Powerful Podcasts

Learning Targets

Students will:

Connection:

Podcasts are available in most languages; encourage students to listen to podcasts in their native language with a family member. This suggestion applies not only for this activity, but also for family members to learn together about topics that interest them all.
Family members can receive a text message in their home language with a link to open a mobile-friendly version of the podcast.
Encourage family members to send feedback to you about the experience, including how confident their child was in explaining the concept and photos of the activity.

Before Activity:

Select relevant podcast(s). If possible, choose podcasts that have a transcript allowing students to read along as they listen. (Resource: Listenwise)
Preview and make note of vocabulary and content challenges.
Prepare comprehension questions. This might require differentiated questions to reflect language proficiency.
Prepare language supports.

During Activity:

Synchronous setting:

Prepare a time and place to listen to the podcast and discuss as a group.
Provide the graphic organizer for students to answer comprehension questions and list any new vocabulary, or allow students to contribute their thoughts by writing in a common graphic organizer.
Engage students in an online discussion of comprehension questions and content.

Asynchronous Setting

Decide how students will share their completed organizer: email, online classroom, or with a member of their household.
Via email, text message, or a phone call, assign podcasts for students to listen to independently, and share the graphic organizer. Include the expectations for the activity.
Pre-teach critical vocabulary and engage in any background building during an online meeting or using an app such as Padlet or Flipgrid.
Share vocabulary lists or notes that students can use to review their learning and complete the organizer.
Students can share their responses with the teacher via email, text, a phone call, or a photo of the document. They may also share their responses with a friend or a member in their household.

Provide vocabulary resources, online or as handouts, that will provide additional language supports as students listen to the podcast.

Students learn new details about the podcast topic and are able to use relevant language to engage in comprehension activity.

For beginning English learners assign a podcast that isn’t too complex, and ensure individual time is dedicated to building background.

Provide an organizer that is partially completed with words that students will hear in the podcast.
Share a short, comprehensible video about the same topic for students to watch and build background knowledge and language.

Students can be provided with targeted vocabulary to use in their responses in the organizer.

Set a goal for how many academic words or sentences you expect the students to use.