A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids

Series produced by The Children's Hour Inc.

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Image by: Nicole Neidhardt © The Children's Hour Inc 

The Children's Hour Inc has produced a curricular podcast series to teach the unique history of the high desert Southwestern United States for kids and adults.

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 a free, download-able Learn-Along Guide that meets and cites US national education standards for elementary through high school students. Find it, and a link to cite the national education standards 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, and learn about our fragile, and deeply rooted story of our high desert region over six episodes, and through our Learn-Along guide.

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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 a free, download-able... Show full description


6 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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In 1864, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo making the American Southwest a United States territory where the land would soon be crisscrossed with tra...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 04, 2023
  • Length: 17:21
  • Purchases: 1
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Within two decades, the Spanish settlers returned to the Rio Grande Valley, laying claim to the fertile valleys to build haciendas, churches and to...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 04, 2023
  • Length: 19:43
  • Purchases: 1
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The new neighbors had so many demands and harsh punishments, the pueblo peoples had enough and organized a revolt, sending the priests and other Eu...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 04, 2023
  • Length: 19:47
  • Purchases: 1
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In July of 1540, the Ashiwi people watched as a group of armed strangers – who turned out to be Europeans – came into the desert Southwest, on hors...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 04, 2023
  • Length: 16:54
  • Purchases: 1
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For over 10,000 years, communities grew in the desert, with elaborate roads and structures that remain today. The complexity of Chaco Canyon’s arch...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 04, 2023
  • Length: 19:11
  • Purchases: 1
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We begin 23,000 years ago at what is today called White Sands National Park with footprints discovered in the sands that tell a story of a mom, her...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer and KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 04, 2023
  • Length: 20:24
  • Purchases: 2