60-Second Science and Science Lessons

Having followed two podcasts for the past two and a half months, it is clear there are advantages to using them within the elementary classroom. The podcasts are very helpful when creating lessons for the classroom. They are great tools to help introduce topics within multiple subject areas. The podcasts I have followed are fantastic assets to the science classroom. As more podcast episodes are created I am finding they are perfect engagement pieces.

            60- Second Science, has created many more podcasts during the month of march alone, roughly fourteen episodes. Unfortunately not all 14 would be elementary school appropriate, but there are a number that stick out for the elementary age.  Some examples of interesting episodes for elementary aged students are, Mars Swings into Opposition March 3^rd,  Earthshine Sets Example for Life, both of which would be used within a solar system lesson. The two episodes explain the rotation of earth and mars, which can lead into a discussion on how the earth rotates, which determines whether its night or day, etc. It can also lead into a discussion on the universe and life on the other planets.  Another interesting episode is Produce Consumption Ups Eaters Looks, which links the color of food we consume to the color of our skin. This specific episode is a quick and easy to understand hook into a lesson on how foods affect the human body. Recycled Toilets Make Paths Green is about recycling project involving recycling toilets. Having this podcast available for the classroom, allows for discussion of recycling and the affect it can have on our ecosystem.

            The podcast Science Lessons, the other podcast I have been following is a review podcasts of lessons from 4^th and 5^th grade classrooms. The podcasts range in topics. Episodes I have listened too include, 4^th grade Electric Circuits, 4^th grade Magnets, 4h grade using Electricity Energy, 4^th grade Motors and Generators, and 4^th grade Electromagnets. The five benefits the classroom in many ways, it allows for students to access the reviews at home, leaving them with a verbal study guide as well as a hand written study guide. For test review, I would give the students the podcast and have them fill out the study guide as they listen to the review. Having the review previously made, cuts down preparation time for myself, allowing me to focus more on individual students needs within the subject area. It also is an east differentiation tool, because it adheres to the needs to blind students and students with learning disabilities, who have trouble memorizing facts when they are only written down.

            Overall, the podcasts I have listened to this semester are still beneficial to the elementary classroom. With 60- Second Science, not all of the episodes are appropriate for such a low level, but the other episodes are appropriate.  The Science Lessons podcast again allows for myself to focus on different students specific needs while meeting the need of the whole class for a review lesson. The reviews are very straightforward and well explained.             

Podcasts in the Classroom

Being unfamiliar with podcasts, it was interesting to see what podcasts were available for the elementary classroom. The options classroom lessons were endless, having podcast lessons for multiple subjects, even test reviews for specific classroom. After researching the podcasts, it is very apparent the use of them within the classroom. They are great tools to use as engagement pieces in lessons as well tests reviews.

A podcast that was particularly enticing was 60 second Science. The podcast channel offers a number of short clips regarding different science topics.  The shorts clips are very informative considering their length. After listening to the podcasts, a student would be left with many questions about the topic. The podcasts would be a great asset to any lesson as an engagement tool for the topic being taught that day. The clip is short enough to not lose the attention of the students, but informative as well. As 

said before the students would be left asking questions, making them take ownership of their writing. Some of the podcasts that would be beneficial are, Deep Sea is Alive with Sound, Upbeat Finding: Kids start to learn sound alike over time, perfect for the discussion of sound waves etc.  Mosquitoes Use Drops of Blood to Keep Cool, which is a podcast that would be a great engagement piece for a lesson about the human body, extending to what makes our bodies cool.  Solar Paint Converts Light to Electricity is a great way to connect the nature and electricity. Salt Boosts Blood Pressure but via through Adrenalin could be used to introduce the different minerals that affect the human body. Fast Climate Change Moves slow species, is a informative tool for the Ecosystems lesson. Other podcasts include, Visual Cues Lined to rule bending, School kids Name Moon Orbiters and Tiny Frog makes Big Claim.

Another podcasts subscription beneficial to the classroom is Science Lessons, which is a podcast channel that contains review lesson episodes involving different science topics.  The science teacher within the podcasts creates different lesson for both fourth and fifth grade students. After listening to a number of the 5^th grade lessons such as, Solar System Test Review, Elements Test Review, Fifth Grade Salts, Fifth Grade Compounds, Fifth Grade Properties, I found the podcast subscriptions to be very helpful for the classroom. Listening to each podcast, sparked ideas about different uses for the review podcasts.  Some ideas included using the podcasts as an initial assessment, asking the students write down the information they knew already as the teacher in the video explained it. Also the podcasts were helpful in how to manage being in front of an audience. It was very apparent the teacher was comfortable with his lessons and comfortable with his explanations of the different components of the lesson. He was very engaging throughout each podcast, having pictures drawn on the board and using hand gestures to prove points throughout the videos.

Overall the podcasts are useful within the classroom. They can be used in a number of ways such as tests reviews, assessments, engaging activities to draw the students into a lesson and helpful for teachers to share their thoughts and tips. Students would be able to access review sessions at home at their computer feeling as though they are receiving one on one tutoring. It also allows for the auditory learner to have a differentiated learning plan in place, while benefiting all of the students.