Rudyard’s childhood was filled with excitement. He and his sister, Trix, roamed the colorful streets of Bombay, exploring markets, tasting exotic foods, and making friends with people from all walks of life. The vibrant bazaars and bustling harbors of Bombay ignited his imagination, and he soaked up the sights, sounds, and smells of this fascinating city. These early experiences would later inspire many of the stories he would write.

But adventure wasn’t just limited to the city. Rudyard’s parents believed in giving him a well-rounded education. So, when he was just six years old, they sent him off to a school in England. Can you imagine leaving your home at such a young age and traveling to a distant land? Rudyard did, and it was a thrilling, albeit challenging, experience. He missed the sights and sounds of India, but he also learned to love the English countryside, the stories, and the books that filled his new world.

When Rudyard returned to India at the age of 13, he carried with him a wealth of stories, both from the books he had read and the adventures he had lived. He began to write his own tales, inspired by the vibrant and diverse culture of India. His first published works were written during his teenage years, and they showcased his growing talent as a storyteller.

One of Rudyard’s most famous books is “The Jungle Book.” Can you imagine a story about a young boy who is raised by wolves, befriends a bear and a panther, and faces off against a fierce tiger? Well, that’s exactly what Rudyard Kipling imagined. “The Jungle Book” is a thrilling adventure filled with animals that can talk and a young hero named Mowgli. This book has captivated the hearts and imaginations of countless children around the world for over a century. Rudyard Kipling’s childhood in India, where he was surrounded by exotic wildlife, inspired the enchanting tales of the jungle and its inhabitants.

Rudyard Kipling didn’t just write stories about the jungle; he also penned tales about the high seas and adventures on the open water. One of his most famous works is “Captain Courageous.” It’s a story about a young boy named Harvey who gets thrown overboard from a luxury cruise ship and ends up on a fishing schooner. Harvey must learn the ways of the sea and earn the respect of the rough and rugged fishermen. This thrilling tale takes readers on a journey across the vast oceans and teaches valuable lessons about hard work, determination, and courage.

Another book that will sweep you off your feet is “Kim.” This novel tells the story of an orphan boy who grows up in India and becomes a spy, traveling all over the country. Kim is a master of disguise and has exciting adventures as he explores the rich tapestry of Indian culture, meets fascinating characters, and navigates the complexities of British colonialism. Rudyard Kipling’s deep love for India shines through in “Kim,” as it is a captivating blend of adventure, mystery, and cultural exploration.

But life wasn’t all thrilling adventures and stories for Rudyard. He faced some challenges too. As a young man, he returned to England to work as a journalist and faced tough times. Yet, he persevered and continued writing stories that would later become classics. His life experiences, both good and bad, were woven into the tapestry of his tales, making them all the more relatable and inspiring.

Rudyard Kipling’s adventurous spirit took him to many parts of the world. He traveled to South Africa, where he covered the Boer War as a journalist. 

He visited America and made lifelong friends with famous figures like Mark Twain. These journeys helped him gather more stories and experiences to share with the world.

During the Boer War, Kipling embarked on a journey that would lead him to the heart of the action, traveling alongside British troops. Rudyard wasn’t a soldier, but he carried his pen and notebook like weapons, ready to capture the stories of bravery and valor. He witnessed the roar of cannons, the thunder of hooves, and the courage of men facing the unknown.

One day, while Rudyard was riding with a group of British soldiers, they found themselves deep in enemy territory. The Boers, fierce fighters who knew the South African terrain well, were lurking nearby. A skirmish broke out, and the British soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Rudyard’s journalistic instincts kicked in. He crouched low, scribbling notes furiously as bullets whizzed past. The noise of the battlefield was deafening, but he remained calm, determined to record the bravery of the soldiers, who fought for a cause they believed in.

As the day wore on, the situation became even more perilous. The British soldiers needed to send a message back to their headquarters, but the enemy was watching their every move. Rudyard, known for his resourcefulness, volunteered to sneak through enemy lines with the urgent message. It was a daring mission, but he was determined to get the story out.

Under the cover of darkness, Rudyard set out, crawling through the tall grass and avoiding the watchful eyes of the Boer sentries. He moved silently, his heart pounding with each step. His adventures as a young boy in the bustling streets of Bombay had prepared him for this moment of danger.

After a nerve-wracking journey through the enemy’s territory, Rudyard finally reached the British camp. He delivered the message, and his courageous act earned him the respect of the soldiers. His storytelling wasn’t limited to pen and paper; he had lived an adventure that would become a part of his own legend.

Rudyard Kipling’s experiences during the Boer War served as the backdrop for some of his most poignant writings. He understood the sacrifices made by soldiers and the price of war. His stories from the battlefield, like “The Man Who Would Be King,” and “Soldiers Three,” reflected the human aspects of the conflict, the camaraderie, and the struggles faced by those on the front lines.

One of Rudyard’s most famous poems, “If—,” is a true inspiration. It’s a message about being brave and resilient in the face of adversity. “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…” goes one of its lines. It’s a reminder to stay strong, no matter what challenges life throws your way. “If—” has been recited and cherished by people of all ages for generations, and its wisdom is just as relevant today as it was when Rudyard Kipling wrote it.

Rudyard Kipling’s life was like an adventure story itself. He faced triumphs and trials, explored distant lands, met fascinating people, and left behind a treasure trove of stories for the world to enjoy. His books continue to transport readers to far-off places, introducing them to incredible characters and exciting adventures.

So, young adventurers, as you read Rudyard Kipling’s tales, remember the little boy who once roamed the colorful streets of Bombay, the teenager who journeyed to England, and the man who traveled the world seeking inspiration. His stories are a testament to the power of imagination, the wonder of exploration, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams. Rudyard Kipling’s legacy lives on, inviting you to embark on your own adventures, whether in the pages of a book or out in the wide world beyond.

The post History of Rudyard Kipling for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

As you step closer, you see that the water is shimmering with a golden glow, and you feel a strange energy running through your body. You dip your hand into the water and take a sip. You feel a wave of youthfulness and health wash over you. Your skin feels tighter, your joints less painful, and your mind clearer than it has been in years. Yes, you’ve found it! The one and only, fountain of youth!

The story of the Fountain of Youth has been told for many years in cultures around the world. The legend suggests that there is a magical fountain that has the power to restore youth and health to those who drink from it.

The story of the Fountain of Youth has captured the imagination of people around the world, and many have tried to find it, but no one has ever been able to locate the spring or even prove that it’s real.

So where did this story come from, and why did people believe in it? Let’s explore these stories and find out!

The story of the Fountain of Youth can be traced back to ancient times. The Greeks believed in a mythical spring, which was said to be located at the end of the world when it was believed the world was flat. The Greek god of the sun, Helios, had a son named Phaethon, who once drove his father’s chariot too close to the Earth and set it on fire. As punishment, Phaethon fell into a river, where he was transformed into a swan. The river became known as the River of Forgetfulness. It was believed that if you drank from the river, you would forget all your troubles – and also become young again.

The Greek Historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC was the first to write about the legendary Fountain of Youth. In his writings, he mentioned the Macrobians, a people who were known for their long lives. Some were even rumored to have lived for more than 120 years, which was quite unusual for that time. Herodotus thought that the Macrobians’ long lives were due to their diet, which was mostly made up of boiled meat and milk. When explorers asked how they lived to be 120 years old, they told an incredible story about a magical fountain.

They said that this fountain had special water that made their skin shiny and smooth like oil, and it smelled just like a beautiful violet flower. The water was so special that nothing could float in it, not even a feather or a leaf – everything sank right to the bottom! They believed that it was the special properties of the water from this fountain that made them live for so long.

In the Middle Ages, the Fountain of Youth was also related to the philosopher’s stone. The philosopher’s stone was a mythical rock that was also said to be able to make older people young again, live forever, and even turn metal into gold! For a long time, people thought that the philosopher’s stone was real. Later, it was used in other stories such as the first Harry Potte book, The Philosopher’s Stone, and the anime, Full Metal Alchemist.

It wasn’t until much later than the Greeks that the story of the Fountain of Youth became very popular. This was the time of the great Age of Exploration and Discovery when European explorers were sailing around the world in search of new lands and treasures. Many of these explorers believed in the legend of the Fountain of Youth and hoped to find it on their voyages.

One of the most famous accounts of the fountain of youth comes from a tale of Alexander the Great. In this story, Alexander and his army are traveling through a hot and dry land when they came across a land full of beautiful flowers and green meadows. There, they find the mythical fountain of youth, which was said to heal anyone who bathed in its waters four times a day. Alexander and his men met some old warriors who had bathed in the fountain and came out looking like they were much younger! The warriors explained to Alexander that they had lived for more than a hundred years and were now completely young and healthy. Alexander then decides to try the fountain for himself and was amazed at the results. When he returned to his men, he could hardly recognize the old warriors because they looked so young and strong.

The story of Alexander and the Fountain of Youth spread throughout Europe and became popular during the Renaissance, which was a time when people were fascinated by ancient myths and legends. Many explorers and adventurers, including the famous Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, searched for the hidden Fountain of Youth. These explorers hoped to find a way to make their own lives longer and stay young forever. 

Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish conquistador who was said to have accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. He was born in Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain, in 1474. He was appointed as the first Governor of Puerto Rico in 1509 by the Spanish Crown, and it was during his time as Governor that he became interested in finding the Fountain of Youth. Legend had it that when Ponce de León arrived in Florida, he met some Timucua Native Americans who told him about a spring that was located in a mythical land called Bimini. The legend said that the water from this spring had the power to restore youth and cure sickness when swallowed or bathed in. Ponce de León and his men searched for the spring but were never able to find it. He made many more travels to areas around Florida in search of the fountain but his search was unsuccessful. 

Because of Ponce de Leon’s travels, there’s a park in Florida where you can learn more about the history of the fountain! It’s called the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and it’s in the city of St. Augustine, Florida.

The story behind the park is pretty fascinating. In 1904, a woman named Luella Day McConnell bought a piece of land in St. Augustine that she believed was the site of Ponce de León’s mysterious Fountain of Youth. She believed he’d actually found it! She began to create a park there, adding attractions such as a Spanish watchtower, an Indian village, and an actual spring that she said was the Fountain of Youth.

Luella also dug a well on the property. A well is a hole that is dug so deep that it reaches water far below the ground. She dug this deep hole and began selling water from it, saying that it had the power to heal and was the same water that Ponce de León had used when he was looking for the fountain of youth. She also said that she discovered a large cross on the property that had been put there by Ponce de León himself. People began to pay to come to see all of the amazing things that Luella had at her park and to learn more about the mythological Fountain of Youth. 

After Luella passed away, a man named Walter Fraser took over the park and made it even more popular. In 1934, archaeologists dug in the park and found something amazing: a religious Native American burial site, the Timucuan village of Seloy. The Timucua people lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia from as early as 1100 CE. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. ​​ The dig site also pointed to the park being the location of the first Christian mission in the United States. This mission was started by Franciscan friars in 1587. Over the years, more and more items were found that proved the park was home to the Timucua people and the location of the first European settlement in North America. Today, the park has lots of interesting artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the Fountain of Youth and the people who searched for it. So if you’re ever in Florida and want to learn more about the Fountain of Youth, be sure to check out the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park!

As we’ve learned, many people have searched for the fountain throughout history, hoping to find its magical waters that could grant them eternal youth and life. But perhaps the real fountain of youth is not a physical place or object, but something that comes from within us. Maybe the key to staying young at heart is to embrace our sense of wonder, keep learning, and never stop exploring the world around us. So, let’s remember to stay curious, stay adventurous, and always keep searching for your own inner, fountain of youth. 

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When I say “Super Hero,” who or what comes to mind?  Do you think of Superman, Iron Man, or Wonder Woman?  Maybe you think of the Black Panther, Captain America, or Thor.  Well, I know some real-life heroes and they aren’t humans – they’re animals!  Animals with four paws and wagging tails who love to pull sleds.  They’re Siberian Huskies – the great sled dogs of Alaska and other snowy countries.  They are very brave and powerful.  They can survive in freezing temperatures and blowing blizzards.  They can run for hours pulling heavy sleds and battle fierce animals like grizzly bears and wolves.  They are very smart, strong, and loyal.  

And an amazing pack of Huskies saved a town in Alaska many years ago!

The year was 1925 and it was January in Nome, Alaska.  People huddled inside their homes as the wind howled outside and Alaska froze.  Families gathered around stoves and fireplaces to keep warm.  They wrapped themselves in furs and watched as their cold breath swirled in the polar night air. Little did they know that a disease named Diphtheria was silently spreading across Alaska.

But one person did know and his name was Dr. Curtis Welch, the local doctor in Nome.  He had treated a few children for colds, which later turned out to be Diphtheria, a dangerous and contagious disease.  This was the worst time for a Diphtheria outbreak.  Alaska was isolated and frozen.  The shipping ports had closed two months prior, in November, and wouldn’t open until the following July.  Plus, the doctor’s supply of antitoxin, or medicine, to treat Diphtheria had expired.  What could he do?  

He immediately contacted the mayor of Nome and started a quarantine in hopes of stopping the spread of the disease.  But with everyone huddled together inside, the disease started to spread.  The doctor sent urgent telegrams to Public Health in Washington, D.C., pleading for an emergency delivery of medicine.  In these small Alaskan towns, the people had never been exposed to many diseases, including Diphtheria, so they had no natural immunity, or protection, against it.  Everyone in the town could be lost.

An emergency meeting was held.  A plan was discussed to deliver the medicine by plane.  However, the conditions were too brutal for most planes to fly without freezing and the few planes that could make the flight had been dismantled, or taken apart, for the winter.  They then thought about trains.  It was a good plan, but with one hitch: the train could only go so far before the tracks were covered, frozen, and unusable.  They then considered a dogsled team.  It would be a round trip of over 600 miles and take 30 days in weather of -50 F or -46 C.  Winds in Alaska were whipping at 25 mph and snowbanks were 10 ft or 3 m tall.  The problem with this plan was that the medicine would only last for 6 days in this brutal weather.

So, the doctor and his team decided on a combined approach – train and multiple dog sled teams.  By this time, 300,000 units of medicine had been found at a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.  The medicine was packed in quilts, wrapped in padding, and stuffed into a metal cannister weighting 20 pounds. The cannister was then put on a train for a short trip before being transferred to dog sled teams for the main trek, which started on January 27, 1925, at 9:00 p.m.  The Great Race of Mercy was on!

The first dog sled driver, or musher, was “Wild Bill” Shannon, with his lead dog Blackie, and a team of 10 Huskies.  The dogs yipped, barked, and jumped in excitement as they were hitched into their harnesses.  They could sense the urgency in the air and were anxious to get started.  The night was fiercely cold but their thick coats helped keep them warm.  “Wild Bill” snapped the reins, yelled “mush” to the dogs, and they were off!  The team raced over snowy trails and frozen rivers.  On and on they raced through the frigid night, their breath appearing like steam from a racing locomotive.  They arrived at the next stop at 3:00 the next morning, exhausted.  “Wild Bill” was suffering from hypothermia (extreme cold) and his face was black from frostbite.  The medicine was then placed by the fire to warm while “Wild Bill” and the dogs rested for four hours.  They awoke and started the next leg of the trip, leaving 3 exhausted dogs behind.

“Wild Bill,” Blackie, and the team arrived in Minto at 11:00 a.m. the following morning and passed the medicine off to the next team led by musher Edgar Kalland.  The team raced off through the forest in frigid temperatures, causing Edgar’s hands to freeze to the wooden handlebars of the sled.  At a rest stop, a man had to pour boiling water on Edgar’s hands to release them from the sled.  

And while this lifesaving race was underway, more cases of Diphtheria were spreading across Nome.  More dog sled teams were added to the race to save precious hours.  The medicine was passed from team to team as the heroic Huskies raced for hours across the frozen landscape.  The weather was so extreme that several dogs on one team passed away from frostbite and their musher took over their spots, pulling the sled alongside the dogs.

Soon an artic storm was brewing. Gale force winds, dangerous white out conditions, and wind chill temperatures reaching -70 F, -57 C battered the dogs and mushers.  But the brave Huskies of the Great Race of Mercy would not stop.  For hours they barreled through unrelenting snow drifts and unforgiving terrain, their strong paws beating the snow in a race against time and Mother Nature.  It was now January 30^th.  There were 27 cases of Diphtheria in Nome and rising.  All the medicine was gone.  Time was running out.

Meanwhile, a musher named Leonhard Seppala, his lead dog, Togo, and his team raced out from Nome into the storm to meet the incoming dog sled team.  They raced for 91 miles in a gale-force blizzard with wind chills reaching -85F, -65C.  Blinding snow pelted the dogs’ coats and slashed their eyes. They met the incoming team, transferred the medicine, then Seppala, Togo, and the team raced off into the night, only stopping to rest for a few hours, before starting again. Togo, Seppala, and the dogs then made the treacherous trip up and over Little McKinley Mountain, a total of 8 miles and 5,000 feet in elevation, in the raging storm.  On the other side, exhausted and freezing, they transferred the medicine to the next team.  It was now February 1^st.  

The next team took off into the storm and were blown off course, causing the musher to suffer severe frostbite while putting blankets on his dogs.  The team arrived at the next transfer point at 7:00 p.m. that night.  A new team of musher Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dogs, Balto and Fox, waited to see if the storm would stop.  When it worsened, they decided to start the trek before the trail became lost completely.  They raced into the storm at 10:00 p.m.  They were battered by gales and blinding snow as they crossed Topkok Mountain.  Gunnar couldn’t see the reins in front of him or the dogs through the swirling snow.  At one point the sled overturned, burying the lifesaving medicine and canister.  Gunnar dug furiously in the snow, panting with anxiety, his hands stiff with frostbite.  But luck was with him – he found the canister, righted the sled, fastened the canister to the sled, and shouted to Balto, Fox, and his dogs to run.

On they raced, now ahead of schedule and nearing the end, arriving in Nome on February 2^nd at 5:30 a.m. with the lifesaving antitoxin.  The medicine had survived the trip and was thawed and ready for patients by noon the same day!  The town was saved!  

These strong, brave sled dogs raced over 600 miles on a lifesaving mission in subzero conditions and hurricane-force winds for a total of 127.5 hours, setting a world record.  The dogs, along with their Alaskan and Norwegian mushers, were honored with gold medals, wreathes, and accolades. 

A statute of Balto, the lead dog who crossed the finished line in Nome, was erected in New York’s Central Park in 1925.  An inscription reads, “Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin 600 miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters, through arctic blizzards, from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome.”  Three additional words were added at the bottom of the inscription: “Endurance · Fidelity · Intelligence.”  

This race, while historic, also stirred some controversy.  Most of the credit and fame from this race was bestowed upon lead dog Balto.  However, many believe that lead dog Togo completed the longest, hardest part of the trek.  He raced for 261 miles compared to Balto’s 55 miles.  Some believe that Fox was the true lead dog on Gunnar’s team, not Balto.  Also, the Alaskan mushers were not recognized as fully as the Norwegian mushers, even though they completed most of the race.

But I think all of us would agree that this was a historic and amazing mission of mercy that saved many lives.  And you may wonder what happened to the dogs.  Well, a few passed away from this demanding trek, but most survived.  Balto lived until he was 14 and his body is now on display at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  Togo lived to the age of 16 and is now on display at the Iditarod Museum in Wasilla, Alaska. 

What do you think of this amazing race?  Have you ever seen actual sled dog teams or watched the Iditarod races?  Do you have a Siberian Husky as a pet?  I think this is an amazing story of how man and animals can work together to accomplish great things.  Siberian Huskies are an important – and lifesaving – part of life in various parts of the world.

The post Togo, Balto, and the Lifesaving Sled Dog Race appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

So, what have you noticed so far about these two pirates?  Long hair?  Yes.  Weapons?  Yes.  Fighting spirit?  Definitely.  But there’s one other thing they have in common:  they’re both men!  Have you ever heard of a female pirate?  Well, there really was one and her name was Grace O’Malley.  She was known as the “Irish Pirate Queen!”  She was a very brave lady who was also a chieftain – meaning a great lord who ruled over the people in her area.  She was a daring sailor, leader, and rebel – and even parleyed – or negotiated – with Queen Elizabeth I!  Want to hear more?  Me, too, so let’s get started!

Many years ago, around 1530, a girl named Grace was born in Mayo County, Ireland.  We do not know much about her mother, but her father, Owen O’Malley, was a great lord of his county, an experienced sailor – and some even say a pirate.  But it is hard to say if he was an actual pirate – meaning a sailor stealing things from other ships – or if he was just demanding payment as a land owner for ships to sail, trade, or fish in waters around his land.  For generations, the O’Malley men had been great seafarers, traders, and, yes, maybe pirates – who sailed the Irish coastline – and even as far as Spain and Scotland.

Pirate or not, Grace loved her father, her older stepbrother, and sailing.  She was raised as a boy – or at least more leniently than girls at that time.  She was allowed to join her father on his ships.  She would watch, fascinated, as sailors shouted and raced around, pulling lines and setting sails.  This thrilled Grace and she wanted to sail, too! But even though females were considered equal to men at that time in Ireland, there were still rules about how they should behave and what they should do with their lives – like staying home and raising children.  But Grace was having none of that.  She wanted to learn, sail, and rule!  She was very smart and could speak Gaelic and Latin, and possibly other languages like Spanish and French, too.

One day, when Grace was young, her father prepared to set sail for Spain.  Grace wanted to join him but her father said, no, her hair was too long and would get caught in the lines.  So, what did Grace do?  She cut off all her hair – and the sailors started calling her “Bald Grace!”  But she was allowed to sail and that was the important thing!  In the ensuing years, Grace learned all there was about sailing and became an experienced deckhand.

When Grace was 16, she married another sailor and landowner named Donal O’Flaherty.  She moved into Donal’s castle and they had three children.  Then one day, while Donal was out hunting, he was killed by members of the Joyce clan.  The Joyces then marched to Donal’s castle, thinking it would be easy to take it away from Grace, who was, in their opinion, “just a woman.”  But that was their mistake.  Grace fought back fiercely, protecting her family and land, and forced the Joyces to retreat!  She acted like a mother hen protecting her roost.  People then started calling the castle, “Hen’s Castle” and it is still called that today!

After her husband’s death, Grace returned with her children to her family’s land on Clare Island and worked to rebuild their stone tower house.  Her husband’s followers admired Grace so much that they followed her to her lands.  Grace’s father died and she then took over the family ships and land and became the new chieftain.  She and her loyal men sailed the waters like her father had done before her, boarding ships and demanding payment for safe passage, trade, or fishing around her land.  This is how she acquired the name “The Pirate Queen.”

And there is a legend that during this time, Grace saved a stranded sailor and they became very good friends.  Tragedy struck once more when this sailor was killed by another clan.  Grace was furious!  To avenge her friend, she marched to Doona Castle and killed the men who murdered her friend.  She then acquired another nickname, “The Dark Lady of Doona.”  

Between sailing trips, Grace married Richard Burke, called “Iron Richard” for his ironworks.  He was also a chieftain and had a lot of lands, which allowed Grace to sail more ships out of more ports and continue her adventures.  She birthed a son nicknamed Tobey while on one of her ships.  Legend states that Grace was below decks the day after Tobey’s birth when pirates attacked her ship.  The battle was not going well and it looked like Grace’s crew would lose the fight.  Grace grabbed her musket, climbed the stairs to the deck, and went into battle.  Grace was as brave as any man and rallied her crew, shooting two pirate captains in the battle.  Together they beat off the pirates and Grace’s reputation grew.  

Additionally, Grace divorced Richard within a year and changed the locks on their castle, but he still remained close to her for the rest of his life.

You may be wondering by this point how a fiercely independent female pirate would meet the Queen of England, especially since the Irish hated the English.  The English had taken their lands and property, causing constant battles between them for hundreds of years.  Additionally, the current queen, Queen Elizabeth I, was playing a ruthless game of pitting one Irish clan against the other.  She would give land and gifts to clan chieftains for their support and for fighting other Irish clans.  This made the Irish fight amongst themselves, as well as against the British. 

Grace was quite the powerful woman by this point, ruling the Western shores of Ireland and launching attacks against Queen Elizabeth’s ships with her pirate-honed prowess.  The Queen sent ships and men to attack Grace’s castle, but Grace beat them back.

Around 1577, Grace was captured and put into several cold, Irish prisons for a year.  However, thanks to some important British gentlemen who disliked how the English were treating the Irish, Grace was eventually set free.  She returned to her lands and started a rebellion against the British.  In retaliation, one of her sons was killed and one or two others were taken prisoner.  Her castle, lands, and fleet were confiscated – meaning taken away from her.  Grace was also arrested but later released.  At this point, she was sick and tired of fighting the English and decided to speak to the Queen herself!  No one thought this would ever happen.  You just don’t walk in and say, “I want to speak to the Queen!” – especially if you’re a pirate!

Queen Elizabeth demanded that Grace answer some questions first, called Articles of Interrogatory before she would meet with the Pirate Queen.  Grace must have answered them wisely because the Queen agreed to see her!  According to legend, when Grace arrived at Greenwich Palace, she did not bow to the Queen because she considered herself equal to the Queen!  Grace was searched and found to be wearing a dagger.  You are never supposed to wear a weapon in the presence of the king or queen, but Queen Elizabeth must have admired and trusted Grace because she let her keep her dagger! 

It is said that this meeting lasted a long time and the two women talked in Latin because the Queen did not know Gaelic and Grace did not, or would not, speak English.  Finally, they came to an agreement:  the Queen would release Grace’s family and her property – and Grace would provide 500 men and her ships to help support the English cause in Ireland. 

Some British nobles didn’t trust Grace and didn’t think she would keep her promise once released.  So, they took their time releasing her family.  And in spite of her agreement with the Queen, Grace supplied ships to Irish rebels under the command of Hugh O’Neill.  Although Grace did not fight in the ensuing battles, it is said that she convinced one – and possibly more – of her sons to fight for the British against O’Neill.  This did not make her very popular with the Irish – or future historians.

That is why for hundreds of years, no one knew the story of Grace O’Malley, the Irish Pirate Queen.  She is said to have died in 1603 – the same year as Queen Elizabeth I – of natural causes at one of her three castles.

So, what do you think of Grace O’Malley?  Do you think she was a pirate?  Do you think she was brave to be a rebel woman in such tumultuous times?  Do you think it was right for her to break her word to Queen Elizabeth I? Feel free to click the link in the show notes below and tell me your thoughts.  You might just be mentioned in a future episode.

I think this is an amazing story of a remarkable woman and warrior!  She was roughly the same age as Queen Elizabeth I and equal to her in many ways: in cunning, bravery, intelligence, and power.  They were both headstrong and independent, ruled over a large group of subjects, inspired loyalty, excelled in a man’s world, and loved winning! 

The post History of Grace O’Malley, Irish Pirate Queen for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Imagine you are floating in a spacecraft…

You are weightless! It feels so strange, yet amazing at the same time. You push off the wall and float down a long room. You feel like Superman flying across empty space. You duck your head and do a quick flip before landing against the other wall, then push off it to soar in the opposite direction. At the end of the next room, you grab a handle and stop to look out the round bubble window. Far below you see a glittering blue ocean, clouds, and brown land. You are 200 miles above earth on board the International Space Station.

Speed and Orbit

Have you ever heard of the International Space Station? Right now it’s circling the earth above you at 17,000 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour). It is going so fast that it orbits the earth every 90 minutes — that means 15 ½ times a day! That’s incredibly fast! Some people think the Space Station is floating in space, but it’s actually falling around the earth in what is known as an orbit. 

The International Space Station, also known as the ISS, is special because it’s not owned by a single country, but by many countries who worked together to build it. It started off as a single module and has grown piece-by-piece into the larger station it is now. In 1998 Russia launched the module Zarya into low earth orbit as the first piece. Low-earth orbit means it is still within the earth’s orbit, not far off in space beyond the earth’s strong gravitational pull. 

Construction

Two weeks after Zarya was launched, the United States launched its own space shuttle with the Unity module and its astronauts onboard. The next step was connecting the first two modules. The astronauts did this by floating out into space and attaching them. And that is how the International Space Station began!  After that other pieces were slowly added to the ISS until it grew and grew. In 2000 came the Russian module Zvezda, then NASA’s Destiny module. Canada’s space program contributed a robotic arm for spacewalks and to make remote controller repairs. The Harmony module came in 2007, then the European Space Agency sent up the Columbus module. Japan sent up its own module in 2008. Next came NASA’s Tranquility module, then Europe’s Leonardo module and finally the Bigelow module sent up by a private company. One reason ISS is amazing is that it is a team effort!

Space Station Activities

Usually, around 3 to 6 astronauts live and work on the ISS at a time. It was made for many reasons, but one of them was to do research. Since humans plan to go to Mars someday, they are using the ISS to see how space will affect the astronauts during their journey to Mars. For example, what will space flight do to their bodies? What kind of foods will they need to eat? What kind of exercise will they need? Will they be able to grow plants? They’ve also tried out the different devices they’ll need in space such as 3D printers and coffee makers.

On the ISS the crew’s days are very busy and besides doing experiments, they spend a lot of time doing maintenance — which means keeping the station running smoothly. Each astronaut has different responsibilities, sort of like you might have doing chores at home. Only by working together will the ISS continue to work properly. Often the astronauts climb into their space suits and space walk — which means going outside of the ISS and floating around to make repairs. This can be dangerous work, so they always attach themselves to the ISS for safety. The astronauts have also been testing a robot that they can use to fly around the ISS and make repairs for them.

The other important part of an astronaut’s day is taking care of themselves, making sure they eat the right foods, showering, brushing their teeth, and getting exercise. They also do things like video chat with schoolchildren and talk about what they’re doing with people around the world. They do this to get others excited about the space station and space research. 

Eating in zero gravity can be very tricky! Their food has to be strapped down to a table and utensils and water bottles have magnets on them to keep them from floating away. If you look on the internet you can find some funny videos of the crew doing flips, floating around and dancing, and playing with water. In zero gravity water floats around in blobs!

Space Station Crew

People from 19 different countries have visited the ISS. These include the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Now you see why they call it the International Space Station. International means “many countries.” At the ISS it’s exciting to see people from many different countries working together. It’s a perfect example of how working together with people across the world can accomplish amazing things! 

Space Tourism

Many people dream of visiting space someday and some companies promise that someday anyone who can pay for it will be able to do it. Right now it can be very expensive (and at times not even possible) to visit places like the ISS, but someday space vacations may be available to everyone. Can you imagine visiting a place like the ISS or a far-off hotel on the moon? This is called space tourism and a few very wealthy people have been able to visit the ISS by paying for it. It costs them many millions of dollars! 

Anousheh Ansari

One of these people was Anousheh Ansari. Anousheh was born in Iran and moved to the United States when she was little. She was interested in engineering and graduated from college to become an engineer. She and her husband later started a company that grew and grew until they were very wealthy. She’d always dreamed of going to space and became interested in visiting the space station. When she found out they were allowing some to visit the ISS if they paid, she jumped on the chance. First Anousheh trained for the journey, then took a Russian rocket up to the ISS and lived and worked there for a short while. There Anousheh helped do experiments and later wrote a book about her amazing journey. 

Chris Hadfield

One of the most well-known astronauts to live on the ISS is Chris Hadfield. Chris was born in Ontario, Canada. He grew up on a farm with his family where they grew corn. When Chris was little he became interested in flying and later saw the Apollo 11 moon mission, which made him want to be an astronaut like Neil Armstrong. Later, he went to college, then joined the Canadian Air Force. This eventually led to training as an astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency and working on the International Space Station. On the ISS Chris shared his day-to-day activities on Twitter and Facebook and later made a music video on YouTube while playing the guitar in space! This brought even more attention to the important work they were doing on the ISS. 

Records

Many records have been set by the crew of the ISS — such as most consecutive days in space by an American, which was 340 days by astronaut Scott Kelly. The other cool thing about Scott’s trip to the ISS is he is a twin, so they were able to study how space affected Scott versus his twin brother who stayed on Earth. 

Another record was the longest spaceflight by a woman at 289 days by Peggy Whitson. 

The ISS also holds the record for most people in space at once, which was a crew of 13 in 2009.

How do you see the space station?

Did you know you can see the space station from earth? With the help of your parents, if you go to spotthestation.nasa.gov you can sign up to receive text messages or emails whenever the space station is visible above you. Recently, my kids and I did this and it was amazing to see it float across the night sky like a star. 

It Takes Teamwork!

One of the best lessons we can learn from the International Space Station is that by working together people all over the world can do amazing things. Isn’t this so much better than focusing on our differences and fighting? One problem in the world is when people look at those who are different and think there is something wrong with them because they aren’t the same. But differences are what keep the world interesting and there is so much we can learn from each other, from our different experiences and customs, and beliefs. The space station shows that even though we have differences we have common goals, like visiting space and learning about space and the Earth. As we focus on what is common, we can work together to do great things. 

Conclusion

A couple of years ago I worked with a man from India. I’d never met someone from India, so it was very interesting listening to his homeland, what it was like to grow up in India, and his different beliefs. He celebrated different holidays and had different ideas about the world, but it fascinated me to try and see the world through his eyes. As we got to know each other we became friends and I look back on our talks with fondness.

Take a moment to think of someone you know who is different than you. They might be from a different country, look different, talk differently or act in a different way. Take the leap and ask them a few questions and try to get to know them better — because chances are you’ll learn something interesting and possibly make a new friend in the process!

Recommended Books

The post History of The International Space Station for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Close your eyes and imagine you’re riding a motorcycle. The air is pulling at your clothes as you go faster and faster. You round the edge of the track, then speed up to 90 then 95 miles an hour. The people watching flash by. You push harder on the gas. 100 miles an hour! The crowd stands up and cheers! For another lap around the track, you hold that speed and finally cross the finish line. Everyone congratulates you. You beat the record of the highest speed around the track! 

This is the story of motorcycle racer and engineer, Beatrice Shilling!

Birth

Beatrice Shilling was born on March 8, 1909, in Waterlooville, England. As a child, Beatrice loved mechanical things. This means she loved to understand how devices worked on the inside. Have you ever seen household items like a microwave or refrigerator or your family car and wondered how they do such amazing things? Beatrice wondered, too, so she used her extra money to buy tools to take these devices apart and figure out what made them tick. She was especially interested in engines. In her time, cars and motorcycles with engines were still very new, so these wonderful devices that made vehicles fly down the road made her very curious. Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something. 

When Beatrice was 14 she bought her first motorcycle and loved to ride it around. She spent many hours tinkering with the engine and figuring out ways to make it go faster. Early on Beatrice decided she wanted to be an engineer. An engineer is someone who creates devices like engines.

Electrical Engineer

After middle school, Beatrice got a job at an electrical engineering company, where she learned more about how electricity worked and was able to practice her new skills by installing wires and generators. A generator is what creates electricity and wires are what allow it to move around. Beatrice’s boss saw how talented she was and encouraged her to go to school to become an even better engineer.

Beatrice followed her advice and enrolled at the University of Manchester. In her day it was very unusual for a woman to become an engineer, but Beatrice was determined to do it anyway. She worked hard at math and the other subjects until she was able to pass all of her classes and become an even more skilled engineer. She even graduated with honors, which means she did very well in engineering school. Beatrice went on to get a Master’s Degree.

World War II

After university, Beatrice got a job with the Royal Aircraft Establishment. She had many different roles there, but eventually became a Senior Technical Officer and worked on airplane engines. At this time it was very important to be an engineer working on airplanes because England and its Allies were fighting against Germany in World War II. The German Air Force had very powerful fighter planes that were faster and therefore more dangerous than England’s fighter planes. To fight back against these powerful planes, England designed a plane they called the Spitfire, which was also fast and could maneuver quickly through the sky to dodge bullets and get in a position to fight back. But even though the Spitfire was an amazing fighter plane, it had a serious problem. When pilots flew downward too fast the engines stopped working. This was a serious problem during a dogfight. A dogfight is when planes are fighting each other in the sky. Many Spitfires crashed as a result of this problem with their engines. 

As an engineer, Beatrice was determined to solve this problem. She thought long and hard about this and finally came up with an idea to add a diaphragm and hole inside the engine that only allowed some fuel to move across it when the plane was diving. This solved the problem! Once Beatrice’s new device was added to all of the Spitfire fighter planes they were able to dive and outmaneuver the enemy planes and win more battles! Her device saved many pilots and helped win the air war against Germany.     

Motorcycle Racer

Beatrice loved to work on hard problems, but she also loved to have fun. Over the years she kept tinkering with her motorcycle and riding it fast. Her knowledge of engineering helped her have one of the fastest motorcycles around. She even started racing! She often rode her motorcycle faster than 100 miles an hour. During one race she rode around the entire track at over 100 miles an hour and earned Brookland’s Gold Star for her achievement. She broke a record and became the fastest woman racer at this track reaching 106 miles an hour. 

Beatrice married a man George Naylor, who she met while working at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and continued to work there until she retired in 1969. Her biographer said about her: “Her idea of relaxation was to drive a fast car at full throttle, and if the car was not fast enough, her workbench was there in the back room to machine new parts to make them faster.”

Conclusion

Spend some time thinking about what drove Beatrice to accomplish what she did. First, she was curious. Everyone is born curious, we all have the desire to learn more about the world around us. But we may all be curious in different ways. What are you curious about? What do you like to ask questions about? Next time you have a question, instead of just being curious and wondering, take it a step further and try and figure out the answer. This might mean looking up a video or searching for the answer in a book or online. The more you learn, the more you’ll understand the world around you. And when you figure out one thing, you can figure out the next and you’ll continue to build your knowledge and grow and the world will become more exciting and interesting. 

And even though most girls weren’t engineers, it didn’t stop Beatrice from doing it anyway. Jobs like engineering and coding are becoming very important in our day as more and more jobs are becoming automated. Automated means being done automatically by devices like robots. This means the future will need more engineers and coders. Take the time to figure out if this is the kind of job that interests you!

The post History of Beatrice Shilling for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Listen to the tale of a truly remarkable person – someone brave and fierce and a true patriot – someone who loves their country very much.  The date is April 26, 1777, in rural New York.  It is spring.  Farmers are in their fields preparing the land for new crops.  The sun glimmers across green pastures and small wooden homes surrounded by picket fences.  In the middle of town, a gleaming white church with a heavy bell tolls the afternoon hour.  But this is no ordinary day.  This is a truly momentous day.  On this day, New York is invaded by British soldiers.  Two years earlier, the British attacked Massachusetts, setting Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride to warn citizens of the invading army by sea.  

British Invasion

Now, Danbury, New York, is being invaded by sea.  And who will warn the citizens of this invasion and help save the city?  A rugged farmer?  A battle-trained officer?  A seasoned spy?  NO!  The hero of this story is a 16-year-old girl!  Sybil Ludington is a spunky teenager living on a farm in Paterson, NY, with her parents and 12 siblings.  She is strong and lively – she has to be with that many family members to support and feed!  She works the farm with her family after school and becomes an expert horsewoman.  She loves to ride through the hills and trails around her home.  Her favorite horse is called Star and they go everywhere – into town for supplies, across the rolling green hills of neighboring farms, or through the deep woods.  She loves riding in the fall when the forests are aflame with red, gold, and orange leaves.  Now it is spring and tiny green leaves are just sprouting from trees.  The days are crisp and sunny; the nights cold and moonlit.

Colonel Henry Ludington

This day, April 26, 1777, starts out like any other with chores to be completed and a riot of noisy siblings to supervise and feed.  Sybil’s father, Colonel Henry Ludington, is a farmer.  He is also the commander of local militiamen and volunteers who guard the towns.  They are called “Citizen Soldiers” and they help the Colonial Army in times of need, such as battles with the British.  These 400 New York Citizen Soldiers are ordinary folk – farmers and shopkeepers and local workmen.  They do not own fancy military supplies or uniforms.  They carry old muskets used by their fathers and grandfathers. 

Evening arrives and the sun sinks below the trees.  A knock is heard on the Ludington door.  Sybil’s father, the Colonel, opens the door to find a panting and exhausted rider leaning against the doorframe.  He quickly tells the colonel that the British have invaded Danbury, 25 miles away, and the city is under attack.  They must stop the British from taking over the city and surrounding towns.

The rider and his horse are exhausted; they can go no further.  The Colonel knows he must send a new rider to warn his neighbors and rally them to Danbury’s aid.  But who to send?  He knows he must stay at his farm to command the troops and march to Danbury.  Sixteen-year-old Sybil, who has been listening to this discussion, quickly volunteers to make the dangerous ride.  Her mother argues, stating the woods at night are no place for a young girl.  Who would help her if she was knocked off her horse by a hanging tree branch or fell into a shadowy ditch?  Sybil argues that she knows the woods like the back of her hands and has never fallen from her trusty horse, Star.  She can do this – she knows she can.  Besides, her siblings are too young and they certainly aren’t as good on a horse!  The colonel thinks about it and convinces his wife to let Sybil ride.  

Sybil is ecstatic – and a little nervous, too.  She races around the house, gathering a coat and her father’s musket.  Next, she dashes to the stable and saddles Star.  The last thing she does is pick up a long, sturdy branch.  She can use it to whack on the doors of homes while saying on her horse, saving valuable time during the long, dark ride.  She has no lamp or torch; she will have to ride by moonlight and memory.

Sybil Sets Off

She jumps on Star, yells farewell to her family, and gallops away, racing across their fields into the woods beyond.  Her first stop is her neighbor.  She races into their yard.  Their lights are still on.  She bangs her stick against the door and yells the news:  The British are attacking Danbury; everyone needs to meet at her father’s farm.  And off she rides to the next house, and the next, and the next.  

The night gets colder and her fingers tingle on the reins.  She has to keep a firm grip or risk falling off Star and not completing the ride.  She has warned all her neighbors in Paterson.  She must now ride to the neighboring towns of Carmel, Mahopac, Kent Cliffs, Stormville, and Peckville.  She and Star race into more forests, following familiar dirt trails.  It is pitch dark and Star suddenly rears and whinnies.  A dark figure jumps out of the woods and demands money.  Sybil grabs her musket, heart pounding, and points the barrel at the man, telling him she will shoot if she has to.  The man can tell she is serious and darts away.  Sybil looks behind her.  She can see flames rising from Danbury and can smell smoke in the chilly night air.  She must hurry.

Sybil Spreads the News

On Sybil races with Star.  Door after door, and town after town, they spread the news that the British are here!  She rides all night, a total of 40 miles, twice the distance covered by Paul Revere in Massachusetts two years earlier!  

She arrives home at dawn, shaking and exhausted.  Scores of men have gathered at her father’s farm and marched to Danbury, driving the British back to the coast.  During the night, the British destroyed many of the town’s food, weapons, and supplies, including cots, boots, and tents.  They drank barrels of rum and set the town on fire. However, the brave militia from neighboring towns pushed the British back to the coast and stopped them from advancing any further or invading more towns.  New York is saved – and much of it is owed to 16-year-old Sybil Ludington and her courageous midnight ride.

Sybil Ludington may not be as famous as Paul Revere; however, she is just as heroic.  Many are amazed that such a young girl could ride 40 miles alone in total darkness without getting lost or hurt during a momentous invasion.  Due to Sybil’s bravery, horsemanship, and courage, she saved many towns and people that night.  

Later Life

After her famous ride, she returned to farm life, helped raise her siblings, then married and had one child Henry.  She worked on her husband’s farm and started an inn.  She passed away at 78 years old.

A statute now stands in the center of Paterson, NY, showing a teenage girl astride a charging horse, her arm raised and her ponytail flying.  Every year, Sybil’s ancestors hold a celebration at the statue to honor her historic ride.  

What do you think of Sybil and her midnight ride to save rural New York?  Can you imagine riding a horse alone for 40 miles through dark forests riddled with thieves and deserters? Today people can spread news in seconds thanks to cell phones, social media, and the web.  

Conclusion

I think this story tells us that anyone can be a hero, no matter how young or old, male or female.  Every person has worth, and skills, and value.  By doing what is right and acting in the service of others, people can achieve great things.  When you are feeling sad or unsure or afraid, think of Sybil and her midnight ride.  How can you tap into YOUR strengths and pursue YOUR midnight ride?

The post History of Sybil Ludington for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Birth

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was born in New York City on October 27th, 1858. At the time New York City was the biggest, busiest city in the United States. His father was named Theodore, too, his mother’s name was Mittie, and he had an older sister named Anna. Later a brother Elliot and then a sister, Corinne, joined their family.

Theodore’s ancestors had lived in America for almost 200 years and over time the Roosevelt Family had become very wealthy. But his father believed in using their money to help people in need. He spent much of his time helping at the many orphanages in New York City. An orphanage is a place where orphans, children who don’t have families, live until they can find a home.

Illness

Theodore is a long name, so his family started calling him “Teedie” for short. Teedie loved to play outside and was very active, but he found out very soon that he had asthma. Asthma is when it’s hard for your lungs to breathe. So when Teedie played too hard, he had to stop and take deep breaths, and often his parents made him stay inside for long periods of time, so he could start breathing again. Often, at night when he struggled to breathe his father scooped him up in his arms and carried him around, trying to soothe him. Sometimes the only thing that helped was to ride him around the city at night in their carriage, so the cold air would make his lungs work again. Theodore loved his father and later wrote that he was was “the best man [he] ever knew.” 

Early Education

Not being able to breathe frustrated Teedie, especially when he had to stay inside while his brother and sisters played outside. But while he was stuck inside, Teedie found his parent’s library and spent the time reading. He spent many hours reading books about far off places and adventures and exotic animal life. He admitted to being nervous and timid as a child, but reading about the heroes of the Revolutionary War and other battles and adventures, made him want to be strong and brave like the people he read about.     

During the summers, the Roosevelt Family moved to their summer home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. There Teedie played outside whenever he could. He loved to learn the names of the different plants and animals and often made notes about them and sometimes took them home. This caused problems when bugs and other creatures ended up inside the house!

One day while traveling through the city in a streetcar, Teedie lifted his hat and several frogs lept out of it, frightening the other passengers. Another time, he brought mice home and his mother shrieked and had to send them outside.

A Curious Mind

He wrote in notebooks about all of his findings. He drew pictures of them and labeled them. This included every type of ant, spider, ladybug, firefly, beetle, dragonfly and other specimen he found. With all of the plants, animals, and insects he collected, he started calling the space in his bedroom the Roosevelt Museum of Natural History and dreamed of creating his own science museum someday. 

Teedie also started keeping a journal about his own life. During the summer, he loved exploring, swimming, hiking, and going on long horse rides. He was small and weak and still struggled with his asthma, but didn’t let it stop him from playing as long as his body allowed him to.

Often Teedie noticed his friends and family were able to see things he couldn’t see. When they’d go hunting, they were able to hit targets he wasn’t able to see. One day, his friends were able to read letters on a sign that were just blurry to him. He told his father about this and his father found him a pair of small glasses, called spectacles. When Teedie put on the spectacles, he later wrote “they literally opened an entirely new world to me. I had no idea how beautiful the world was until I got those spectacles.” For the rest of his life, Teedie wore spectacles that clipped to the end of his nose.  

World Traveler

When Theodore was 13, his father decided to take their family on a year-long tour of Europe. He thought it would be good for everyone to get out and learn more about the world outside of the United States. Teedie was sad to leave his friends, but he kept a very detailed journal along the way. First, they visited family in England and toured ancient castles. They sailed down the Thames Rivier and toured London, then moved on to the Netherlands and Germany, where they sailed down the Rhine River. Teedie often wrote about the places they visited, but also that he was very homesick. He also had many asthma attacks and his father did everything to help him feel and breathe better. 

During the trip, they also visited Venice, Italy, the city built on stilts over the water. He was fascinated by the gondolas that transported people from building to building. He also liked visiting the Natural History museums and studying their specimens, similar to the ones he liked to collect at home. They journeyed on to Paris, France, climbed a beautiful mountain there, attended an opera, then traveled to Rome, Italy. There they met the Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church, and Teedie wrote with excitement about meeting him and kissing his hand. 

After a year of traveling, they sailed home and saw a pod of whales along the way. When Theodore saw New York in the distance, he was very excited to finally return home.

“You must make your body”

As a teenager, Teedie grew taller. He began to notice how clumsy he was. His asthma still bothered him and his father and mother continued to worry about his health. One day his father took him aside and said “Theodore, you have the mind [meaning you are very smart], but you have not the body, and without the help of the body the mind cannot go as far as it should. You must make your body. It is hard work to make one’s body, but I know you will do it.” Basically, his father believed the only way Teedie could work through his health issues, was to exercise and make it stronger. He didn’t know if this would fix all of his health problems but hoped at least it would help.

Teedie agreed to do his best. He started visiting a gym nearby and used weights to strengthen his arms and legs. He worked out every day for many months and noticed his arm and chest muscles growing harder and stronger. His health also began to improve. Teedie also added running and swimming to his daily workout routine. During the summers, he rowed while exploring the rivers.

Boxing

One day, Theodore took a coach ride by himself to a nearby lake. Along the way, he ran into two older boys who teased him and pushed him around. Theodore tried to defend himself, but found out that even though he was stronger, he was not able to defend himself against the bullies. He told his father about it and he gave him the idea to learn how to box. Taking his advice, Theodore added boxing to his daily workout routine, a sport he practiced the rest of his life.

“Egypt, the land of my dreams”

When Theodore was 14, his father decided to take the family on another tour, but this time of the Medeterranean, the Holy Land, and Egypt. This time Teedie was actually excited to go and like the last time, took very detailed notes of their adventures. They sailed across the ocean, then travelled through Europe on a train until they reached Egypt. Teedie wrote, “How I gazed upon it! It was Egypt, the land of my dreams; Egypt the most ancient of all countries! A land that was old when Rome was bright, was old when Troy was taken! It was a sight to awaken a thousand thoughts, and it did.” 

He wrote about the street life of Alexandria, Egypt, and the many ruins of the once powerful civilization. They boarded a boat and sailed down the Nile River. Theodore marveled at the exotic birds and plant life, the zebus, kites, vultures, and zic-zacs, and water buffalo. He treated the trip as a scientific voyage to gather more data and specimens for his own Roosevelt Museum of Natural History at home. His room wherever he went became a laboratory, where he sometimes dissected animals and prepared them for the trip home. He saw himself as a scientist with a mission to know everything about the wildlife of the world around him. 

Sadly, during the trip, he still suffered some asthma attacks, but they weren’t as bad or as frequent as before.

The family ended up in Cairo, Egypt where they vacationed for a while. There he was gifted his first shotgun and spent his free time exploring the area and hunting. From Cairo, they visited Palestine and Syria and then on to Greece. Lastly, they spent time in Dresden, Germany. There they visited relatives and Theodore spent time reading in their library before finally returning home to New York again.

Later Life

Young Theodore would go on to become a senator and eventually the President of the United States with the nickname “Teddy” Roosevelt, one of the most recognized Presidents of U.S. History. But like most people, he started out as an ordinary child. Spend some time thinking about Teddy’s childhood. How is he like you? How is he different than you? Do you struggle with any of the same things as Teddy such as asthma or poor eye-sight or wishing you were stronger? 

How can you be like Teddy?

Like Teddy, you can take an interest in the world around you. He enjoyed time outdoors and investigating the plants, animals, and insects he discovered. If you think about it, the world is a pretty amazing place with all of its diversity! Diversity means difference. Have you seen trees and noticed how each has very different leaves? Have you looked at insects and noticed they each have very different features and bodies and move in very different ways? Teddy liked to collect samples of the different things he found and described them in his notebook. You could do the same! Or you could take pictures of them and create your own catalog or little museum of interesting things you find. When you’re not outside there are many great documentaries about the different plant and animal life spread across the world. 

Also, when Teddy realized he had a problem, that his body wasn’t strong, what did he do? He started exercising. By creating a plan for himself and sticking to it every day, his muscles grew stronger. He was able to run faster and do more because his body improved. What kind of exercises might you do to strengthen your body? 

The post Teddy Roosevelt’s Childhood For Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Do you like to play board games?  Maybe you know of some popular games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Battleship, or Trouble.  Maybe you even have your own favorite board game that you play with your family.  One of my favorite board games is called “Clue.”  This game was created a long time ago, in 1944 by an Englishman, for people to play while they were huddled in underground shelters during bombing raids.  It was originally called “Cluedo” which means “I play” in Latin! It is a mystery game full of twists and turns, where players find clues and try to figure out who committed a daring deed with a household item, such as a fireplace poker, knife, or a walking stick, inside a spooky gothic house.  It is a game of cunning and conniving – of trying to figure out who is the villain and how to use clues to solve the mystery.  The characters have funny names like Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, and Mrs. Peacock and you need to follow and remember their hijinks and clues during the game.  You need to be a super sleuth – or spy!    

Real Spies

During the time Clue was created, there were a lot of real spies.  But instead of playing a make-believe game, they were engaged in actual spycraft!  During WW II, US spies worked tirelessly and covertly – meaning secretly – to obtain enemy information, such as where the enemy was headed, where they would attack, how many planes, ships, or men they had, and other useful information.  And not all of these spies were men!  Women were also used as spies across Europe and Asia because they were so unexpected.  At that time, people did not think that women could be involved in the war, either fighting or spying.  So, women had the perfect spy cover!  They could act like a society lady, attending parties, and listening to war talk between men.  Or they could ride their bikes around town, stopping in shops and cafes to listen for war secrets.  And some even created news by writing fake radio announcements, newspaper articles, or postcards to confuse the enemy.  

Betty McIntosh – Spy

One such spy was Elizabeth “Betty” McIntosh who was born on March 1, 1915, in Washington, DC.  She was very brave and smart.  She knew how to speak Japanese and was working as a news reporter during the start of WWII.  Betty was stationed in Hawaii when Japanese planes bombed US ships docked at Pearl Harbor.  

The bombing of Pearl Harbor brought the US into the war and Betty moved to Washington, DC.  She kept busy writing articles about Eleanor Roosevelt, the President’s wife, and her war efforts.  She then interviewed a man working at the OSS – the Office of Strategic Services.  This was the US spy agency during WWII.  During the interview, she was asked if she would “like to do something more interesting.”  She was not told it would be spying – which was very sneaky of them!  She said, “I would like to do it if it involves going overseas.”  And they granted her wish!  

Betty reported for her first day of work and was fingerprinted – meaning they covered her fingers in ink and pushed her fingers onto a piece of paper, leaving fingerprints on the paper.  She was then told that she had to keep everything top secret and swear an oath – which she thought was strange because she didn’t even know what she would be doing yet.

Betty was then sent to a group called MO – Morale Operations.  Their entire job was to spread rumors.  Can you imagine that?  I’m sure all of us have been told by our parents and teachers not to tell lies or spread rumors.  But that was her new job!  She was taught how to start rumors and make them believable by mixing in bits of truth with lies.   She worked with other “spy craft” people, like radio announcers, artists, newspaper editors, cartoonists, and writers – people who had skills in writing and creating convincing stories and pictures.  Some of these spycraft people were captured Japanese soldiers who were artists and agreed to work with the allies.

Betty McIntosh Heads to India

Once Betty finished training in 1943, she was sent to India to spread false radio and news reports to Japanese soldiers who were getting very tired of fighting.  The Japanese government had told their soldiers that if they stopped fighting – or if they surrendered – they could never go home and they would lose their houses and savings.  This made the Japanese continue to fight very hard.  The US needed to find a way to let the Japanese soldiers stop fighting while keeping their honor.  So, Betty and the OSS created false Japanese military orders to surrender in one particular battle!  They had another spy capture a Japanese courier – a mailman – and put the false order in his mailbag.  This order was later read and believed by the Japanese officers!

Betty McIntosh in China

Betty then flew to China, where she started writing fake radio scripts and stories for the OSS.  One OSS radio worker acted as a fortune teller.  This fortune teller pretended to look at the stars and make predictions over the radio.  The Japanese loved to listen to these radio stories!  Betty was told she had to write a very scary, but believable story to scare the Japanese.  “What about an earthquake?” she said.  No, that happens all the time in Japan,” said her boss.  “Well, what about a Tsunami,” she replied.  “Nope, they have those, too,” he said.  “Well, I’ll think of something scary” replied Betty.  

She thought and thought, but couldn’t think of something truly scary.  So, she finally wrote the following announcement, “Something terrible is going to happen to Japan. We have checked the stars and there is something we can’t even mention because it is so dreadful and it is going to eradicate one whole area of Japan.” That same day, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.  Betty didn’t even know this was going to happen and she was shocked – as well as everyone else who listened to her radio announcement!  She was asked, “How did you know about the bomb because it was top secret?”  She said, “I just made the story up!”

Betty McIntosh Returns to the US

After the war ended, Betty returned to the US and started writing for Glamour magazine.  But it was very boring writing about clothes and makeup after being a spy!  So, Betty returned to government work, assisting the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the State Department, and the United Nations.  She also wrote several spy books, including “Undercover Girl” and “Sisterhood of Spies” as well as several children’s books.

Still, Betty missed the thrill and excitement of working as a spy, so she asked for a job with the new US spy agency, the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency.  She worked there for many years until retiring.  She signed an oath to never talk about her work at the CIA, so we will never know about her other spy exploits, but I’m sure they were exciting!  

Betty passed away at the age of 100 in 2015 after 40 years of working as a spy.  Before she died, she stated that her work as a spy was the most exciting time in her life.  

In 1982, the US started an annual celebration called Women’s History Month, which starts on March 1^st in honor of Betty’s birthday.  

Life as a Spy

What do you think of Betty’s life as a spy?  Would you like to be a spy?  What would be your spy name?  What kind of spy would you be?  Would you write stories, sneak behind enemy lines gathering information, or smuggle people to safety?  Or maybe you would do something else, like crack codes or decipher messages.

I think Betty’s story reminds us that women can do courageous, patriotic, and amazing things.  Betty traveled overseas and did important work for her nation during a time of great crisis to save US lives and shorten the war.  Maybe you can continue to honor Betty and other brave women by participating in Women’s History Month and learning more about courageous women who changed the course of history. 

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Everyone spends time learning what they like, and what they’re capable of. Sometimes, they learn that what they are capable of isn’t what they like, and something else is calling them. That happened to Sally Ride.

Early Years of Sally Ride

Before we can get to what happened though, let’s go back to Southern California in the year 1951. This was the year Sally was born to Dale and Carol Ride. As a child, Sally’s dream job was to play baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers. She was athletic, and was often chosen first for baseball teams. Of course, no women played major league baseball at the time, but this didn’t matter to Sally. Dale and Carol raised her and her sister, who was nicknamed Bear, to explore and try anything that interested them. To Sally, this meant playing sports and stargazing through a telescope with her father. Her favorite constellation was Orion. Many people in the 1950s thought of these as “boy” things, but Sally knew they were also girl things.

Sally Ride and Tennis

When she was nine, Sally’s family traveled to Europe. Between seeing the amazing sites, Sally played tennis for the first time on the trip. Just like that, Sally was hooked. Tennis became the center of her life. When they got back to the United States, Dale and Carol got Sally a tennis coach and she began competing. Before long, she was ranked in the top 20 players under 12 in Southern California! 

Tennis also opened doors for Sally. A private high school gave her a scholarship to play for their team. In high school, Sally rediscovered her love of science. One teacher, Dr. Elizabeth Mommaerts, helped her see that there were opportunities for her in science. At the time, there weren’t many women who got advanced degrees in science, but Dr. Mommaerts had a PhD in human physiology. Sally was amazed by how smart and curious her teacher was, and how she approached every problem carefully and methodically, like a puzzle. 

After high school, tennis again helped Sally find a place at school. She headed to Swarthmore College to study physics and play on the tennis team. Soon after arriving though, Sally’s mind began to wander to new possibilities. She was excelling at tennis: she won all her college matches, and even became the Eastern Intercollegiate Women’s Singles champion! Sally decided she wanted to try to become a professional tennis player. She packed up her bags and left Pennsylvania to return to Southern California. 

Back in sunny California, Sally practiced every day for hours, year-round. But soon, she realized that she’d need to train even more in order to make it as a pro. Her body ached. She was tired. Playing tennis wasn’t as fun when she had to do it eight hours a day in order to compete. Sally decided to return to college full time. 

Collegiate Life of Sally Ride

Sally headed to Stanford University, about a six hour drive from Los Angeles. There, she reacquainted herself with her other childhood passion: science. She studied physics: how stars and planets work, and even lasers! 

This time, Sally was sure she’d made the right choice about her future. In fact, she stayed at Stanford an extra five years to earn her PhD in physics. 

But even as Sally focused more on physics, she was still open to new opportunities. One morning in 1977, shortly before she finished her PhD, a huge opportunity stared her in the face when she opened her morning paper. It was the kind of opportunity that made all her past hobbies and interests fall into place. Even though she never could have known this opportunity would come along, it was perfect for Sally’s background as a sports-loving physicist. 

It was an ad. NASA was recruiting new astronauts to fly in the space shuttle program. And for the first time, they were accepting applications from women. Sally had expected to get a job as a college teacher. But the chance to be an astronaut doesn’t come along every day, and Sally was excited by the possibility of actually visiting space, after studying the stars and planets and gazing up at Orion on so many nights. And, astronauts need to be in great physical shape too. All her years of playing tennis would be an advantage too. 

NASA was a bit overdue in sending women to space. In fact, all the astronauts until this time had been white men, mostly Air Force pilots. Russia had sent a woman to space in 1963! Now, in addition to recruiting pilots, NASA was opening the astronaut program to anyone with training in science or engineering.  They got thousands of applications! Out of all those applicants, Sally and five other women were chosen to train as astronauts! Not only were the first women chosen to be part of the space shuttle program, the class of 35 men and women included the first Asian American and African American astronauts.

Sally at NASA

Sally began her training in 1979. NASA was impressed by Sally. She was athletic and strong, committed and smart. Years of playing competitive tennis had taught her how to keep cool under pressure. 

But even though Sally had the right stuff to be an astronaut, there was a lot to learn! She had to know space shuttle systems inside and out. She learned about geology, oceanography, and computer science, since she would need to perform all sorts of experiments in space. The astronaut candidates learned to fly supersonic jets, though most of them wouldn’t actually need to fly the shuttle–NASA still used professional pilots for that–it was important to know how it worked in case there was ever an emergency. 

Off to Space for Sally Ride!

Finally, in 1982, after years of training and working on projects and shuttle missions from the ground, Sally got the call that all astronauts are eager for. NASA had assigned her to a mission. She would go to space in 1983 as a mission specialist on the space shuttle Challenger. 

Sally would have a whole year to prepare for the mission. As part of her work on the ground for NASA, Sally had helped design a robotic arm that would move things like satellites in and out of the space shuttle’s cargo bay. On her mission, Sally would use the arm to place a satellite outside in space. It would fly alongside the shuttle for a few hours, taking pictures and doing experiments. Then, Sally would use the robotic arm to grab the satellite and pull it back into the shuttle.

It was an exciting project for Sally, but she was disappointed to find that news reporters weren’t very interested in it. Instead, they always asked her questions about what it would be like for a woman in space. Would she wear makeup in space? Would she be able to have children after going into space? Would she cry if she made a mistake? Understandably, Sally found these questions annoying at best, even insulting. Why couldn’t reporters ask her about the actual mission–the science she’d be doing, or the amazing robotic arm she’d designed–instead of obsessing over her gender? 

But Sally kept her focus on training and ignored the rude questions. She made sure she knew every step of every task she needed to do during launch, in space, and on landing. On June 18th, 1983, Sally was ready to lift off! 

The mission was a success: the crew performed experiments, and the robotic arm worked beautifully. But besides conducting experiments and gaining experience in space, Sally realized something far more profound. As she looked out the space shuttle window for the first time, she noticed something that astonished her: 

“…it looked as if someone had taken a royal blue crayon and just traced along the Earth’s horizon. And then I realized that that blue line, that really thin royal blue line, was Earth’s atmosphere, and that was all there was of it. And it’s so clear from that perspective how fragile our existence is.” 

Challenger Mission

Sally flew on another mission two years later, again on Challenger. Sally hoped she’d be able to fly again after her second mission, but in 1986 a terrible tragedy threw her hopes, and the whole shuttle program, into doubt. The space shuttle Challenger, which Sally had flown on twice, exploded a few minutes after lift-off. Seven astronauts were killed, including some Sally had trained with. Sally was devastated, but she was also one of the best people to help figure out what went wrong. NASA canceled all its space shuttle missions for years while Sally and a committee of other experts investigated the accident. They found that cold weather that morning in Florida caused a part to break during the flight. 

By this time, Sally realized she would probably never fly on another mission. She stayed at NASA another year after the investigation, helping them plan for the future. But in 1987, she realized it was time to leave. 

Sally went back to Stanford University to work as a physics professor. She also reconnected with a childhood friend, Tam O’Shaugnessy. The two fell in love, and would spend the next 27 years together. Tam was also a scientist–a biologist–and she loved sports and exercise too. Sally and Tam also shared a passion for encouraging children, especially girls, to explore science and technology. They wrote books and started a foundation together that offered science summer camps and science festivals. Sally even started a program that let kids in middle school control a satellite launched into space on the shuttle, taking pictures of earth from hundreds of miles above the ground. 

Sally’s Death

In 2011, Sally learned she had pancreatic cancer. After battling the disease for over a year, she passed away at home in California. A year later, President Obama awarded Sally a Presidential Medal of Honor for her accomplishments. Tam accepted the award on her behalf.

People change their minds sometimes about what they want to do. New dreams take hold. But the most important thing to do if you want to make a dream come true is to act. Find out what you need to do to actually make that dream a reality and do it! You may find that you don’t like the doing as much as the dream, just like Sally Ride did with pro tennis. But, like Sally, if you try enough things, eventually you’ll find the right thing for you. And you never know when an opportunity will come along that requires your unique combination of talents, skills, and knowledge. So keep exploring!

Sources

https://rvsallyride.ucsd.edu/legacy/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Ride

Abawi, Atia (2021) She Persisted: Sally Ride. Philomel Books, New York.

Macy, Sue (2014) Sally Ride: Life on a Mission. Aladdin, New York.

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