Episodes

This week on The Children’s Hour, in a galaxy far, far away, we can tell there’s a black hole at its center. We know this because of the Very Large Array, a huge radio telescope in central New Mexico that is the most precise radio telescope in the world.

In a live broadcast from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science in Albuquerque, we learned about paleontology from the museum curators of paleontology, and the museum educators.

Learn about the summer birds of the Rio Grande Valley with our young naturalist friend, Adya Radcliffe and Laurel Ladwig, a graduate student in the UNM Dept. of Geography & Environmental Studies. Then, hear from 4th graders who spent a year birding at the Valle Del Oro, and wrote poetry about their favorite birds.

This week The Children’s Hour went to the zoo in a broadcast from the Albuquerque Zoo's Africa stage between the hyenas and chimps, with Mammal Curator, Dr. Erin Flynn, and zookeeper Alegria Lacy and one of the McCaw parrot's she helps train, Salsa. With live music by the band Zoolojams, learn about how zoos are helping to save critically endangered species, and find out what a zookeeper’s job is like.

This week on The Children's Hour, learn about chamber music from Leanne DeVane from the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. How is chamber music different from symphonies, and are kids really welcome at concerts? Listen for composer jokes and music imitating nature.

In a live broadcast from Albuquerque's Central and Unser Library, The Children's Hour Kids Crew interview Congresswoman Deb Haaland. Featuring, musical guests, The Sillyettes from Gallup, New Mexico.

This week on The Children’s Hour: Summertime means going to the pool, picnics in the park, and for Santa Fe New Mexico, summertime is opera season. We visited the world renown Santa Fe Opera to find out more about what opera is, and how kids can be involved. Summertime also is a great time to dig into new books, and we’ve got suggestions for kids of all ages.

The Children's Hour broadcast from the National Hispanic Cultural Center, with a variety show for children with music, jokes, dance and of course, kids! We learn about the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and their kids physical arts program, Circo Latino. Hear a flamenco performance by niños in the National Institute of Flamenco, and just try to keep up with punny guy Chip Saltman. Featuring award winning musical guest Frank Leto.

The Children's Hour broadcast from Albuquerque’s Open Space Visitor’s Center with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. The Kids Crew followed up on our interview from when he first took office, and found out about what he’s accomplished so far.

This time on The Children’s Hour, what happens when the wilderness is the classroom? Teacher Jen Chavez Miller and her 8th graders from Albuquerque’s South Valley Academy explored the wilderness of New Mexico together on day trips, overnight, and for a week in the Gila Wilderness. Hear how kids react to their walk on the wild side. The students put together two videos to capture their experiences that you can see here and here. Plus Julia talks with Kwame Alexander about his award winning books ...

The Children's Hour broadcasted live from the Los Griegos Library in Albuquerque's historic Los Griegos neighborhood. Dive into the Summer Reading program, hear storytellers Scott and Johanna Hongell Darsee, and learn about Albuquerque Public Schools' Refugee and Newcomers Program. With musical guest, Maya Falcón from The Children's Hour Kids Crew.

The Children's Hour broadcast live from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Featuring cultural educator and storyteller Jon Ghahate (Laguna/Zuni) and live indigenous music with Steven Toya of Zia Pueblo.

This week on The Children's Hour we explore bilingual books with authors Ana Baca and Anna Nogar, who teach us about writing books in multiple languages. Plus the we had Sean Etigson and the Full Circle Singers from Bosque School, who explore the Bard, William Shakespeare through music, poetry, and his unusual use of language.

Do you love looking for nature? Then you're ready for the City Nature Challenge! Laurel Ladwig explains how citizen scientists just like you help collect the data we need to better understand animal populations. Plus, young naturalist, Adya talks about the birds of New Mexico springtime. We also feature Isa, with her poem for Autism Acceptance Month.

In a live broadcast from Albuquerque's hands on science museum, Explora, The Children's Hour learns about the science of wind with STEM educators, plus we have a breezy story from museum staffers. With live music by Rowan McJimsay, and more songs by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Jessie Baylin, Joe Ely, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, Zee Avi, and Flaco Jiménez.

Kids can be part of making new laws, and this week on The Children's Hour we follow up with students from Wild Friends New Mexico about New Mexico's SB 234, a bill to protect pollinators in this year’s New Mexico Legislature. Then, we talked with kids in Running Medicine about how running together with family has impacted their lives.

In a live broadcast at Albuquerque's Taylor Ranch Library, The Children's Hour heard from Albuquerque's former poet laureate Hakim Bellamy. We also learned from the Taylor Ranch librarians about what's happening at the library this spring, and we had musical guests, Samantha Daitz and Lisa Donald from the Sky Velvet Vassar Music Foundation.

This time on The Children's Hour, it's never too late to learn a new instrument, but it’s also not too early with programs that cater to kids. We’ll find out about two of them in New Mexico: UNM’s Music Prep School in Albuquerque, and the Santa Fe Youth Symphony.

New Mexico counts on its State Auditor but exactly what does our elected state auditor do? As part of our ongoing civics education series, the Children’s Hour kids interviewed New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colon live in studio. We also learned about hair discrimination.

Jump into the Multiverse with the The Children's Hour, broadcast before a live audience from Meow Wolf, Santa Fe's premier family friendly interactive art installation. Learn the story of Meow Wolf, how it got its name and what makes it so cool. With live music by Santa Fe troubadour Joe West & Friends.

What is a State Governor's job, and how do her decisions impact kids? The Children's Hour kids crew members Lila and Sienna Allen sat down with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to find out what her plan is to improve the lives of children across our state. Learn what's going to happen with state assessment tests, and what her plans are for addressing climate change.

What is Clean Energy? Kids from the Global Warming Express tell us why clean energy is so important. Plus, we meet some of the kids who are behind the movement to ban single use plastics in Albuquerque.

The Children's Hour broadcast live from the Tony Hillerman Branch Library in Albuquerque. Daughter Anne Hillerman explained why we named a library after author Tony Hillerman. We had live original music from Sage Harrington kids in the Bosque Song School. Librarian Laura Metzler read us Tony Hillerman's "Buster Mesquite's Cowboy Band" and we learned about the Albuquerque Rose Garden, home to more than 1000 roses.

How does a state's Legislature work? New Mexico State Representative Elizabeth Thomson, and the Wild Friends of New Mexico help us understand the process of making an idea into a law using the legislative process. Kids in Wild Friends have teamed up with Rep. Thomson this year to try to protect New Mexico pollinators. Learn how kids can be a part of their effort and how to participate in the State of New Mexico Legislative Session.