Do you follow the Iditarod in the classroom? If not, you should! The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is known as The Last Great Race on Earth. This is the most engaging social studies activity my students learn about all year! If you aren’t familiar with the race, it is a dog sled race across Alaska that is nearly 1,000 miles long. It is a fun event to learn about and thrilling to follow!
Preparing to Follow the Iditarod
Preparation for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is important to successfully follow the race. Iditarod.com is the absolute best resource for preparing and following the race. Here are the steps that will allow for a successful follow:
- Look up checkpoints for the current year race (Northern or Southern route).
- Make a large map for students to track their dogs along the different checkpoints during the live race.
- Print Musher Profile pictures and cut them out.
- Have each student choose a different Musher to follow.
- Put student and musher names on small dogs to track across the large map.
- Put the dogs in Anchorage at the starting line.
- Make pennants to hang up that will help cheer on your musher.
Following the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
As the race begins on the first Saturday in March, students start following on Monday after the race starts. The website Iditarod.com has current standings throughout the race. It is free to use and students can record the results on an Iditarod Tracker. An Iditarod Tracker records the date, position in race, current checkpoint, number of dogs, and miles per hour traveled. Teach students to find the Current Race Standings so they can see where there musher is in the race. Students love checking to see where there musher is each day throughout the race. Students are excited to get to school, they get their Chromebooks out before the backpacks come off their backs. They can’t wait to fill in their Iditarod Tracker!
Writing About the Iditarod
During the race, students continue to learn about their mushers by completing a Musher Profile and Pennant. They write facts about their mushers, such as how many years of experience they have and their hobbies outside of dog sled racing. The students also put facts on the pennants that hang in class, including where they live and their bib number for the current race. Decorating with pennants and maps makes it a more engaging and real experience for the students.
After showing a peaceful video of mushers racing across Alaska in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, just mushers with with their dog teams, kids write. They imagine themselves being that musher, alone with their dogs in the peaceful and breathtaking wilderness. They watch the entire video (a few minutes) without talking and visualizing being there running the race with just their dog team. After watching the video in silence, their minds are filled with ideas to write what it would be like. They answer questions such as:
- What would you do?
- What would you see?
- What would you like?
- What would be challenging?
- How would you feel?
With planning, you can also write letters and send notes to the mushers. Some mushers actually write back to students and how exciting is that? It’s so neat that mushers take time to write kids back that have followed them throughout the race.
Reporting About the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Take learning a step further and give kids a chance to teach and report on the Iditarod. Many kids love the opportunity to spread the news. Consider setting up a news reporting wall where kids can report the news. A microphone and movie set clapper makes it even more real and fun.
Reflecting About the Iditarod
As the race comes to an end, the last student in the race is awarded with the Red Lantern award for persevering to finish the race. A real paper red lantern is presented along with an award for the first place finisher. Now, the light on the red lantern is turned off and the race is officially over. It’s time for students to reflect on the successes and challenges of the race.
If you are looking for an unforgettable social studies activity to do in the classroom year after year, this is event is worth following. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is one kids do not forget learning about. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is truly The Last Great Race on Earth.
For resources to enhance your Iditarod experience in the classroom, check out this super cute resource on TeachersPayTeachers. The resources include race pennants, race log or Iditarod tracker, musher profile, non-fiction passage, vocabulary, writing activities and a daily teaching guide. It even includes Google slides to help you follow the race successfully.
