One of the things I love most about the Iditarod is the international flavor present at the event. According to Iditarod Race History, mushers from twenty-five countries have participated in the Iditarod. Astronauts from twenty-one countries have visited the International Space Station. So in this sense, the Iditarod has space exploration beat! I thought it …
Calling all classrooms! Our students are the biggest fans and supporters of the race especially of the dogs! The Iditarod Return Dog Team is in need of 300 fleece dog blankets to be used at checkpoints AND to have on hand for dogs returned to Anchorage during the race. While the dogs are being cared …
Teaching is a great example of a shared journey. Each year is a little bit different. We build kinship and camaraderie with our colleagues and team over time. Within our classes, we intentionally build community among our students as the year progresses. The more I learn about the Iditarod, the more I come to …
Updated speaker and schedule information. Learn how to harness the power of the Iditarod and sled dog racing to increase student engagement and drive in your classroom. Add new gear to your classroom sled bag. Broaden your repertoire of Iditarod lessons in a multitude of content areas and across a wide range of age and …
The Iditarod Education Department continues to partner with the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge, an Iditarod qualifier, in developing captivating STEM curriculum tied to both races. Iditarod Teachers on the Trail™️ Jim Deprez (21-22), Heidi Sloan (2018), and Erin Montgomery (2015) will share research based STEM lessons you can use immediately in your classroom. The Idaho …
When my son Andrew was a freshman in high school, he took a course called AP Human Geography that sounded really interesting to me. My curiosity was even more piqued when my next child took the same class. What is this human geography stuff, I wondered? I asked my kids about their assignments, and it …
Learn how to harness the power of the Iditarod and sled dog racing to increase student engagement and drive in your classroom. Add new gear to your classroom sled bag. Broaden your repertoire of Iditarod-themed lessons in a multitude of content areas and across a wide range of age and grade levels. This professional development …
What does it take to prepare for a long mission in an extreme environment? So far in this series, we have compared training for the Iditarod and astronaut training. We have learned about some differences and similarities between sleds and spacecraft. Now it’s time to talk about fuel and food. It must be getting close …
When a class “gels,” it’s a beautiful thing. Students work together willingly and support one another. They get along, and they tolerate one another’s differences. One thing you can do to really move this process along is build a shared culture of stories. For me, that’s sled dog stories. The first sled dog book I …
Dear Friends, Some people think that sled dog teams and their drivers, or “mushers,” just pay $4000 and sign up to race in the Iditarod across Alaska. That isn’t true. There is a rule that says: ROOKIES: report card/assessment forms and rookie reference must be included in order to enter the race. What? Mushers need …
