Sled Dogs as Teachers

Teachers: need a fun topic to draw your class in? Especially during testing time?

This Friday (March 6) begins the Iditarod—one of the hardest, longest, and most well-known of the sled dog races that take place annually in the United States (there are over one hundred annual races, including ones in Arizona).

Being from Chicagoland, until recently, I had only heard the word Iditarod but knew nothing about the sport. After doing sled dog research for my book Famous Firsts (about the history of various sports in the U.S.), I was hooked (or ganglined!). I tried to learn everything I could about sled dog racing, including attending some local sled dog demos and an actual race in the Wisconsin Dells (highly recommended). There are great resources out there on the mushers and the races (but be prepared to want to mush yourself afterward).

Now, back to the teaching part. I’m personally bummed that I’m not currently teaching, as I’d love to get my class as excited about the Iditarod as I am. There are so many ways to tie sled dog racing into learning. The Iditarod’s official website has lots of resources for teachers, which I encourage you to check out: http://iditarodblogs.com/teachers/. Here are some I’ve come up with as well:

• Learning about the state of Alaska, including the geography, climate, and culture


• Learning about the history of sled dogs (before racing) and how dogs and sleds were used to transport people, mail, and, goods


• Reading online biographies about the mushers (on the Iditarod website, they also have information on writing to mushers—another good curriculum tie)


• The physics of a team of sled dogs pulling weight


• Using math to figure out percentages and fractions for comparing various numbers, such as number of mushers from Alaska vs. rest of U.S.; number of mushers from U.S. vs rest of world; number of veteran vs newcomers; and number of women vs men


• Creating organized data charts for information, such as dropped dogs or speed each particular musher goes to each checkpoint


• History of the race


• Exploring what materials would be best to stay warm out in the cold (science)


• Reading about and creating a Venn diagram on different types of dogs used for sled dog racing (and it’s not just Huskies and Malamutes)


• Inventing equipment for sled dog racing


• Writing a short narrative from the perspective of a lead dog, a point dog, a wheel dog, and the musher


• The Iditarod will also be using GPS tracking so you and your class can follow the mushers as they go along the trail. Although the race begins this Friday, you have plenty of time to get your materials together for this unit as it usually lasts ten to seventeen days.
  

Another excellent race to follow with your class (next year) is the Yukon Quest, which occurs each February. It is a 1,000-mile race that travels from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse in Yukon, Canada. It also has great coverage on their website, as well as through Facebook. The link for their official page is http://www.yukonquest.com/.

Here are some great resources I have read/watched:

• Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod (a Discover Channel documentary) I would think kids would really enjoy this as well. However, it’s quite lengthy (I think close to 6 hours?). You could show during lunch and recess for those interested. Be sure to preview first to make sure suitable.


• Cold Hands, Warm Heart: Alaskan Adventures of an Iditarod Champion by Jeff King (4 time winner of the Iditarod and 1 time winner of the Yukon Quest)


• Iditarod Country: Exploring the Route of the Last Great Race by Tricia Brown (for kids)
  
• My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen (for kids)


• Dashing Through the Snow: The Story of the Junior Iditarod by Sherry Shahan


• Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen


• Honest Dogs: A Story of Triumph and Regret from the World’s Toughest Sled Dog Race by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue


• The Iditarod Fact Book: A Complete Guide to the Last Great Race by Sue Mattson
  
• Backstage Iditarod by June Price


• Mush! A Beginner’s Manual of Sled Dog Training Edited by Charlene G. LaBelle


• The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller (for kids)


• Coming out this month: The Lance Mackey Story: How My Obsession with Dog Mushing Saved My Life By Lance Mackey (3 time winner of the Iditarod and 4 time winner of the Yukon Quest)
  
  Here are the books the Iditarod recommends: http://iditarodblogs.com/teachers/iditarod-books/

Photo at top of page by Paul Retherford Photography, LLC. http://www.PaulRetherford.com