The letter “E” was “everywhere” today! This first day of not visiting schools for presentations has given me a chance to really embrace the idea of the journey ahead. It really began in the night when I woke up realizing my arctic exposed skin needed some moisturization. So, what better time than to experiment with the new Alaska Skin Crack that was gifted to me. (See letter “C” for more info!) Made from moose tallow, I believed this would be an excellent solution. Well… first lesson learned… a little bit goes a long way. Second lesson learned….you will in fact smell like moose fat if you put too much on. Third lesson…. it will melt when it gets warm if you put too much on. After examining several ways to remove it, I accepted that I am now encased, encapsulated, effectively sealed, and completely waterproof for the foreseeable future. After that slight miscalculation though, the day I envisioned did in fact come to be. I was blessed to visit the home of the esteemed and extraordinary Jon and Jona VanZyle. Them taking the time to examine their exceptional artwork with me will forever be etched in my mind. I even got to see numerous paintings tipped on the wall due to a recent earthquake. Watching an enormous bald eagle out their window feed for well over an hour was beyond exciting. They are amazing supporters of education and what we do for students. Attending the Jr. Iditarod meeting with these early learners of mushing was also a fantastic experience. When I reflect on this day, taking a few moments to sit by the frozen lake, examining my thoughts and feelings, the only thing that truly fits is gratitude. Whether is starts with “E” or not, I am just extremely grateful.
H-“E”-re are a few classroom ideas:
- Ears Up- Practice dog commands and have students act out. Make it into a lesson on the types of sentences: statement, question, exclamation, and command.
- Estimate- Use the trail map to estimate distances between checkpoints or how far a musher will travel in a day.
- Equations- Create math word problems using the Iditarod as the theme.
- Evidence- Use Chatgpt to create a passage about the Iditarod at any grade level and use a highlighter to practice comprehension and finding text evidence.
- Economics and Entrepreneur- Create a sled dog business. Decide on a product (booties, dog snacks, sleds, hats, etc.) and practice writing skills by writing an ad for the product. Students could also make a 30 second video commercial.
