Stepping on the Cracks

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

“Radio Show”

Margaret and her family get all their news and home entertainment from radio shows. Mother listens to soap operas, Daddy follows the war news, and Margaret enjoys spooky stories like The Shadow and Inner Sanctum and adventures like The Lone Ranger.

Listen to an example of a radio broadcast from the 1940s. Try The Shadow or Inner Sanctum or one of many other shows available online. As a class, discuss ways in which the show creates suspense and engages your interest. What vocal techniques do the actors use? How do sound effects enhance their performances?

Create your own “radio show” podcast. In small groups, pick a scene from the novel.

Write a short (1-2 page) radio script of the scene. Use your own words to create dialogue for each character. Assign group members to speak each part. You may also use a narrator to help frame the scene. Add sound effects to increase realism.

Rehearse your scene; then record it using Audacity, GarageBand, or an app like Anchor. Save your podcast to Google Drive and share out with the class.