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Tips and Tools
By Nikki Allen, Finalist for Target®2010 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ Ask any musher what the Iditarod is all about and they will likely say, “It’s about the dogs.” These very special athletes are what draw us to the race. From the very beautiful, but slightly slower, Siberian huskies, to the faster mixed breeds called …
Sarah Mishlera and students at Chestnut Ridge Middle School in Pennsylvania received notification this week that their Iditarod project is a winner in curriculum contest to demonstrate 21st Century Teaching and Learning. During this year’s Iditarod, Herb Brambley, Target® Iditarod 2010 Teacher on the Trail™ communicated via Skype with this classroom as part of the …
Real or Virtual? It is Hard to Tell! By Laura Collins, Ohio One of my gifted 6th grade students’ favorite Iditarod activities is to create “virtual dog teams”. Students produce an informational document about their “kennel”, with highlights about the 16 dogs on their “Iditarod team”. We do all of this on the computers, so …
Without adequate dog care, marathon racing such as the Iditarod would not be possible. These athletes receive top quality care before and during the race. The dogs are trained for months before the race season starts. They are conditioned in a variety of terrains to prepare for different challenges. These dogs receive high quality kibble …
By Blynne Froke, Finalist for Target’s ® 2012 Teacher on the Iditarod Trail ™ The real purpose of education in the United States, when it became compulsory in the early 1900s was to produce workers for the growing number of factories that the Industrial Revolution had created. They needed workers that could be counted on …
Dictionary.com defines opportunity as a good chance for success. Opportunities aren’t always apparent to us. Sometimes we have to look for them. When someone asks you to participate in an activity that you haven’t tried before it is easy to decline. This week I was given the opportunity to go for a sled dog ride. …
Dropped dogs are dogs that are removed from the race for one reason or another. A dog that isn’t feeling well, has an injury, isn’t running well, is in season, or just doesn’t have the attitude to race, are ‘dropped’ at checkpoints along the Iditarod Trail. Veterinarians at each checkpoint are on duty to examine …
Iditarod is successfully used in all 50 states (and many foreign countries) as a tool to help students meet academic goals and learn their basic skill. Preschool through university level teachers use the race with students. Private schools, public schools, and home school families use the race as a teaching tool. Take a look at …
By Sally, Indiana I use a cross-curricular approach to teaching the Iditarod. I begin this unit in January using many of my own photographs and personal knowledge of Alaska (I’ve been there several times and LOVE it) Language arts includes the children reading chapter books such as “Balto”, “Stone Fox’, and “Snow Dogs! Racers of …
Faces of The Last Great Race on Earth by Amy Strine What is your passion in life? Have you asked yourself that question lately? Dr. Al Townshend of Eagle Pack Pet Foods, Inc. did several years ago. His answer may have even surprised himself. Dr. Townshend had a private veterinary practice for 33 years in …