Teach and Learn

Engaging lessons based on Insider video clips.


Our four-legged correspondents write for all ages..


Collection of all things Iditarod.

     
     
    
    
    

Latest Teach and Learn Posts

SEL Snack: Native Values and Self-Management

Last month’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) “snack” focused on building Self-Awareness so students can identify big emotions. Now that our learners are more aware of, and can label, their feelings, the task is to figure out what to do about it. To avoid tantrums, freak outs, and meltdowns I provide a framework and tools to …

Attitude Is Everything

It’s hard to believe “All Sass September” is almost over! This means teachers everywhere deserve a pat on the back for making it through those first weeks of school. We’ve tackled tears and tantrums alongside routines and expectations, all while staying cool, calm, and collected (on the outside at least). The initial hurdles have been …

2023 Musher Banquet Centerpiece Project for Students

Teaching Volunteerism The Iditarod takes place because thousands of volunteers play major roles in every aspect of the race and the events that surround it.  Your students can join the team as official “Classroom Volunteers”! Join the annual musher banquet table centerpiece project!   Classrooms will create and send the decorations that will be featured …

It’s All About FUNctional Fitness

We’re off to a great start with our “All Sass September,” so let’s look at one of the factors that contributed to Brent Sass winning the 2022 Iditarod – physical fitness.  As Sass states, “The physical ability of the musher has become a much larger factor in the race over the last 10 years.”  Many …

SEL Snack: Advice From A Champion

A few weeks ago I had the great fortune to interview 2022 Iditarod Champion Brent Sass, and that interview will inform my next few posts – it’s going to be an All Sass September! Brent Sass is no stranger to success; as a three time Yukon Quest champion and six time Iditarod finisher, Iditarod Rookie …

Join Us: 2022-2023 Iditarod Post Card Challenge

We are looking for classes or homeschool families from several states to round out our fourth annual Iditarod Postcard Challenge! If you join the project, you are committing to sending postcards to each class on the list between the start of school and when the first musher leaves the Iditarod starting line on the first …

Iditarod Identity

As I contemplate the beginning of the year I am reminded of all the things I need to incorporate into my curriculum – like SEL and the CR-SE Framework. Yes, I just threw out another acronym, but don’t panic just yet. Like SEL, (see previous post Iditarod Gives All the Feels) the CR-SE Framework enhances …

Getting Started – Iditarod Style

Teachers are returning to the classroom and setting the stage for a year of engaging learning. Some of us have used Iditarod for years, and have a plan to integrate the race into the curriculum. Others are new to using the race in the classroom, and are unsure of how to proceed.   Do you start …

SEL Snack: Iditarod Gives ALL the Feels

As a teacher, it feels like every year there is a new “trend” (and a new acronym) that needs to be integrated into the curriculum. Overwhelmed and frustrated are two emotions I feel when another buzzword comes across my desk or a new pilot program is pitched in an email. It would be easy to …

Classroom Connections: Trailbreakers – Dash & Dot Coding

    This lesson is a very fun STEM project created to relate to the job of the Iditarod trail breakers. Unlike some of the other STEM activities I have posted, this one is much quicker. It can be completed in one (longer) class session.    In this lesson, students work with a certain type of …