The Iditarod EDU family has lost some of its biggest legends in the last months. At every conference we lead, when we post the question, “What got you interested in using the Iditarod as a teaching tool?” at least half the room mentions Gary Paulsen and his novel Woodsong. When we ask our returning teachers to name one highlight of Iditarod season with their students, half the room mentions singing Hobo Jim’s Iditarod Trail Song with their students. While we are saddened to say goodbye to these two legends, we are grateful for their work that we can still share with our students every Iditarod season.

Hobo Jim leads the Iditarod Trail Song – Photo:Terrie Hanke

Gary Paulsen, 2009 Photo: Martha Dobson

Here’s a look back at some of our favorite lessons featuring the work of these two legends:

• Hand Washing with Hobo Jim
• Teaching Theme with Hobo Jim
• Iditarod Trail Song in Concert
• Woodsong Novel Study
• Inferring with the Iditarod Airforce (features the novel Hatchet)
• Figurative Language and the Iditarod

“You’re never the same, after you run the Iditarod, and I still lust to go out and run with dogs, even though that I know I shouldn’t. But I’d give just about anything to be able to do it again. To see the horizon again from the back of a dog team would be wonderful.”

-Gary Paulsen