Download - Follow The Mushers
A Collaborative Project Using
The Iditarod
JoAnn Leigh
Brrrr…..Alaska in March sounds like a cold place to be…
But if you are looking to brrrreathe life into your lessons – March offers a teachable moment not to be missed!
The Iditarod
“The Last Great Race”
Unlike any other event in the world
1,500 miles of the most extreme terrain
What is the Iditarod?
Follow the…IditarodRules and Procedures:
25 Checkpoints – must stop and sign in
Mandatory stops -
one 24 hour and two 8 hour
Number of dogs – 16 to start,
12 to finish
Follow the…IditarodRules and Procedures:
• Mandatory Items – cold weather gear, 8 booties for each dog, cooker and 3 gallon pot, musher food and dog food; all mandatory food must be sent through Iditarod food drops. The ITC will provide and ship straw and fuel for the teams to the checkpoints.
• Passing: When one team approaches within fifty (50) feet of another team, the team behind shall have the immediate right of way upon demand.
Follow the…Mushers Curriculum Correlations: Language Arts
Choose and research a musher
Alaska ABC Book
Training for the Iditarod
Follow your chosen musher on the trail/log or journal
Iditarod themed vocabulary words
Musher from Jamaica
Lance Mackey
Follow the…Dogs How are Iditarod dogs trained?
How many dogs can a musher use for the race?
How are the dogs cared for on the trail?
What breeds of dogs are trained
for the race?
Kim Darst – musher from NJ!
Iditarod at Kilmer Library
Iditarod at Kilmer
Follow the…TrailCurriculum Correlations –
Social Studies
Explore the culture and geography of Alaska
Map skills – map the North and South routes
History of Iditarod
Research checkpoints
Follow the…TrailCurriculum Correlations –
Math
Measure distances between checkpoints
Estimate costs of entering race
Daily math problem based on what is happening in the race
Calculate and graph mushers’ daily progress
How many miles from NJ to Anchorage?
Follow the…WeatherCurriculum Correlations – Science
Weather tracking during the race
Explore dangers of harsh weather conditions and their effects on humans
Explore the natural resources
Explore the land forms of Alaska
Learn about Alaskan wildlife the mushers mushers encounter
Follow…Zuma Zuma’s Paw Prints is the place to go to learn about
the race from the Official K9 Reporter, Zuma, and journalists Gypsy, Libby, and Sanka W. Dog.
www. Iditarod.com
Official site for the Iditarod
For Teachers – Collaboration Zone
Become an Ultimate Iditarod Insider
Websites www.iditarod.com
www.idita-read.org
www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson225.shtml
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/iditarod/
http://www.theteacherscorner.net/printable-worksheets/seasonal/iditarod/
http://library.thinkquest.org/4142/
http://www.field-trips.org/cross/idit-s/
http://teachnet-lab.org/santab/idlessons.htm
http://themes.pppst.com/iditarod.html
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=iditarod&media=lesson
http://www.pppst.com/
Books
Blake, Robert J. Akiak A Tale From the Iditarod. New York: Puffin, 2004.
Bramble, Herb. Cotton’s Tale: A True Iditarod Story.
• Gardiner, John Reynolds. Stone Fox. New York: Crowell, 1980.
Harter, Lois. Where's the Boss. New York: Publication Consultants, 1999.
Kimmel, Elizabeth Cody. Balto and the Great Race (Stepping Stone). New York: Random House Books for
Young Readers, 1999.
Marsh, Carole. The Mystery on Alaska's Iditarod Trail. Peachtree City: Gallopade International, 2003.
Miller, Debbie S. The Great Serum Race Blazing the Iditarod Trail. New York: Walker Books for Young Readers,
2003.
Paulsen, Gary. Puppies, Dogs and Blue Northers. New York: Delacorte, 1996.
Schultz, Jeff. Dogs of the Iditarod. New York: Sasquatch Books, 2003.
Standiford, Natalie. The Bravest Dog Ever, The True Story of Balto. NY: Random House, 1989.
Wood, Ted. Iditarod Dream. New York: Walker & Company, 1996.