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Geography
Restart? How can a race have two starts? This is more than I can wrap my young dog brain around! It’s true though; Iditarod has TWO starts – the CEREMONIAL START in Anchorage and then on the following day the RESTART in Willow. Some folks refer to it as the REAL START. Once the teams …
One day this fall, Handler came into the dog yard and said, “Hey big dogs, do you want to hear about Anchorage and the Ceremonial Start?” We answered, “YES” with a loud and enthusiastic howl. Handler sat on the roof of my doghouse and this is what she told us. On the first Saturday morning …
How do you say Shaktoolik? I’m not sure if I’m saying Unalakleet correctly and how cold does it get in Unalakleet? What about Koyuk? I get these types of questions on a regular basis. Seems like it might be useful to create a guide with pronunciations and pertinent information for teachers and students. So …
Something that every Iditarod Rookie looks forward to is “earning his or her buckle.” Each Iditarod finisher is awarded a brass finisher’s belt buckle upon the completion of their first race signaling that they are a rookie no more! In the early days of the race, the Nome Kennel club wanted to do something to …
Many teachers always comment that they want to incorporate the Iditarod all year, but they don’t know how. As a result, the Iditarod makes it into their classroom for a small amount of time. It is very possible to teach the Iditarod year round while still teaching your other curriculum. My students are currently studying …
Investigating the Surface of the Iditarod Trail by Kelly Shusko, Colonial School District, Delaware *This lesson was created for Kindergarten students but is applicable for other grade levels. Standards and Application of lesson: Stem/Science/Social Studies- Geography, Social Emotional Learning The purpose of this lesson is to have students plan and carry out an investigation about …
Map Resources for Your Classroom Iditarod Trail Map This Iditarod Trail map, both the northern and southern route map, can be downloaded and printed out. Maps for northern and southern routes Maps for the northern and southern trails along with trail descriptions can be found at this link. Map of Alaska or Other States. Choose …
Map reading skills are an essential skill for anyone to have, but in the Iditarod, it is extremely important that the mushers are able to guide the dogs to the next checkpoint and, ultimately, to Nome. While there are thousands of trail markers along the way, it is imperative for mushers to understand the route map and …
Sixteen rookies earned their Iditarod finisher’s belt buckle in the 2016 Iditarod. Many of the veterans at the banquet in Nome were wearing belt buckles earned in their rookie run. Iditarod XLIV is in the history books now. Already mushers and race planners are looking forward to the 45th running of The Last Great Race® …
Monica Zappa brought her dog team to Nome today in 47th place. She’s run the race three times and placed 47 in each race. While her place has been the same, she’s improved her time by a day in each of her three trips to Nome. Monica gives her leader Blue Steel some serious love …