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Adventures of the Traveling Quilts: October

Diane — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:12:01 +0000

What have the Quilts been up to during October?

Four Iditarod Traveling Quilts are on a special educational journey from school to school around the nation. Each month, read about each quilt. Get a glim pse of the lessons and activities that schools are involved in while hosting an Iditarod Quilt in their community. This article will summarize Quilts 1, 2, and 3. Read about Quilt 4 at this link.

Quilt 1 traveled to Watertown, South Dakota to visit the Kindergarten classroom of Denise Hoff.

A special package arrived in the classroom. The students were excited to ‘meet’ the Iditarod Traveling Quilt that had traveled from one Dakota to the next. As the teacher displayed the quilt, the discussion and Iditarod energy began in the kindergarten classroom. The students talked about each of the squares. They chose their favorite square and thought about reasons for choosing favorite squares. The students also talked about dogs. The students also looked at an enlarged map of Alaska. The Iditarod Trail was outlined so all of the students could see the race route of more than 1000 miles! Smaller individual maps were made for the students.

Near the end of the month, two kindergarten classes and two second grade classes gathered to meet special guests. Mr. Brad VanMeter’ came to their school because Brad has visited Alaska and been at the start of the Iditarod many times. He has even helped get teams to the starting line! Dean Johnson was with Brad for the presentation as was Brad’s Alaskan sled dog, Desert. Brad shared information about the race, the dogs, and about his friend, Iditarod Musher Vern Halter.

The students have read books about Akaika, Togo, and Swifty. The movie, Balto was a thriller for the students to watch!

The students designed their own quilt square and submitted it to be a part of a future Iditarod Traveling quilt.

Later this year, the students will be making sleds from Popsicle sticks. The students have plans to invite an Iditarod musher to visit the school, too.

When the race begins, Denise and the school administration will direct a school wide Iditarod Watch.

After visiting the school, Quilt 1 departed for Indiana.

Quilt 2

(To be updated soon! Check back tomorrow!)

Quilt 3

Quilt arrived in Washington at Grand Mound Elementary. The students enjoyed meeting quilt and discussing the messages that were found on each square of the quilt. During the quilt’s stay at the school, the teacher cleverly integrated the themes found on each square of the quilt into the content learning for the students.

Interested in learning more about the Iditarod Traveling Quilt project? Read this article and follow the links.

Traveling Quilt 4 Heads Out on the Trail

Diane — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:15:22 +0000

The Iditarod Education Department is proud to announce the ‘creation’ and the ‘birth’ of the 4th Iditarod Traveling Quilt. 2006 Target® Teacher on the Trail™ Terrie Hanke has completed the final touches on the newest member of the Iditarod Traveling Quilt Family! Quilt 4 will begin the journey next week, traveling throughout the year to schools in Colorado, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and California. Next month, the on line journal will be updated to share October adventures of all 4 quilts.

Classroom Creates a Traveling Quilt

Diane — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:21:39 +0000

Inspired by the visit of an Iditarod Traveling Quilt, Ms. Prather’s students in California have created their own classroom quilt. Each student designed and created a square. The squares were sewn together to create the classroom quilt.

Over the next few months, this quilt will do what our Iditarod Traveling Quilts do. This quilt will travel from school to school in their own school district.

Learn more about the Iditarod Traveling Quilts at this link. Discover ways to get involved with our projects. View a Power Point presentation highlighting past quilt journeys.

Adventures of theTraveling Quilts: September

Diane — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:09:39 +0000

Image: These two quilt squares were among the first to be created by teachers at Iditrod’s summer conference and sewn together by 2006 Teacher on the Trail™ Terrie Hanke. The squares became the first Iditarod Traveling Quilt. Join us this year — and see where the four Iditarod quilts travel. From state to state, classroom to classroom, students will ‘meet the quilts’ and complete lessons and activities that enhance their curriculum. Be a part of this journey virtually by reading the monthly updates.

Quilt 1

Beginning a school year can make anyone a little nervous. Quilt 1 was feeling nervous, too. Afterall, Quilt was headed from South Dakota to North Dakota to start the school year with Mrs. Gladue’s second grade students. Seeing the boys and girls eager to start a new school year was exciting for Quilt 1. The second grade students studied the story of how the Iditarod was started. They did Iditarod word finds. They also made dogsled mobiles to hang in the classroom. The students watched the movie Balto and did projects connected with the movie. The students also studied Alaska and discovered it was a long ways from North Dakota.

While spending the month in North Dakota, Quilt 1 went on a very special journey with Mrs. Gladue. Quilt traveled to Lake Metigoshi and had a great time visiting with Brad Pozornsky and his dogsled team. Brad, a resident from North Dakota, raced in the 1998 Iditarod. He was he winner of the Red Lantern. Brad finished the race in 51st place after 14 days, 5 hours, 42 minutes, and 4 seconds.

As the end of the month approached, Quilt 1 was packed into a box and mailed to Watertown, South Dakota.

Quilt 2

After leaving South Dakota, Quilt 2 was mailed to Mrs. Helmke in Wisconsin. For Quilt, this was like ‘going home’ because Mrs. Helmke is the person who took the squares of cloth that were designed by teachers at Iditarod’s Summer Camp for Teachers and created the beautiful quilt. Mrs. Hemke wrote to say:

This September Iditarod Quilt # 2 arrived home! This quilt originated in Lancaster, Wisconsin in August of 2006. It has spent the last month at Winskill Elementary School in Lancaster.

The quilt made its rounds of the building in 25 days. First, it was reacquainted with the staff at the first faculty meeting of the year. Then, it was introduced to Tina Stimpson, long time follower of the Iditarod and co-worker of Carol Helmke, quilt maker. Tina and Carol’s reading class will be doing many Iditarod activities this school year. First and foremost, they will be making their own class scrapbook as a writing project, so they shared in this quilt event. Lastly, the quilt attended an IMC Open House hosted by the IMC director.

As the quilt makes its travels around the United States this year, I hope everyone enjoys the quilt as much as we have. Happy Idita-quilting!!!

Carol Helmke, Quilt Maker

Quilt 3

Quilt 3 was mailed from South Dakota to Mrs. Prather’s classroom in California.

It was with more than a little sadness that our students at Gracey Elementary School said goodbye to Quilt #3. Having had the opportunity to live with it, study it and other related topics, we felt very attached to quilt. Some of our students sort of wrapped their body into quilt before the box was closed.

We were able to accomplish the following, thanks to Quilt:

We studied the Iditarod, history, dogs, sleds, geography, animals on the trail, serum run.
We learned about other “lead dogs’ like Balto and Togo
We made a point to highlight Alaska as a state, complete with state symbols.
We made giant posters for each of the above which are on display in classrooms.
We made our own quilt with each student creating one square

I am trying to assemble the quilt now that it is finished. It is not as easy as it looked. I probably could use a little help from your feline friend, the one that helped Terrie sew Quilt. Anyway, our quilt will become a mini traveling quilt. We plan to circulate it to other schools in our district.

On a map we are going to track where the quilt had been looking at each state and make comparisons geographically.

Thank you so much for allowing us to participate in the traveling quilt. We have submitted our square for Quilt #4. We chose the motto, “Listen to your Lead Dog.”

Thanks Diane for sharing the “Last Great Race on Earth.”

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The school in California has sent us an image of a quilt square.

View the Virtual Quilt.

Then, create your own quilt square and email the image to us. Watch this quilt grow all year long!

Watch a slide show of images from Quilt 3’s adventure in California.

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Iditarod Traveling Quilts are on the Trail

Diane — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:41:48 +0000

This year, four Iditarod themed quilts will be traveling to schools around the nation. Each month, you’ll be able to read where each quilt has been and learn about the schools and communities that are associated with this project. The quilts will each visit 9 or 10 different schools during the year.

While the quilt is at a school, students are involves in teacher created lessons that help teach and reinforce the content standards that students must learn. The lessons focus on science, math, language arts, or other areas. A scrapbook travels with each quilt, recording memories and lessons of each visit. This scrapbook becomes a traveling teaching tool, too.

The Iditarod Traveling Quilt project is a unique way to help teachers not just ‘cover’ the curriculum, but ‘uncover’ the curriculum in a thematic approach to teaching and learning.

Quilt 1 started this year’s journey by going to North Dakota. In a few days, this quilt will cross the border into South Dakota. While in North Dakota with the teacher and second grade students, it is speculated that Quilt 1 will meet an Iditarod musher. Join us each month to read about Quilt 1’s journey from the Dakotas to Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, Maryland, and North Carolina before joining teachers at the 2010 Summer Camp in June. Quilt 1 was ‘born’ at Iditarod’s Summer Camp for Teachers and will be a featured display at the summer camp and Iditarod’s Volunteer Picnic and 2011 Musher Sign Up.

Quilt 1 was the first Iditarod Traveling Quilt, sewn together by 2006 Teacher on the Trail™ Terrie Hanke.

Quilt 2 began the school year by flying off to Wisconsin. Quilt 2 was created by teachers who attended the 2006 summer conference but was sewn together in Wisconsin. Mrs. Helmke welcomed Quilt 2 ‘home again’ at her school in Wisconsin, the starting place for the 2007 Quilt 2 tour. Mrs. Helmke had this to say,

“HURRAY!!! Quilt #2 has returned home! This is Carol Helmke from Lancaster, Wisconsin, and I am the creator of quilt #2. I am so excited to have quilt #2 home with me for a month!! It has been two years since I have seen the quilt, and it has seen many places and been touched by many hands and hearts:) It brings back many fond memories of my week at the Iditarod Educators’ Conference in June of 2006. All of us had such a good time. I encourage anyone who has not attended to do so. The quilt is such a wonderful memory of that and all that the Iditarod stands for in inspiration and teamwork. The quilt and the accompanying scrapbook is a wonderful way for my class and I to begin this new year. I wish everyone a great school year.”

In the photo, 2002 Teacher on the Trail™ Kim Harrick welcomed the quilt to her school and used it as a visual for classroom presentations and lessons.

When Quilt 2 leaves Wisconsin, it will visit Texas, South Carolina, Utah, New York, and back to Wisconsin.

Quilt 3 headed first to California to visit students at Mrs. Prather’s school where the following was reported:

“Quilt #3 stole the show at “Back to School Night”. It is currently on display in our library. It was introduced to all our 4th grade students yesterday at an assembly where we all watched the Iditarod DVD. Most of those 4th grade students brought their parents into the library to see the quilt. Some students translated, from English to Spanish, so their parents could also learn about the project. We are brainstorming how we want our square to look. We will follow this with making a quilt of our own, which we will send out to all the other 4th grade classes in our District. A list of Iditarod activities has been posted in each 4th grade classroom. Students are invited to choose which one they want to work on. This just keeps getting better and better!“

In this picture, Iditarod Musher Laura Daugereau visited a school to give an assembly for students. She is holding one of her dogs in the photo. If you are interested in having Laura visit your school, contact her.

Quilt 3 will also visit schools in Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, back to California, and on to Mississippi before ending the year’s journey.

Quilt 4 is ‘under construction’ but will begin a journey in October. Where will it be headed? Stay tuned, you’ll soon find that out!

Once October rolls around, you’ll be able to read more about all 4 Iditarod Traveling Quilts. Each month, you’ll be able to follow the progress of each journey and the incredible learning activities that students are involved in while the quilt is in their community.

This picture features one square of the quilt, created by 2001 Teacher on the Trail, Diane Nye, Colorado.

You can also follow the progress of our Virtual Quilt. Send us a digital image of a quilt square from your class and join the project connecting schools around the world in a real time sharing adventure.

Read about the Iditarod Traveling Quilt project. Discover the educational value and earn how to get involved in this project in the future. This project is known for the high impact it has on the students as they study the messages and inspirations found on the squares of each quilt. The project is engaging and fun, but more than that, it is educationally sound because of the educational value each teacher places on the project.

Send an email if you have comments, questions, or wish to be selected to be a part of next year’s project.

Create your own classroom quilt as a theme to what you study in your Iditarod unit or to demonstrate math, science, or other areas of your curriculum. Send us pictures of your quilt and tell us about your project. Share the project and the success that comes from your project.

Discover information about the 2008 Common Thread Quilt project, created by 2008 Target® Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ Jane Blaile. Are you interested in creating and sending a quilt to another school? We’d like to hear your thoughts! Email.

Enjoy this year’s adventures of the Iditarod Traveling Quilts: One, Two, Three, and now….. Four!

This theme connects what teachers teach and students must know in a unique and value way. Jump start your school year by being on the Trail with us!

Quilt 2 in Florida

Diane — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:20:17 +0000

As the quilt arrived at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Rockledge, Florida, the 7^th grade students of Ms. Luchs’ Language Arts class were just getting underway studying up on the Iditarod, reading a news article on Rachel Scodris, and a short story on the Iditarod Trail (about the serum run).

The quilt hung in the classroom a few days for teachers and students to view. The art teacher, Ms. Rogers found it thrilling, and took a square to work on this summer. My 8^th grade students who studied the Iditarod with me the year before were jealous the 7^th graders had this opportunity, but they all took in the messages expressed on the quilt. Keep a look out for the name Austin. Last year Austin really got into learning about the Iditarod, and being the outdoors person that he is – rightfully said to me – “one day I’m going to do this.” And to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t put it pass him.

The 7^th grade students gathered around the quilt read the squares and analyzed the message and purpose each one expressed. They each shared their favorites with their classmates and described why. Many of my students are members of the AVID program and truly enjoyed the diversity the quilt and the Iditarod brought to their lives. They tracked the mushers on the GPS, and kept tabs of the race as Insiders. One of my three 7^th grade classes just happened to be in class when Lance Mackey finished, and got to see it live on the web. However, they truly enjoyed seeing the Iditarod on Versus, and couldn’t get over the conditions the mushers were racing in. My students finished their Iditarod Unit with none other than Jack London’s Call of the Wild.

The Quilt traveled 30 minutes to Merritt Island, Florida to visit Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School of the Arts. While the quilt was visiting Kennedy, my son happened to mention they were finishing a story about a sled dog and studying Alaska. How perfect. So it was arranged to have the quilt visit his class. But instead, it was shared with the entire 2^nd grade. The students and teachers were excited, and had plenty of questions. The teachers are definitely interested to make the Iditarod part of their curriculum.

The reading coach at Kennedy mentioned to Ms. Bonnie Edwards of Tropical Elementary school that I was covering the Iditarod. And one of the quilt squares just happened to belong to Bonnie. So after a quick visit at Stevenson Elementary, the quilt traveled fifteen minutes south in Merritt Island and joined Ms. Edwards and her fifth grade class.

Everyone enjoyed the rounds the quilt made here on the SpaceCoast of Florida.

Wait for it. Wait for it. Wait for it! Watch the pictures in the slide show change!

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Alaska, Iditarod, and the Iditarod Traveling Quilt Inspire Student’s Art

Diane — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:30:01 +0000

The Traveling Quilt project has taken on new energy! Read this letter from an art teacher and discover a great project that you can do with your students. After viewing her student’s work, you’ll be as inspired as we are! To celebrate the talents of these students and students around the world, we’ve developed an exciting project. Be a part of our Iditarod Virtual Traveling Quilt.

We have a hundred requests for our Traveling Quilts to visit schools around the world. It is not possible for the quilts to get everywhere so we invite you to send a quilt square to us— via Internet. Your contributions will be displayed on our website.

**********

Dear Diane,

I was originally in touch with you last January, when — as a volunteer art teacher for a very-talented 1st-grade class in California — I began to excite these 20 kids about Alaska. We decided to create 24 – 11 x 11″ projects, using collage materials, markers, etc. which at completion were mounted on squares of cardboard. Then, I mounted all 24 on 2 - 6-foot wide cardboard tri-fold presentation boards. This was an absolute hit in the school’s annual art show in March.

We could not have done it without the help of one of my sons who is a supervisor for the BLM in Anchorage. Jeff sent us a very generous supply of pamphlets, stickers, etc., & became our leading source of information for a very ambitious project. I’ve put all 24 projects, along with cover page and table of contents into a very “snazzy” booklet. Now, my question is — how could we get back to the Traveling Quilt project idea with these same pieces of artwork (minus the verbiage)? I know that I can transfer the images onto fabric, but would this be an acceptable — or perhaps a new/innovative way to create a quilt for your wonderful program? Please let us know what you think.

Very sincerely,

Audrey Reighley

Volunteer Art Teacher, California

To view Audrey’s project, images of the quilt squares and the information students gathered while doing the project, click here! (PDF DOC)

To learn how you can be a part of the virtual quilt, click here!

Watch the slide show for a view of each square of the quilt.[[Show as slideshow]]

Quilt 3: In New Jersey

Diane — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:51:19 +0000

Quilt arrived in East Windsor, New Jersey, just in time for the start of the Iditarod! Students excitedly “dissected” each quilt square and shared their thoughts on each square’s meaning. Being inquisitive 5^th graders, the students wanted to hear about the “person behind the square” and I happily shared some of my great experiences from Iditarod Summer Camp 2008. The students especially related to my experience of going somewhere far away from home…alone. We had many discussions on how to make new friends, how to learn about a new place, and how to “roll with the punches”, all issues that the students THEMSELVES will have to deal with as they enter middle school in September! Quilt turned into a guidance experience for us! Finally, our highly ,motivated group students then worked on making their own paper quilt squares, representing what our month long study of the Iditarod meant to each of them.

Update: June 2009: The Paper Quilt:

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One Quilt: California and Off to Nome!

Diane — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:01:51 +0000

Del Sur Senior Elementary, February, 2009, Lancaster, CA

Receiving the quilt was another opportunity for my 7^th graders to connect technology to the world around us. As soon as we opened the box, the students gathered around to discover the clues of Quilt’s past and the inspiring messages it offered. While the students took charge of this activity, another student captured our discussion using the FLIP video camera.

Afterwards, our plan was to develop ideas to share the story of the Iditarod and the traveling quilt with the other classrooms within our K-8 campus. One group designed several PowerPoint slides to teach about the Iditarod. Another group helped to create a quilt scavenger hunt activity. Each day the students planned and organized pieces of the interactive lesson.

Our first collaborative lesson was with Mrs. Mekel’s 4/5 combo class. The lesson started with the students tracing both hands on paper and labeling one hand “What I Know” and the other “What I Learned.” My class shared facts about the Iditarod within small groups. The goal of the lesson was to define words related to success, search for synonyms, and brainstorm action words with 3 or more syllables. Students were encouraged to help each other answer the scavenger hunt questions and explore the quilt.

Through our discussions and activities we learned:

“Obstacles are just excuses.” –Isamar R.

“The Iditarod is spectacular. During the gloomy weather, the mushers conquer their fears. They struggle on the dangerous path and care for each dog. The racers see the finish line and sprint as quickly as they can without a panic.”

–Madison S.

“In the Iditarod you have to persevere.”

–Michael H.

Quilt also visited my daughter’s Junior Girl Scout Troop. Several girls said they had read an article about the dog sled race at school. Once the quilt was spread out, the girls sat around the outside to discuss the meaning of each square.

By the end of the month, Quilt also had a visit from Mrs. Krause’s 3^rd grade students and Mrs. Mendes’ 6^th grade students. Mrs. Mendes said her class had read several of Gary Paulsen’s novels, and they were excited to see the author’s signature.

Next, before I sent the quilt off to Nome, my principal Mr. Barker presented me with our school’s Heart of the Dragon Award for using my quilt lessons with Del Sur students.

Thank you Quilt for sharing the spirit of the Iditarod with our classroom. You have taught us the importance of believing that anything is possible if you just set your mind to it.

Best Wishes,

Mrs. Rickert’s 7^th grade class

Click here to view Mrs. Rickert’s lesson plan and information.

View site »

Click here to view a PDF document of Mrs. Rickert’s Powerpoint presentation.

One Quilt in Illinois!

Diane — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:29:06 +0000

We hung the quilt outside our classroom for the middle school to read. We designed a quilt square for a future travelling quilt. The quilt inspired our 7th graders to try one of there own and so during art class they cut quilt pieces and hand sewed them together. They attached this to a blank quilt piece to decorate with something about the Iditarod. Once completed the two classes individual quilt pieces were combined to make one large quilt. As a culmination to our Iditarod unit in March we had a husband and wife come out with sled dogs and equipment to do a presentation to our students. This is the highlight for the students and they look forward to this all year long.
This was a great activity and I am so pleased we were able to receive the traveling quilt at our school.

Debbie
River Forest, Il