Hi Boys and Girls,

I am having such a good time at the teacher workshop.  This morning we have been learning about the Iditarod and making projects that can be done in your classroom. The teachers were the students. It was so much fun to see teachers on the floor working on their lessons.   

Each table was given a tinker box.  Each box had different materials in it.  With the box was a ring of pictures of objects that could be made with these materials.  It was so much fun to see what was being built.  Two teachers who were given a box of straws and connectors, made a dog house for me.  Look at the picture on the right.  Do you think this house will work for me?  What do you think this house needs?  Check out K9 reporter Sankas’ post for possible questions to keep in mind as you decide if this house is workable as a doghouse. 

Next task was to build an arch using newspaper and connectors in 30 minutes. It was a challenge from a 3^rd grade class in Maryland. It was a group project.  These teachers had to work together and problem solve to make the arch.  Many of the teachers rolled the newspaper and then several built the arch.  What do you think?  Didn’t they do a great job.  They all worked together to accomplish their goal.  Just like you do every day in your class. 

Really look at both these projects.  Do you think you and your classmates could do these jobs using the same materials?  It’s not as easy as it may look.  One thing for sure, if you work together, share ideas, come up with a plan, and then implement that plan, you will be able to achieve your goal.  That’s what I learned today!

Hope your day went well and you’re having fun doing Iditarod projects in your classroom.

See you on the trail.

Gypsy