If you’re an upper elementary teacher looking for new ways to engage your students, classroom podcasts should definitely be on your list. Podcasts can be used as storytime, literature centers, and brain breaks. Plus, if you want to introduce a new topic or topic area, podcasts are a great way to do that! Here are our top picks for podcasts that will engage your upper elementary students.
1. The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
If you’re looking for something truly out-of-this-world, then this is a perfect choice! The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian follows an 8-year-old boy and his robot friends as they explore space and all its mysteries. It’s science fiction at its best, with enough action and humor to keep even the most restless students engaged.
2. Story Pirates
Story Pirates is a sketch comedy podcast dedicated to helping young people create stories and find their own creative voices. On each episode, live actors perform original stories written by real kids. This podcast is great for encouraging creative writing in the classroom and sparking unique ideas in your students’ minds!
3. Wow in the World
This award-winning podcast from NPR delves into some pretty amazing scientific discoveries – everything from black holes to robotic prosthetics! Not only is it educational, but it also encourages critical thinking skills as well as curiosity about our world.
4. Brains On!
Brains On! is a collection of science classroom podcasts hosted by kid scientists from around the country. Each episode explores a different scientific topic such as robotics or climate change, making it perfect for any curious minds in your class!
5. Ear Snacks
This podcast promises “a snack-sized audio adventure every week” – and it delivers! If you’re looking for something lighthearted and fun for younger students, Ear Snacks is an excellent choice. This award-winning podcast features songs about animals and nature as well as original stories about characters like Albee the Alligator and Ruby Redbird. It’s sure to put smiles on your student’s faces—and maybe even get them singing along!
6. But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids
But Why is perfect for an open-ended discussion about the world around us. Each episode takes questions from kids and then gives an answer from experts in the field. Teachers can use this podcast as part of their inquiry-based units or as an opportunity for students to explore topics that interest them.
7. The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
This podcast is perfect for upper elementary students. It follows 8 kids as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of their classmate Mars Patel. The show features suspenseful storytelling and age-appropriate themes like friendship and adventure. Plus, it has plenty of cliffhangers that will keep your students coming back for more!
One of the benefits of using podcasts is their audio-only nature of them which encourages students to form their own visual pictures of the action. Podcasts offer natural practice inferring from the tone of voice and sound effects used. Check your students’ comprehension skills on podcasts with this free summary follow-up worksheet.
Podcasts provide teachers with endless opportunities to engage their students in learning activities while exploring topics they might not have thought of before. Give these classroom podcasts a try with your upper elementary students today—you won’t regret it! With exciting stories, expert advice, and plenty of creativity-inducing activities at your fingertips, you’ll have plenty of content to keep your students engaged all year long!
If you’re looking to extend language arts practice you might also enjoy this blog about using short films with no words to practice inference. It’s a fun comparison to use classroom podcasts, with only words, and short films with only visual images and talk about how they both use similar methods to convey meaning and feeling.