Starting a middle school broadcast station in your classroom, or throughout your entire school, is an excellent idea to build students’ confidence and get some experience if they think this job might be the job for them. Even if you have a couple of teachers come together a few times a week to supervise and plan, then you can have a middle school newscast broadcasting club. Setting a dedicated time to host a newscast is essential to making it work.
1. School Announcements
Knowing what is going on in the school is vital and important. Your students can practice their broadcast media skills as they take on these roles. They will also learn filmmaking skills. If your school offers a broadcast class, that is perfect!
Learn More: Monica Kerstetter
2. Celebrity News
Many middle school-aged kids follow some type of celebrity, whether they are a musician, an actor, or an author. Make your morning class that much more interesting by having a few select students share any news about celebrities that your students follow.
Learn More: Mrs. Eitner
3. Library Book Talk
Having the student broadcasters give a few short summaries of certain books found at the library might entice some of the other students to take a visit there. A library book talk will get your broadcasters reading as well as they will need a script.
Learn More: Famuse
4. Politics
A lot of students, especially older elementary grades or mature younger ones, are interested in politics and the changes that are going on around the world. Some of the young listeners might be intrigued to learn about some of the current global events that are going on.
Learn More: Busy Teacher
5. Community News
If your school is part of a larger community within your town, then community news might be the right way to go. A broadcast media program that includes information about events that the community is putting on could be largely successful.
Learn More: Jea Digital Media
6. Recent School Field Trip Recaps
Another side of this idea is to involve the students in the writing process. Informative writing would go hand in hand with the broadcasters summarizing recent school field trips some of the classes participated in. What did they go? What did they do? Did they enjoy it?
Learn More: Mr. Lipsky
7. Sports Teams
Educational programs can take on many forms. Getting and sharing the latest sports team highlights, scores and current ranking among other schools is a fascinating topic that students love to hear about. You can get some great interviews with the school athletes this way.
Learn More: Sports Mom Survival Guide
8. Teacher and Staff Appreciation
Everyone likes to be appreciated! Highlighting and recognizing a staff member each week is a special way to say thank you. This topic can encourage paragraph writing as well as the students will need to write blurbs for each staff member.
Learn More: Classroom Synonym
9. Virtues and Values
Schools tend to emphasize values and virtues often. Doing a newscast about how students can show the current value or virtue being discussed in their everyday lives inside and outside of school can spark some good ideas. You don’t need a professional studio to do this.
Learn More: Dade Schools
10. Historical Events
People are interested in listening to recounts of amazing events that happened a long time ago. They will be even more curious and eager to hear about these events now because they are being told by a peer. This is definitely high-quality content.
11. Games
Students love watching their peers play games, especially the competitive ones who have their friends watching or competing also. Games that involve audience participation are even better but the newscasters can play amongst themselves well. They could also broadcast a tournament.
Learn More: Buzz Sprout
12. Special Guests
Bringing in special guests like parents, teachers, students, community members, and others is an excellent way to increase audience engagement. You’ll need to teach your kiddos how to come up with great interview topics and be sure to give them time to write up some questions ahead of time. Use this amazing lesson plan to get you started!
Learn More: Brain Pop Educators
13. Recent Reviews
These reviews can take many forms. These reviews could be about music, movies, books, video games, food, or any other topic your students might be interested in. Some pre-writing on the students’ parts will need to be involved so they can plan what to say and try.
Learn More: Chris Nesi
14. Birthdays
A lot of people like to be celebrated and recognized on their birthday. This is a wonderful way to give staff members and students a quick shout-out to acknowledge them on their special day. Additional questions to ask can be thought of as well.
Learn More: Prezi
15. Live Music
Your students could live stream music. Whether these songs are pre-selected or you have some resident DJs, the song list will have to be screened prior to the students airing it of course. You will have a captivated and meaningful audience.
Learn More: Music4Kids
16. Spotlight a Student
Featuring student work is always important! Why not include a segment where a great piece of student work is read out, or give a special shout out to a school wall display? It’s a great way to motivate your kiddos to always be handing in their best work in order to get featured on the newscast!
Learn More: Morning Announcement
17. Zoom Roulette
The students can invite some teachers to participate in a zoom roulette and have some questions ready to go or they can invite other people that are approved by the teacher in charge, scientists for example. They could ask about their favorite research question for example.
Learn More: Facebook
18. Science Experiments
Creating an entire program from scratch can be time-consuming. Science experiments often have preset lists of materials required to complete them and this will save time. You can create a genuine media production program by including science content.
Learn More: In Video
19. Review a Product
Reviewing products that students regularly use can be an interesting segment. This idea will most likely center on popular toys and fidgets that are the current fad with the students at your school. A broadcast program involving this type of content will have your viewers hooked. Get them started with a lesson on how to write a product review.
Learn More: Education Possible
20. Principal Pals
Get the latest scoop and exclusive interview with the principal. You could interview them in front of a green screen video after watching a green screen tutorial video if that is needed. You will need a green screen background of course to do this.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
21. Voicing Their Opinions
A debate or open discussion is content that is perfect for those listeners hoping to expand their minds and learn something new about taking perspectives. Hearing about the students’ views on the new mascot, lunch special, or after-school programs are some ideas.
Learn More: Busy Teacher
22. Pop Culture Updates
Looking at the latest and greatest in movies, music, art, TV shows and other facets of popular culture like this will make the students tune in. The best part is that they will already be talking about these updates, so they will want to hear more about these topics.
Learn More: Make My Newspaper
23. Student Life
How do the students like the new cafeteria food item? Or their new desks? Asking the students about their perspectives on things in their lives can be refreshing. Make sure to inform them that they need to stay respectful, however.
Learn More: Make My Newspaper
24. Local News
Think of events or occurrences that may have happened in your neighborhood recently. Hearing that there is a parade or concert coming to town for example can be exciting for the students. They might not know about these events otherwise.
Learn More: Fit Small Business
25. Community Center News
If your local community center is hosting a sports tournament, is having a children’s exercise class, or is holding a bake sale, the students will want to be informed about it. Give them the latest news!
Learn More: Thought Co.
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