In this episode, John Notgrass offers a presentation on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, plays several songs enjoyed by the Ingalls family, and makes connections between Laura's story and the story of America.

VIDEO VERSION: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/laura-ingalls-wilder-and-the-declaration-of-independence-337

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

Exploring History returns with a conversation between Ray and John Notgrass about the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776.

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. On today's Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells about five books that your family would enjoy reading to enhance your understanding of the American Revolution.

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

Most people know the Marquis de Lafayette as an aide to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how Lafayette lived an entire life of service to the United States and France, often at great sacrifice to himself.

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

The former Soviet Union had a project to map the entire world. They produced over one million distinct maps of places around the world. On his latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass discusses this amazing project and the amazing detail work that went into it.

Read the transcript and find more resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/secret-soviet-documents-revealed-313

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

One woman's letters to a president may have changed his thinking and may have helped bring about needed reforms in our country. On the next Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how the letters of one woman might have affected the presidency of Chester Arthur.

Read the transcript and find more resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-letters-of-julia-sand-312

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

A little known incident in 1854 was part of the struggle for equal rights for all Americans. It reminds us today of our need to be done with prejudice and scapegoating. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how a standoff on a New York City streetcar furthered the cause of civil rights.

Read the transcript and find more resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/when-riding-a-streetcar-turned-into-a-battle-311

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

During World War II, the American military and American society were marked by segregation and prejudice. Many Americans believed that black persons were not capable of flying airplanes. But a training program at Tuskegee Institute showed that black persons were fully capable of flying airplanes and performing skillfully and courageously in battle. In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Read the transcript and find more resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/fighting-two-wars-at-once-the-tuskegee-airmen-309

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

Seventy-five years ago, Whittaker Chambers accused highly respected U.S. government official Alger Hiss of being a Communist. Hiss denied the accusation. Who was telling the truth? In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass examines the controversy, the court trial that resulted, and the impact that the controversy had on American politics.

Read the transcript and find more resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-hiss-case-308

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

Mabel Fairbanks was an African American ice skater who overcame poverty, prejudice, and a host of other hardships to become an international skating star. In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass tells Mabel's story to inspire us all to overcome the hardships we all endure to make a contribution to the world in which we live.

Visit our website for a transcript and links to additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-overcomer-307

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/

One of the special aspects of Christmas is hearing and singing the same songs, even though we have heard them year after year. Perhaps it is the memories that these songs bring to mind, or the beautiful music these songs contain, or perhaps it is the thrilling message these songs convey. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells the background stories of some of our favorite Christmas hymns, and then you can hear performances of those hymns from different parts of the world.

Read a transcript and watch and listen to the songs:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-music-of-christmas-304

Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/

Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/

Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/