Podcasts are a simple and free way to incorporate auditory learning into the elementary school setting. So go ahead and try these educational options!
Podcasts for All Ages
Buttons & Figs: A Podcast for Kids About Playing With Words
This podcast is about words! Kids can learn about parts of speech, types of writing, and poetry. They also can play word-related games, as well as listen to read alouds. Episodes are fairly short, ranging from 3-15 minutes.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Kids ask lots of questions, and this podcast answers them! But Why provides informational answers (with really great accompanying articles and pictures) to questions kids ask about topics, such as what robots do on Mars, how chocolate is made, and how whales sing. But Why also provides learning guides to help students go deeper and coloring pages to color while listening.
KidLit Radio (The Children’s Literature Podcast for Kids)
Listen to popular and iconic authors and illustrators through Storymakers (a talk show about the bestselling authors and illustrators in children’s literature) and Read Out Loud (authors read books aloud).
KidNuz: News to Grow On
The website kidnuz.org describes this podcast as, “Five minutes of today’s top stories, current events, politics, science, entertainment, sports and more — all nonpartisan and age-appropriate.” Episodes also include a quiz at the end, if you’d like to incorporate some sort of assessment.
Storynory: Stories for Kids
This podcast provides many different types of cateogry options, including poems, stories, and fairy tales, so feel free to choose whichever fits your students best. Episodes range from approximately 2-30 minutes long.
Podcasts For Younger Kids
Be Calm on Ahway Island
This podcast (also with a video option) is all about mindfulness. The episodes each tell a story that encourages relaxation.
Podcasts For Older Kids
Book Club for Kids
There are episodes about a ton of popular books. The podcast website also includes specific information for teachers, including curriculum plans.
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
A mystery podcast series about Mars Patel and his search for a couple of his friends. It’s won the Peabody Award, and the website describes the story as “…Goonies meets Spy Kids meets Stranger Things.”
Podcasts For Teachers
The Yarn
This podcast is a really interesting peak into the specifics behind authors and illustrators and the creation of their books. (Think Gary Paulsen, Jeff Kinney, Jason Reynolds, Eoin Colfer, Kate DiCamillo, and Shannon Hale.) *I’ve heard ads come up on this podcast.
One More Page: A Podcast for Lovers’ of Kids Books
These episodes are around one hour long, and they feature all things kids books, including author and illustrator interviews and book reviews. Portions of applicable episodes may be fun for older students to listen to as well.