Brilliant Mornings

A group of children from the history club "Artifact" travels to Arizona where they discover the layers of the Grand Canyon, visit the Navajo and Hopi people, hear an ancient legend and barely escape an angry elk.  Jonathan, one of the boys, learns a secret to overcome his trouble with running. Be sure to order our children's history magazine, ARTIFACT, at brilliant-mornings.com for...

Who made the footprints in the clay? Archeologists on Calvert Island have made a discovery, and we enjoy an exciting story of a family traveling to North America to explain their findings.  Could Tuya be the mother of the indigenous nations of North America?  Please visit our website, brilliant-mornings.com and sign up for our mailing list to receive the children’s magazine, ARTIFACT; the first Vo...

The 2022 invasion of Ukraine came as a shock to much of the world - but not to certain experts, who closely watch Russia's triggers.   What does Russia seek above all else? What is its "special military operation" all about?  Find out some clues by listening to a captivating story of a baseball game - an analogy of Russia's military action in Ukraine which will help explain cur...

Playing a wild, hands-on game of football or singing along to well-known songs with a crowd as you watch your favorite drummer play, or gathering with family for clam bakes and bonfires as you dig your toes into the smooth sand of the New England beaches - do these things sound like what you or other young people today might do for fun?  Can you believe that they originated with the Native America...

The year 1600 is full of secrecy; as separatists in England begin to hold secret church meetings hiding from the Queen, that very Queen is holding secret meetings with the Ambassador of Morocco.   What will come of all this? From the tropical rainforest of the African Congo, to the great Kingdom of Benin, to present-day Morocco and England, join a migrating Cuckoo bird with a sweet tooth to discov...

Follow an adventurous bird and a mysterious sailor through a life-changing trip through Korea and Japan, in the year 1600.  Understanding the world of 1600 helps explain our world today!  Visit brilliant-mornings.com for our free printables and amazing resources for your home or school! 

Explore the world of 1600 - in Asia!  We begin this episode in India, travel to China, and will continue in Korea and Japan in Part 2. A swift bird becomes entangled in a risky agreement between an Indian princess and a mysterious Portuguese sailor.  Can she escape?  Visit Brilliant-mornings.com to download line drawings for you to paint or color while listening to the episode - as well as a map a...

What was happening all over the world in the year 1600? From a lush lakeside in Kenya, through Egypt, Israel, and finally Germany, follow the migration of a pair of storks as they travel north to start a family; discover the geography, cultures, and historical figures they met along the way! Please visit  http://brilliant-mornings.com  for maps and resources to use WHILE listening to this fascinat...

Brazil, Cuba, and Poland - our special guests came to America from these beautiful lands.  With a love for their old countries, and a joy about the opportunities they have found in the United States, their stories teach us and give hope!   We are blessed with John Kano's original music which can be found at johnkano.com.  Check him out! 

Secret meetings in Philadelphia? What did that group of five men originally write as the Declaration of Independence?  Learn important parts of this Declaration through song - they reappear throughout history, in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and Dr. Martin Luther Jr.'s famous speech, "I Have a Dream".  Why did the colonies want to leave England?  What led to the Declaration of...

Three teams of fathers and their children race the clock to set up their very own inventions on Mt. Washington!  Inspired by father-child teams from history, they create devices to help hikers!  We are celebrating fathers and father-figures this week in honor of Father's Day! Let Doc Susie Anderson inspire you - she  saved patients' limbs and climbed mountains of snow as an amazing midwe...

This Juneteenth, celebrate the inspiring woman Henrietta Wood, whose story was lost to descendants for over one hundred years.  We follow her dangerous and convoluted journey to freedom and learn how her endurance leads to victory!  CHALLENGE: FOR THOSE YOUNGER LISTENTERS, CAN YOU JUMP EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THE WORDS "FREE" OR "FREEDOM"? CHALLENGE: FOR ALL WHO COUNT...HOW MANY TI...

Happy Mother's Day!  Listeners call in to talk about their mothers and we discover the mothers behind some of the world's most influential people!  Don't miss this celebration of mothers and share it with a friend today! For further reading: https://store.lamplighter.net/mobile/mothers-of-famous-men-p1410.aspx Sources: https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transc...

Grace, Josiah, and their entire group of friends from America stood speechless, watching a battle between French and Mexican soldiers unfold before their very eyes.  They had traveled to Mexico to experience a holiday called Cinco de Mayo and had met a friendly girl named Ashley who gave tours with her family.  Along the way, discover the identify of the hiding boy, the best Mexican meals, and wha...

A blissful spring nature walk, an Easter egg hunt, and a fall down a dangerous cliff - today the Poetry Kids group stays in Ireland and follows a poem's clues which guide them in finding the joys, sorrows, and meaning of the season!  Their Irish friends, Erin and Mr. O'Sullivan, join the children for an unforgettable adventure!   Follow along with our poem here: Helen Steiner Rice Easter...

 “No!” Claire’s voice was firm. “In this letter," and here she shook the ancient-looking document high over her head, “My great-grandfather gave his cousins possession of his farm in Ireland for the next 90 years; then, he writes that the cousins must give it back to his children IF the children claim it by Saint Patrick’s Day of the 91st year. We’re in the 91st-first year and St. Patrick’s d...

Celebrate love in languages from around the world as we learn about this holiday and the deeper meanings of love! Which types will we hear about in our messages to loved ones - storge, phileo, eros, or agape? Sources: 1. The Four Loves, by C.S. Lewis 2. https://www.history.com/news/6-surprising-facts-about-st-valentine

Join a tree-chopping experience to learn about how Abraham Lincoln grew up! Although he received little formal education, his upbringing and childhood experiences taught him honesty, perseverance, and a hunger for knowledge and truth. Today we will learn: A first introduction to logic  Euclid’s influence on Lincoln’s systematic reasoning The responsibilities of a lawyer (Interview) An overview of...

"True courage takes sacrifice,” said Grace, after hearing the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on a scavenger hunt through Washington, D.C.  Will the children decide to use courage in their own lives to help others? Today, we join "B" -  a young girl living in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1950's - to experience how her life changed when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a bus b...

'Twas the night before Christmas....what surprises are in store for children across town as they await this special holiday?  Extension activities: “A Visit from St Nicholas” BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE (portions of the poem) were read today.  Focus on the vivid descriptions of St. Nicholas (or Santa Claus). Write a poem with imagery that describes someone interesting!   2.   Listen to the Christ...

Grab your candles, donuts and latkes and join a Jewish family celebrate this ancient Feast of Lights!  Throughout the evening, you will learn that your family can make a difference in the world if everyone works together!  What was dedicated during the story of Hanukkah?  How did Judah fight for what he thought was right?  Materials: Dreidels, chocolate coins - play along with the characters in th...

Hear the moving Thanksgiving story as it is intertwined with Squanto's life journey!  Write the following words on a board to cross off when you hear them in the story! pumpkin pie crispy turkey Mayflower barley eel Oceanus sixty-six Holland debate plague betray For younger children, find pictures of the following items to  color when you hear them in the story (please email brilliantmornings...

Why do we elect a President of the United States? Which nations before us voted?  What is a representative democracy?  Using the illustration of a neighborhood of feuding neighbors needing to unite, we learn in this episode about the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy and learn a bit about how Americans choose electors in our Presidential vote.  Materials: Please have on hand a board on which t...

A Viking clashes two worlds (twice!) when he finds a new land, and when he brings home a new faith to his family.  Hear the story of Leif Erikson and learn the basics of Viking poetry today!  You will need: A globe or world map Grapes and salmon to eat, if you wish!  Extension:  1. We enjoyed this tale of Leif Erikson, based on historical accounts available: https://www.amazon.com/Leif-Lucky-Ingri...

Why do we observe a national holiday on the first Monday of each September? Today, the Pizza and Poetry Group of friends will take a special trip through history to discover a wee little bit about James Watt’s steam engine, which gave power to factories and mines in the Industrial Revolution. In Europe and America, people streamed into the cities to work long hours in factories at tough jobs. Labo...