All teachers know the struggle at some point – getting students to listen. However, using podcast lessons in the classroom just might help.
Engaging middle school students in the material you’re teaching can be difficult at times, and it can be frustrating for both students and teachers when there is a lack of attention being paid to what is being taught. When students are not engaged in a lesson, they can disrupt the classroom environment and distract other students who may be more attentive.
Teaching listening skills while engaging students in material they are interested in is a great way to help mitigate these issues and help shape a culture of listening in the classroom. Podcasts are a perfect tool to do that.
The Benefits of Podcast Lessons
Podcast lessons are a great tool to use in the middle school classroom. They are easy to use, portable, and a creative way to get students excited about learning. Since many students likely already enjoy and use podcasts daily, classroom learning can become an extension of that familiarity.
Students may also be more open to exploring and learning about new topics through podcasts since it is a popular media source. It’s common to see an interesting podcast topic and want to give it a chance.
Within that framework, students may have a built-in openness toward the format, which is a great setup for teachers who want to introduce new material.
Students also understand that they must listen and pay attention to understand what happens in a podcast. That can be translated into educational lessons and is another great reason podcast lessons can be valuable in the classroom.
Key Skills Podcast Lessons Help To Develop
There are several key skills podcast lessons can help students develop, including listening, comprehension, and critical thinking.
Listening
Podcast lessons help students learn to listen. There’s no way around it; students need to pay attention to properly understand the material. They must actively listen to what is being said.
Podcasts are a great tool to engage students in the material and help them develop important listening skills that will hopefully translate into other classroom instruction areas.
Comprehension
In general, there are no quick answers with podcasts. The listener must devote their attention to the speaker(s) and follow along as the narrative unfolds. Without the benefit of visuals, like with a video, listening becomes key – without it, there can be no comprehension.
Podcast lessons are a fantastic tool for helping students practice their comprehension of the material. Students will have to actively listen and process the material to comprehend it in a useful and constructive way.
Critical Thinking
Podcast lessons can help students develop critical thinking skills. As with any material, podcasts provide information but may not provide all the information required for a lesson or assignment. They may also be a great starting point for discussion or further research exploration.
Students must use their critical thinking skills to get the most value from a podcast and develop ideas around the material being imparted.
Why Podcast Lessons Are a Must-Have in Every Classroom
Podcasts offer a creative way to present material to students. They allow teachers to be forward-thinking and innovative in their instruction while still providing an opportunity to practice fundamental skills, such as listening and critical thinking.
By using a medium that students can connect with, teachers may have a head start on student interest and willingness to engage. This can be crucial, especially when introducing new or difficult topics.
Podcast lessons offer a great way to engage students with new material. At times, that can be a full-on formal follow-up lesson, such as lessons on subscription traps or book publishing, or it can be a more informal activity where students listen and discuss what they have heard.
Podcasts offer flexibility to teachers since they can be assigned in class or as homework. They can be downloaded and used as a resource anytime, making them a useful and ideal medium for the teacher when it’s most convenient.
They also provide time for the entire class to quietly focus on one activity, offering teachers a period of time to catch up on other work if needed.
Adding New Voices To The Classroom
Podcast lessons are a fantastic way to add a diverse set of voices to the classroom. With podcast lessons, teachers can introduce students to experts in many areas they might not have the same access to otherwise.
This can help teachers reflect a more diverse cross-section of topics and cultures in the classroom. Students can enjoy being introduced to ideas, concepts and practices they may not have been aware of while continuing to hone their listening and comprehension skills.
Introducing more voices into the classroom may also spark an interest in a student or two regarding a topic they did not know they were interested in. This can prompt more research and discussion and can ultimately enhance engagement and get students excited about learning new material and ideas.
6th Grade Podcast Listening Activities
This 6th Grade Podcast Listening Activities Bundle is the perfect tool to help your students improve their listening comprehension skills. Each lesson in this 12-lesson bundle includes pre- and post-listening questions, journal prompts, and an extension assignment.
Use these podcast listening comprehension activities to help reinforce listening, writing, and critical thinking skills in your classroom. With 12 engaging lessons centred around short podcast segments about consumers, companies, and marketing, these podcast lessons are the ideal tool to elevate your students’ listening comprehension skills.
Podcast Lessons – Topics:
- Back To Basics Tech (The rise of “dumb phone” sales)
- Brand Departures (Why brands are leaving Canada)
- Chewing Gum Sales Decline (Why chewing gum is not as popular as it once was)
- DIY Economy (How companies are downloading tasks to the consumer)
- Egg Prices (The factors involved in pricing eggs)
- Fast Food Prices (Why does the same meal have different prices at various locations)
- Fastest Fast Food (Is the drive-thru the fastest option?)
- Pay Now Play Later (In-game purchases for modern video games)
- Subscription Boxes (How consumers are encouraged to sign up for subscription boxes)
- The Decline of Shopping Malls (What can be done with these empty spaces?)
- The Rise of Resale (Why brands are creating resale programs)
- Wallet-Friendly Food App (Food deals for consumers)
Each Podcast Lesson Includes:
- Detailed Teacher Instructions
- Podcast Listening Activity
- Graphic Organizers
- Journal Entries
- Extend Your Learning Research Choice Board
- Answer Keys
- Assessment Rubrics
- Print & Digital Formats
This convenient, no-prep podcast lessons bundle is highly adaptable and can seamlessly integrate into your classroom as sub plans, asynchronous assignments, homework tasks, or independent or whole-class lessons.
You can find the Grade 6 Podcast Listening Activities Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Do you teach Grade 7 or Grade 8?
Check out these fantastic podcast bundles your students will love:
- Grade 7 Podcast Listening Comprehension Lesson Bundle
- Grade 8 Podcast Listening Comprehension Lesson Bundle
Additional Resources:
- Six Minutes Podcast Unit Bundle
- Mars Patel Podcast Mega Bundle Seasons 1 – 3
- A Teacher’s Guide to Podcasts
- How To Easily Create Classroom Podcasts
- Interesting Teacher Professional Development Podcasts
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