Episode 10 – Tinker, Thinkers: 10 Brilliant Kids You Should Know

Welcome to Past and PenHosted by: Rosie Talley, Author of Linus the TrollProduced by: Sweet Meadowlark Stories⁠Author Website⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠In this special tenth episode of Past and Pen, we’re diving into ten amazing inventions created by kids just like you. From swim fins to solar flashlights, and even bacon-cooking gadgets, these young inventors saw a problem and thought, what if?You’ll learn how Benjamin Franklin tried to swim faster, how Louis Braille created a system for reading without sight, and how a girl named Abbey helped make bacon crispier in kitchens across the country. Some stories begin with fun and curiosity, while others begin with compassion or heartbreak. Each invention is a reminder that kids can make a big impact.Whether you love tinkering or just want to hear about kids who made their ideas real, this episode is filled with inspiration and surprising history.So grab your notebook and your imagination. It’s time to celebrate young thinkers and future inventors.Reading List: Keep the Curiosity GoingThis post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille by Russell FreedmanReal Engineering Experiments: 25+ Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids by Anthony TegtmeyerRosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea BeatyEpic Stories for Kids and Family - Accidental Inventions by RiddlelandThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William KamkwambaEarmuffs for Everyone! by Meghan McCarthyKid Innovators by Robin StevensonGirls Think of Everything by Catherine ThimmeshTeen Innovators by Fred EstesLouis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind by Margaret DavidsonHelen Keller by Margaret DavidsonWriting Prompt: What If You Invented Something by Accident?Imagine you are a gadgeteer who loves tinkering in your workshop. One day, while trying to invent a device that helps you untangle knots in shoelaces, you accidentally create a machine that can freeze time for one full minute. It only works once every hour.At first, it seems like the coolest thing ever. You can use it to win races or save a plate of cookies from falling. But then strange things begin happening. Is someone following you? Will you keep the invention a secret, or destroy it? And what if you’re not the only one who has one?Send your story or artwork to [email protected]. I may read or share it on a future episode.Dinner Conversation QuestionsWhich invention from this episode was your favorite and why?Which invention do you think helped the most people?If you could meet one of the kid inventors, who would it be and what would you ask them?Why do you think so many inventions begin with the question "What if?"What is a “What if?” question you could ask to solve a problem in your own life?Support the ShowBuy me a coffee on Ko-fiJoin my Patreon for early access, birthday shoutouts, and the chance to have your voice featuredQuestion of the MonthYou find an old journal buried in the sand. The first page says, "This summer something unbelievable happened."What happens next?Looking for more reading fun?Check out Wander and Wonder, a summer book club for kids ages 4 to 12 and their grown-ups. Includes themed recipes, hands-on activities, and a printable reading journalSources for This Episodehttps://247wallst.com/special-report/2021/06/02/20-everyday-products-you-never-knew-were-invented-by-kids/https://princeea.com/alex-deans-iaid-visual-impairment-navigation/See the full list of resources on my website.