Teacher on the Trail™

Engaging lessons based on Insider video clips.


Our four-legged correspondents write for all ages..


Collection of all things Iditarod.

    

    
    
    
    

Latest Teacher on the Trail™ Posts

A Classroom Without Walls: Iditarod Trail Math

**Feel free to scroll to the bottom if you want to jump straight to the attached math lesson plan for September! The checkpoints along the Iditarod trail are more than just pit stops for the mushers and their teams. They’re like little hubs of life and energy in the middle of the vast, frozen wilderness. …

More to Discover- Back to School, Back to Fun!

Teachers everywhere are either busy preparing for a new school year or recovering from the first weeks of school. Our first student day was on August 5th, so I am past the preparation phase and currently recovering. 🙂 As I have mentioned before, I teach in Indiana, where the interstate welcome signs say “More to …

A Classroom Without Walls: Exploring Teamwork Through Mushing (SEL)

**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 …

More to Discover with 2025 Iditarod

Hi! My name is Maggie Hamilton and I am thrilled to be starting my journey as the 2025 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail(TM)! I am a 5th grade teacher at Burris Elementary School in Mitchell, Indiana, and I will be starting my eighth year next month. In my spare time, I enjoy life at home …

“Houston, We Have a Connection:” The Dog Star

Iditarod family, this is my last post as 2024 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. It has been a wonderful ride and a life-changing experience for me. I have so many people to thank: Terrie, Jane, Linda, Erin, Jim, Whitney, Emily, Nicolle, Jennifer, Debski, Josi, Angie, Sara, and many others who took care of me and …

Classroom Culture Has Gone to the Dogs

If you’re like me, you’re happy as a dog with two tails to be on summer break! It’s a great opportunity to refresh and dream of how you will use the Iditarod in your classroom next year. While we teachers have hung up our dog tags for a few weeks, future sled dog champions are being born this month! Go ahead and follow all the mushers on …

“Puppies!” Mushers Inspire Travel with Dogs

Now that the 2024 Iditarod is in the books, mushers everywhere are enjoying the summer with their dogs.  Mamas are giving birth to adorable sled dog puppies. Mushers are traveling with their dogs to provide glacier adventures to tourists or getting additional training in the far north of Alaska.  If you visit the Iditarod Headquarters …

“Houston, We Have a Connection:” A Busy Team is a Happy Team

The end of the school year is SO busy! If you are done with your school year, I hope you are enjoying your well-deserved summer break! If you are like me and have 4 and a half days to go, we can do this.  The key to a successful mission, whether it’s to complete the …

Classroom Culture: Reaching the Finish Line

With the end of the year so close, everyone is feeling all the big feelings—excitement, anxiousness, relief, impatience, and even a tinge of sadness. Our students are definitely feeling this energy too! In this classroom culture post, I want to share some ways that I’m bringing my team to the finish line with activities and …

“Close Encounters:” Studying Animal Behavior with Ethology

This year’s Iditarod is notable for a scary moose encounter. Champion Dallas Seavey was coming down a hill around a blind corner between the Skwentna and Finger Lake checkpoints and a moose was in his path.  This is not the first time moose have attacked sled dogs on the Iditarod Trail. During my time on …