Real Cool History for Kids

Episode 191: Grandma Gatewood Takes a Hike (a special episode for Mariah)

What would you do if your grandmother announced she was going to walk more than 2,000 miles through the mountains? In 1955, 67-year-old Emma Gatewood did exactly that!

Armed with a homemade bag, a shower curtain, and a pair of tennis shoes, this determined grandmother of 23 set out to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Along the way, she faced dangerous weather, rugged mountains, sore feet, and plenty of unexpected adventures. After 146 days, she became the first woman to complete a solo thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail!

In this episode of Real Cool History for Kids, we follow Grandma Gatewood's incredible journey and discover how courage, perseverance, and the kindness of strangers helped her accomplish something extraordinary.

Join us for this inspiring true story that reminds us that big adventures begin with one small step. :)

• Take your exploration further with the printable activity packet available on our Patreon Platform!

• Would you like the chance to be part of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast? Send your audio-request for a special episode HERE!

• Tell us what you think of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast (or Angela's other work) by leaving an audio-review HERE! Your review may be chosen to be included in an episode!

Episode 190: The Inspiring Story of Snow Flake Bentley (a special story for Cora)

Snowflake Bentley: The Man Who Chased Snowflakes

Have you ever caught a snowflake on your mitten and stopped to look at its tiny, beautiful shape?

More than 140 years ago, a boy named Wilson Bentley became fascinated by the snowflakes that fell around his family's Vermont farm. While others simply saw snow, Wilson saw tiny works of art—each one different, intricate, and gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

Wilson wanted to find a way to preserve what he saw so he could share it with others. But photographing something as tiny and delicate as a snowflake was no easy task! It would take patience, creativity, experimentation, and plenty of failed attempts.

Eventually, the boy who could not stop looking at snowflakes became known around the world as "Snowflake Bentley."

In this episode of Real Cool History for Kids, we will discover the true story of Wilson Bentley, the pioneering photographer who captured thousands of snow crystals and helped the world see the incredible beauty hidden inside something as ordinary as a winter snowfall.

It is a story of curiosity, perseverance, science, and the wonderful things that can happen when someone takes the time to look a little closer.

Something to Talk About

• Why do you think Wilson Bentley was fascinated by something other people barely noticed?

• What did Bentley have to do when his early attempts at photographing snowflakes did not work?

• Have you ever noticed something in nature that made you want to learn more?

• What is something you would like to study closely if you had your own microscope?

• The next time it snows, try catching a snowflake on a dark mitten or piece of fabric. What details can you see?

• Take your exploration further with the printable activity packet available on our Patreon Platform!

• Would you like the chance to be part of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast? Send your audio-request for a special episode HERE!

• Tell us what you think of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast (or Angela's other work) by leaving an audio-review HERE! Your review may be chosen to be included in an episode!

Episode 189: The Story of Charlemagne (a special episode for Ben)

Travel back more than 1,200 years to the Middle Ages and meet one of the most powerful rulers in European history—Charlemagne!

In Episode 189 of Real Cool History for Kids, we are telling this incredible story for Ben. Charlemagne, whose name means "Charles the Great," became king of the Franks and eventually ruled an enormous empire that stretched across much of western and central Europe.

But Charlemagne's story is about much more than battles and kingdoms. Kids will discover his surprising love of swimming, his efforts to continue learning as an adult, and his determination to encourage schools, scholars, and the careful copying of books. We will also travel to Rome on Christmas Day in the year 800, when Pope Leo III placed a crown on Charlemagne's head and proclaimed him emperor.

We will also look honestly at the difficult parts of Charlemagne's reign, including his long wars against the Saxons and his attempts to force conquered people to accept Christianity.

Charlemagne's complicated story gives us an important opportunity to practice looking carefully at history—recognizing accomplishments, learning from mistakes, and remembering that historical figures were real people who made real choices.

• Take your exploration further with the printable activity packet available on our Patreon Platform!

• Would you like the chance to be part of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast? Send your audio-request for a special episode HERE!

• Tell us what you think of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast (or Angela's other work) by leaving an audio-review HERE! Your review may be chosen to be included in an episode!

Episode 188: The Story of the Flying Tigers (a special episode for Daniel)

In this episode of Real Cool History for Kids, we are heading back to the early days of World War II to meet one of the most famous groups of American pilots in history—the Flying Tigers!

This episode is for Daniel, who wanted to hear the incredible story of the American Volunteer Group, or AVG. Led by Claire Lee Chennault, these American pilots traveled halfway around the world to help China in its fight against Japan. Flying Curtiss P-40 fighter planes with fierce shark mouths painted across their noses, the Flying Tigers quickly became famous for their courage and skill.

But their story was about more than cool airplanes and daring pilots. Kids will discover why Americans were fighting in China, what made the P-40 different from Japanese fighter planes, how Chennault developed special tactics to use those differences to his advantage, and why teamwork was so important.

We will also learn about the mechanics, ground crews, Chinese civilians, and Allied forces who helped make the Flying Tigers' missions possible.

Grab a map, get ready for an adventure, and join us as we discover the true story of the Flying Tigers—and some great lessons about courage, wisdom, preparation, and teamwork along the way!

Episode 187: The Faith of Susanna Wesley (a special episode for Susanna)

In this episode of Real Cool History for Kids, we travel back more than 350 years to meet Susanna Wesley, an intelligent, determined woman whose influence reached far beyond her own home.

Susanna raised and educated a large family through poverty, loss, and even a terrifying house fire. She taught her sons and daughters at home, held gatherings that eventually drew hundreds of people, and faithfully encouraged her children to learn, think, and grow in their faith. Two of those children—John and Charles Wesley—would grow up to have an enormous influence on Christian history.

Join me as we discover how one faithful mother, quietly doing the work God placed in front of her, helped shape generations to come.

In this episode, kids will learn about:

• Susanna Wesley's childhood and education

• What homeschooling looked like in the Wesley household

• The dramatic 1709 fire and rescue of young John Wesley

• Susanna's Sunday gatherings at the Epworth rectory

• John and Charles Wesley and the beginnings of the Methodist movement

• How ordinary, faithful work can have an impact far beyond what we can see

This episode was requested by a young listener named Susanna!

• Take your exploration further with the printable activity packet available on our Patreon Platform!

• Would you like the chance to be part of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast? Send your audio-request for a special episode HERE!

• Tell us what you think of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast (or Angela's other work) by leaving an audio-review HERE! Your review may be chosen to be included in an episode!

Episode 186: The Wild Ponies of Chincoteague Island (a special episode for Adelaide)

Come along on an adventure to the coast of Virginia to discover the fascinating story of the wild ponies of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands! In this episode, we'll explore the legend of how the ponies first arrived, learn how they adapted to life on a barrier island, and discover the history behind the famous annual Pony Swim and the Saltwater Cowboys.

We'll also meet Misty, the pony made famous by Marguerite Henry's beloved book Misty of Chincoteague, and learn why caring for this special herd is an important part of Chincoteague Island history.

This episode of Real Cool History for Kids is for Adelaide!

You guys, when I was a little girl, I fell in love with horses. I loved to ride them, read stories about them, and just spend time brushing them. When I was 6 years old, I discovered an author who would become a writing inspiration: Margarite Henry, the author of Misty of Chincoteague. Thus, the wild ponies of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands became an obsession. By the time I was a teenager, I had drawn every illustration in Misty. It was so incredibly fun (and nostalgic!) to create this episode for Adelaide!

• Take your exploration further with the printable activity packet available on our Patreon Platform!

• Would you like the chance to be part of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast? Send your audio-request for a special episode HERE!

• Tell us what you think of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast (or Angela's other work) by leaving an audio-review HERE! Your review may be chosen to be included in an episode!

Episode 185: Isaac Cline and the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 (a special episode for Ava and Myles)

Join us for the incredible true story of Isaac Cline, the meteorologist who faced the deadliest natural disaster in American history—the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. Discover how hurricanes were predicted before modern technology, why Galveston was so vulnerable, and how one devastating storm forever changed weather forecasting in the United States. Along the way, we'll learn about courage, preparation, and trusting God through life's storms.

• Take your exploration further with the printable activity packet available on our Patreon Platform!

• Would you like the chance to be part of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast? Send your audio-request for a special episode HERE!

• Tell us what you think of the Real Cool History for Kids podcast (or Angela's other work) by leaving an audio-review HERE! Your review may be chosen to be included in an episode!

Episode 184: The Story of the Liberty Bell (a special episode for Clara, Ellis, and Cohen)

Did you know one of America's greatest symbols of freedom almost never made it past its very first ring?

In this special America 250 episode of Real Cool History for Kids, I tell the fascinating true story of the Liberty Bell...from its journey across the Atlantic Ocean from England, to the surprising crack that appeared the very first time it was rung, to the important role it played during the birth of the United States.

Along the way, you will discover:

• Why the Liberty Bell was originally made
• What the Bible verse on the bell means
• Why historians aren't certain the bell rang on July 4, 1776
• How the bell was secretly hidden during the Revolutionary War
• How it became one of the most recognizable symbols of liberty in the world

You will also be encouraged to think about the importance of freedom, the blessings God has given us, and the greatest liberty found through Jesus Christ.

This episode is perfect for families celebrating America's 250th birthday while discovering the amazing stories of history.

Episode 183: The Real Story of Winnie-the-Pooh (a special episode for Jacob Barrett)

Episode Description:

Did you know Winnie-the-Pooh was inspired by a real bear?

In this episode of Real Cool History for Kids, we travel back to World War I to uncover the fascinating true story behind one of the world's most beloved storybook characters. Meet Harry Colebourn, a Canadian veterinarian who rescued a tiny black bear cub named Winnie, and discover how her incredible journey to the London Zoo forever changed children's literature.

You'll also learn how a young boy named Christopher Robin and his favorite stuffed animals inspired his father, A. A. Milne, to write the timeless Winnie-the-Pooh stories that families have enjoyed for generations.

Along the way, we'll explore geography, make connections to World War I (Episode 72), and discover how one small act of kindness can leave a legacy that lasts for more than a century.

Other podcast episodes featuring World War 1 stories:

Episode 2 – Jack's Story – C.S. Lewis (1914)

Episode 139 – Sergeant Stubby (World War I)

Episode 127 – Sergeant Alvin York (World War I)

Episode 169 - The Amazing Story of Cher Ami (World War 1)

Episode 165 - The Halifax Explosion of 1917 (World War 1)

Episode 125 – The Last Tsar's Family (1918)

Join us for an adventure to the Black Hills of South Dakota as we discover the incredible story behind one of America's most recognizable landmarks—Mount Rushmore National Memorial!

In this episode, created especially for Denmark Hettinga, we learn how a mountain became a giant monument honoring four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. You'll hear about the historian who dreamed up the idea, the sculptor who brought it to life, and the brave workers who spent fourteen years carving the faces into solid granite.

Along the way, we'll explore:

• Why those four presidents were chosen
• How dynamite was used to carve the faces
• The dangers workers faced high above the ground
• The fascinating story of sculptor Gutzon Borglum
• The history of the Black Hills and their importance to the Lakota people

We'll also talk about perseverance, courage, hard work, and how the choices we make today can leave a lasting impact on the future.

Plus, don't miss an exciting announcement about the brand-new Real Cool History for Kids audio message pages, where listeners can now submit episode requests, reviews, and family messages using their own voices!