What is a podcast and how does it work?
A podcast is an audio program available online that you can listen to whenever or wherever you like! Podcasts can cover a wide range of topics, from storytelling to current events. At Tinkercast, we believe that podcasting blends fun and imagination with learning experiences that are tailored to children’s developmental needs. That’s why we created TinkerClass – our podcast-based learning program made just for teachers that engages students with stories, activities, and curriculum-aligned educational content, making learning fun and accessible anytime.
How do podcasts help students? Through podcasts, students are able to:
- Engage with high quality content
- Build listening, vocabulary & comprehension skills
- Learn from someone other than their classroom teacher(s)
- Explore new topics/units of study
- Develop note-taking skills
- Experience technology during instruction
Podcasts are also beneficial to students because they:
- Are accessible to all – podcasts are free to stream
- Don’t require any special materials or equipment
- Provide ease of accessibility – students can access the information anytime they want
- Are easy to integrate
- Are highly engaging
- Work to meet academic standards
- Provide access to content children might not be able to access in their reading – students comprehend content 2-3 grade levels higher than they can when reading
- Are accessible to a wide (or mixed) age range of learners
- Support second language learners through hearing spoken English and reading accompanying transcripts
How can I use podcasts in my elementary classroom?
Our podcasts take students on immersive audio adventures through space, current events, dinosaurs, and beyond—all while helping you stay aligned with curriculum standards through engaging, project-based learning.
- Sign up for Tinkerclass for FREE
- Choose your podcast based on the subject you teach. Wow in the World focuses on STEAM learning, Two Whats?! And a Wow! is a science-based game show, and Who, When, Wow! investigates mysteries of history aligned with ELA-curriculum and is perfect for social studies lessons.
- Explore the corresponding Podjects (podcasts + projects) to identify which activities will get your students saying, “Wow!”
- Download or assign fully customizable Google Classroom and Canva for Education templates, perfect for making it work for your class!
We want to hear what makes your class wow!
Also interested in podcasting in your classroom?
In our Who, When, Wow! Mystery Edition podcast, Carly Q explores the mysteries of history in her super secret podcast. The associated podjects invite students to question and investigate like detectives with ready-made activities or make their own super secret podcast!.
Not a TinkerClass teacher? Sign up for FREE today to download or assign Make Your Own Podcast templates with audio instructions!
Ready to Bring Podcasts to Your Classroom?
Sign up for TinkerClass, the first ever FREE podcast- and project-based learning program that invites K-5 students to listen, wonder, tinker and make like scientists and engineers. Includes ad-free WOW IN THE WORLD episodes and NGSS-aligned curriculum.