Third and fourth grade student’s at this Eden Prairie school researched, designed, and built 4 wooden sleds using downhill ski’s as runners.

The classrooms competed against each other using human power.

Fun day had by all!

Click on the image to view a larger view of each image.

Educational Journalist Joy Davis of Indiana and her classroom paraprofessional, Amanda Dolan, continued spreading the word of the Iditarod while on winter break.  Only this time instead of teaching high school students they went to the local daycare.  Children ages 5-7 were attending a day camp with a theme of winter.  The day started by watching the DVD “Razzma-Taz.”  This told the story of training for the Iditarod from the dog’s perspective.  This DVD can be purchased at: www.vernhalter.com

The children then were ‘harnessed’ up as puppies with a musher. To keep their feet safe from the elements they also wore ‘booties.’ After being told the race rules, they started off to run the trail and reach the finish line.  Along the way they stopped at checkpoints.  Here the puppies were snacked (with puppy chow- the recipe follows) and their vital statistics were checked by the ‘vet’ after they signed in.  They even encountered moose along the trail!  After reaching the finish line, both teams received flower garlands for their photos. After the teams were unharnessed they went inside to listen to the reading of Akiak by Robert J. Blake.  A great time was had by all!

“Puppy Chow”
8 c. Chex cereal
1-16 oz. bag of chocolate pieces
½ c. peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. powdered sugar
Melt the chocolate.
Then add the peanut butter and vanilla.  Put cereal in a large bowl.  Pour mixture over the top and coat thoroughly.  Put the powdered sugar in a gallon size plastic bag.  Add mixture.  Shake well.  Enjoy!

*(Make sure that you do not have any children who are allergic to peanut butter.  Always check for allergies!)*

Editor’s Note:  Send us information about your local I KID A ROD projects!  We’ll share your project on the website!

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An I Kid A Rod™ is an Iditarod race simulation.

An I Kid A Rod™  can be held in a variety of ways.  Some involve participants from one classroom or grade level while other I Kid A Rod™ projects involve several classrooms or grade levels.  Some  involve an entire school.

An I Kid A Rod™ can be held anywhere that there is space for the project.

No matter what, an I Kid A Rod™ is an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they’ve learned and enjoy their own race.

Here are some ideas for you to hold your own I Kid A Rod™.

View a PowerPoint presentation showing an I Kid A Rod™ at a school in Alaska.  Click here!

Read this PDF booklet about IditaReads™ and IditaRaces™ to get ideas on creating your project.  Click here!

Email us information about your I Kid A Rod™ so we can share your ideas with our readers!

An I Kid A Rod is a simulated Iditarod that has been adapted to a school and local community.  Students take on the roles of mushers, veterinarians, race volunteers, dogs, or even challenges team meets along the race trail, such as wild animals or storms.  The ‘dogs’ pull Iditarod sleds which are sometimes real dog sleds but more often resemble down hill snow sleds, wagons, cardboard boxes, or any device a group of students can pull along the I Kid A Rod Race Trail.

At the I Kid A Rod checkpoints, while a musher feeds the dogs and veterinarians exam the teams, educational activities such as answering scientific questions, reading words cards,  or answering math facts displayed on flash cards, are often completed before a team leaves for the next I Kid A Rod checkpoint.

Each school designs the type of activity that best meets their needs according to their own climate, learning environment, available materials, and academic purpose of the activity.

Each I Kid A Rod is unique.  Some I Kid A Rod projects are held inside a building while most are held outside.

Some I Kid A Rod projects involve all students in a particular grade level while other projects involve all of the students in a school setting.

Some projects involve parents or other community volunteers.

Most projects are held on the school grounds and/or near the school’s location.  However some have been held at golf courses or along the beach at coast of the ocean.

No matter the location, the results are always the same!

Students have developed an ‘emotional connection’ to their curriculum while being involved in Iditarod projects.  They are eager to demonstrate the learning they’ve achieved (math, science, or other content areas) that has come directly from the curriculum’s Iditarod themed lessons. The students have fun before and during the I Kid A Rod.  The project is something they remember and the learning and memories last a life time.

View this I Kid A Rod PowerPoint to get a glimpse of an example of an I Kid A Rod held at an elementary school in Alaska.

I Kid A Rod PowerPoint

View a Quick Time Video of Students answering questions at a checkpoint.

View a PDF Document aboutI Kid A Rod: Reads and Races

Send us digital images of your I Kid A Rod and include the academic purpose and other specifics of the project.   We’ll share your project to help all schools interested in this project design their I Kid A Rod.

Images from 1999 Teacher on the Trail™  Finney’s I Kid A Rod

Meet Cindy Wilson’s students!

Cindy’s brother made them a wheeled sled for their Idita Race.

Each year, hundreds of schools around the world hold their own Iditarod  in parks, on school grounds, along beaches, or even in backyards.  After studying the race and completing lessons, the learning is put to test in classroom or school wide Iditarod events.

No matter what you call it— Mini- Iditarod races, IKidARod,  or School Iditarod, the result is the same.  Students practice basic content skills and enjoy the race.

Send us pictures and information about the Idita Race in your school or community to help teachers plan their future events!