Iditarod Resources for Grades 9-12
Follow the 2013 Race with These Lessons and Activities
Setting out on March 2, teams of 12 to 16 dogs and their mushers will cover more than 1150 miles from Anchorage to Nome in 10 to 17 days. Follow the trek with these lessons and activities.
Lesson Plans
Go Idita-Walking and Get Healthy! (
PDF, 1.24 MB, 29 pgs.)
Students in grades K-12 participate in a walking program using the Iditarod as the theme and inspiration.
Iditarod Activities For the Classroom Book II ( PDF, 10 MB, 147 pgs.)
K-12 lessons in math, science, language arts, social studies, and other areas of study.
Iditarod Activity Book III ( PDF, 3.8 MB, 151 pgs.)
K-12 lessons in all content areas, applicable to most grade levels.
Iditarod-Ready... Storm Ready ( PDF, 1.5 MB, 72 pgs.)
K-12 weather related science and math activities.
Iditarod Curriculum Enhancement Units of Instruction ( PDF, 971 KB, 69 pgs.)
K-12 mini Units for Integrating the Iditarod into Classroom Instruction.
Women of the Iditarod (and more): A Journey through the Data ( PDF, 110 KB 9 pgss)
Students in grades 5-12 find relevant data and calculate percentages, graph and analyze it for a particular audience.
Background Resources
Iditarod Educational Packet for Teachers 2012 Edition ( PDF, 967 KB, 29 pgs.)
Facts, vocabulary, and historical information about the Iditarod and dog mushing.
The Official Site of the Iditarod
The source of everything Iditarod, including the current temperature in Anchorage.
Target Iditarod Teacher on the Trail
A source of lessons and ideas for teachers.
The Amazing Race: How Do Sled Dogs Endure Alaska’s Grueling Iditarod? ( PDF, 600 KB, 2 pgs.)
Examines the science of the sled dog’s ability to endure the Iditarod.
Sled Dog Action Coalition: Iditarod Information
Generally critical of the race. This organization is concerned the welfare of the dogs.
Sled Dogs: An Alaskan Epic
Images and information about the race and the dogs. Lists useful nonfiction books.
Iditarod: Toughest Race on Earth
Meet the mushers in this year’s race. Features an audio slide show on the dog athletes.
Iditarod: Race across Alaska Home
General resource for elementary students with quiz activities, map, a list of fiction and nonfiction, and more. Features an interview with Gary Paulsen.
Activities & Quizzes
Sled Dogs: An Alaskan Epic
Interactive: Dogsledding 101. Provides information about the dogs and equipment.
- The Iditarod Game: Play Fun Trivia Quiz
- The Iditarod Quiz: Dog Racing
- Quiz - Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
- Iditarod Scored Quiz
Games
- For Teachers: Games and Activities
- Iditarod game
Use a map of the Iditarod trail and these games cards to simulate a race.
Video
Iditarod Insider: Traditional Sled Design Nonfiction
A series of videos dealing with aspects of dog sledding and the Iditarod, marred only by an initially amusing but ultimately irritating add for Google Chrome.
Free Insider Previews Nonfiction
Many brief videos on aspects of the Iditarod
Iditarod: Toughest Race on Earth (256 minutes) Nonfiction
Discovery Channel movie of the 2008 Iditarod
Balto (78 minutes) Fiction
Even though Leonhard Seppala’s lead dog Togo is arguably the true hero of the serum run, this movie is entertaining.
Iron Will (108 minutes) Fiction
A boy and his dogs on a 522-mile sled-dog marathon.
last updated: February 14, 2013
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