The Children's Hour Shorts are designed especially for educators
Each short, engaging episode features highlights from our award-winning programs, paired with ready-to-use learning guides and hands-on classroom activities that make teaching easy and fun.
Spark Curiosity with The Children’s Hour Shorts!
Bring learning to life with The Children’s Hour Shorts—a brand-new podcast series designed especially for educators. Each short, engaging episode features highlights from our award-winning programs, paired with ready-to-use learning guides and hands-on classroom activities that make teaching easy and fun.
From science and history to geography, vocabulary, and literacy, The Children’s Hour Shorts help students explore big ideas through authentic stories, expert interviews, and kid voices. Whether you’re introducing a new topic, reinforcing a lesson, or inspiring curiosity, these bite-sized episodes fit perfectly into your school day.
Every learning guide is aligned with current national education standards, giving you high-quality, classroom-ready resources that engage students while supporting your curriculum. Find the learning guides when you click on each episode.Â
Shorts Season 1
Balloons Shorts
Balloons - Shorts
Explore the science, history, and art of balloons — from the first hot air balloon flight in 18th-century France to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: The History of Balloons and How They Work
Part 2: “A Balloon’s Breath” by Composer Evan Daitz
Part 3: A Description of a Hot Air Balloon Ride
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Balloons Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Being Yourself – Shorts
Being Yourself - Shorts
Being yourself means loving who you are and celebrating what makes you different. The Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with award-winning author, the late Jane Yolen, and cartoonist and manager of the Muppets, Craig Yoe about how being true to themselves shaped their creative lives. From quiet reflection to out-loud laughter, this mental health podcast for kids encourages everyone to be proud of who they are and to shine as their authentic self.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Author Jane Yolen describes and reads her book, Quiet as Mud
Part 2: Cartoonist and former manager of the Muppets, Craig Yoe talks about mash-ups
Part 3: Making up characters for The Muppet Show with cartoonist Craig Yoe
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Being Yourself Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Breakfast – Shorts
Breakfast - Shorts
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s different all over the world. In these shorts podcast for kids about breakfast, the Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with nutritionist Patty Keene about how to make smart choices for a healthy morning meal. From cereals to smoothies and pancakes to porridge, listeners learn what fuels our bodies best. Plus we discover global breakfast traditions.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Breakfast Around The World
Part 2: Nutritious Breakfasts
Part 3: Blue Corn Pancakes
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Breakfast Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Composers – Shorts
Composers - Shorts
In Composers, we explore how songs are created by people from long ago and today. We meet Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, and learn how their lives shaped their sounds. We also hear from Sesame Street, and legendary Broadway composer Bill Sherman about writing catchy tunes with meaning. Listeners discover that anyone can start with a small idea and build a powerful piece of music.
Includes 4 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Music from many different cultures and communities with composer Bill Sherman
Part 2: Classical Composers, A Timeline
Part 3: Mood Music: The Sound of Feelings
Part 4: Make Your Voice Heard – Music Writing Process
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Composers Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Do Something – Shorts
Do Something - Shorts
The Children’s Hour takes on bullying by helping kids understand what they can do when they see someone being treated unfairly. The Kids Crew talks with trainers from Right To Be, an organization that teaches people how to respond to harassment in safe and thoughtful ways. Through clear examples, simple exercises, and music about empathy and courage, kids learn the Five Ds of bystander intervention and discover that even small actions can help others feel supported and less alone.Â
Includes 2 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: What is harassment?
Part 2: The 5 D’s of Bystander Intervention
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Do Something Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Firefighters – Shorts
Firefighters - Shorts
Firefighters are helpers who rush toward danger when others need help. On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, the Kids Crew visits Albuquerque Fire Rescue Fire Station Number Three in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to learn how firefighters protect people, animals, and neighborhoods every day.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: What’s It Like Being a Firefighter?
Part 2: Fire Safety Tips
Part 3: Firetrucks and Tools
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Firefighters Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Forests – Shorts
Forests - Shorts
Forests are full of life, stories, and connections we cannot always see. Learn how forests help keep our planet healthy, how trees communicate, and why old-growth forests matter. With songs, questions from kids, and a biologist who studies trees and fungi, this show explores what makes a forest more than just a group of trees.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: What Makes a Forest?
Part 2: How Do Trees Interact with Their Environment?
Part 3: How to Preserve Old Growth Forests
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Forests Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Fungus – Shorts
Fungus Among Us - Shorts
The Kids Crew and Katie Stone meet mycologist Peter McCoy to uncover the hidden world of fungi in this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts. Listeners learn how mushrooms recycle nutrients, clean pollution, and help plants grow. From underground mycelium to giant mushrooms in Oregon, this episode reveals how mushrooms keep our planet alive and connected.
Includes 4 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: What is a fungus?
Part 2: Cleaning Pollution with Mycoremediation
Part 3: Fungi Facts
Part 4: How to Identify Mushrooms
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Fungus Among Us Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Lemurs – Shorts
Lemurs - Shorts
Lemurs are some of the most amazing primates in the world. These furry animals are only found in Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew and Katie Stone meet Faye Goodwin, an educator from the Duke Lemur Center in North Carolina. Together they explore what makes lemurs unique, how they live, and the challenges they face in the wild.
Includes 4 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: What are lemurs?
Part 2: The Science of a Lemur “Stink Fight”
Part 3: How to Help Endangered Lemurs
Part 4: Why Lemurs Only Live in Madagascar?
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Lemurs Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Manatees – Shorts
Manatees - Shorts
On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, the Kids Crew explores the world of manatees with educator Andrea Herman from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Kids will learn how these large aquatic mammals live, what they eat, how they raise their young, and why protecting warm-water habitats is essential to their survival. Learn with us in this manatees podcast for kids.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: What Animals are Manatees Related To?
Part 2: Where do Manatees Live?
Part 3: Are Manatees Still Endangered?
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Manatees Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Money Smart – Shorts – Financial Literacy for kids
Money Smart - Shorts
How does money work? In this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts podcast for kids, the Kids Crew explores earning, saving, budgeting, borrowing, and investing. With guidance from KidVestors co-founder Courtney Petway and New Mexico State Treasurer Laura Montoya, listeners gain practical skills for making thoughtful financial decisions.
Includes 4 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Why Do People Have Credit Cards?
Part 2: How to Build a Budget
Part 3: New Mexico State Treasurer Laura Montoya Talks about Managing Money
Part 4: How Can You Make Money?
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Money Smart Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Pumpkin Spice – Shorts – Halloween Podcast for Kids
Pumpkin Spice - Shorts
It’s Halloween time on The Children’s Hour Shorts! In this episode, hear the legend of Stingy Jack, and how that story led to the pumpkins we carve today. Then we learn even more about pumpkins from our Kids Crew and Katie Stone.
Includes 2 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: The Legend of “Stingy Jack”
Part 2: Facts about Pumpkins
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Pumpkin Spice Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Skunks – Shorts
Skunks - Shorts
This episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts is going to stink, as we learn all about skunks with the founder and director of The Dragoo Institute for the Betterment of Skunks and Skunk Reputations, Dr. Jerry Dragoo. We’ll find out where skunks are found, why they smell, and how to avoid getting sprayed. Dr. Dragoo is a world-renowned mephitologist, or biologist who studies skunks.
Includes 6 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: What is a Skunk?
Part 2: What Makes Skunks Stink?
Part 3: Types of Skunks
Part 4: How Skunks Can be Helpful
Part 5: What it’s like Working with Skunks
Part 6: Why Skunks Spray
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Skunks Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Sleep – Shorts
Sleep - Shorts
Why do we spend so much of our lives sleeping? Is anything happening in our brains while we sleep? Do animals sleep the same way we do? On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, we explore the science of sleep with expert guests and our Kids Crew. It’s a sleep science podcast for kids and educators.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Why Yawns are Contagious?
Part 2: The Science of Sleep
Part 3: Author Steven J Simmons talks about Sleep and Animals
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Sleep Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Storytime with Joe Hayes – Shorts
Storytime With Joe Hayes - Shorts
What makes a great story? Spend time with legendary storyteller Joe Hayes, who has been telling stories for more than fifty years, sharing tales passed down through families, cultures, and communities of the American Southwest. Joe explains why stories matter, how listeners help shape every story, and why imagination is such an important part of listening. Enjoy three of Joe’s best loved stories in this podcast for kids designed for use in the classroom.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: “The Gum Chewing Rattler”
Part 2: “A Spoon for Every Bite”
Part 3: “The Day It Snowed Tortillas”
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Storytime With Joe Hayes Full Radio and Podcast Episode
The Brain – Shorts
The Brain - Shorts
How does your brain control everything you do? In this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, our Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with scientists Ingrid Lane and Nick Aase from the Mind Research Network to uncover the secrets of how our brains work. From neurons and emotions to memory and movement, listeners learn what makes every brain unique and why our minds never stop growing.
Includes 4 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: How Brains Work
Part 2: Parts of the Brain
Part 3: How Do Brains Change?
Part 4: Calming Your Brain
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The Brain Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Moon – Shorts Science Podcast for Kids
Moon - Shorts
On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, we’re going to The Moon with Commander Reid Wiseman from NASA’s Artemis 2 mission. The Bad Astronomer, Dr. Phil Plait teaches us how the moon was formed, and we learn what happens to the lunar rocks back on Earth from Dr. Chip Sharer. Dr. Crawford MacCallum teaches us the names of the full moons throughout the year. Let’s go to the moon!
Includes 5 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: The Surface of the Moon
Part 2: An Interview with Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman
Part 3: Life in Space
Part 4: Seasonal Moon Names
Part 5: Where did the Moon Come From?
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The Moon Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Underground Railroad – Shorts Podcast for Kids
Underground Railroad - Shorts
Fourth graders teach listeners about the Underground Railroad and the life of Harriet Tubman. Kids learn how secret routes, brave helpers, and the North Star guided people to freedom. This episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts helps young listeners understand courage, teamwork, and an important chapter in American history. It’s a podcast for kids about the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman.
Includes 2 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Part 2: How the Underground Railroad Worked
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Underground Railroad Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Welcome Stranger – Shorts Podcast for Kids
Welcome Stranger - Shorts
On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, Grammy-winning oud player Rahim AlHaj shares his story as a refugee. We hear from Malala Yousafzai, and we learn how to make new friends as we welcome strangers.Â
Includes 5 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Welcoming New People to Your Community
Part 2: Rahim AlHaj Tells the Story of his Oud
Part 3: The Importance of Sharing Cultures
Part 4: How the Oud Works
Part 5: Rahim AlHaj Plays “Horses” on the Oud
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Welcome Stranger Full Radio and Podcast Episode
Whales – Shorts Podcast for Kids
Whales - Shorts
The Kids Crew explores the amazing world of whales. Learn how these giant ocean mammals breathe, migrate across oceans, and communicate through songs that travel for miles underwater. This episode also explains why protecting whale habitats is important for the health of our planet.
Includes 3 audio clips and a Learning Guide for educators. Our learning guides meet and cite educational content standards, and are designed for use with elementary through middle school students.
This episode comes with a free Learning Guide.
Click here for a preview & to download before listening to the clips.
Part 1: Julia Donaldson’s Story “The Snail and the Whale”
Part 2: Types of Whales
Part 3: Whale Facts
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Whales Full Radio and Podcast Episode
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