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.
Shorts Season 1
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.
Being Yourself – Shorts
Being yourself means loving who you are and celebrating what makes you different. The Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with author Jane Yolen and cartoonist 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.
Breakfast – Shorts
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and it’s different all over the world. In this 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 and discover global breakfast traditions.
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.
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.
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.
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. This is a forest podcast for kids with a learning guide.
Fungus – Shorts
The Kids Crew and Katie Stone meet mycologist Peter McCoy to uncover the hidden world of fungi in this fungus podcast for kids. 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.
Lemurs – Shorts
Lemurs are extraordinary primates found only in Madagascar, and they’re also some of the most endangered animals on Earth. In this Lemurs Shorts podcast for kids, the Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with Faye Goodwin from the Duke Lemur Center to discover their ancient history, unusual behaviors, and the dangers they face. From stink fights to climbing cliffs, listeners uncover how these animals live and how conservation effort, and people like you, can make a difference in saving them.
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.
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.
Being Yourself – Shorts
Being yourself means loving who you are and celebrating what makes you different. The Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with author Jane Yolen and cartoonist 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.
Breakfast – Shorts
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and it’s different all over the world. In this 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 and discover global breakfast traditions.
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.
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.
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.
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. This is a forest podcast for kids with a learning guide.
Fungus – Shorts
The Kids Crew and Katie Stone meet mycologist Peter McCoy to uncover the hidden world of fungi in this fungus podcast for kids. 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.
Lemurs – Shorts
Lemurs are extraordinary primates found only in Madagascar, and they’re also some of the most endangered animals on Earth. In this Lemurs Shorts podcast for kids, the Kids Crew and Katie Stone talk with Faye Goodwin from the Duke Lemur Center to discover their ancient history, unusual behaviors, and the dangers they face. From stink fights to climbing cliffs, listeners uncover how these animals live and how conservation effort, and people like you, can make a difference in saving them.
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.
Money Smart – Shorts – Financial Literacy for kids
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. It’s a financial literacy podcast for kids.
Pumpkin Spice – Shorts – Halloween Podcast for Kids
In this Halloween special of The Children’s Hour Shorts, the Kids Crew explores the history and traditions of pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, costumes, and trick-or-treating. We learn the story of Stingy Jack, and discover surprising pumpkin facts. This episode is packed with pumpkin spice and everything nice in this halloween podcast for kids.
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. Learn more with our learning guide in this skunks podcast for kids.
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.
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. This is a storytime podcast for kids, and a podcast for educators to use in the classroom. Comes with a learning guide and activities.
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. This is a brain science podcast for kids and a podcast for educators. Comes with a learning guide and activities.
Moon – Shorts Science Podcast for Kids
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. It’s a podcast for kids about the moon!
Underground Railroad – Shorts Podcast for Kids
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.
Welcome Stranger – Shorts Podcast for Kids
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. This podcast for kids with a learning guide.
Whales – Shorts Podcast for Kids
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. It’s a podcast for kids about whales, and it comes with a learning guide.
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