The Amazing Race: the Iditarod

On March 3, scores of mushers and their dog teams will kick off the 39th Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska. The mushers come from all walks of life – farmers, veterinarians, lawyers, biologists, etc. The race is not for the faint of heart, covering 1,049 miles of inhospitable terrain in often hazardous weather conditions. Portions of the race course follow centuries-old Native American trails, which were later used by fur traders and speculators in the Alaska gold rush in the 19th century. Dog sleds were originally used on the trails out of necessity, to deliver supplies between settlements and trading posts as Alaskan seaports became icebound in winter.

Perhaps the most famous event using dog sleds occurred in 1925, when a diphtheria epidemic threatened native populations in Alaska. A Norwegian musher named Gunnar Kaasen delivered antitoxin serum to Nome, and he and his lead sled dog Balto became instant celebrities. Balto in particular became a symbol of mushing and sled dogs everywhere, and has been immortalized in stories ever since. Yet, while the Iditarod was originally conceived as a way to honor mushers and their dog teams, the event is not without controversy. Animal rights groups roundly criticize the race, citing the harsh environmental conditions and the methods of some mushers as cruel. While an Iditarod committee does monitor the dogs’ health, it’s not uncommon for some dogs to die during the event. So, is the Iditarod an honorable sporting event steeped in history, or an outdated entertainment that exploits dutiful animals? This is a good question to present to students (particularly older ones) for them to debate and perhaps create position papers or projects for.

The Iditarod also presents myriad opportunities for lessons across many subject areas. Students can track the mushers’ progress on maps and learn about that day’s weather conditions, terrain, and the general ecosystem. Daily miles can be tallied, as well as the distance covered by various teams, and how much farther they have to go. Statistics on various legs of the race can be calculated, and predictions made based on the information that students have recorded. Books such as The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto and Woodsong, Gary Paulsen’s recounting of his Iditarod experience, allow students to vicariously experience some of the challenges and hardships inherent in dog sled racing, and address a host of literacy skills as well.

This week I’ve selected three Iditarod-themed resources for various grade levels, and we’ll be featuring many more Iditarod resources over the course of the week on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Many of the resources can be adapted for different ages and ability levels, so be sure to check those pages. Users who register on the Gateway can also rate and comment on lesson plans, cite any adaptations they’ve made to the lessons, or pose questions to other educators who have also used that resource. Also, be sure to check out Peggy’s column this week, as she presents lots of ideas on how to use these Iditarod resources and others in the classroom. A link to her column appears below.

The Last Great Race
Subjects: Geography, Language Arts
Grade: 3
In this lesson, students examine reasons why some people participate in the Iditarod dog sled race. Students will explore the historical significance of the Iditarod, and research related topics such as diseases (diphtheria), the geography of Alaska, and dog training. Students will develop a presentation using PowerPoint graph to be presented to the class. One of the things that I like most about this lesson is the breadth – students have a wide range of topics to explore, and the subject of dogs is always a crowd-pleaser with younger ages. This resource is presented by the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. CESA serves 29 school districts in west central Wisconsin, and offers educational resources, professional development programs, and support to educators.

The Iditarod, One’s Will to Survive
Subjects: English Language Arts, Geography, Physical Education
Grade: 6
This cross-curricular unit is most effectively used in late February and early March during the Iditarod Dog Sled Race. Students keep electronic journals as they reflect upon and compare Gary Paulsen’s Woodsong and Natalie Standiford’s “The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto”, two books that deal with sled dogs. Students will then follow and log an Iditarod musher’s progress throughout the Iditarod race, and engage in other activities that revolve around the race. Finally, students will take part in a survival course at a local gym to see what their physical limitations are, and how strong their will is to "survive." I like the cross-curricular nature of this resource, as it addresses language arts, geography, and physical education skills. I particularly like the outward-bound aspect of the physical education component, which should appeal to most students and help to illustrate some of the perseverance necessary to engage in challenging events. This unit is offered by Connected Learning, a project of Madison-Oneida BOCES, a New York state cooperative service organization that helps schools to save money by pooling resources and sharing costs.

Women of the Iditarod
Subjects: Statistics
Grade: 5-12
In this lesson, students learn to isolate data with a specific purpose and use that data in a variety of ways including calculating percentages, graphing and analyzing the data for a particular audience. The lesson uses data from the Iditarod sled dog races. I especially like that this lesson focuses on the two women who have won the Iditarod to date (one of them four times), and that the lesson can be adapted for younger and older students alike. This lesson is offered by the official site of the Iditarod, which in the past has offered many lesson plans and teacher resources.