Social Studies
“Always striving to find ways to get the trail recognized, another idea was hatched at one of the many meetings. The Iditarod Trail was a mail trail, so why not have each musher carry mail? An arrangement was made with the U.S. Postal Service to carry cachets, packets of letters, over the Iditarod to Nome. …
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 …
Our Virtual Fall Conference this month is focused on technology as teachers around the world are pushing tech to its limits dealing with distance, hybrid, and in person learning, sometimes all at the same time! Technology used by fans, students, and teachers to follow the race has certainly grown and changed over the years. Today, …
In August, the hashtags #womenshistory and #Beyondthe19th were trending. Here’s a little bit of Iditarod #womenshistory for you and your students! Share the primary source with the students and give them some time to examine it on their own. This source is featured in the Iditarod On-Line Museum (click the photo for a larger image). …
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 …
*There’s a big myth and it’s time to bust it! You can help! Myth: Iditarod is run each year to commemorate the Serum Run. Truth: Although that event is an extremely important event in the history of Alaska, the fact is, the founders of the race did not take the Serum Run into account when …
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 …
Each year, through generous donations from businesses and schools, students in need receive new books to read. Most of the schools in need are along the Iditarod Trail or other communities in Alaska, but we try to include schools in need anywhere in the United States this project. We are now accepting applicants from classrooms …
At first thought you may think there is no connection between the Iditarod, a sled dog race in Alaska, and Veterans Day, a day that honors those who have served in our country. However, there quite a few connections. In this lesson your students will explore how they can use the gifts and talents they …
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 …