Creating a Podcast

In the Creating a Podcast project, students team up to write and record elements of a podcast about a novel they are reading. Students choose components from a list of ideas, each of which are worth a certain number of points towards the effort portion of the project grade. After brainstorming and scripting each segment, students act out and record their podcast using Soundtrap. The materials for this project are based on Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”, but this project would work well with most novels.

For Google Docs and Slides links, please visit https://www.ctlessons.org/ela/creating-a-podcast.html

Topics addressed:
Central themes in novels
Symbolism and imagery in novels
Characters and relationships in novels
Primary CT concept: decomposition. Students break down a complicated novel into distinct elements, relating them to one another in discrete and creative podcast segments.

Students will be able to:
Create a podcast based on elements on a novel they are reading
Identify themes and symbols within a novel
Write and act out interviews and conversations with characters from a novel

Materials:
PowerPoint presentation
Student packet

Prep:
Familiarize yourself with Soundtrap and create an account before students begin recording
Students should be finished or nearly finished with the novel they will be writing about before finishing their podcasts

Suggested lesson breakdown:
This project can be done in a few days or spread over a couple of weeks

Day one
10min – introduce project using PowerPoint presentation
10-30min – place students into their teams, allow them to start brainstorming podcast segment ideas

Day two
30-90min – students collaborate within their teams to write and rehearse each podcast segment

Day three
30-60min – teams record their podcast segments

Day four
30-60min – teams edit their podcasts

For further information and relevant standards, please visit https://www.ctlessons.org/ela/creating-a-podcast.html