Are you looking to add in a high interest text to your classroom? Who am I kidding; aren’t all English teachers ALWAYS looking for that?! I am going to cover a few of my favorite podcasts for the classroom over the next few weeks and today I am starting with my favorite- Limetown!
Why Podcasts Belong in the English Classroom
High school English teachers should incorporate more podcasts into their classrooms because they offer an engaging and modern way to explore literature, language, and communication skills. Podcasts provide:
- Authentic examples of storytelling
- Diverse perspectives
- Real-world applications of English language usage
Plus, they can foster listening comprehension and critical thinking skills in a format that many students already enjoy outside of the classroom.
If podcasts are new to you or you are looking for more to include into your English classrooms, I have a handy guide to 17 podcasts that myself and other English teachers love to use in our classrooms that you can find HERE!
You can find resources to help teach the Podcast Limetown here and here!
I will start with a word of caution- this show can get a little intense. I wouldn’t recommend it for middle schoolers.
What is Limetown About?
If you have not discovered Limetown yet, you really should just pause everything in your life and go start listening…..after you are done reading this post of course! Limetown is a mystery/suspense podcast that brings back the glory days of radio storytelling—it’s like a movie for your ears! The show’s premise is introduced on their website:
“Ten years ago, over three hundred men, women, and children disappeared from a small town in Tennessee, never to be heard from again. American Public Radio reporter Lia Haddock asks the question once more: What happened to the people of Limetown?“
This intriguing mystery hooks my 10th graders every time. The creators do such a fantastic job that students often believe it’s a true crime series at first!
This series is always a big win with my students. In fact, the first time I incorporated it, I actually had to speed up my lesson plans because so many students were listening ahead outside of class.
You can see the series homepage as well as listen to all the episodes here . You can also find it on your podcast feature on your iPhone (sorry I can’t speak to other phones).
PRO TIP: Before listening to any podcast in class, I highly recommend having a hand-brain connection piece. I like to make active listening sheets which work as CLOZE notes they fill in while reading. However, you could also do things like Sketchnotes or mindmaps. Adding in this active part is what will help your students retain even more of what they are hearing and limit the “zoning out” we all dread in our classrooms!
Why Study Limetown in the Classroom?
Using Limetown in the classroom allows students to:
- Analyze narrative storytelling: It’s a fantastic way to study plot structure, character development, and themes. (Hint: If you’re still working under Common Core, check out RL.5 for analyzing structure!)
- Explore ethical dilemmas & societal issues: The podcast delves into morality, technology, and scientific advancements, making it a great pairing with Frankenstein or dystopian fiction.
- Improve research and media literacy skills: Have students evaluate reporter Lia Haddock’s sources—which ones seem credible? How does she build her case?
Limetown can also be an interesting hook for you to also highlight research skills and finding credible sources by having students analyze each of Lia’s sources.
Ready to Use Limetown in Your Classroom?
If you are ready to dive into Limetown in your own classroom and need the aid of listening sheets while students listen, check out this link.
If you are looking for a slightly larger unit in which students explore mystery and suspense as well as several engaging writing prompts, check out this link. I would LOVE to hear how Limetown goes for your students!
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