IDITAROD & ALASKA

Lesson 1:
 

  1. Origins of the Iditarod:

    1. What is it? 

Lesson 2:

  1. Mushers:

    2.  
    1. Who are they?

      2.  
        * Race Behind the Race

        * Terminology

        * Story of the Widow's Lamp &
        The Story of the Red Lantern

        * What does "Iditarod" mean?

        * Mushing Basics

    2. Watch the Video: 

      3. Alaska's Great Race: The Susan Butcher Story
       
    3. Have child choose 2-3 mushers to keep daily statistics of (or more if they want the challenge!). The biographies of the Mushers are found on the Official Iditarod Website. Some of the Mushers also have links to their own personal websites where you can get to know them upclose and personal, from home life and preparation for the race to the life of each individual dog!

      4.  
        * Official Iditarod Website
      Print off 2-3 Daily Statistic Sheets per Musher  and observe how Mushers report in & out of checkpoints. This is how you will be filling out these sheets. Some math will be required on your own. Older children can figure the time and distance differences. Younger children will need your help.
       
        * Musher's Daily Statistic Sheets


      Have your child e-mail a note of support to the Musher. Most of them will post an e-mail address with their biography. We received replies, one the next day and one when the race was over. This is a good opportunity to practice letter composition and language skills.

Lesson 3:

  1. Musher Diary:

    2.  
    1. Have the child choose a Musher to keep a daily diary of, or have them pretend they are a Musher and keep a daily log of events that would happen to them. Review descriptions of the trail to give an overview of obstacles, markers, and atmosphere, as well as background to the checkpoint locations themselves. Besides being interesting reading, they can help spark creative juices when children need to write daily entries into their diaries. 

      2.  
        *Iditarod Trail Descriptions
  2. Preparing for Cold Weather:
      3.  
    1. The Alaska climate can be bitterly cold and harsh during the winter months, and the exposed Mushers have to battle the elements (often -50°) for hours at a stretch.

      2.  
      1. Research how insulation helps keep you warm and why many animals have a tremendous amount of body fat to survive in cold climates. What is hypothermia?

        2.  
          Experiment:

          Supplies: 

          • 3 - gallon size ziplock baggies (quart size will work if the childs hand can fully fit into it)
          • vegetable shortening
          • a pitcher of ice cold water

          Instructions: 

          * Take one baggie and place approx. 1 cup of shortening into the bottom of the bag. Take a second baggie and turn it inside out. Place the second baggie inside the first one with the shortening in it, and zip the two bags to each other. The result should be a "mitt" with shortening between the two baggies. Spread the shortening so that it fills the inside of the mitt, where the childs hand would be. 

          * Have the child place his or her hand in the third baggie and immerse it in the cold water. The hand should stay dry, but feel quite cold. Now have the child place their hand in the shortening mitt and immerse it in the cold water. Is there a difference? How long can they keep their hand there until they feel coldness?
           

      2. What would the Mushers wear in these temperatures? What would they sleep in? Is there any special considerations for the dogs in this weather? (booties) 
          3.  
      3. Take this opportunity to research polar bears, penguins, whales and other arctic creatures that rely on their body fat to survive the frigid temperatures.
Insulation "mitt" illustrating how 
body fat protects us from the cold
    Watch the Video The Long Run: Iditarod XX  as a Family

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