Welcome to Past and Pen

Hosted by: Rosie Talley, Author of Linus the TrollProduced by: Sweet Meadowlark StoriesAuthor Website: https://sweetmeadowlark.wixsite.com/storiesEmail: pastandpen@gmail.comIn this episode of Past and Pen, we head back in time for a Back to School Special. From the very first public school in America to one-room schoolhouses, yellow buses, summer vacation myths, and sweet traditions like Germany’s candy-filled Schultüte, we explore the history behind the rituals and routines that shape school as we know it. We also look at why apples became the classic teacher’s gift.Reading List: Dear Teacher by Amy HusbandHow Not to Start Third Grade by Cathy HapkaSplat the Cat: Back to School, Splat! by Rob ScottonSchooled by Gordon KormanTales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy BlumeWriting Prompt: What is your favorite back-to-school tradition, or one you would like to start? Share your story with me at pastandpen@gmail.com, and it may be featured in a future episode. Looking for more summer reading adventures?

Check out Wander and Wonder: A Literary Adventure, a book club for kids and grown-ups packed with activities, recipes, discussion questions, and stories:

Become a Patreon member to support the show and unlock fun extras like early access, birthday shoutouts, and a chance to answer the Question of the Month: What is one special memory you made this summer?New episodes drop every other Tuesday at 4 PM, so let history repeat itself and tune in!

Meet Your Host:Hosted by: Rosie Talley, Author of ⁠Linus the Troll⁠Produced by: Sweet Meadowlark Stories🌐 ⁠Author Website⁠📧 Email: ⁠pastandpen@gmail.com⁠ Episode Summary:In this special episode of Past and Pen, we explore a surprising connection between disaster and discovery. What does a volcanic eruption have to do with your favorite two-wheeled ride? Quite a lot, actually!Part of Wander and Wonder: A Literary Adventure, this episode was made for Pathway 2: The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle. Find the curriculum here! Wheels of Change takes listeners on a journey from the ash-covered skies of 1816 to the birth of the modern bicycle. Meet the imaginative minds behind the celerifere, the dandy horse, and the velocipede—and discover how necessity and creativity turned a transportation crisis into one of the most beloved inventions in history.So hop on as we roll through time to uncover the wheels of change. Reading List: Bicycle Book by Gail Gibbons – An introduction to the history and mechanics of bicycles. Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom by Sue Macy – Discover how bicycles played a role in women's liberation.

100 Amazing Facts about Cycling: A Breathtaking Tour in the World of Bicycles by Marc DresguiWriting Prompt:Imagine it’s the year 1817, and you've just seen a strange new invention rolling down the street—it doesn’t have pedals, and people are calling it a “running machine.” Write a journal entry as a curious kid living in that time. What do you think of this odd two-wheeled contraption? Would you want to try it? How do you think it could change the way people travel?

Email your stories to pastandpen@gmail.com and I may share them on a future episode! How You Can Support the Show: Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi Join my Patreon for perks like early access, birthday shoutouts, and a chance to have your voice featured on the show! Dinner Conversation: If you could invent something to solve a problem in your community, what would it be and why? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share the show with a fellow history lover or curious kid.New episodes every other Tuesday at 4 PM. Stay curious—and keep writing your story.

Meet Your Host:Hosted by: Rosie Talley, Author of ⁠Linus the Troll⁠Produced by: Sweet Meadowlark Stories ⁠Author Website⁠📧 Email: ⁠pastandpen@gmail.com⁠ Episode Summary:In this galloping episode of Past and Pen, we’re off to the races—literally! From polished saddles to fancy hats, The Road to the Kentucky Derby explores how a single dream turned into America’s most iconic horse race.Part of Wander and Wonder: A Literary Adventure, this episode was created especially for Pathway 2: The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle.

The curriculum is available here!Journey back to 1875 and meet Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr.—a visionary inspired by Europe’s grand racing traditions—who brought his bold dream home to Kentucky. Learn how the rolling hills of Louisville became the birthplace of Churchill Downs and how the thunder of hooves grew into “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”From Aristides to secret magical Derbies, this episode is filled with fast facts, historic charm, and a big helping of imagination.

Saddle up and ride through time as we uncover the story behind the Kentucky Derby! Reading List: Seabiscuit vs War Admiral: The Greatest Horse Race in History by Kat ShehataD is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet by Helen L. WilburSeabiscuit the Wonder Horse by Meghan McCarthyThe Mystery at the Kentucky Derby (Real Kids! Real Places!) by Carole Marsh Writing Prompt:Time to trot into your imagination!In a secret version of the Kentucky Derby hidden from the public, magical creatures race instead of horses—like flying pegasi, thundering unicorns, or shape-shifting shadow beasts. You’ve just been chosen as the youngest rider in history!Write a story about your first magical Derby:What creature are you riding?What challenges do you face on the track?Do you discover a secret during the race?And most importantly—can you win?Send stories to pastandpen@gmail.com⁠ and I may read them on a future show! Support the Show:Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi Join my Patreon for perks like early access, birthday shoutouts, and a chance to have your voice featured on the show!Dinner Question:If you could design a race—any kind, anywhere, with any creatures or machines—what would it look like?Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share the show with a fellow history lover or curious kid.New episodes every other Tuesday at 4 PM.Stay curious—and keep writing your story.