This project is just that! As the name alludes to, this STEM project is modeled after the March Madness college basketball tournament. This lesson is one of my students’ favorites each and every year and it is the perfect activity for the last week of class before spring break, as a wrap-up to our Iditarod unit. Here is how the lesson works…

The students are given a sled base and put into groups of about 4 students. These groups are challenged to design and build a sled in a derby style race. Teams are first asked to submit a blueprint to the teacher for approval prior to the building process along with an agreed upon team name (which gets very creative and interesting sometimes). The sled base is provided for each team, and then the construction is completely up to the teams. They are asked to use what they have learned about the scientific method, friction and weight distribution to design, build, test (redesign & rebuild during practice sessions) before race day. Each group chooses materials from a provided set of options from which to build their sled. During the design process, teams will research different sled designs after which to model theirs. 

There are a few requirements, however. Each team must be able to carry a returned dog (also provided by the teacher) and 3 of the required gear items in their sled without spilling anything. We use the Iditarod website to talk about the required gear and also watch this video from Dallas Seavey to allow students to see the requirements in more detail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9BOZI-ihmo The gear that students  choose must also be created from the provided materials. Competitions are based on which sled goes the farthest distance and/or which is the fastest to the bottom. The ramp I use is about 9 feet long and has 3 chutes. (An alternate idea is to use a long table with 2 legs removed). 

Finally, each team is put into a random bracket style tournament until the winner is crowned. Winning teams are given a medal for their accomplishments. Upon completion of the race, students complete a brief assessment of their group.

The winning sled

Teachers: Click here for the full lesson plan: Mush Madness.docx

Connecting with Classrooms: 

In checking back in with other teachers around the country, Ginger from Missouri sent this culminating activities she did with her students to honor the aforementioned Dallas Seavey’s 5th win. Here is her brief recap.

“We had our Musher Banquet for the classroom mushers who researched and predicted that Dallas Seavey would win the 2021 Iditarod. Not only did they have to predict the winner, but they had to keep up with their Iditarod journal every day throughout the race, read 2 daily race news articles, watch at least 1 musher video on the trail and summarize this current race news. No missing assignments. No late work. This Insider Ultimate gave us prime video access to the sleds and it was like we were actually there! But the biggest, hugest thank you goes to the students in Room 148. I wouldn’t want to classroom mush with anyone else in the world! It was so exciting to watch Dallas Seavey cross the finish line on the big screen in our classroom.”

As an added bonus, each of Ginger’s students received their own signed copy of Dallas’ book, Born to Mush. What a meaningful way to celebrate all their hard work!