Ideas from Judi’s Classroom
by Judi Custer
Students in all 50 states, in many countries, and on most continents get involved in learning basic skills in their curriculum while participating in Iditarod related projects. Here’s a bit about what is going on in a school in Spain!
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The students study the Iditarod here in our Rota Naval Base school. This was the third year I’ve had students working on an Iditarod Race unit. This past year I had seven gifted 5th graders researching mushers and teams, checkpoints, and various topics of interest as we learn the story of the race.
First we read and discuss the “Learn About the Iditarod” articles at iditarod.com in the “Learn about the Iditarod” tab. Then we look at the bios of the mushers. Each student choses a musher to study and track during the race. After learning a bit about the mushers, the students write letters to them. We always hope for a reply from the mushers. Last year DeeDee Jonrowe wrote a great letter that the student excitedly shared with us all.
The students choose a topic to research about the Iditarod: geography of the trail (northern route), history of the race – including the Serum Run of 1925, rules and prizes of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, survival strategies and equipment, training and care of the dogs, and Iditarod volunteers. They prepare a written report on these topics to present in class, and if time allows, create some project to assist them as they give their report. One year a student created a game board using a map of the checkpoints, another gave a demonstration of how fat insulates the dogs against the cold. The students can be very creative.
During the actual race, we consult the internet to “track” the teams as they progress in the race. We have a chart for indicating times in and out of checkpoints, miles run/miles to go to Nome, and dogs dropped (if any). At the same time the students write a journal (as “their” musher) using the journal writing lesson idea that is on the website. (click here) They choose one of the events suggested in that activity or they can make up an event based on information they have about the trail that the team is covering that day. It really personalizes the race for them. Some of our writers would make Gary Paulson proud!
Each of the teams that we track are represented on a little (about 1 1/2 inch) sled and moved along the race route on a large map in our school hallway.
Lots of other students and staff have enjoyed watching the progress, too.
At the end of the race, we always announce the first team in, but have our celebration once all the teams we are tracking have crossed the Nome Finish Line. At our celebration we enjoy ice cream sandwiches as we share our mushers’ journals.
This is one of my very favorite units. I am very grateful to you and others at iditarod.com for providing information about the race, mushers, and Alaska, and for keeping us updated on the progress of the race as it happens.
Thanks,
Judi
