We Iditarod, Do You?

YEA!!! Today starts the Iditarod, The Last Great Race! Part 1

We started following the Iditarod race when Julian was young. One gets swept up in all the excitement of the race even if you do not get to actually view it. Following day by day via the internet, getting bits and pieces of the race here and there is so much fun. 

Keep in mind the flick above was NOT taken by me & I do not know who the photographer was. If anyone out there does, let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. I got it off the web. I watermarked it with my logo as it is my copy that I use in my classroom. If you need pictures for your own personal classroom use, Boston.com has some adorable flicks:

Dogs and Sleds Flicks for Classroom Use

as does the Guardian: 

Alaskan Sled Dog Flicks

Check out this 279 Iditarod picture slide show flicks from Huffington post:

Huffington Post 270 Iditarod Picture Slide Show 

This one was taken by Jeff King:

While we never purchased the commercial free Premium video of the trail complete with musher interviews, the checkpoints and race analysis, we follow via the GPS tracker. You can get musher alerts, subscribe to Insider alive where you can actually ask questions via live chat, and that is SWEEEEEET!! Also live finish broadcast from Nome features the crowning of the champion and the Live Finish Cameras show all the mushers from the champion to the Red Lantern 24/7! 

In the days of years gone by, we were able to glean enough to follow along as best we could with the free subscription which features access to videos not available to unregistered users like the race documentaries, articles and much more. Registered users also get to choose a favorite musher to track and get email alerts based on their activity. You can view all the packages  the full video here:

Iditaord Insider Packages

Get the GPS tracker here:

Iditarod GPS Tracker

For younger babes, I show them the following movie to get them in the spirit as well: 

Watch Snow Dogs Movie Online

For older children, DIG this newly released DVD "The Great Alone" is a  documentary featuring Lance Mackey. This DVD is an award-winning feature length documentary film that captures the inspiring comeback story of champion sled dog racer, Lance Mackey:

The Great Alone

So either way, you ALL can follow along the fun and excitement of the Last Great Race! So get yourself started, then come back for MORE Iditarod ideas, links & FREEBIES! 

Here is our husky, Eh-nuk. And since we are in the National Forest, it snows from time to time.

Of course Eh-nuk DIGS the snow but being the spoiled boy that he is, he also likes to come inside and keep warm:

If you do not have a real husky dog but would like to get one for your classroom, eBay has a rather large selection of plush Husky Dog stuffed animals toys to suit your pocketbook:

Husky Dog Plush Stuffed Animal

(AKGVH  (A Kinders Garten Vintage Homeschool) is a participant in the eBay Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to eBay.)

Next I always show our Balto Movie. Babes of all ages DIG Balto!

I break out our Balto stuffed animal and set him near the TV throughout the race to remind them of the historical meaning of the race. I got him a few decades ago when my babes were young and the movie had just come out. I kept him all these years for classroom Iditarod use:

He is rather pricey on both Amazon & eBay but if you are interested in having a Balto mascot in your classroom. I found some on

eBay. He is rather pricey as he is considered a collectable now: 

Balto Plush Stuffed Animal

Here is a Alaskan Malamute vs  Siberian Husky detailed chart which is an out-a-sight detailed comparison:

Malamute VS Siberian Husky Chart

To begin our Iditarod Interactive classroom race, first, I made this bulletin board map of the Iditarod trail. I went to a satellite map site and copied it as best as I could to give my babes a sense of the actual trail terrain, hazards, climate and the like. 
 

First I outlined the map on a large sheet of butcher paper.  Next using a paint brush, I splotched the colors on, then dabbed at them to blend together with a wet sponge. This technique gave my map a more realistic look.

Needless to say, it took me several day to complete. Then I covered it with clear contact to preserve it for future race studies.

Each child chose a musher to follow, either one they just happened to like (my younger babes) or through musher and team analysis and probability. You can get some freebie graphs, charts, notebooking and other various Iditarod worksheets, activities, and the like via the links below that I will be adding later.  

I charted their chosen teams by putting the musher's number on the dog and placing it in its correct location (or thereabouts) daily. Adding unchosen teams to the mix proved an exciting and sporting interactive Iditarod to classroom race!

And here is your first FREEBIE!!! A vintage Eskimo dog sled paper toy from our AKGHV Teacher's Notebook Store:

 

  Vintage Eskimo Sled Dog Paper Toy

Here is a close up of my bulletin board musher and dogs. I printed out a set of dogs for each child and colored the booties to match. To make the musher, first I colored the musher then glued the sled frame onto the back of the runners and let it dry. Then I glued the back of the pack onto the back of the frame and let it dry. I turned it over, then glued cover on the pack above the dotted line. Next, I folded the flap up and glued the inside contents on the pack back and let dry. Last I glued the musher's hands onto the sled. Then I connected the musher and sled with black yarn for the harnesses, tuglines and ganglines to the huskys.

And now for another FREEBIE! You can print out our musher and dogs for your own Iditarod interactive bulletinboard craftivity with the following templates from our Teachers Notebook Store:

  AKGVH Interactive Iditerod Bulletin Board Craftivity

 

Check out Rachel from the Tattoed Teacher's  Iditarod Map Tracking activities for the older child:

Iditarod Map and Musher Activities

 

Jr. High & High school children can make their own authentic sled dog harness with the following tutorial:

Make Your Own Authentic Sled Dog Harness

 

WHOAH!!! DIG these Historical sled dog harnesses: 

Historical Sled Dog Harnesses

 

If you are into sewing, here is a real far out dog bootie sizing FREEBIE printable for the pup in your life! With this chart, you can quickly sew booties for your  beloved pup: 

Dog Bootie Sizing Info with FREEBIE Printable 

If your babes want to talk like a musher, DIG this youtube video. You can also make a vocab chart or word wall with the words you have learned: 

Talk Like a Musher

Here is another Iditarod Bulletin Board Set you can get from the 3AM Teacher Shop on Teacher's Notebook: 

Iditarod Bulletin Board Set with Activities

 

Here are some fun Pre-K-K Musher printables from Making Learning Fun: 

Musher Theme Pages

Your babes can race online with Scholastics Be a Musher Game. Just click on the link below and take off!! 

Scholastics Be a Musher Online Game

Dig this Mush Rush! internet game from Ecokids: 

Ecokids Mush Rush Game

Here is a dog team for your babes to cut out and stand up from Yukon Quest Educational Activities: 

Stand Up Sled Dog Team

Keep on moving with the 2015 Iditarod race in AKGVH Part of 2 post packed with MORE activities, fun & FREEBIES, DIG the quick link: 

We Iditarod, Do You? Part 2

Once again, I am off to get updates on the race, so be sure to check back soon for more Iditarod FREEBIES, activities and fun!!

 

 

C.S. Calkins

© 2015 C.S. Calkins All Rights Reserved

© 2022 C.S. Calkins All Rights Reserved

 

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