A Classroom Without Walls: Check out the Checkpoints!

Alaska is bitter cold and has at least 10 feet of snow at all times. Are there any other teachers out there who have students that think this way? Chances are your students also assume that polar bears roam all corners of Alaska. Now is the perfect time to fix some of the major misconceptions that students might have about Alaska, because until last week, Iditarod race officials were contemplating moving the start of the race further north due to the lack of snow. What problems could mushers run into without enough snow? In my classroom, we often look up the weather in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Nome and compare it with the weather and temperature in southern Indiana. Lately, there have been more similarities than differences!

Teams Parked at School Across from Shageluk Checkpoint. Photo Credit: Jeff Schultz

Mushers have been anxiously waiting for a final decision to be made about the route for this year’s race. A possible change in route could mean a change in checkpoints along the route, a change in drop bag preparations, a change in their run/rest schedule. The lesson this month focuses on checkpoints. Students will be able to research the unique Iditarod checkpoints and write an informative composition detailing their findings. This lesson is adaptable to all grade levels. A graphic organizer is attached; however, the information to be researched may need to be adjusted to fit the needs of your students. Access the full lesson here!