Language Arts

02/25/2010

Iditarod Poetry: Read then Get Writing!

All around the globe, it is time to write Iditarod poetry.  Send us your poems and we’ll share them with our readers!
Thank you Marcia and Rhonda for sharing your poetry!
Iditarod   by Marcia Claesson
The frosted fingers of cold…

Filed under Curriculum for the Classroom, Language Arts, News and Information, Teacher Tips and Tools

02/25/2010

Iditarod: A Cross Curricular Approach

By Sally, Indiana
I use a cross-curricular approach to teaching the Iditarod.  I begin this unit in January using many of my own photographs and personal knowledge of Alaska (I’ve been there several times and LOVE it) Language arts includes…

Filed under Curriculum for the Classroom, Language Arts, Math, News and Information, Science, Social Studies

02/24/2010

Meet the Finalists for Target® 2011 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™

Finalists have been chosen for the Target® 2011 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™.  The finalists, Blynne Froke, Martha Dobson, and Sally Simon will be in Anchorage during the week before the start of the race to complete selection process activities…

Filed under Contests: Win Prizes, Curriculum for the Classroom, Idita Reads and Races, Language Arts, Math, News and Information, Research and Testimonials, Science, Social Studies, Target Teacher on the Trail

02/02/2010

Iditarod Musher Trading Cards

Are you looking for an activity to help students read, research, and summarize?  Join the hundreds of schools around the world.  Assign students to create Musher Trading Cards.
Design your class Musher Trading Cards in a way that meets the…

Filed under Charts and Templates, Language Arts, News and Information, Teacher Tips and Tools

01/13/2010

Meet the Applicants for Target® 2011 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™

Each year, the Iditarod Education Department accepts applications for the ‘next’  Target® Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™.  This year, five teachers applied for this educational teaching experience.  Meet each applicant and view a sample of their lessons.
Kim Busch, Montana…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, Character Education, Curriculum for the Classroom, Integrated Curriculum, Language Arts, Math, Math Probem Solving, News and Information, Science, Social Studies, Target Teacher on the Trail, Technology Integration

12/31/2009

Idita Read™

Join the Idita Read™ and race from Anchorage to Nome!
Click on this to use the Iditarod forms for your students.  Tip:  Ask students to save the forms to the computer.  Students can then type on the form instead of…

Filed under Idita Reads and Races, IditaRead™, Language Arts

12/29/2009

Language Arts: ABC Books

Creating an ABC book is an excellent way to combine research, writing, and technology skills.
Nicole’s ABC Book (PowerPoint)

Filed under Language Arts, Student Work Samples

10/29/2009

IditaRead™

An IditaRead is an excellent way to encourage students to read.
An IditaRead is held in connection with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race® —  the Iditarod Trail and the Iditarod Mushers are used as ‘benchmarks’ of reading progress for…

Filed under Idita Reads and Races, IditaRead™, Language Arts, News and Information

10/12/2009

Reader’s Theater Play

A Reader’s Theater Play is a fun way for students to practice dramatic reading.  This play, created by Jennifer Slifer, Connecticut,  has been used with middle school students but can also be used with elementary students.  Teachers can adapt this…

Filed under Language Arts, Language Arts: Plays

10/12/2009

Curriculum Challenge Lessons

Congratulations to the 2009 Curriculum Challenge Winners!
Seven teachers provide lessons for elementary, secondary, and university level teachers to use with students.

Lesson packets are in PDF.

Susan Flahive, Virginia
Math: Ryan’s Dog Expenses Technology/Math, Using Excel Spreadsheets, 7th grade…

Filed under Curriculum Challenge Lessons, Curriculum for the Classroom, Integrated Curriculum, Language Arts, Math, Science

08/20/2009

Daily Grammar Practice Sentences

Language Arts:  Daily Grammar Practice
Improve grammar skills using Iditarod and Alaska themed sentences.  These sentences can be used at any grade level.  Sentences can be used in the manner that best meets your students needs and your daily schedule. …

Filed under Language Arts

06/12/2009

Creative Writing: An Assignment for Any Grade Level: Lesson and Writing Sample from Students

Tom Russoniello, New Jersey,  understands that students are inspired to write when using the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race® as the tool for learning.  Using a lesson created by Kathy Kent, New Jersey, and housed on our website, Mr. Russoniello’s…

Filed under Curriculum for the Classroom, Language Arts, Student Work Samples

05/29/2009

Idita Read in Wisconsin

Hi!  I teach 1st grade at St. John the Baptist School in Green Bay, WI. I just wanted to share what we are doing for the Iditaread challenge.  The Iditaread challenge was kicked off with a small banquet of dog…

Filed under Idita Reads and Races, IditaRead™, Language Arts

05/23/2009

Thanks Mushers!

I must tell you about the most wonderful letter we have received from Cim Smith, one of the 2009 mushers!  He wrote an 8 page letter about his adventure this year! It was a blow by blow of the trail,…

Filed under Language Arts

05/11/2009

One Quilt: California and Off to Nome!

Del Sur Senior Elementary, February, 2009, Lancaster, CA
Receiving the quilt was another opportunity for my 7th graders to connect technology to the world around us.  As soon as we opened the box, the students gathered around to discover the…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, Language Arts, Technology-Information Highway, Traveling Quilt Journal

03/26/2009

Writing to Mushers: Attention Teachers

If you are writing to mushers, please follow the instructions below EVEN if you have done this project before- to gain optimum success on your project.
1.  Read the lesson plan.  Follow instructions.  Click here to view the PDF document…

Filed under Language Arts, Teacher Tips and Tools

03/25/2009

The Alaskan Husky by Gabrielle from Florida

The Alaskan Husky
By Gabrielle

Alaskan husky strong and smart,
Tall and brave with a beating heart.

Alaskan husky, a very good pleader,
Wants to be the front row leader.

Years go by too fast for him,
Now he has…

Filed under Language Arts, Student Work Samples

03/21/2009

What is on Your Feet?

What is on your feet right now?  If you are an Iditarod  sled dog still out on the trail, the answer might be a bootie.  If you are a human, what iis on your feet right now depends on what…

Filed under Language Arts, Target Teacher on the Trail, Teacher Tips and Tools

02/16/2009

Meet the Rookie: Kim Darst

By Ellen Ogintz, NJ, 2008 Summer Camp Teacher
Whether up in the air in her helicopter or gliding through the snow with her team, Iditarod 2009 rookie Kim Darst has the dog mushing in her blood…and it all started with…

Filed under Language Arts, News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

02/16/2009

Meet the Rookies: Blake Matray

 By Nikki Allen, FL, 2008 Summer Camp Teacher
Forty-one year old Blake Matray is more than just your average Iditarod musher; he is also a military pilot who serves our country. Blake is originally from Darien, Illinois, and attended college…

Filed under Language Arts, News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

02/12/2009

Students Send a ‘Shout Out’ to Mushers and Volunteers.

Each year, thousands of students send letters to mushers, volunteers, and Iditarod staff.  This letter arrived today and I’d like to share it with you.  Read my short article after the letter to learn what you can do!
Dear Iditarod…

Filed under Language Arts, Target Teacher on the Trail, Teacher Tips and Tools, Zuma's Paw Prints

02/03/2009

One Quilt: January

Quilt One arrived in Mt. Pleasant, NC, near Charlotte, in early December where it spent time with the sixth grade Cheetahs Team at Mt. Pleasant Middle School. Arriving just in time for the team’s walking field trip to our local…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, Language Arts, Traveling Quilt Journal

02/02/2009

Two Quilt: January in the Cornhusker State

Iditarod Quilt Visits the Cornhusker State
By Judi Roach
The 2006 Iditarod Quilt made its appearance at Central Elementary just as students were finishing up “Iditaround Nebraska”.  Students earned miles on the trail for reading, tracking their nutrition and fitness,…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, Language Arts, News and Information, Traveling Quilt Journal

02/01/2009

Three Quilt: January

January 13, 2009
Hello to all from Mishawaka, Indiana!
Neither extended holidays, nor fog, nor snow storms, nor ice storms, nor blizzards kept us from spending some time with the Traveling Quilt this year!
 Our third grade buddies at Hums…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, Language Arts, News and Information, Traveling Quilt Journal

01/31/2009

Get Students Reading and Writing with Zuma

Zuma’s Paw Prints
Have you wondered what it is like out on the Iditarod Trail?  Are you looking for pictures taken at the checkpoints? What do mushers do during the race?  What do volunteers do? What is a snow hook? …

Filed under Language Arts, News and Information, Teacher Tips and Tools, Technology-Information Highway, Zuma's Paw Prints