Bring to life the Iditarod — the annual 1,100-mile dogsled race across Alaska's windswept tundra. Through the features in this activity students gain a first-person perspective of mushers' experiences and follow the progress of the race. Use our recommended lessons and extensions to seize the educational opportunities: explore Alaskan geography, study extreme winter climates, and help students apply research and critical reasoning to a discussion about the treatment of sled dogs.

Students will: • Create an Iditarod Picture Dictionary based on key terms and concepts • Explore the geography of Alaska and the Iditarod by navigating an interactive map of the route and competing in a virtual sled race • Generate questions for champion mushers to learn about their lives and the lives of sled dogs • Research the checkpoints along the Iditarod and recreate the race in the classroom • Form opinions on the treatment of sled dogs and express their thoughts in an online poll • Write persuasive essays on the treatment of sled dogs