**Feel free to scroll to the bottom if you want to jump straight to the attached SEL lesson plan for August!

It’s a new school year, which means a new group of students who get to learn through the world of mushing. I love new beginnings and each year I enjoy growing from the previous year. This will be year number 8 for me in 5th grade and this year my team is trying something new. We are going from self-contained classrooms to specialized classrooms. This school year I will be teaching my two favorite subjects: math and social studies, so be prepared for a little extra passion in those lesson plans!

The theme of my lesson plans this year will be “A Classroom Without Walls”. Back story- when I was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Teacher on the Trail™, the students and staff at my school in Mitchell, Indiana, shared my excitement in numerous ways. The day I left for Alaska, all the staff members in my building (including my principal, superintendent, and assistant superintendent!) surprised me by wearing shirts to show their support of Team Hamilton! On the front of the shirt, it says “Iditarod: A Classroom Without Walls”… how perfect is that? I love the truth behind the statement. I use the Iditarod to teach the standards. It’s more fun that way! 🙂

Iditarod- A Classroom Without Walls! Photo Credit: M. Hamilton

Let’s get to the August Social Emotional Learning lesson! At the beginning of the school year, many teachers put a heavy emphasis on teamwork and team building activities, especially in the elementary classrooms. SEL is becoming more and more encouraged across the curriculum. Students learn important tools to be successful in life’s many challenging moments. This lesson gives students the intentional time to analyze the importance of teamwork within a dog sled team. Students then have the opportunity to compare and contrast teamwork through mushing and teamwork in the classroom. Lower elementary students can easily participate in this lesson with a more basic approach to the group work and presentation. High school students could explore teamwork in a workplace, in the government, in a variety of sports, or even internationally.

I highly recommend using this video at the beginning of the lesson. The video was taken at Turning Heads Kennel, owned by Travis Beals and Sarah Stokey, during the 2024 Winter Iditarod Educators Conference. The video shows Travis preparing his team for a practice run. Students should note that the team is barking like crazy until Travis gives the command to start their run… then the dogs are silent and ready to work!

Sebastien Dos Santos Borges – Teamwork climbing off the Kuskokwim River. Photo Credit: Terrie Hanke

If you don’t get to try this lesson at the beginning of the year, think of all the times that a refresher on the importance of teamwork would be beneficial: after a long break, at the beginning of 2nd semester, when students are having trouble getting along, etc. Access the full lesson here. Send your thoughts, questions, and ideas to emailtheteacher@iditarod.com. I look forward to hearing from you!