These lessons are in PDF format. The lessons can be adapted to any grade level.
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Iditarod and the Science of Force by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™
Use the Iditarod XXXV DVD in your classroom to show the beauty, wonder, intensity, and reality of the race. Here’s a way to use it to illustrate some physical science concepts. As your students are watching, pause the DVD and ask them to point out examples of these things. (Use the race DVD from any selected year or use Iditarod Insider video clips.) This lesson is for any grade level.
Iditarod and the Science of Force
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Leaping to a Healthy Heart by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™
All Iditarod sled dogs must undergo veterinary examinations to make sure they are 100% healthy to race. A key component of this is the condition of their hearts. This lesson can be used at any grade level.
- Leaping to a Healthy Heart
- Worksheet: Leap Olympics Checklist
- Worksheet: Leap Olympics Events
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A Sled Dog’s First Year by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™
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Students will learn how a sled dog grows up and what it learns in its first year of life. Discipline / Subject: math, science, social studies, art, reading – varies with activity teacher develops. Topic: the growth and development of a sled dog pup referenced to its age in its first year of life. Grades 1 – 3
- New Year – a sled dog pup’s first year (science)
- Worksheet: sled dog pup first year synopsis
- Worksheet: sled dog pup math problems
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Halloween Musher Costume by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™
Lesson Summary: Students will experiment with different articles of winter clothing to determine which are warmest. Then students will learn the necessary layers of clothes a musher wears, a “costume”, to survive Arctic elements during the Iditarod. (Sometimes mushers in full gear certainly look like they are in a costume! This lesson can be adapted and used during other months.) Topic: heat transfer/insulation, grades 3 – 8
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- Halloween – Musher Costume (science)
- Worksheet: Musher Costume Investigation Lab Sheet
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Is it Still Summer? Developed by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™
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Students compare how long they “feel” seasonal weather compared to the calendar seasons and how long people “feel” seasonal weather in Alaska. Topic: comparing local seasonal weather to the calendar and to Alaskan seasonal weather. Science, writing, grades 3 – 8
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- Is It Still Summer? (seasons)
- Worksheet: seasons activity
Arctic Animal Trading Cards by Jane Blaile, Teacher on the Trail™
Lesson Summary: Following an introduction to Alaskan animals, students will research further information and make trading cards of the animals and facts about them. Topic: animals of Alaska, science, art, and writing, grade 2 – 8
- Arctic Animal Trading Cards (science)
- Worksheet: trading card pattern
- Worksheet: trading card rubric
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There’s a Moose on the Loose! Developed by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™
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Lesson Summary: Students will use data on moose measurements to construct a life-sized moose through researching, designing a model, and building it. Topic: moose and their body structure and size, math and science, grades 5 – 8
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- There’s a Moose on the Loose! (models)
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Investigative Reporters by Jane Blaile, 2008 Teacher on the Trail™
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Lesson Summary: Students work in small groups to research a science topic for a class presentation. Topic: various depending on what topics are offered as choices, science, grades 5 – 8
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- Investigative Reporters (science)
- Worksheet: example guidelines
- Worksheet: investigative reporters rubric
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Alaskan Beanie Classification by Kim Slade, 2007 Teacher on the Trail™
Lesson Summary: Students classify animals that live in their area and in Alaska using a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast characteristics. Animal Classification, Science, Grades 1 – 7
- Alaskan Beanie Classification
- Worksheet: Animal Information Sheet
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Arctic Days by Kim Slade, 2007 Teacher on the Trail™
After reading the book Arctic Lights: Arctic Nights, students will track and record times for sunrise, sunset, as well as the average high/low temperatures on the twenty-first of each month. They will create models in order to examine the relationship the earth and sun have on seasonal change and the length of day. (Book by Debbie S. Miller) Topic: Dynamics of light in Alaska, Language Arts, Science, Grades 3 – 6
- Arctic Days
- Worksheet: Arctic Days Record Sheet
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One Small Square by Kim Slade, 2007 Teacher on the Trail™
Lesson Summary: After making One Small Square frames, students will explore habitats by taking a close look at one small
square of Earth at a time. Topic: Observation and Comparison, Multidisciplinary, Any Grade Level
- One Small Square
- Worksheet: One Small Square Pictures
