Author: Martha Dobson (64 posts)


Themes for Litters and Classes

Educators, getting your year underway and finding something to capture your students’ interest–and this is something to use throughout your year–find out about themes for litters of pups and for your class.

Do You Hear…

It’s that time of year, but what is there to hear? Click on Do You Hear to find out what’s to be heard in Education and Iditarod.

What Those Mushing Words Mean

Vocabulary Word List  – Mushing Terms: ATV:  All terrain vehicle.  (You might also hear the word 4 wheeler) Alaskan Husky:  A northern breed of dogs that have the natural traits to stay healthy in Alaska’s climate Big Su:  Refers to the Big Susitna River Boonies:  A non-rural or urban area, generally an area where no …

Tanana and Iditarod 2015

by Martha Dobson Edgar Nollner and Josephine Roberts. Father and daughter. Volunteers working in Tanana were thrilled to meet Josephine, now 93, who was a 3 year old when her father, Edgar, ran one of the relay legs of the 1925 Serum Run to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, combating the epidemic there. The first …

Introducing…Huslia and Koyukuk

by Martha Dobson For the first time in Iditarod race history, Huslia (HOO-slee-uh), hosts the race’s halfway checkpoint in 2015. Considering the village’s mushing history, how appropriate that the race turn north from Galena to this village on the banks of the Koyukuk River. A village of around 300 people, well-known names in the world …

Introducing…Nenana, Manley Hot Springs and Tanana

by Martha Dobson Iditarod 2015 sees five unique checkpoints on the trail. First on the list is Nenana, the checkpoint teams go through after leaving Fairbanks. Travelers can reach Nenana via air, water, or road. Russian traders began trading as early as 1838 with the native people there. Nenana represents the westernmost edge of the …

Compare and Contrast: Two Great Races

Two great races, the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race™, are the basis for this compare/contrast article for middle school students.Higher order thinking skills get exercised and flexed in this lesson. It’s also a good article for adult readers to use to see how these races are similar and different and how …

Iditarod BINGO

“There was a musher, had a dog, and Bingo was his name-o…” Borrowed from the old English folk tune. Use this game to get familiar with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race or to review what students know about the race by asking a question about the word you pull from the bag. Materials: BINGO …

Book Traces the First Ten Years of Iditarod

Book Traces the First Ten Years of the Iditarod–Iditarod The First Ten Years  An Anthology Compiled by the Old Iditarod Gang Book Review by Martha Dobson If  you’re fascinated by this race, then you need to read Iditarod The First Ten Years. Dedicated to the volunteers who dreamed this race into being and to the …

Iditarod at Your Fingertips

While you’re tapping your computer keys, exploring the Iditarod website with your fingertips, click on the Education tab to visit the Education Portal.You’ll find sleds full of lessons, books, and activities for your students. Click here to get started.