Podcasting Literature: Voices from Our Books
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Podcasting Literature: Voices from Our Books

Grade 6EnglishTechnology3 days
In 'Podcasting Literature: Voices from Our Books,' sixth-grade students engage in an immersive learning experience where they collaboratively create a podcast based on their literature circle books. This project blends English and technology, encouraging students to analyze book themes, script narratives, and produce audio content using digital tools. Through a structured process that includes setting up equipment, recording, editing, and peer reviewing, students hone their storytelling and technical skills. The project culminates in a podcast that not only showcases their understanding of literature but also their ability to effectively communicate and collaborate in a digital format.
PodcastingLiteratureCollaborationStorytellingDigital ToolsAudio EditingCommunication
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we make a podcast together that shares important ideas from a book and shows how podcasts tell stories in different ways?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How does a podcast tell a story differently?
  • What do we need in a podcast to talk about books?
  • How does working together help us understand books better?
  • How do different media change how we understand stories?
  • How do sounds and scripts make a podcast great?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Analyze and interpret key themes from a book to effectively communicate them in a podcast format.
  • Collaborate effectively in a group to plan, script, and produce a podcast.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how different media formats, including podcasts, influence storytelling and audience perception.
  • Develop proficiency in using digital tools and technologies for recording and editing audio content.
  • Enhance public speaking and presentation skills through the production and broadcasting of a podcast.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1
Primary
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.Reason: This standard aligns as students will be discussing themes and ideas collaboratively to produce the podcast.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4
Primary
Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.Reason: This supports the objectives as students must present their ideas effectively during podcast production.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.6
Primary
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.Reason: This standard is relevant as students will use technology to produce the podcast and collaborate with peers.

ISTE Standards for Students

ISTE.6.2.C
Secondary
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.Reason: Students will need to creatively use digital tools to create and format their podcast, aligning with this standard.
ISTE.6.1.C
Supporting
Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.Reason: This relates to students using technology to receive and incorporate feedback during the creation process.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Podcast Launch Party

Invite students to a surprise podcast launch party featuring podcasts from real students across the world who created storytelling content based on their literature circle books. Students get excited by the global reach and decide to create their own podcast stories that could connect them to a wider audience.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Perfecting Podcast Production

Students use technology to record and edit their podcast, incorporating sound effects to enhance storytelling.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Set up recording equipment and familiarize with audio software.
2. Record the podcast segments based on the script.
3. Edit the audio files, adding sound effects and transitions.
4. Peer review the podcast and incorporate feedback.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA fully recorded, edited, and peer-reviewed podcast audio file.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsISTE.6.2.C - Creative use of digital tools for communication.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Podcast Production Rubric for Literature Circles

Category 1

Collaboration and Communication

Assessment of students' abilities to effectively collaborate and communicate in group settings, discussing literature circle books and podcast production ideas.
Criterion 1

Collaborative Discussion

Measures the effectiveness of students’ participation in group discussions about podcast content and literature circle books.

Exemplary
4 Points

Actively engages in discussions, consistently builds on others' ideas, provides clear and insightful contributions, and fosters a positive team dynamic.

Proficient
3 Points

Participates effectively in discussions, contributes relevant ideas, and helps maintain group focus.

Developing
2 Points

Participates in discussions but occasionally needs prompting to contribute relevant ideas and maintain focus.

Beginning
1 Points

Limited participation in discussions, often requiring significant support to engage.

Criterion 2

Clear Communication

Evaluates how well students express ideas clearly and effectively within the group and during the podcast presentation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Communicates ideas clearly, with great presence and assertiveness, effectively enhancing group understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Communicates ideas clearly, contributing to team understanding and effectiveness.

Developing
2 Points

Communicates ideas with some clarity, occasionally impairing group understanding.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to communicate ideas clearly, requiring assistance for understanding.

Category 2

Podcast Content and Storytelling

Assessment of how well students analyze and convey key themes and ideas from their literature circle books within the podcast format.
Criterion 1

Theme Analysis and Interpretation

Evaluates the depth of students' understanding and interpretation of themes and ideas from their books.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates a thorough and insightful analysis of key themes, illustrating deep understanding and connecting them uniquely to the podcast theme.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates a solid analysis of key themes and their connection to the podcast theme.

Developing
2 Points

Shows basic understanding of key themes with partial connection to the podcast theme.

Beginning
1 Points

Limited understanding of key themes, showing minimal connection to the podcast theme.

Criterion 2

Creative Storytelling

Examines the effectiveness of storytelling techniques used in the podcast to engage the audience and convey the book's themes.

Exemplary
4 Points

Uses innovative storytelling techniques that highly engage the audience and convey the themes clearly and creatively.

Proficient
3 Points

Employs effective storytelling techniques to engage the audience and convey themes.

Developing
2 Points

Uses basic storytelling techniques with limited audience engagement.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with storytelling, resulting in minimal audience engagement.

Category 3

Technical Skills and Digital Media Use

Evaluation of students' proficiency in using technology for audio recording, editing, and integrating multimedia elements.
Criterion 1

Audio and Editing Skills

Measures proficiency in using digital tools for audio recording and editing, including the integration of audio effects.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates advanced skills in audio recording and editing, creatively integrating audio effects for enhanced storytelling.

Proficient
3 Points

Shows solid skills in audio recording and editing, effectively using audio effects.

Developing
2 Points

Exhibits basic skills in audio recording and editing, with minimal use of audio effects.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with recording and editing, requiring extensive support.

Category 4

Presentation and Public Speaking

Assessment of how well students present their podcast content and engage the audience during the broadcast.
Criterion 1

Engagement and Delivery

Evaluates students' presentation skills, including clarity, volume, and engagement during the podcast.

Exemplary
4 Points

Delivers podcast with exceptional presence, clarity, and audience engagement, using effective techniques and media.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents podcast clearly with good audience engagement and effective use of techniques and media.

Developing
2 Points

Presents with some clarity, but lacks consistent engagement and effective techniques.

Beginning
1 Points

Presentation lacks clarity and engagement, requiring guidance.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How has creating a podcast about a book changed your understanding of storytelling?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how effectively do you think your team worked together to create the podcast?

Scale
Required
Question 3

What were the most challenging aspects of using digital tools to produce your podcast, and how did you overcome them?

Text
Optional
Question 4

Which skills did you improve the most through this project and how might they benefit you in the future?

Text
Required
Question 5

Which element of the podcast do you think most effectively communicated key themes from the book and why?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Script and dialogue
Sound effects
Overall production quality
Engagement with the audience