The Mini-Me People Iditarod

As a class/school project every year, we do lessons on the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. To keep the assignments interesting, we brainstorm new ideas for the upcoming race in order to expand upon our last year’s activities/event.

We are planning to design and build our own sleds to race this year. The students will hand draw or use TOOL FACTORY to make a design for their sled and compile a list of supplies they will need in order to accomplish their task. They will be asked to be creative and to make their design thinking of items already available to them at school. We also have a co-worker whose husband works at a lumber yard and he will be providing us with supplies.

We will use the digital cameras to take pictures throughout the sled building process. Once these are taken, we will then incorporate them into a presentation that can be presented using MULTIMEDIA LAB V and possibly even TOOL FACTORY PAINTER to show the step by step progress of our project.

Following the format of the actual race, we will also have Checkpoints. We would map out a race route and type the directions to each Checkpoint on the Trail. The math class will measure the route and distance between Checkpoints using a rolling tape measure provided by our Maintenance Personnel. Checkpoint signs will be printed using TOOL FACTORY WORKSHOP. These pictures will be photographs we may have actually taken using our digital cameras or pictures from the Internet or Clipart.

You may be wondering and ask, “How is this P.E.?" When discussing the idea for this possible lesson with my students that’s exactly what they asked, “How is this P.E.?” I said, “You tell me.” They came back with, “We're pulling the sleds??!!”

At each Checkpoint, the students will change position on the sled so that they all have a chance to steer and help pull the sled. This is where each Team must have their Log Book signed, stating that they had raced on through. This information would be documented using the Log Books designed with TOOL FACTORY SPREADSHEET. We will invite our friends and neighbors from the National Guard to be Checkers at our Checkpoints. We’ll also set up our backyard (weather permitting) with tents as if we were on the Trail. Our Cook will prepare lunch outdoors cooking Alaskan Salmon on the grill and dehydrated camping meals.

The race will be timed as each team runs to see who has the fastest time. There will be three teams that will run, one at a time. During the race, they will use Mushing Terminology: MUSH/HIKE(Go), GEE(right), HAW(left), WHOA(stop).They will ALL be WINNERS. It’s not about winning; it’s about the participation and having fun while learning in the process.

Using TOOL FACTORY WORKSHOP, we will make banners designating the Start and Finish of our race along with designing greeting cards and typing letters to thank everyone who has contributed in any way in order to help make this project a success. MUSH ON!! :) Our Race will take place in March after the actual Iditarod Race is completed.