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Iditarod Activities Across the Grades!
On your mark, get set, mush! If it's March in Alaska, one of the most grueling races on Earth is about to begin -- the Iditarod Sled Dog Race! This week, Education World offers activities that will have your students "teeming" to learn about this exciting competition! Included: Activities in which students create a musher picture dictionary, create charts of Iditarod supplies, and much more!
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From Education World
Check out Education World's archive of Iditarod Lessons.
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On the first Saturday in March, the annual event known as "The Last Great Race on Earth" -- the Iditarod Sled Dog Race -- begins! This competition challenges entrants to traverse more than 1,100 miles of Alaskan terrain in extreme weather conditions under the power of teams of sled dogs!
Use this avalanche of great classroom activities from Education World to broaden your students' knowledge of the Iditarod! Read the brief descriptions below for each lesson. Click any headline for a complete teaching resource!
Track the Trek
Students study the Iditarod routes on maps and calculate the distances between various checkpoints on the routes. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)
Musher Picture Dictionary
Students create a picture dictionary of musher terms. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)
Meet the Mushers
Each student writes about a musher participating in this year's Iditarod and keeps a journal of his or her progress throughout the race. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)
Packing for the Iditarod
Students create checklist charts of supplies mushers might pack for the Iditarod. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)
Graph the Winning Times
Students create graphs of the winning times in the Iditarod, showing the times from the shortest to the longest. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Iditarod Archive
Education World's archive includes dozens of activities for turning the Iditarod into an ultimte teachable moment.
iditarod.com
This is the official site for "The Last Great Race." Look here for a host of information about the Iditarod.
Iditarod Teacher on the Trail
Take the opportunity to learn more about this program.
BONUS LESSON IDEAS!
After students complete the lessons, try these activity suggestions:
- Write about the race from the perspective of one of the dogs on an Iditarod team.
- Use The Weather Channel to chart the weather conditions at various checkpoints each day of the race.
- Chart the times each musher and dog team crosses the finish line.
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Article by Lois Lewis
Education World®
Copyright © 2008 Education World
Originally published 02/26/2001
Links last updated 02/01/2008
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