This family-friendly daily podcast is on NPR. They post 8-10 minute podcasts each weekday with “encore” podcasts every Monday, which are 25-30 minutes long and provide more detailed information on popular topics. Listeners are given 3 science related statements and the challenge is to pick the one true statement (the other two being false) of the day. This podcast is really kid-focused, with silly humor, and interesting (and a little gross too) facts on topics like: smells, “karate kicking cockroaches,” the solar system, and ears! The only thing I didn’t like about this podcast, which would be a perfect podcast to listen to as part of a science lesson or related lesson is the library, is that you have to tune in the next day to find out which statement was true – think to be continued. Of course, you could search for the answer on your own or just listen a day or two behind. Overall, the short length of the podcast and its fun yet informative topics are a good fit for elementary students! Raz, G. & Thomas, M. (2020, March 24). Freezing factoids and fallacies . Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2020/03/23/820345051/two-whats-a-wow-freezing-factoids
June 13, 2020 at 12:12 pm
I also chose this as a podcast to listen to and loved it! It’s creative, fun, and educational. I was unsure how I felt about the wait for the next podcast to get your answer. Part of me thought young kids don’t want to wait for the answer and this might dissuade their interest. However, I also like the idea that they ask the question and then you get to go ‘researching’ with your young child and find the answer! This is not only a great introduction to research and how to distinguish good information from bad (a skill of increasing importance as we are inundated with information that isn’t always reliable), but a great activity to teach the excitement of finding an answer to a question! I think making learning fun can help kids to learn that learning can be its own reward and I think this podcast does a good job of that. Of course, if no one is willing or able to do this with the child then I do fear that the waiting will negatively affect the child’s interest in the podcast. Although since there are so many episodes they can always start listening from the beginning, with the next episode (and answer!) readily and immediately available.
June 14, 2020 at 11:46 am
I used to listen to this podcast with my daughters, and it is something I would like to incorporate into my classroom as well. A few years ago I found a similar podcast, Brains On, and I created a lesson to go along with the “could it rain lemonade” episode. Unfortunately, my school blocked the website! This was a problem I did not foresee when planning.
You discussed using Wow in the World in your library, but were concerned about the wait time. What if you used the morning or afternoon announcements to share the answer the next day? That could be something fun and exciting for students.
June 15, 2020 at 1:35 am
Choosing to share a podcast with students could definitely be difficult if your district blocked it. I can see mine doing that. I am not sure that a podcast would keep the students interested, but I kind of like the to be continued idea. Maybe you could use it as extra credit if they found the answer before it was told.