Podcasting with First Grade
If you have not thought of podcasting with your younger elementary school students, I encourage you to think again.
The first graders at my school had listened to the second grade podcast about animals, and had really enjoyed their story.They were especially thrilled that the second graders had received so many comments from teachers around the world. Believe it or not, but having an audience matters… even to 6 year olds.
They were enthusiastic and eager to record their own voices to get them “into other people’s computers and iPods” too.
I had started reading a chapter book called Vacation under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne from the Magic Tree House series with them.
The idea was to pretend that we were interviewing Jack and Annie, the two main characters, about their latest adventure that had taken them to Pompeii.
We read one chapter at a time and discussed as a class, what happened as we were reading. After each  reading, I typed up all the questions and answers that students had came up with. The following time I went to their classroom, we recorded these questions and answers from the “script”.
I rotated all students to be either the interviewer, Jack (boys) and Annie (girls). I also had them record several segments as a class chant together (ex. gasping, “no children allowed”), which they seemed to enjoy very much.
I had several students at a time come to the back of the class and record directly into Garageband, while the other students were silently working on classroom work or reading a book. A few times, I also took them out into the hallway, if the teacher had another activity planned in the classroom.
- I was amazed how cooperative and attentive to what was going on with the recording in the back of the room while it was not their turn.
- Several students started to take a real interest in the editing part of the podcast too. They were verifying that I was editing out any clicking noises that were included when I stopped the recording segment, or if a word was repeated twice.
- If they were not happy with their recording, they asked to record over it for a second, third or fourth time.
- Shy and quiet students were coming out of their shell. Their classmates were surprised and impressed of these new “podcast” voices they were hearing from them.
Recording:
- After demonstrating the difference in the sound of their voices and fluency, students agreed to NOT read off the script.
- I read one sentence at a time to the student who was to record. I let them practice saying the sentence out loud and coached them with their volume, melody and to use different acting voices.
- Some students needed to have sentences split into parts. Putting each sentence back together made it sound seamless in the recording.
- I could tell a drastic improvement among students in their confidence level and voice expression as we progressed in the book.
After class,
- I “cleaned” the recording tracks
- added music and sound effects
The class couldn’t wait to hear the entire recording the next day. They wanted to hear the audio from start to finish, including the newest chapter clips. They begged to hear it again and again from the beginning and not only the added part. By the time we reached the end of the book they had heard the podcast over 20 times.
Skills addressed:
- listening
- speaking
- presenting
- comprehension
- storytelling
- performance
- voice acting
- oral fluency
- media
- technology
Take a “listen” and leave a comment to these first graders who worked very hard and enthusiastically on their recording. Let them know where you are from too. We will create a google map with placemarks to show how far their voices reached.
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Thank you for leaving our first graders comments. You are making a worldwide audience real for them and are keeping them motivated. We are tracking them on our Google Map. Once you leave a comment with your location, we will add you to our Google Map.
View MJGDS- 1st Grade Podcast: Magic Tree House in a larger map






















I teach Grade One in Doha, Qatar (in the Middle East) and we will be starting to read some Magic Tree House stories soon. I will make sure we read the one on Pompeii, then I can take a little break because when my children listen to your podcast, YOU will be the teachers instead of me … you know much more about Pompeii than I do! I know my children will love hearing your podcast and I know they will want to do one too. Thanks so much for for being so awesome!
Awesome job guys! I think I would like to get that book and read it with my son(who is also a first grader) We live in Powder Springs, GA
You guys did an amazing job! I love all of your expressions and excitement. Thank you for sharing this story. I hope you all have a wonderful day. I live in Mobile, Alabama.
I am so amazed that you guys are in first grade. You guys and girls did an AWESOME job. I am very impressed with your comprehension and speaking skills. I can tell you had a lot of fun with this process. LOVE IT!
[...] by the “worldwide” success” of the “other first grade class’” podcast episode of the Magic Tree House, the six year olds wanted to create their own [...]
I have always loved listening to podcasts created by kids, but your podcast is one of the best I have ever heard! Your expressive voices and fun, enthusiastic ways you told the story made it so enjoyable to listen to. I also learned some new things from you! What an outstanding example you have set for other first graders who want to learn how to make a great podcast! Thank you for sharing it!
I live in Phoenix AZ and was an elementary school principal for a very long time.
.-= Peggy George´s last blog ..Tikatok-Student Online Book Publishing =-.
I loved this, you guys were great! My first graders want to try it because you all sounded so terrific! Thanks for sharing with us.
I live in Livonia, Michigan.
WOW! You guys and gals did an awesome job! I really enjoyed your Magic Treehouse Podcast and cannot wait to share it with my 2nd grader’s classroom. Kudos from Livonia, Michigan!
What an awesome project your kids participated in. Way to go 1st Grade! Your tone was great while reading. It kept it interesting. Weatherford, TX
[...] Podcasting with First Grade (59) [...]
HI,
I think this is a excellent way to not only get students interested in reading but also get them involved in with learning process. also working with others depending on there occupation later on in life they will have to work with others. This is also an amazing thing, even first graders get a chance to experience.
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I’m in Leipzig, Germany. This is such a great project, I’m amazed. My son is in 1st grade and I’d love for his class to do a similar project. I’ll email this link to his teacher and see what she thinks. Thanks for sharing it with us all. My son will definitely love listening to this. And finally… a huge “WELL DONE” to all the children involved.
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