The Power of Smash, Boom, Best in the Elementary Classroom
I have found that teaching students how to write argumentative paragraphs or papers proves to be the most challenging type of writing. Sure, students are confident in their selection of "the best," but where the writing train goes off the proverbial rails is when you ask them to support their thinking with claims. We do this often during reading. "Why do you think that character is evil?" "Who do you think committed the crime?" And then we ask students to provide text evidence. Relying on their own thinking proves a bit more tricky---Enter Smash, Boom, Best!
Smash, Boom, Best by BrainsOn! is one of my favorite podcast resources to use in the classroom. This entertaining debate show is not only fun for kids but also offers incredible opportunities to build essential learning skills like critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Smash, Boom, Best can be a powerful tool for engaging students and enriching learning in your classroom.
At its core, Smash, Boom, Best is a debate show for kids. In each episode, two seemingly unrelated things—like Pizza vs. Tacos or Superheroes vs. Wizards—go head-to-head in a fun, fact-filled debate. Experts present arguments for each side, using a blend of humor, creativity, and facts to convince a kid judge who ultimately decides the winner. It's the perfect mix of education and entertainment, designed to get kids thinking and laughing while learning.
Now, let’s dive into how you can use this dynamic podcast with your learners and the benefits it brings to them.
One of the most powerful elements of Smash, Boom, Best is its ability to build critical thinking skills. Each episode presents strong arguments for both sides, encouraging students to think deeply about the points being made. By weighing the evidence and listening to persuasive reasoning, students learn how to assess different viewpoints and make informed decisions—skills that are fundamental in both academic and real-world contexts.
How to Use It: After listening to an episode, ask your students to hold their own debates on similar fun topics. Encourage them to come up with strong points for their chosen side, just like in the podcast. Not only does this reinforce critical thinking, but it also helps with public speaking and persuasion skills.
Without any visuals, Smash, Boom, Best sparks students’ imaginations. They have to visualize the debate topics in their minds, which fosters creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Whether students are imagining a taco superhero or a volcanic showdown, they’re actively engaging with the content, creating their own mental pictures and ideas.
How to Use It: After an episode, ask students to draw or write about their own ideas related to the debate. For example, what would their dream pizza look like, or how would they argue for their favorite animal in a debate? These creative activities enhance comprehension while tapping into their imagination.
Boosting Listening Skills and Engagement
Because podcasts are purely audio, they help students focus on listening skills—a key area of development for young learners. Smash, Boom, Best requires students to follow complex arguments and information, making it a great tool for improving listening comprehension.
How to Use It: After each episode, hold a discussion with your class. Ask them what arguments they found most convincing and why. This helps reinforce active listening while also encouraging students to think critically about what they’ve heard. Plus it continues to reiterate the necessary component of EVIDENCE to support your claims!
One of the most empowering aspects of Smash, Boom, Best is that kid judges decide the winner of each debate. This gives students the sense that their opinions matter, showing them the value of having a voice and using reasoning to back up their ideas.
How to Use It: Have your students become the debaters and judges! Create your own classroom version of Smash, Boom, Best, letting students take turns presenting their arguments and acting as the final judge. This not only builds confidence but also fosters a collaborative and respectful classroom environment. Extend it further in to math and social studies concepts. Poll other students and friends. Record the results in graphs. Play around with the data to find things like: range, mean, median, and mode.
Smash, Boom, Best is a fantastic tool for integrating different subjects into a single lesson. Whether it’s a debate about ocean vs. space that ties into science or a showdown between historical figures that connects with social studies, the topics covered in the podcast lend themselves perfectly to cross-curricular activities.
How to Use It: Choose episodes that align with your current curriculum. For example, when studying animal adaptations, you can listen to an episode like Bats vs. Owls. This makes learning more engaging and memorable for students because they’re hearing real-world connections to the subjects they’re studying.
Podcasts like Smash, Boom, Best naturally encourage group discussion and teamwork. After listening to an episode, students can work together to explore the topic further, build their own arguments, or even create new debate topics to challenge their classmates.
How to Use It: Divide students into teams and let them debate their favorite topics in a structured format. Not only will they practice teamwork and communication, but they’ll also get excited about sharing their opinions in a respectful and supportive way.
Want to some resources to help you focus students while listening AND prepare them for writing argumentatively? I got you!
Want my full Smash, Boom, Best Guide that features types of arguments, like ad hominem and strawman? Check it out here!