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Thank you for your purchase from In the Hands of a Child Your Premiere Lapbook Provider since 2002!! Iditarod HOCPP 1029 Published: January, 2007 Original Copyright October, 2004 Authors: Katie Kubesh Niki McNeil Kimm Bellotto For information about other products available from In the Hands of a Child Call 1-866-426-3701 or visit our website at www.handsofachild.com. Entire contents of this Project Pack 2007 In the Hands of a Child. 6222 Pierce Street Coloma, MI 49038 Permission is hereby granted to the individual purchaser to reproduce student materials in this project pack for noncommercial individual or classroom use only. In the Hands of a Child gives permission for one copy of all written material to be copied and or printed. Classroom teachers have permission to reproduce one copy for each student in class. Members of co-ops or workshops have permission to reproduce one copy for up to 10 children per unit. Reproducible graphics may be reprinted as many times as needed. Permission is not granted for school wide or system wide reproduction of materials. Printed in the USA. 2
Bringing Laughter and Learning Together In the Hands of a Child From the day we first began using and creating Project Packs we fell in love with them. We knew that this type of hands-on learning experience was just the thing that was needed to make boring unit studies not only educational but fun and exciting too! To help you get started with your Project Pack, we have included some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about our Project Packs. What is a Project Pack? A Project Pack contains both the activities and the lesson plans or research guide needed to complete the activities. Imagine your child not only learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, but also creating a cocoon of his or her own. Students don t just read the story, Blueberry Sal by Robert McCloskey- they enjoy a blue day complete with a recipe for blueberry pancakes, making a blue collage, and don t forget painting a blue picture! Why is this a better way to learn? How does this help me? Student learning improves when lessons incorporate hands-on projects or crafts. Children learn by doing. Project Packs put learning into their hands! The possibilities are endless when your student begins a lapbook with a Project Pack from In the Hands of a Child. There are no age or skill limits and any topic or subject can be worked into a Project Pack. When you purchase a Project Pack from In the Hands of a Child, all the work is done for you-the parent/teacher, but not for the student. In addition, Project Packs are easy to store, are an instant review tool, scrapbook, and a ready-made portfolio of all your student s studies. How do I make a Project Pack? A Project Pack is simply a file folder refolded into a shutter-style book. Open a file folder flat, fold each side into the middle and crease the fold neatly. There you have it! What supplies do I need? You need file folders, paper in different colors and weights*, your student s favorite coloring tools, tape, glue, scissors, and a stapler. *For a more colorful and appealing Project Pack, it is suggested you print some of the reproducible graphics on colorful, multi-purpose paper. We recommend 24# weight or cardstock. 3
Adapting a Project Pack to Fit the Needs of Your Student Adapting a Project or Research Pack is key to ensuring that you provide the best lesson for your student. At first glance, some might just skip over an activity because they feel it is too easy or too difficult for their student. We want you to use all the activities we provide they are easily adaptable! For example, if you have a PK-3 student the vocabulary activities might be difficult for him or her to complete. Here are some tips to help you adapt the activities that require your student to write: 1. Have your student dictate vocabulary words and their meanings as you write them. 2. Have your child draw a picture instead of writing. 3. You write the word or sentence first so your student can see how it is written (many of our Project Packs also include activities with dotted lines for easy copy work). 4. Practice. Practice. Practice. In the car, on a walk, in the shopping cart! Practice saying the vocabulary words and what they mean. Before you know it your preschooler will be telling others what those words mean! 5. Contact us. We would be happy to give you ideas for adapting specific units to a grade level. On the other hand, some of the activities may seem too easy for your student. Does your 5 th grade level student want to learn about butterflies, but the Project Pack seems too easy? Try it anyway; just change things up a bit to suit your student s grade level and skill. Here are some tips to help you adapt the activities to make them a little more difficult: 1. In addition to writing down vocabulary words and their meanings, ask your student to use the word in a sentence; either verbally or written. 2. Give your student one hour (or reasonable time frame) to research the topic on his or her own either online or at the library. Give your student a set of questions and see what he or she can find without your guidance. 3. Encourage your student to expand on the topic or choose a related subject to learn about. 4. Take a look at some of our preschool units there is a lot of clipart related to each topic included. Have an older student cut these out and write a story or play about the pictures. 5. Contact us. We would be happy to give you ideas for adapting specific units to a grade level. These are just few ways you can adapt a Project Pack to meet the needs of your student. Let your student be the judge if something is too easy or too difficult you just might be surprised! 4
The Website links we have included in our guides are references we found that contain relevant information. However, the sites are not owned or maintained by In the Hands of a Child. The content may have changed or become a dead link. If you find the site contains inappropriate material or is no longer a relevant site, please let us know. Thank you. Educator Notes: 5
Table of Contents History Page 72 Northern/Southern Routes Page 8 Checkpoints Page 8 Equipment Needed Page 9 Preparing for the Race Page 12 Top Mushers Page 12 Awards Page 13 Records Page 13 Previous Winners Page 15 The Widow s Lamp Page 16 Red Lantern Page 16 Jr Iditarod Page 16 Vocabulary Page 17 Activity List Page 19 Activity 1 Page 20 Activity 2 Page 23 Activity 3 Page 25 Activity 4 Page 27 Activity 5 Page 28 Activity 6 Page 29 Activity 7 Page 31 Activity 8 Page 32 Activity 9 Page 34 Activity 10 Page 35 Activity 11 Page 37 Activity 12 Page 39 Activity 13 Page 41 Activity 14 Page 42 Activity 15 Page 45 Folder Instructions Page 46 6
The Iditarod It is winter in Alaska, the temperatures are freezing, the wind is blowing hard, and you never know when the next blizzard will come, but you are warm inside because your 16-dog sled team just won $72, 066.67! How can a dog team win that much money? In 2005 the winner of the Iditarod won that exact amount! That is a lot of money to win simply for running a race, but when you learn about that particular race you will see that the winnings are well earned! The Iditarod is a sled dog race held every year in March. Mushers race teams of up to 16 sled dogs on a 1150-mile (1850 km) course between the Alaskan cities of Anchorage and Nome. This annual dog sledding event is also called The Last Great Race on Earth. The race demands courage, strength, dedication, and endurance from both the mushers and the dogs. The wilderness in Alaska includes deep snow, very cold temperatures, blizzards, and wild animal encounters. History In the winter of 1925, there was a diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska. A diphtheria serum was transported from Anchorage to Nenana, Alaska by train. Mushers then took the serum on to Nome and saved the residents. Nineteen different sled teams made the trip. The trip was almost 700 miles (1125 km) and the route was called the Iditarod Trail. The Iditarod Trail soon became the major route through Alaska used to transport mail, food, medicine, and even priests, ministers, and judges by dog team. By the 1960s, people used airplanes and snowmobiles for transportation between Alaskan towns instead of dog sleds. The Iditarod race is held to honor the mushers who made that life-saving trip in 1925 and also to commemorate the role of sled dogs in the settlement of Alaska. The first short trail Iditarod race, promoted by Dorothy G. Page and Joe Redington, Sr., took place in 1967. Mushers came from all over the United States to compete on the 27-mile long course. In 1973, the first long Iditarod was held. The goal of that race was to go all the way to the ghost town of Iditarod, but it was eventually decided the race should run all the way to Nome, making the course over 1,000 miles long. 7
Northern and Southern Routes The Iditarod race has started in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, since 1983. As many as 65 teams compete in the race, leaving the starting line at two-minute intervals. From Anchorage, they travel about 40 miles to Wasilla, then to Knik Lake, the last checkpoint on the road. Once the mushers leave the Knik Lake checkpoint, they are considered off-road for the rest of the race. The trail does not follow the same route every year. In evennumbered years, the trail follows the Northern route, which is 1151 miles. In odd-numbered years, the Southern route, which is 1161 miles, is used. Both routes are part of the Iditarod National Historical Trail, used in early years for all winter travel. When the race first started, mushers only used the northern part of the trail, but officials realized that villages along the trail were impacted heavily by the race, so they decided to use two routes. This allowed the mushers to visit towns along the southern route of the trail, and also allows them to visit the ghost town of Iditarod. To view a map of both the northern and southern route of the trail, visit: http://www.iditarod.com/2-3.html Checkpoints The top mushers of the Iditarod usually make the trip in 10-17 days. They stop at different points along the way to rest and eat. These stops are called checkpoints. Checkpoints are also set up to ensure that the dogs receive care during the race. There are 26 checkpoints along the northern route of the course and 27 checkpoints along the southern route. There are 8 mandatory checkpoints and mushers must personally sign in and out at these stops: One 24-hour stop during the race (taken at any time) One 8-hour stop on the Yukon One 8-hour stop at White Mountain Iditarod Timeline 1925: Mushers make lifesaving trip from Nenana to Nome, Alaska 1967: First short Iditarod Race 1973: First long Iditarod Race; won by Dick Wilmarth in 20 days 1974: Mary Shields and Lolly Medley become first two women to race 1985: Libby Riddles, the first woman to win, completes course in 18 days 1986: Susan Butcher wins 1995: Doug Swingley completes the course in 9 days 2002: Martin Buser sets new record of 8 days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes 2004: Largest number of mushers raced (None of these stops may be combined) 8
For the last stretch of the course, mushers run down Front St. in Nome to the burled arch. Day or night, first or last, each musher arrives to the city s fire siren and is greeted by a crowd of people lining the chute. Equipment Needed Sled The Iditarod rules state that some type of sled must be pulled in the race. Mushers have a choice of sled, but they must meet certain requirements, including: 1) Sled must be capable of hauling equipment, food, and injured or tired dogs under cover; 2) Sled braking devices must be according to the rules of the Iditarod; 3) No more than 3 sleds can be used during the race; 4) Wheels or sails may not assist sled. The purpose of a sled is to carry people and/or supplies over the snow. The first sleds ever built were made from wood, bone, sinew, and rawhide. Today, they are made from materials such as plastics, aluminum, Kevlar, and carbon fiber. All sleds have common characteristics: Runners are skis made of wood or aluminum that support the sled and slide along the snow. A Cargo Bed is where the load of supplies is carried. Many sleds have sled bags, similar to backpacks, that hold Mushing Terminology ATV: all terrain vehicle Boonies: Rural area, usually where no one lives Burled Arch: Finish Line Dog in Basket: Tired or injured dog carried in the sled Double Lead: Two dogs that lead the team side by side Dropped Dog: A dog that a musher has dropped off at a checkpoint (where it is cared for until it is flown back to Anchorage to its handlers) Heet: alcohol based fuel used in cook stoves on the trail Husky: Any northern type dog Indian Dog: A husky from an Indian village Last Frontier: Alaska s state motto Lead Dog: Dog who runs in front of the others Malamute: Term used by old timers to describe a sled dog Neck Line: Line that connects a dog s collar to the tow line Outside: Any place in the lower 48 states Overflow: When ice gets so thick there is nowhere for the water to go so it pushes up over the ice Pacing: Leading a team with a motorized vehicle (usually an ATV) to set a speed or pace Pedaling: Pushing the sled with one foot while other foot remains on a runner Rigging: Collection of lines to which the dogs are attached Rookie: Musher who enters the race for the first time Runners: Two bottom pieces of the sled that come in contact with the snow 9
and protect the equipment. The Brushbow is the bumper on the sled. This deflects trees, brush, and other things that collide with the sled along the trail. A Handlebar is what the musher holds on to. The Brake is what stops the sled. The brake is usually an aluminum or steel bar shaped like a U. Two metal claws hang down from the bar and when the bar is stepped on, the claws dig into the snow to stop the team. Footboards are where the musher stands. Footboards are made from rubber or other nonskid material. Mandatory Items There are certain items that must be carried in the sleds in addition to equipment and supplies the individual mushers want to pack. Mushers must carry the following items with them at all times: Cold weather sleeping bag weighing at least 5 pounds; Ax measuring at least 22 long and weighing at least 1¾ pounds; One pair of snowshoes with bindings, each snowshoe at least 252 square inches; Any promotional material provided by the race (after the mushers find out their starting positions in the race, they are given a packet with a handler s armband, collar tags for the dogs, and truck passes to enter the chute area); Their official bib must be carried from the White Mountain checkpoint to the Mushing Terminology, continued Siberian Husky: Medium sized northern breed of dog, usually with blue eyes Slats: Thin strips of wood that make up the bottom of the sled Snow Hook: Heavy piece of metal attached to the sled and embedded in the snow to hold the sled and team for a short time Snub Line: Rope attached to sled used to tie to a tree or other object Stake: Metal or wooden post driven into the ground to hold dog Swing Dogs: Dogs that run directly behind the leader Team Dog: All dogs besides Swing and Leader. Termination Dust: First snow that covers the mountain in the fall signals the termination of summer in Alaska Tether Line: Long chain with shorter chains attached to it, used to hold the team when stakes are not available Toggles: Small pieces of ivory or wood used by Eskimos to fasten tug lines to harnesses Tug Line: Connects dog s harness to tow line 10
Safety checkpoint, and be visible from the Safety checkpoint until the musher reaches Nome; Eight booties for each dog (either wearing or on the sled). That is 128 booties for a 16-dog sled team! One operational cooker and pot that can boil at least 3 gallons of water at one time; Enough fuel to bring 3 gallons of water to a boil; Veterinarian notebook that must be presented to the veterinarian at each checkpoint; Emergency dog food Other items a musher might pack: First aid kit Ski poles Headlamp Extra socks and gloves Knife Cooler Dog food dishes Dog jackets Dog treats Sled repair kits Snacks and food Personal items: toothbrush, comb, etc. Keeping Track of the Dogs The dogs are marked in two ways: 1) A collar tag handed out to the mushers before the race. Mushers must attach the tags to each dog and turn in a list of dogs corresponding to each tag. 2) A microchip implanted under the dog s skin. Both are checked each time a dog is moved along the route. Musher Commands Come Gee! Come Haw! Commands for 180 degree turns in any direction Gee Command for right turn Haw Command for left turn Line Out! Command to lead dog to pull the team out straight from the sled Mush! Hike! All Right! Let s Go! Commands to start the team Trail! Request for right-of-way on trail Whoa! Command for team to stop, accompanied by heavy brake pressure ********** Sled dogs are not driven with reins, they are driven with spoken commands. The lead dog must be able to understand the commands and lead the team the way the musher expects. It is important for lead dogs to be very smart and to have a good relationship with their mushers. 11