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Reading
As we get closer to halfway through summer, students often need serious inspiration to be motivated to read. The books we have on our Elementary Fiction and Elementary Nonfiction lists are bursting with tales of inspiration, daring, adventure, and acceptance. With beloved characters like Balto and Togo and inspiring new stories like Sled Dog School, …
Summer is ticking along and kids have all kinds of activities going on, but there are always those moments for relaxing, filling time between the water park and the summer movie series, and riding in the car to the next great vacation destination. Or use reading goals to incentivize reading for your student; they will …
On February 7, the Iditarod Education Department launched the new digital version of a favorite Iditarod classroom activity, an Iditaread. Embracing technology and realizing the need for virtual and digital tools for learning, the education department and our technology partners developed version 1 of the IditaRead Digital. And you, our Iditarod teachers, responded immediately and …
The last musher has crossed the finish line in Iditarod 49. And what a race it was this year! Your IditaRead “mushers” may be crossing the finish as well. Here are the PDFs for a black and white or a color finisher’s certificate for you to present to your finishers. Additionally, we want to thank …
For the first time in Iditarod history, the teams will be traveling seven miles southeast from Iditarod to the town of Flat, Alaska. Flat came into existence after the Christmas Day, 1908 Gold Rush on Otter Creek by John Beaton and W. A. Dickeman. Although word of that strike got out slowly, in 1909 more …
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race’s early history is recorded in the incredible book, Iditarod – The First Ten Years. This book is a must own for any educator using the race with students. If you don’t own a copy, we highly suggest you make plans to order a copy today. Lesson plans for classroom …
Photos are a great way to introduce students to reading skills they may be unfamiliar with or need extra practice with prior to using more complicated texts. Moving from photos, to short passages, to longer texts allows students to have a chance to refine their skills and build their confidence. The Iditarod is fortunate to …
Over the summer I did a post about Alaskan animals. I was fascinated by seeing a moose, porcupine, and bear all in one night. After that night, I took what I saw and turned it into a language arts and science lesson. Along the Iditarod trail, and during training, a musher may encounter may different …
Grades 1-4 – Others with modifications For many, the real kickoff to Iditarod Race time is the Junior Iditarod. Introducing the Junior Iditarod to students is a great way to jump start their enthusiasm, as it is sometimes easier for them to relate to the junior mushers who are closer to their own age. …
Grades 5-8 (Lessons could be adapted for other levels) Diamond Willow is a young Alaskan girl of Athabaskan and European descent who wants nothing more than to be allowed to mush her team of dogs alone to her grandparents’ house. When her first solo trip results in a horrible accident that blinds her family’s favorite …