At home or in the classroom, podcasts bring together captivating storytelling and critical thinking, while building new skills.
With podcasts, you can explore topics that are educational and entertaining, from current events and sports to “how-to” tutorials and even the worlds of your favorite PBS KIDS characters. Downloadable and streamable, these radio-style programs can easily be accessed over the internet with a computer, tablet or mobile device. Whether you use them as a fun, on-the-go activity to fill those long family road trips or as a tool to jumpstart your students’ creativity, listening to podcasts can offer kids a way to disconnect from screens while discovering new passions.
Making podcasts is just as rewarding as listening to them, too—and it’s easier than ever! By giving kids the opportunity to create their own media we can help them strengthen their communication and collaboration skills while making them better critical thinkers. With apps that allow you to record, edit, and publish a podcast from your smartphone you don’t need fancy audio recording equipment to get started.
Podcasts are a fantastic anytime, anywhere activity for kids of all ages. Learn more about the benefits of listening to and creating podcasts, classroom projects to help you start recording your own, and discover new podcasts from PBS KIDS below!
The Benefits of Podcasts
Listening to Podcasts Together Helps Children Learn
Grades PreK-3
Podcasts are a great break from screens and have many benefits for listening together as a family. Learn about new podcasts from PBS KIDS that provide a little something for everyone.
How Telling Stories Helps Kids Learn
Grades PreK-3
Reading is important for all ages and has been well-researched for its many benefits, but is there a difference with storytelling? Not to be confused with story reading, storytelling has its own techniques and advantages.
Creating Podcasts | Media Arts Toolkit
Grades 3-12
As an English/digital media teacher at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky, Jason Behler has found that his students become deeply engaged when creating their own podcasts, especially because he allows them great freedom in selecting their own genre and content. His students develop skills in collaboration and time management as well as technical and communication skills. Podcasting does not need to be confined to a class in digital media, and it does not require expensive equipment. Podcasting can be integrated into any content area to add spark to your lessons.
Make Your Own Podcast!
Make an Audio Message That Matters
Grades PreK-3
Write and record an audio message to share with friends and family.
Show What You Know | KQED Youth Media Challenge
Grades 6-12
Share your voice, expertise or curiosity about a topic, issue or event you care about. What do you think is important for others to know? Is there something you learned that you want to explore further? This is your chance to inform, inspire and educate others! Reach beyond the classroom and share your voice with this podcast project.
Podcasts to Enjoy at Home & in the Classroom
Work It Out Wombats! Podcast
Grades PreK-K
Hey Wombuddies – come join your favorite Wombats on eight super fun podcast
playdates! The Work It Out Wombats! Podcast invites YOU, the listener, to join Zadie,
Zeke and Malik as they sail a pirate ship through the Crashing Cliffs, fly to the sky in a
make-believe Cloud Ship, enjoy a spooky campout, and build a super-strong fort that
NO wind can blow down. You won’t just be listening to the fun, you’ll be having fun –
singing, dancing, jumping, clapping, making, and creating right alongside your favorite
Wombats.
The Arthur Podcast
Grades PreK-3
Arthur Read is back and starting The Arthur Podcast! Listen in as he shares his favorite adventures with DW, Buster and all their friends from around Elwood City. Each episode is an audio adaptation of a story from the classic television series with some new commentary from Arthur himself as well as some submissions from listeners everywhere!
Molly of Denali Podcast
Grades PreK-3
Join Molly Mabray on brand-new adventures in the Molly of Denali podcast! Check out each of the three seasons of storytelling from Molly and her friends and family. On the newest episodes, the Arctic Wolf Junior Relay dog sled race comes to Qyah, and Tooey can’t wait to race. But when he catches a cold, Molly unexpectedly has to take over. Follow along to find out what happens!
Jamming on the Job
Grades PreK-3
Jamming on the Job is a multi-generational, music-inspired podcast for kids ages 4-8 and their parents and caregivers. Join Christina and Andrés and Magic Beatmaster Boombox, voiced by musician, Pierce Freelon, as they tour the country and perform songs about the world of work. Each place they go, they meet a grown-up with a different kind of job who helps them along their way.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Grades PreK-5
But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and Jane Lindholm of Vermont Public finds the answers. It’s a big interesting world out there. On But Why, tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world. Listen to each episode and use the learning guides to deepen your understanding of what you’ve heard.