Podcast Project:
Mystery Stories

• I can orally communicate my mystery story using correct and expressive (fluid, rhythmic, emotional, energetic, appropriate, clear) spoken voice.
• I can create a mystery story podcast of my spoken voice, combined with sound effects, music, and possibly photo and/or video.

7th grade students will be creating mystery story podcasts. The stories will be written in Humanities class with Mr. Fishbein, followed by the creation of the podcasts in Computer Studies class. Initially, the students will only be creating mystery story podcasts using their self-written stories, but, time permitting, they will create additional podcasts using stories created by students presently in other Enrichment classes. The podcasts will include an oral reading of the story, sound effects, music, and, potentially, a photo and/or video component.

Instructions:

1. Complete mystery story and have a printed copy in hand.
2. Open GarageBand. Use the file name: mystery your name
3. Record the voice portion of the mystery podcast.
   • Pause when appropriate (ends of sentences, paragraphs, chapters, etc.).
   • Enunciate and be expressive!
   • Record in chunks. The computer may have difficulty recording everything at once. Practice one chunk at a time.
4. Add intro, transition, and outro music. You will likely want to create a soundtrack that is dark and spooky…it should fit your story. Use the GarageBand music composition techniques that you have learned.
5. Add sound effects to your mystery story podcast. Sound effects can help the listener feel and visualize the story. Again, GarageBand contains quite a large library of sound effects. You may find additional sound effects at www.findsounds.com.
   FindSounds.com Instructions
6. LISTEN to your podcast. Adjust track volumes so that everything blends well. If needed, make adjustments to improve rhythm, flow, emotion, energy, etc.
7. Export your podcast.
   • GarageBand 3:
     i. Share > Send Song to iTunes
     ii. In iTunes > right-click on song > convert to mp3
     iii. Drag mp3 version to your folder
   • GarageBand 2:
     i. File > Export > Send Song to iTunes (something like this)
     ii. In iTunes > right-click on song > convert to mp3
     iii. Drag mp3 version to your folder