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.

“Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht,” by the Clare College Singers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p97sxREC00

“Silent Night,” by Bing Crosby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moHobaO9TlM

“Joy to the World” by ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=necamum8MNw

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by Chris Tomlin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH7asSGxAxA

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” by Harpa Dei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INyKdKCNryI

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” by Nosa and the Lagos Community Gospel Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjFqXhstjlw

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Take 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ESDqU_3bOg

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by The Living Stones Quartet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5hHUPwjTQQ

“Mary, Did You Know?” by the U.S. Army Orchestra, featuring Sgt. Major Christal Rheams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHFoT4-tI8g

“Once in Royal David’s City” by the King’s College Chapel Choir, Cambridge University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtiCLJvyePw

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/

On the Exploring History podcast for Thanksgiving, Ray Notgrass tells the true story of a man who escaped Poland in 1938, came to the United States, and lived with gratitude for the country that gave him freedom and opportunity.

Read the transcript, see photos, and find additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/thankful-for-our-country-302

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/

In 1957 nine brave teenagers showed remarkable courage and conviction as they integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. On his latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass shares the story of this remarkable group and how they overcame often violent opposition to achieve a milestone in America's civil rights movement.

See photos, read a transcript, and find links to additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-little-rock-nine-300

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/

World War I brought unprecedented loss of life and destruction. But it also provided stories of amazing heroism. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass examines the causes of the war, how the war progressed to a bitter end, and tells stories of American heroes in the war.

Read the transcript, see photos, and explore additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-great-war-and-its-greatest-hero-299

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/

Why should anyone, especially our students, bother to learn history? In his latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass offers six specific things we can gain from a study of history that can enrich our lives and help us make a positive contribution to the world around us.

Read a transcript and find additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/what-can-you-learn-from-history-298

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/

Ronald Reagan was a man of faith: faith in God, and faith in the strength of our country. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass looks at the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan, focusing especially on his faith in God and his approach to the Soviet Union that changed the dynamics of the Cold War and helped lead to the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Read a transcript, see photos, and find links to additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-faith-of-a-president-297

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/

Hot enough for you? We can be thankful that we can do something about it, but it hasn't always been this way. In this podcast, Ray Notgrass traces the history of attempts to produce conditioned air, from awnings to fans blowing over ice to the invention of systems that really provided cooler air to homes, businesses, and cars. We hope you enjoy this really cool presentation.

Read the transcript and find links to additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-cool-history-of-air-conditioning-287

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/

Richard Nixon resigned the office of president of the United States fifty years ago, on August 9, 1974. This was the result of the Watergate scandal and other failings of the Nixon administration. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass surveys what the scandal involved and how the Nixon presidency unraveled after achieving unprecedented political success.

Read the transcript and find additional resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/and-the-fall-of-that-house-was-great-richard-nixon-and-watergate-279

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/

As the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, take place this year, we hearken back one hundred years to another Paris Olympics, and the accomplishments of a man of faith, Eric Liddell, both in the Olympics and in his later life. Ray Notgrass shares the remarkable story of this man of Christian conscience who won the race of serving God.

Read the transcript, see photos, and find resources for further study:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/running-to-win-the-prize-the-story-of-eric-liddell-277

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/

It’s time for that quadrennial exercise in American democracy, when thousands of people spend millions of dollars and take several days to make a decision that’s already been made. Of course I’m talking about our national political party presidential nominating conventions. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass discusses the history of conventions and how they work today.

Read the transcript and find links to more resources:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/national-political-nominating-conventions-276

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/

Fred Vinson's life went from being born in a jailer's house in Eastern Kentucky to serving as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was a key player in American government during and after World War II. In this podcast, Ray Notgrass tells Vinson's life story and shows how it encourages all of us to take part in the great story of America.

Read the episode transcript, see photos, and find links to more resources about Fred Vinson and the Supreme Court:
https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/from-jail-to-the-supreme-court-the-career-and-citizenship-of-fred-m-vinson-275

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/