important topics for middle school students. Students must learn more about the strategies that companies use to entice customers and be aware of the pros and cons, safety, and mindfulness they should have when encountering digital literacy.
This Subscription Boxes resource covers a topic that should be familiar to students and provides a K-W-L chart, listening comprehension questions, and a journal entry for them to fill out after listening.
- For more media literacy lessons, you can learn more over on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
- For a comprehensive digital citizenship unit, check out the Middle School Digital Citizenship Unit on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Mars Patel
Narrative podcasts should not be overlooked in your podcast exploration. They are similar to audiobooks in that they tell compelling stories; however, they are presented in a way similar to serial novels, with a part of the story being told in each episode. As the story progresses, students will look forward to listening to the next episode, and teachers can assess their understanding through comprehension questions after each episode.
Mars Patel is a popular and highly engaging narrative podcast about the main character, Mars, who notices his friends suddenly disappearing, and when he questions the adults in his life, they are quick to dismiss his thoughts. Mars sets out on a mission to find his missing friends.
The STEM Career Quest Podcast
The STEM Career Quest Podcast is a great addition to your podcast exploration and career learning. It provides 20-minute episodes about STEM careers, breaking down the details of each career in an easy-to-understand way for kids. Students will love these bite-sized informative presentations about careers they may not have previously considered.
For more career lessons, see 5 Reasons to Use Guided Career Exploration with Middle School Students or Middle School Career Exploration. You can also check out the Career Exploration and Research Project on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Brains On! & WOW in the World
You can then explore science and technology podcasts with the Brains On! and Wow in The World podcasts.
Free Professional Development For Teachers
Want to try using podcasts with your students but not sure where to start?
Or maybe you already use them and are looking for fresh, engaging ideas to take your lessons to the next level?
Then my free virtual workshop, How to Use Podcasts in the Classroom, is exactly what you need. In just 30 minutes, you’ll walk away with practical, ready-to-use strategies for integrating podcasts into your existing lesson plans – perfect for boosting student engagement and bringing your curriculum to life.
For more professional development opportunities from 2 Peas and a Dog, go to Professional Development to learn about workshops and courses.
Podcasts Are For Everyone
Podcast exploration is exciting, and through it, you’ll see that podcasts are for everyone. I hope you will consider using these free podcast choice boards to explore podcasts with your students and start incorporating podcasts in your classroom today.
For further podcast exploration:
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