2011 - Middle School Iditarod Project

Overview of Project:

Middle school students in grades 6, 7 and 8 are all reading Woodsong by Gary Paulsen as part of the Iditarod Thematic Unit. Students in every classroom are learning about the Iditarod, a 1,049 mile sled dog race in Alaska. In science class the students are learning about hypothermia and survival in the cold. The weather is a huge factor in how the dogs are running. The students track the weather in Alaska every day.

We are so fortunate to have a qualifying race for the Iditarod in the state of Maine. The CanAm Crown, recently run in Fort Kent, had so much snow that it was difficult to finish the race. Students kept tabs on the CanAm mushers using the Bangor Daily News articles and discussions followed.

In social studies class the students explored the reason behind the Iditarod race, The Serum Run of 1925. They also looked at the history and geography of Alaska. There are several rules that the mushers must follow before and during the race. Taking care of the dogs is foremost. The students quickly learned that the race is all about the dogs. Students examined a Dog’s Life using interviews by Martin Buser and Mitch Seavey on the Scholastic website.

The most exciting part of the unit is following a musher. Rachel Libby, Aimee Georgia and Jena Whitmore created bulletin boards with the Iditarod Trail so that students can follow the progress of their musher. Each student researched a musher and anxiously checked his/her race position every morning. Friendly competitions ensued. Sometimes a musher scratched, quitting the race, for various reasons. Mitch Seavey, a favorite, cut his hand while cutting open a bale of straw for his dogs. There were moans and groans while others were quietly happy that the 2004 Iditarod winner was out of the race; making their musher move up the ranks. All eyes are anxiously waiting to see if Lance Mackey will take his fifth straight win.

In reading and writing class students are reading Woodsong. Students are paying close attention to the imagery that Gary Paulsen paints throughout his memoir. His interaction with the woods and wild animals make thoughtful and reflective discussions. Gary talks about the dogs having unique personalities. The students are creating a fake social network page for a dog displaying his/her personality. Dogs also have various songs that they sing. Students are creating a song that is unique to them and shows their personality.

Some classes are reading To Build a Fire by Jack London and comparing it with Woodsong. The two characters have very different experiences while traveling through Alaska. Our School Vision - Willing to learn, Independent, Leaders, Discipline & determined, clear Communicators, Active participants, Team player, Self-confident – is included in the lessons that Gary Paulsen learns throughout his journey to prepare for the 1983 Idiatrod race and Jack London’s character while on his journey from one town to another.

Overall the students are totally engaged in learning about the many facets of the Iditarod.