Teach and Learn

Engaging lessons based on Insider video clips.


Our four-legged correspondents write for all ages..


Collection of all things Iditarod.

  • Mathematical Reasoning and Critical Thinking ~ by Kathy Thompson

    Paw Print = Anchorage ~ Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk Exploration Feeling ~ Day Two = Reflective Today we traveled to the Potter Marsh Wildlife located at the southern end of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge with Sara Lamont.  My head was spinning with a ton of math ideas as I looked at each angle ...

     
     
    
    
    

Latest Teach and Learn Posts

3D Sled Designs

Technology at its finest. Lesson plan submitted by Kelly Searson, I.C.E. certified teacher. Click on each link for the lesson plan and 2 movie demonstrations. 3D Sled Designs Lesson Plan Movie 1 Movie 2  

Tracking Forms! Follow the Mushers During this Race. Collect Data.

Following the race is exciting for students. To keep track of musher progress and other data during the race as mushers travel from checkpoint to checkpoint, use one of our sample tracking forms that are listed on this page or create a chart to gather the data you want students to collect. During odd numbered …

“Trail Mail:” Developing Persuasive Writing

Think of a time when you had to persuade someone to do something or think a certain way.  What strategies did you use? Was it easy or difficult? Did you have to think about which examples or reasons were the most important? Last week, I attended a fundraiser for a very special place in our …

Finalists Are Selected – Who Will be the 2025 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™️?

Teachers from around the world apply for the Iditarod Teacher on the Trail position.  What is that like, exactly?  The process is long and complex starting with a portfolio submission, due December 1,  which includes showcase lessons, experiences and background that are helpful to performing the tasks of the Teacher on the Trail, letters of …

“What are They Wearing?” Bring the Iditarod to Life with a Living Museum

What would it be like for your students to become a musher for a day? Or to transform into the race marshal, a pilot, or dog handler? How would they feel to wear what Iditarod volunteers wear, to speak as they do, and to inhabit their experiences?  This lesson, “Iditarod Living Museum,” is a close …

“Denali Highway:” Examining Iditarod Photographs Using Elements of Art

What do you picture when you think about the Iditarod? If you have never seen this amazing event in person, you rely on photos and videos taken by others. Spectators who have experienced the Last Great Race might show you their snapshots of a dogsled traveling over sparkling snow, the fur on the dogs’ bodies …

2024 Educational Trail Mail Design Winner Announcement

Just like the mushers of the Iditarod, Karlyn T. of WY showed perseverance and has been selected as the artist for the 2024 Trail Mail envelopes.  Karlyn entered last year’s Trail Mail design contest as well and was a top finalist. Meeting and exceeding the criteria of content and artistic aptitude, this 13 year old’s …

Updated 2024 Winter Conference Information

Updated speaker and schedule information. Learn how to harness the power of the Iditarod and sled dog racing to increase student engagement and drive in your classroom.  Add new gear to your classroom sled bag.  Broaden your repertoire of Iditarod lessons in a multitude of content areas and across a wide range of age and …

“Houston, We Have a Connection:” Food and Fuel

What does it take to prepare for a long mission in an extreme environment?  So far in this series, we have compared training for the Iditarod and astronaut training. We have learned about some differences and similarities between sleds and spacecraft.  Now it’s time to talk about fuel and food. It must be getting close …

Classroom Culture: Stories to Unite Your Class

When a class “gels,” it’s a beautiful thing.  Students work together willingly and support one another.  They get along, and they tolerate one another’s differences.  One thing you can do to really move this process along is build a shared culture of stories.  For me, that’s sled dog stories. The first sled dog book I …