“Lower 9+10” from This American Life
This lesson on the podcast lesson focuses on…
- introducing students to the basic elements of a podcast episode.
- appreciating the structure of a podcast episode.
- identifying ideas and issues raised in the podcast.
- empowering students to use the podcasts as a storytelling medium.
The resources in these lessons include:
- A listening guide for the podcast episode “Lower 9+10” from This American Life.
- An accompanying presentation.
- A podcast assignment sheet that asks students to create a pastiche of the episode, chronicling a historical event through a personal narrative.
- A podcast planning document.
- Rationale guidance.
- An assessment rubric.
Podcast: “Lower 9+10” from This American Life
Teaching Resources (PDF)
Teaching Resources (Word)
A Note about the Resources
IB Language and Literature
If studied with another two podcast episodes from This American Life, this could easily be a part of a “Body of Work“. This American Life has a rich archive on a variety of stories and issues that all follow a similar structure with a distinct style.
This particular episode connects with global issues surrounding identity, community, values, and the environment.
The Podcast Assignment
Creating a podcast episode allows students to explore and experiment with the medium which gives them a greater appreciation for the choices a podcast creator is faced with when crafting a narrative for listeners, as opposed to readers. Because this medium is new for a lot of students, the task of creating helps them think critically about the process without being overwhelmed by the technical analysis of a new form of media.
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