Historical Perspectives with Mr. Mault

In this companion story to our American Revolution episode, listeners meet Lina—a kind, courageous girl known throughout her town as Lantern Lina. Through Lina’s eyes, we experience what life felt like for everyday people during the time of unfair taxes, peaceful protests, and big ideas about freedom.

From a quiet harbor protest inspired by the Boston Tea Party to hopeful moments lighting the way toward independence, this story shows how even small acts of kindness and bravery helped shape a new nation. 

Perfect for young listeners, this episode highlights how ordinary people—kids included—can make a difference when they care about fairness, community, and working together.

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This pack can be used with the TPT resource.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here.

These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.

All rights are reserved. This content cannot be used for ANY commercial purpose, including in free or paid resources or products. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

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In this episode, we travel back to the time of the American Revolution to learn how ordinary people stood up for fairness and freedom. Why were the colonists upset with the King of England? What does “no taxation without representation” really mean? From the Boston Tea Party to the Declaration of Independence, we break down the major events and people that helped shape the United States. 

Discover how teamwork, bravery, and big ideas changed the course of history—one step at a time!

This pack can be used with the TPT resource.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here.

These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.

All rights are reserved. This content cannot be used for ANY commercial purpose, including in free or paid resources or products. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Support the show

Why do people set goals at the New Year? In this episode, students learn why January is the perfect time to reflect, set goals, and build small habits that lead to big growth. 

This kid-friendly podcast explains what research says about goal setting, why small steps work best, and how students can set short-term and long-term goals they can actually achieve in school and life.

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References

Duhigg, C. (2012). The power of habit: Why we do what we do in life and business. Random House.

Duckworth, A. L. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner.

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705–717. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.57.9.705

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2006). New directions in goal-setting theory. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15(5), 265–268. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2006.00449.x

Muraven, M., & Baumeister, R. F. (2000). Self-regulation and depletion of limited resources: Does self-control resemble a muscle? Psychological Bulletin, 126(2), 247–259. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.126.2.247

Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Mindsets that promote resilience: When students believe that personal characteristics can be developed. Educational Psychologist, 47(4), 302–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2012.722805

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What happens when summer never arrives? In this episode of Big Ideas, True Stories, students explore the true story of the Year Without a Summer and the powerful eruption of Mount Tambora. 

This kid-friendly science and history podcast explains how volcanoes can affect Earth’s climate, how people responded to unexpected challenges, and why understanding Earth’s systems matters today.

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References

Brönnimann, S., & Krämer, D. (2016). Tambora and the “Year Without a Summer” of 1816: A perspective on Earth and human systems science. Geographica Helvetica, 71(2), 121–132. https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-71-121-2016

Harington, C. R. (Ed.). (1992). The year without a summer? World climate in 1816. Canadian Museum of Nature.

Luterbacher, J., & Pfister, C. (2015). The year without a summer. Nature Geoscience, 8(4), 246–248. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2404

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (n.d.). Volcanic aerosols and climate. NASA Earth Observatory.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/VolcanoClimate

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). How volcanoes influence climate. NOAA Climate.gov.

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What happens when a society has everything it needs: food, safety, comfort, but still collapses?

In this episode, we tell the true story of Universe 25, a famous mouse experiment by researcher John B. Calhoun that explored population growth, social behavior, and the breakdown of community in a resource-rich environment. Often misunderstood and dramatized online, this episode separates myth from science and explains what Calhoun actually observed and what he warned us not to conclude.

A story about behavioral sink, social roles, belonging, and meaning, this episode invites listeners to rethink what “utopia” really means and why survival alone isn’t the same as living.

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References

Calhoun, J. B. (1962). Population density and social pathology. Scientific American, 206(2), 139–148.

Calhoun, J. B. (1973). Death squared: The explosive growth and demise of a mouse population. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 66(1), 80–88.

Calhoun, J. B. (1986). The ecological context of behavior. In J. B. Calhoun (Ed.), The social biology of Rattus norvegicus (pp. 1–26). National Institute of Mental Health.

Ramsden, E., & Adams, J. (2009). Escaping the laboratory: The rodent experiments of John B. Calhoun and their cultural influence. Journal of Social History, 42(3), 761–792.

Sparks, J. (2017). The myth of behavioral sink. Psychology Today.

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Welcome to Maple Grove, a town where ideas are shared, voices are heard, and rules are made together. In this story-based episode, students in grades 3–5 learn about the legislative branch of the United States government through a relatable and engaging community story.

As a problem arises in Maple Grove, listeners follow local leaders as they talk, debate, and work together to create fair rules that help everyone. This episode shows how the legislative branch makes laws, why discussion and voting are important, and how representatives speak for the people they serve. Through storytelling, students see how laws begin as ideas and why teamwork and listening matter in government.

This episode is perfect for elementary classrooms, homeschool lessons, or young learners exploring how the branches of government work in real life.

This pack can be used with the TPT resource.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here.

These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.

All rights are reserved. This content cannot be used for ANY commercial purpose, including in free or paid resources or products. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Support the show

Learn all about the legislative branch of the United States government, the part of government that makes the laws. Using clear explanations and kid-friendly examples, this episode helps listeners understand how ideas become laws and why teamwork is so important in government.

Students will discover the roles of Congress, including the House of Representatives and the Senate, and learn what Representatives and Senators do each day. The episode also explains how laws are proposed, discussed, voted on, and why not every idea becomes a law. Listeners will see how the legislative branch works with the other branches and follows the Constitution to represent the people.

This episode is perfect for elementary social studies lessons, civics units, test prep, or kids who are curious about how rules are created in our country.

This pack can be used with the TPT resource.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here.

These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.

All rights are reserved. This content cannot be used for ANY commercial purpose, including in free or paid resources or products. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Support the show

Visit the cheerful town of Willowtown and meet a group of leaders who know how to get things done. In The Executive Team, listeners follow President Harper, Vice President Sam, and their helpful Cabinet as they work together to solve a problem after a powerful windstorm.

Through this story, students in grades 3–5 learn how the executive branch of government works. The story shows how the President leads, how the Vice President and Cabinet help make plans, and how important agencies like the EPA and FEMA protect people and the environment. By listening, planning, and working as a team, the executive branch helps keep communities safe and running smoothly.

This episode blends storytelling and civics to show that leadership, teamwork, and helping others are important parts of the executive branch—and things kids can practice every day.

This pack can be used with the TPT resource.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here.

These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.

All rights are reserved. This content cannot be used for ANY commercial purpose, including in free or paid resources or products. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Support the show

Explore the executive branch of the United States government and learn how it helps our country run every day. Using clear language and real-world examples, this episode explains what the executive branch does, who leads it, and why it is so important.

Listeners will learn about the President of the United States, the Vice President, and the Cabinet, along with important agencies like the EPA and FEMA. The episode also shows how the executive branch enforces laws, keeps people safe, responds to emergencies, and works with the other branches to follow the Constitution. This episode is perfect for elementary social studies lessons, civics units, or curious kids who want to understand how government decisions affect daily life.

This pack can be used with the TPT resource.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here.

These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.

All rights are reserved. This content cannot be used for ANY commercial purpose, including in free or paid resources or products. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Support the show

Step into the town of Willow Bend and visit a courthouse where fairness matters most. In The Courthouse at Willow Bend, listeners meet Judge Amara Sol, a thoughtful judge who believes that the heart of justice is listening to people’s stories.

When two neighbors disagree over a river that runs through their town, Judge Amara must make a decision that will affect everyone. Instead of choosing one side, she shows how the judicial branch can solve problems by being fair, thoughtful, and focused on the common good. This story helps students understand how courts work, why judges listen carefully, and how laws can help communities live and work together.

Perfect for grades 3–5, this episode blends storytelling and civics to show that justice is about balance, responsibility, and caring for the future.

This pack can be used with the TPT resource.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here.

These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.

All rights are reserved. This content cannot be used for ANY commercial purpose, including in free or paid resources or products. Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Support the show