Texas History for Kids

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. Big Bend National Park may look like a quiet desert, but its mountains, river, trails, and ruins hold thousands of years of history.  In this episode, we uncover the stories of Indigenous peoples, Mexican settlers, ranchers, miners, soldiers, and Civilian Conservation Corps workers who shaped the land long before it became a national park....

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text.  Who was Juan Seguín, and why was a Texas town named in his honor?  Today we follow this Tejano leader from the streets of San Antonio to the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto as we uncover his important—and complicated—role in the Texas Revolution.  Sources "Juan Seguín," Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Treasures...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. When you think of treasure in the Old Western times of Texas, you might think of oil, cattle, land. But for a few crucial years in the early 1880s, the most valuable thing lying around the Texas plains was the skeleton of a dead buffalo. In this episode we discover what happened to the remains of millions of buffalo  that were brought to t...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text.  In this episode we  uncover the little-known story of the Cart War in Texas. During the 1850s, Mexican and Tejano carreteros hauled goods by ox cart from Gulf Coast ports to towns like San Antonio. But their success made them targets. Learn how transportation, business rivalry, and questions of belonging turned a dusty Texas road into a d...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. In this episode of Texas History for Kids , we'll discuss the story of Mirabeau B. Lamar , the second president of the Republic of Texas. Known as the “Father of Texas Education,” Lamar helped set aside public land for schools and universities, supported moving the capital to Austin, and dreamed of a powerful independent Texas, but hi...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. In this episode we uncover the strange but true story of the U.S. Camel Corps, when camels were brought to Texas to help soldiers travel across hot, dry frontier land. From Camp Verde to the Civil War. Discover why camels seemed like the perfect solution, and why this bold experiment eventually faded into history.  Sources https://www.tsha...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. In this episode, we explore the mysterious story of Olive Oatman—a young girl who survived a tragic attack, lived for years with the Mojave people, and later settled in Sherman, Texas. Was she truly rescued… or taken from a life she had come to know? Join us as we uncover a story of survival, identity, and the complicated truths behind wes...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. This story takes us to the year 1861. Texas had been a state in the USA for just 16 years. Life was growing. Farms, towns, railroads. But something was wrong across the United States. The country was splitting apart and Texas had to make a decision.  Sources National Archives (Civil War overview)   Texas State Historical Association   Libr...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. In our previous episodes we’ve discussed the most famous tribes in Texas such as the Caddo, Jumano and Comanche.  But today we're diving into the story of the Kickapoo people, a nation that has survived centuries of pressure, crossed international borders, and still maintains one of the most remarkable living cultures in North America...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text.  Long before recycling bins existed, ancient Texans were already solving a big problem. In this episode, uncover how skilled flint-knappers turned broken tools into something new—and why their clever ideas still matter today.  Sources Texas Beyond History — University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (texasbeyond...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. It started as a mission. It turned into a mistake. In 1842, a group of Texan soldiers crossed into Mexico after being ordered to turn back. What they thought would be a quick success became a story of endurance, survival, and difficult choices. Sources The Handbook of Texas Online — 'Mier Expedition.' Texas State Historical Assoc...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. In this episode, we wrap up Women’s History Month by exploring the powerful stories of three Texas women who spoke up when it mattered most. From a fearless journalist in Laredo who stood her ground against injustice, to a civil rights leader in Houston who helped challenge unfair laws, to a governor who broke barriers and led the entire s...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. March is Women’s History Month—a time to recognize the achievements of women across history. These 3 Texas women made bold choices, faced real challenges, and changed the world around them: Jane Long, Clara Driscoll and Adina De Zavala. Support the show 🎧😊 Podcast Listening Response Activities 🎉 Y’all, it’s freebie time!  Snag your Texa...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. March 2 marks one of the most important days in Texas history. On that day in 1836 , a group of delegates gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence , creating a brand-new country called the Republic of Texas . In this episode of Texas History for Kids , we rewind the clock to explore the events t...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text.  In this episode of Texas History for Kids , Michelle and Zoe uncover the mystery of the Texas State Capitol — how it was built, why it’s pink, and what actually happens inside those historic walls.    Sources: Texas State Preservation Board – Texas State Capitol Kids. Kiddle.co – Texas State Capitol Texas Legislature Online https://tspb.t...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. February 11 is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. It’s a celebration around the world that recognizes women who work in STEM — science, technology, engineering, and math. Today we're talking about two women who worked with NASA and were not necessarily astronauts. References chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefin...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. Today we’re talking about one woman who stood up for her rights,refused to back down and made her voice heard, her name was Susan B Anthony.  Before we get to how Susan B Anthony shocked the nation by voting, we need to understand who she really was.  Podcast Response and Slides, Listening Activity References:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. In this episode of Texas History for Kids , we explore the 15th Amendment and the long fight to protect voting rights in Texas. You’ll learn why Black History Month is celebrated in February, the role of historian Carter G. Woodson, and the voices that helped push the nation toward change.  Black History: Contributions to Texas Resource Bu...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. Walk in the footsteps of Texas’s official state dinosaur! In this episode of Texas History for Kids , we head to Dinosaur Valley State Park to uncover the mystery of Paluxysaurus jonesi —how it was discovered, how Texas chose its state dinosaur, and what ancient footprints reveal about life during the Cretaceous Period. Packed with facts,...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. In this episode of Texas History for Kids , we explore the mystery of Jean Lafitte, a pirate who ran smuggling and privateering operations across the Gulf of Mexico, negotiated with powerful governments, and even helped the United States win the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. But Lafitte insisted he wasn’t a pirate. He claim...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. Early settlers and ranchers believed the “horny toad” or horned lizard, had special powers, not because it was spooky, but because it did things no one could explain.  It looks prehistoric, survives extreme Texas heat, and has one of the strangest defense tricks in the animal kingdom. But how did the Texas horned lizard, often called the “...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. Today, we’re exploring how black-eyed peas traveled across continents, survived hard times, and ended up as one of the most famous New Year’s traditions in Texas and the South. Support the show 🎧😊 Podcast Listening Response Activities 🎉 Y’all, it’s freebie time!  Snag your Texas Flag Reading Packet —perfect for grades 4–7! Plus, join th...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text.  Was The Yellow Rose of Texas song written about a real person… or is it a legend that bloomed later? In this episode, we follow the trail of a famous song, a mysterious woman named Emily, and the Battle of San Jacinto. You’ll learn where the song really came from, why Texans embraced it, and how folklore, music, and history sometimes twis...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. Join us as we uncover the bold events surrounding the Siege of Béxar and the moment that changed the course of the Texas Revolution.  References https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bexar-siege-of Music/Sounds by Pixabay Starting Jingle Sound Effect by Shiden Beats Music from Pixabay- Jingle Slide Guitar Support the show 🎧😊 Podcas...

Let me know what you thought of this podcast! Send a text. Why did Texas choose the little blue wildflower that pops up every spring as its official state flower? Join us as we uncover the “flower drama” of 1901, explore how bluebonnets turn Texas into oceans of color, and bust the myth about whether it’s illegal to pick them. From legends to science to Texas road trips, this episode reveals why t...