The Nueva School - Third Graders Share Beliefs through Podcasts

Third Graders Share Beliefs through Podcasts

As part of third grade's examination of how beliefs are formed, each student relayed a specific belief that is important to him/her through essays they recorded into podcasts. Topics varied greatly with such convictions as the importance of being yourself, family, parenting, equality, and eating vegetables.

First, students wrote essays regarding a specific belief they felt strongly about, then read their essays aloud, which they recorded using GarageBand. The theme was based on National Public Radio's This I Believe series in which Americans from all walks of life write essays about their most fundamental beliefs.

To prepare for writing the essays, students dissected the structure of This I Believe essays. Teachers asked the children to notice how the essays started, how authors informed listeners of his/her beliefs (by simply stating the belief, or providing an example that captured the essence of his/her belief), and how essays ended. Third graders discovered each author stated his/her particular belief in the essay's first paragraph, and ended the essay by reiterating the belief. Students also noted authors spoke about experiences that led to their beliefs, how they put beliefs into action, and how the beliefs were tested.

As part of the unit, each child also interviewed an adult regarding their own beliefs. The class compiled all the beliefs and discussed them, while appreciating the breadth and depth of the different beliefs.

Here are eight podcasts from the class.

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