The Children's Hour Shorts

On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we explore balloons. From party balloons to weather balloons, and from the first hot air balloons in 18th-century France to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the Kids Crew dives into the history, science, art, and wonder of ballooning.  Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/balloon s-shorts

Hot air balloons make a noise that sounds like a dragon breathing when they ascend into the sky. On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, we hear an original symphony composed by an 11 year old cellist, Evan Daitz. Evan performs with the professional musicians of Santa Fe Chatter for this world premier of his hot air balloon inspired symphony, A Balloon's Breath. Find the companion learning...

Floating in the sky is like no other experience! On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, Jena from our Kids Crew takes a trip in a special shape balloon. Hear her adventure from launch to landing, and consider how you might feel floating above your town. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/balloons-shorts/

We celebrate being yourself with the award winning, late author Jane Yolen, who describes to our Kids Crew what inspired her last book, Quiet As Mud. Then, she reads the book to us.  Find the learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/being-yourself -shorts

What makes something our own creative work? Where does that inspiration come from? We talk with longtime manager of the Muppets and cartoonist Craig Yoe about mash-ups and how they can create a unique expression of ourselves. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/being-yourself -shorts

The Muppets are famous for having many characters, each one unique. Craig Yoe helped design many of them. We continue our conversation with cartoonist, and former Muppet manager Craig Yoe, as he talks about character creation for the Muppet Show. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/being-yourself -shorts

What did you eat for breakfast? From traditional bacon and eggs, to olives, soup, and rice, discover what kids worldwide have for breakfast to start their mornings. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/breakfast -shorts

Discover what makes a healthy breakfast with the Kids Crew and nutritionist Patty Keene. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/breakfast -shorts

In New Mexico, where The Children's Hour is made, blue corn pancakes are on many menus and tables in the morning. Our host Katie Stone shares a recipe for blue corn pancakes, and we learn about the origins of blue corn. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/breakfast-shorts/

On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn all about composers — the people who write music. Have you ever wondered how songs are created? A composer is the person who puts the notes together, making melodies that can be played by singers, choirs, or even a whole orchestra. Some composers lived hundreds of years ago, and their music is still played today. Others are writing brand-new songs r...

On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, we are learning all about composers — the people who write music. In this clip, Thaniel gives us a taste of the timeline for classical music. Where did it start, and how is it still evolving? Find the companion learning guide and activities at  https://childrenshour.org/composers -shorts

On this episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts, we are learning all about composers — the people who write music. Composer Bill Sherman gives an example of of music can completely change our moods and our minds, and make us feel free. Find the companion learning guide and activities at  https://childrenshour.org/composers -shorts

On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn all about composers — the people who write music. In a conversation with the legendary composer Bill Sherman, our intern Thaniel wants to find out how he does it. How does a composer take an idea, and turn it into a full symphony or song? We learn what inspired Bill Sherman to let his voice be heard in his music. Find the companion learning guide an...

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 interventio...

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. In this clip, kids learn the Five Ds of bystander intervention and discover that even small actions can help others feel suppo...

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. In this clip we learn what it's like to be a firefighter. Find the companion learning guide and activiti...

Firefighters are helpers who rush toward danger when others need help. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew visits AFR Fire Station Number Three in Albuquerque, New Mexico to learn how firefighters protect people, animals, and neighborhoods every day. This clip teaches about fire safety and how we can all help prevent catastrophic disasters. Find the full learning guide and activi...

Firefighters are helpers who rush toward danger when others need help. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew visits AFR Fire Station Number Three in Albuquerque, New Mexico to learn how firefighters protect people, animals, and neighborhoods every day. This clip goes over the different parts of a firetruck that make it capable of managing firefighting, and the tools that firefighte...

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. In this clip, we meet Dr. Lisa Markovchick, an ecologist with Wild Eart...

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. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childre...

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. Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childre...

This episode of The Children’s Hour Shorts podcast explores mushrooms with mycology educator and author, Peter McCoy. We get to the basic question in this clip: what is a fungus? Find the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/fungus- shorts

This time on The Children’s Hour Shorts we explore mushrooms with mycology educator and author, Peter McCoy in a fungus podcast for kids. Fungi do so much for our planet that we cannot always see. One benefit of mushrooms is their skill at breaking down dead plants and animals into soil. In doing so, they change the chemical composition of the soils, and can be used to clean up pollution. Peter Mc...

This time on The Children’s Hour Shorts we explore mushrooms with mycology educator and author, Peter McCoy in a fungus podcast for kids. There is so much to learn about fungi, and the magical role they play in our ecosystem. We learn even more in this Fungi Facts clip. Find the full episode, including the companion learning guide and activities at https://www.childrenshour.org/fungus-shorts/

This time on The Children’s Hour Shorts we explore mushrooms with mycology educator and author, Peter McCoy in a fungus podcast for kids. For many of us, all mushrooms kind of look the same. We trust the ones we find in the grocery store to be edible, but we might see very similar ones in our yards. They are likely not the same variety. The Kids Crew ask Peter McCoy about how we can know if a mush...