TeachersFirst's Educational Podcasts for Students
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Engage and inspire your learners with educational podcasts. The act of listening to podcasts offers many benefits to our students. The podcasts are available anytime, making them ideal for in-person, remote, blended, and flipped instruction. Students can listen a second time to deepen their understanding. Podcasts offer benefits to students who may have visual impairments or reading delays. They offer great instructional practice for the elementary grades through adult learners. In this collection, we share many educational podcasts for students of all ages in various subject areas.
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Brains On! - Minnesota Public Radio/Southern California Public Radio
Grades
K to 8
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Brains On! is a science podcast for kids. Hosted by different kid hosts, podcasts explore a variety of topics such as animals, space, and volcanoes. Most podcasts run in length ...more
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Brains On! is a science podcast for kids. Hosted by different kid hosts, podcasts explore a variety of topics such as animals, space, and volcanoes. Most podcasts run in length from approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Click the "extras" link to find many supplemental materials including scientist interviews, music, experiments, and mystery sounds.
In the Classroom
Use Brains On! for your students to listen to in classroom centers. Use for curious students to explore subjects you do not always teach, such as biology, chemistry, or even all about hair! Watch together on your interactive whiteboard (don't forget to share the extras!). Use the podcasts as a model when studying other subjects, giving students structure and ideas for making their own podcasts. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of any concepts. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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KidLit TV - Julie Gribble
Grades
1 to 6
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Parents, educators, children's literature authors, and filmmakers join together at KidLit TV to bring wonderful books to kids through different media formats. KidLit TV Radio features...more
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Parents, educators, children's literature authors, and filmmakers join together at KidLit TV to bring wonderful books to kids through different media formats. KidLit TV Radio features podcast editions of KidsLit TV shows featuring authors and illustrators participating in book talks. Other portions of the site include lots of craft ideas (categorized by theme) to bring books to life, and there are book trailers for upcoming book releases. If your district blocks YouTube, the book trailer videos may not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many features of this site to educate parents on literacy and motivate students to enjoy reading. Share podcasts and book trailers on your class website to recommend books your students may enjoy. Use the podcasts as an example, then have cooperative learning groups create podcasts as book talks for books they enjoy. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here, for student podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Stuff You Missed in History Class - Tracy Wilson and Holly Frey
Grades
7 to 12
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Explore interesting history tidbits and background information about world events including topics from Atlantis to Vikings. Scroll through the list of topics and find links to various...more
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Explore interesting history tidbits and background information about world events including topics from Atlantis to Vikings. Scroll through the list of topics and find links to various podcast episodes with archives going back to 2008. Click to play the episodes or download any episode in mp3 format using the download link. Episodes are approximately 30 minutes in length. You can also search for specific topics using the search tool.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Use podcasts from Stuff You Missed in History to enrich current lessons or lure students into thinking history can actually be "cool." Provide a link on class computers or your class website for students use. Have students use a mapping tool such as Zeemaps, reviewed here, to create a map of one of these events (with audio stories and pictures included)! Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about one of the people in these lesser known historic events.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Math Dude: Quick and Dirty Tips - Jason Marshall, PhD
Grades
6 to 12
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Put math (and related science) fears behind you with podcasts with text transcripts from The Math Dude. The Math Dude makes complex math problems easy to decipher with his easy ...more
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Put math (and related science) fears behind you with podcasts with text transcripts from The Math Dude. The Math Dude makes complex math problems easy to decipher with his easy to follow explanations and tips. Listen to podcasts while viewing text explaining common math questions from basic algebra through SAT prep questions. Be sure to check out the "The Math Dude's Most Popular Tips" and "The Math Dude's Archives." Download podcasts as MP3 files and play through iTunes, QuickTime Player, and RealPlayer installed on a local computer. You can also simply play them from the site. Just be sure you click on the podcast play button and not one of the annoying videos or other ads! This site is loaded with advertisements. However, there is some great material underneath them all. NOTE: This site includes tools for blog users to interact with others. Any visitor can comment on the posts and podcasts or participate in Forums. There are also links to other tip blogs on the web page. Check your school policies on students posting comments, etc. to the web and whether they are permitted to do so anonymously and/or with name or initials.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Check ahead of time to be sure this site is not blocked at school. If it is blocked, consider subscribing to the blog via iTunes to avoid all the ads. External speakers connected to the computer will help broadcast the sound throughout your classroom. Help students follow along by opening the podcast article (transcript) ad-free using the Readability Test Tool, reviewed here. Project the ad-free article as you play the podcast. Share the link on your class web page or select specific episodes links to offer support for concepts you are studying, such as absolute value or sine/cosine. Extend the concept of The Math Dude by having students write and produce their own math tip podcasts or English tip podcasts to explain the grammar demons that haunt their writing. Use a site such as Spreaker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Naked Scientists - University of Cambridge
Grades
5 to 12
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Love science? Find ideas, extraordinary information, and experiments on this entertaining site. Listen to the weekly science podcasts and archives that cover a vast array of topics...more
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Love science? Find ideas, extraordinary information, and experiments on this entertaining site. Listen to the weekly science podcasts and archives that cover a vast array of topics including those that may seem unbelievable. This realistic and scientific site looks at topics like aliens and telepathy as well as ballistics and volcanoes. Find in-depth information explained with scientific clarity, even complex topics, explained in terms that everyone can understand and from multiple perspectives.
In the Classroom
Use Naked Science to explore topics as an introduction in class. Or use these articles to hook students during a start-of-school "what is science" unit. Use the site to find answers to many of the tough questions that students can pose during classroom instruction. Provide time for students to research the facets of a topic as a group for lively group or class discussions. Discuss the set up of the problems, description of the theories, or how to separate fact from opinion. Research the backgrounds of the experts on this site. Teachers of gifted students and regular classroom teachers seeking ways to adapt for gifted students will find this site well-suited to the eclectic interests and angles of out-of-the-box thinkers. Be sure to share the link on your class web page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lab Out Loud - Brian Bartel and Dale Basler
Grades
6 to 12
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This site hosts podcasts created and produced by science teachers Brian Bartel and Dale Basler. The creators discuss science news and science education with scientists, researchers,...more
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This site hosts podcasts created and produced by science teachers Brian Bartel and Dale Basler. The creators discuss science news and science education with scientists, researchers, writers, and notable science figures. The topics range from standard curricular topics to latest science news. Science no longer lives inside the classroom. View the links and notes that accompany the episodes.
In the Classroom
Use the links and notes to dig deeper into the science topics discussed in each podcast. Find a variety of science topics to discuss from environmental to science breakthroughs to science education. Assign student groups to choose and listen to their choice of podcast during a unit on scientists and scientific method, then report back to the class on what modern scientists are doing that interests them. Have the role-play as one of the scientists or make a Voki recording as the scientist, explaining their research. See a Voki review here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Science Friday Kids' Connection - NPR
Grades
6 to 12
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Science Friday includes a live science show, chat rooms, and a science desk for questions. Science links and mentors are also available. There are experiments to try, and an online...more
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Science Friday includes a live science show, chat rooms, and a science desk for questions. Science links and mentors are also available. There are experiments to try, and an online library for users. The site features podcasts of broadcasts of the PRN Science Friday shows, and a weekly video. They can be listened to on the site or downloaded through iTunes. Broadcasts can also be listened to live from links on the site. This hands-on site was designed for the user to have a science experience like no other.
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This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Use Science Friday as a springboard and resource for research projects, or as an end of the week fun discussion. Play a podcast, and have students discuss the meaning and any possible misunderstandings. You could set up a computer in your classroom with a Science Friday podcast or video set up and ready to go for students to cycle through or for those who finsh their work early.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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MathTrain.TV - Eric Marcos
Grades
5 to 9
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This site is part of the Mathtrain.com Project and was created to host student-created math video lessons all in one place. It was created by Mr. Marcos and his students ...more
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This site is part of the Mathtrain.com Project and was created to host student-created math video lessons all in one place. It was created by Mr. Marcos and his students at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, CA. Videos are searchable by topic or by most viewed, most recent, or most discussed. The site is highly interactive and has an option to subscribe to their free podcast through ITunes. In addition to the student-created videos, there are also teacher-created videos with explanations on different math topics. Most videos are under 2 minutes in length making them perfect to use for introduction or review with different math topics. This site runs in conjunction with mathtrain.com.
In the Classroom
Choose a student-created video to use as an introduction for a new math topic. For example, when working with multi-step equations, show one of the student's videos on the site on your interactive whiteboard as an example of how one student solved the problem. Use this as a springboard to classroom discussions on problem solving equations. There are several videos on the site with this topic, so a new video can be shown each day as examples of different problem solving methods. Use the student examples in your classroom to demonstrate how students can explain different math topics, then create your own explanatory video or audio presentations. Have students create podcasts using a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here. Or challenge students to create a video and share using a site such as SchoolTube, reviewed here. Post student work to your classroom website or blog for students to use at home for review.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kids Book Blog - Mrs. Phillips' 5th Grade and 6th grade class
Grades
3 to 8
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Kids Book Blog is a site that has been created and is maintained by fifth and sixth grade students. The site houses a book review database for over 500 books ...more
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Kids Book Blog is a site that has been created and is maintained by fifth and sixth grade students. The site houses a book review database for over 500 books with reviews written by students for students. In addition to the database, the site includes Author Study Podcasts, Comic Book Summaries, and Game Show templates in PowerPoint format. Another interesting feature of the site is the opportunity to join on-line Book Clubs. Students read the assigned book and check in weekly to discuss their opinions and share comments about the reading. The students who maintain the site are working on bringing How To videos, such as Inferencing and Cause and Effect, to the site. What a fabulous site to share with students to demonstrate the potential all students possess.
In the Classroom
Allow students to read through the reviews to choose literature. After reading the book, have students write their own reviews. Compare and contrast their reviews with the database write-ups. Have students create their own podcasts reviewing the book using a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here.Differentiate reading assignments by assigning Book Clubs in accordance with student reading levels. Teachers who use the Book Clubs with classes should check school policies on posting student comments on-line and obtain written parent permission. Be sure to establish class guidelines for safe commenting and comply with school policies for identifying student (initials? first names?).
Utilize the Game Show formats as study tools for test prep. Have students create their own test prep formats and present to the class in a Power Point presentation.
This blog site is a model for many effective reading projects upper elementary and middle school classes can create on their own: video summaries (using a site such as SchoolTube, reviewed here, book club blogs, Power Point "Jeopardy" book quizzes, and more. The blog promises to continue adding new projects in the future. Use the examples here to inspire your own students.
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Coffee Break Languages - Radio Lingua
Grades
2 to 12
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This site offers FREE audio episodes teaching numerous languages: Irish, Italian, Polish, Danish, Russian, Greek, French, and countless others! Featured shows have titles like "Coffee...more
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This site offers FREE audio episodes teaching numerous languages: Irish, Italian, Polish, Danish, Russian, Greek, French, and countless others! Featured shows have titles like "Coffee Break Spanish" and "One Minute French." Some of the programs require students to subscribe using a simple form, but most do not require any registration. They can then search the entire lesson content or just search by language. Focus languages include Spanish, French, German, Italian, English, and many other languages, primarily European, though Mandarin and Japanese podcasts are also available. Students will love being able to load the lessons on their Ipods, mobile phones, and computers! The "Guided Tour" section of the page allows students and teachers to learn how to use the site and focus on whatever their particular aims for study are. This site now has very short Podcasts to help you learn a language.
In the Classroom
Share this site, on your interactive whiteboard or projector, with world language students, particularly independent learners at whom the site is aimed. Students getting ready to take school-sponsored trips to European countries, for example, could benefit from the quick introduction and easy access this site provides to simple language lessons. ENL and ELL students will enjoy using the English podcasts as supplements to their in-school English instruction. Why not challenge students to create their own language podcasts using a site such as Podomatic, reviewed here, or Acast, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Way With Words - A Way with Words & Wayword LLC
Grades
7 to 12
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If you are looking for podcasts to lure your students to the study of language and words, this is a great site to investigate. A Way with Words is an ...more
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If you are looking for podcasts to lure your students to the study of language and words, this is a great site to investigate. A Way with Words is an hour-long radio show on PBS, currently hosted by Martha Barnett and Grant Barrett. The show features lively discussions about "slang, grammar, old sayings, word origins, regional dialects, family expressions, and speaking and writing well." Listening to any of the old shows is entertaining as well as informative. The topics are listed on the home page along with summaries. Get more programs by clicking on "Get the podcast" in the right-hand menu. They are appealing, with provocative titles such as "What the Cluck?," "Elvis in a Cheese Sandwich," and "Coinkydinks and Big Boxes." There are full hour podcasts and mini-podcasts.
In the Classroom
Plug in your students to get discussion started about any relevant-to-your-class topic. Students increasingly want to listen through headphones; let them enjoy these entertaining and informative podcasts on language, then use class questions posted on an interactive whiteboard or projector to generate full-class discussion. Language never sounded so good! Have students create similar projects in cooperative learning groups. How about podcasts using a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inspired Beginners Spanish Podcast - Ben Curtis and Marina Diez
Grades
5 to 12
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This language-rich website features podcasts spoken using British English. The podcasts review the previous episode, explain new English vocabulary, discuss the subject in English,...more
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This language-rich website features podcasts spoken using British English. The podcasts review the previous episode, explain new English vocabulary, discuss the subject in English, and then present the Spanish language podcast. Be aware that clicking to play a podcast will start a long pause as the podcast downloads to your computer, and it may appear that nothing is happening! The subjects are of high interest for students. The name is somewhat of a misnomer, though, since people with no knowledge of Spanish might be a bit overwhelmed by the language used. Unfortunately, accompanying worksheets with complete transcripts are not free, and there is no text available elsewhere. There are a few other free worksheets available under the About link (see resources). Listening options include listening on your computer, iPod, or mp3 player as podcasts.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This site includes tools for blog users to interact (in English or Spanish). Any visitor can comment on the posts and podcasts or participate in Forums. There is also a link to a sister blog on Spanish culture. Check your school policies on students posting comments, etc. to the web and whether they are permitted to do so anonymously and/or with name or initials.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: This site includes tools for blog users to interact (in English or Spanish). Any visitor can comment on the posts and podcasts or participate in Forums. There is also a link to a sister blog on Spanish culture. Check your school policies on students posting comments, etc. to the web and whether they are permitted to do so anonymously and/or with name or initials.
This site requires Quicktime. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
In the Classroom
This site is a treasure trove for Spanish teachers. It also provides a way for your ESL and ELL students to share their language and culture as the focus of a lesson, perhaps as you study other cultures. Have the ESL or ELL students and native English speakers work on understanding podcasts together. They can discuss what they understood and what they did not. You might have your Spanish speakers write out the dialogue and vocabulary selections, but be sure to have a knowledgeable adult check the Spanish before using it with your students.To alleviate safety concerns, you might want to create a simple class policy (e.g. initials only) and obtain parent permission before inviting your class to participate in the blog, since you will not be able to monitor their submissions. The site does moderate to prevent "bad" comments from appearing online, but you do not control this moderation. ALL blog comments require an email address (kept hidden). If safety and school policy concerns limit student access, use the site as a whole-class activity and selectively choose portions for students to use. You can assign DIRECT links to podcasts by right-clicking the "Audio: download" link and copying the URL that shows in "Properties," ex. http://media.libsyn.com/media/learnrealspanish/nisbeginners20_el_kindle.mp3. Students can RIGHT-click >Save target as to download and load podcast files to their mp3 players or simply keep to listen over and over at a computer.
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Story Corps - NPR
Grades
3 to 12
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NPR is amassing a collection of oral histories by traveling across the country and talking to average people. On this website, users can read or listen to the stories told ...more
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NPR is amassing a collection of oral histories by traveling across the country and talking to average people. On this website, users can read or listen to the stories told by a wide variety of Americans. Click "Tell your story" to find Locations & Reservations for traveling Mobile Booths or directions to record on your own. The Do It Yourself guide includes tips on interview questions and an interview check list. Started in 2003, the site has many stories in its archives and frequently adds updates.
In the Classroom
Use this site to reconnect your students with those of other generations and geographic locations. Turn up your speakers and listen to some examples in your classroom. You can even use the story collection site as a model to start your own oral history project for your class or the entire school. You may not want to actually place your recording on the NPR site but instead house them locally in your school or community web site. As major events occur in your community, such as an anniversary or the opening of a new school, engage your students in documenting the event. The general interview guides offer useful interview techniques for school newspapers or news broadcasts, as well.
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PLUS Magazine - Cambridge University
Grades
9 to 12
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Created and published at Cambridge University, PLUS is an online magazine about mathematics. While many of the topics are esoteric, the writing attempts to make the presentations -...more
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Created and published at Cambridge University, PLUS is an online magazine about mathematics. While many of the topics are esoteric, the writing attempts to make the presentations - and math in general - appealing and interesting even to those who aren't mathematicians. At this it does a surprisingly good job. This one's worth a look, especially for teachers interested in novel ways of teaching math.
In the Classroom
Save this resource in your bookmarks for times you would like to compliment your math instruction with innovative information about using math in real life.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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