A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids ®
A six part podcast and curriculum series
A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids
The Children’s Hour has produced a six part podcast and curriculum series on the history of the American Southwest, in partnership with the Center for New Mexico Archaeology, the Native American Community Academy (NACA), NACA Inspired Schools Network, and numerous others.
Typically a region of the US that is overlooked in textbooks, the Southwestern United States history begins 23,000 years ago in what is now know as White Sands National Park. Students will learn how the area was settled, from its Indigenous beginnings through the brutal era of Colonization by Spain, and then the United States, and finally emerging into statehood. This series highlights the moments that changed the history of this region and this nation forever.
This series comes with free Learning Guides that meets and cites US national education standards for elementary through high school students. Find it the Learning Guides for each episode below.
Our production began with “virtual field trips” for students that include expert interviews to better understand each time period. Students can hear the full conversations with our experts by watching the field trips.
Join us as we explore the fragile, deeply rooted story of our high desert region through six episodes and accompanying Learning Guides.
Episode 1: Footprints
This episode begins 23,000 years ago at today’s White Sands National Park, where ancient footprints reveal the story of a mother and her child traveling through the desert while avoiding a giant sloth. Experts and Tribal leaders help explain how these fossilized tracks offer a rare glimpse into the lives of early people and the extinct megafauna of the American Southwest.
Watch the full virtual field trip for this episode
Click the button below for a preview & to download the free Learning Guide
Episode 2: Settling Down
For over 10,000 years, desert communities in the Southwest built sophisticated roads, architecture, and water systems, with Chaco Canyon as a powerful example. In Episode 2, experts and Pueblo educators explore how these interconnected settlements used trade routes, celestial design, and engineering to support thousands of people.
Watch the full virtual field trip for this episode
Click the button below for a preview & to download the free Learning Guide
Episode 3: Strangers Arrive
In 1540, the A:shiwi (Zuni) people encountered European explorers searching for cities of gold, a moment that forever changed the Southwest. In Part 3, Tribal leaders and archaeologists share what happened and examine artifacts from this pivotal encounter.
Watch the full virtual field trip for this episode
Click the button below for a preview & to download the free Learning Guide
Episode 4: Pueblo Revolt
Watch the full virtual field trip for this episode
Click the button below for a preview & to download the free Learning Guide
Episode 5: Colonization
Part 5 explores the Spanish return to the Rio Grande Valley after the Pueblo Revolt, establishing ranches, churches, and towns. Experts discuss colonial land systems, conflicts between Spain, Mexico, and the U.S., and the lasting impact on Pueblo communities, using Los Luceros Historic Site as an example.
Watch the full virtual field trip for this episode
Click the button below for a preview & to download the free Learning Guide
Episode 6: Nationalization
Watch the full virtual field trip for this episode
Click the button below for a preview & to download the free Learning Guide
Acknowledgements
A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids was produced and written by Katie Stone and Christina Stella. Our “True or False” questions were written by The Children’s Hour intern, Julia Wolfe. Voicing on this project was provided by Kids Crew members Lily Mae Williams-Hobbs and Isaac Lacerda. Our Learning Guide was researched and written by Amber Shiel in 2026. Art found in our guide and with this series was the mastermind of artist Nicole Neidhardt and may not be duplicated without permission of The Children’s Hour Inc. All art, text, audio, and other work found with this project ©2023-2026 The Children’s Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Many thanks to our History Review Team, which included archaeologist Mary Weahkee, Director Eric Blinman, and archeologist Shelby Jones-Cervantes from the New Mexico Center for Archeology, David Bustos from White Sands National Park, Nathan Hatfield, Chief Interpretive Ranger at Chaco Culture Park, Curtis Quam, Director of A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Culture Center, Diego Medina, Piro-Manso-Tiwa Tribal Preservation Officer, Pueblo educator Jon Ghahate, Director Carlyn Stewart and educator Rebecca Ward from Los Luceros Historic Site, historian and educator Melanie LaBorwit, New Mexico State Historian Dr. Rob Martinez, Dr. Kara Carroll, historian at Central New Mexico College, Dr. Virginia Scharff, distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Margaret DePond from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, and writer Jim O’Donnell. We had help from Joshua Krause at the NACA Inspired Schools Network and are grateful to the more than 600 students who attended our live Virtual Field Trips.
This series was produced with the support of our listeners, and the Infinite Gesture Fund at the Albuquerque Community Foundation, the New Mexico Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Mexico Humanities Council.
