Following the Iditarod Trail

[Rebecca Lawson]

It is the beginning of March and time for the Iditarod, the Last Great Race!  Are you following the race with your students?  If so, please share your activities with others.  If you are interested in the race but need more resourrces, please let us know your interests.

For those who are interested in the race, here are a couple of links.

The first is the official website for the race.  On this site you can find a map of the whole trail, get regular updates on the position of every musher, learn the rules of the race, get the latest news, and link to wonderful teaching materials and curriculum connections. 

At the top of the main page, the current temperature in Nome - the endpoint of the race -  is posted in both F and C.  To reach the educational resources - podcasts, virtual field trips, curriculum connections, etc. - click on the link for TEACHERS in the navigation bar.
http://www.iditarod.com

Another wonderful source of Iditarod news is the Anchorage Daily News.  This site is always rich with personal interest stories, pictures, and other news about the trail.

Iditarod Webcam   This site has links to several Alaska webcams, including the finish line in Nome.

Iditablog    This site has links to stories, podcasts, videos, etc.

Please share other links, resources, and activities you are using with your students. Of particular interest would be activites that connect the Iditarod to academic standards.

 Also, if you have questions, please post them here.    There is probably another member of MSP2 who can help.

[Rebecca Lawson]

Iditarod: Race Across Alaska Scholastic's Iditarod coverage allows students to learn about the history of the race, care of the dogs, mushers, etc.

One of the best features is "Explore the Trail." Each checkpoint along the trail is described. The descriptions give students insight into life in Alaska. Be sure to click on the map for the 2008 race. One trail is used during even years; another during odd years. The 2010 trail is the same as that in 2008.

Also included on the site is an interview with author Gary Paulsen, who is an experienced musher. Several of his books detail his Iditarod experiences.

[Jessica Fries-Gaither]

Rebecca, thanks for starting this thread. I love the Iditarod! I must sheepishly admit, however, that I lived in Alaska for 6 years and never saw the start. There always seemed to be a conflict that came up on that day. Maybe I'll need to go back some year in March just for that!

I've put together a couple of posts about using the Iditarod as a interdisciplinary unit. I wrote them for elementary teachers with the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears project, but I think most of the ideas could successfully translate to a middle school classroom. Maybe an entire team could participate in a unit and integrate all disciplines!

The Last Great Race: Teaching the Iditarod

Join Schools Across the Country in the Iditarod

I hope these are helpful!

[Rebecca Lawson]

Thank you so much Jessica! I have an idea: Let's go to Alaska together and enjoy the Iditarod one year. It is certainly a dream of mine.

Thank you for sharing your units!
Rebecca

[Rebecca Lawson]

Jessica,

I just took time to look over your units. They are wonderful and have so many resources, including the national standards for the subject areas. As you say, this is a fantastic integrated unit.

I do have one sad story to share. One of your pictures is compliments of John Concilus, Bering Strait School District and sponsor of the Iditaproject. My student and I enjoyed this project so much last year. The Bering Strait students did a wonderful job. When my searches didn't turn up information, I emailed John. Unfortunately, they are not doing the project this year. He didn't say so, but my guess is they have been hit with financial problems like the rest of us.

Thanks again! This is wonderful.
Rebecca

[Rebecca Lawson]

Congratulations, Lance Mackey on his 4th consecutive Iditarod win! He was followed closely by Hans Gatt and Jeff King. Jeff, a four-time winner, has said this is his final run.

There are a number of mushers between White Mountain and Nome. The Top 10 should be in Nome by noon tomorrow, if not sooner.

At this point, Dallas Seavy and his father Mitch are in a duel for 9th and 10th places.

Watch the mushers cross the finish line live at Iditablog.com (FREE) One can also chat with others who are awaiting the next musher's crossing.