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Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic!
This is part of a series, THE 12 DAYS OF WINTER UNIT STUDIES. For a thorough explanation of UNIT STUDIES {what they are and what they include} check out THE 12 DAYS OF WINTER UNIT STUDIES. You’ll also find a schedule of when each new UNIT PACK will go live!
Day Eight: THE IDITAROD
If you are not familiar with THE IDITAROD, it’s basically a multi-day sled-dog race across the infamous trail in Alaska. While we lived in the U.P. of Michigan for a few years, we were able to witness the start of one of the qualifiers for THE IDITAROD and, while it was crowded and cold, I’m so glad we made it happen. We also went on a homeschool field trip to a local dog-sled facility and had to wait for hours for our turn on a sled. But, my goodness am I glad we waited! The thing I remember most about both of those experiences were the dogs. They were nothing short of ecstatic to be there doing their “jobs.” It really brought to light that some dogs are truly made to fulfill certain roles and to perform specific tasks. And, sled dogs, as hard as their jobs may seem to us, love what they do!
READ: Akiak by Robert J Blake is based on the true story of an amazing sled dog. I won’t spoil it for you but will say that it not only speaks to the amazing skill and heart of this sled dog but also gives quite a few peeks into what THE IDITAROD is. Check out the FREE mini BOOK COMPANION PACK for a couple of quick comprehension activities to go along with it.
If You Were a Kid At The Iditarod by Jose Gregory is a book that’s part fiction and part non-fiction but it’s chockfull of great info about THE IDITAROD! Be sure to grab the FREE mini NON-FICTION BOOK COMPANION PACK too.
WRITE: Sled dogs are the heart and soul of THE IDITAROD and really deserve most, if not all, of the credit for any sled that crosses the finish line. Born to Pull by Bob Cary includes a lot of cool information about sled dogs and does a great job of showcasing them as the ones who deserve most of the glory related to THE IDITAROD. With this cute little writing activity, your kids can create their own sled dog by giving him a name and completing a sentence about what makes him special. You can find it in the FREE WINTER-THEMED WRITING ACTIVITY PACK.
There is also another writing activity that calls for more writing which should be fun for slightly older kids!
LEARN: If you don’t have access to the books mentioned above, another great option is this short reading passage found in my Winter-Themed Informational Text and Writing Prompts Pack. It’s free if you use code 12DAYSofWINTERWOLFe.
CREATE: So, you know I’m all about easy crafts but, I gotta say, there aren’t too many easy crafts based around THE IDITAROD {unless you count these coloring pages. Ya can’t get much easier than that.}
There are some not-so-easy crafts, though. But, they do look rather fun and would surely serve as a great reminder of learning all about THE IDITAROD.
There are a couple of options to make itty bitty dog sleds out of popsicle sticks. And you can even print out little dogs to pull your sled!
Or you can go even more complicated and make an entire sled team out of paper!
If you have a painter on your hands, this Huskey painting looks super cute. It does cost a couple of bucks to buy the tutorial but it might be worth the agony of trying to free-hand it.
EXPLORE: There is a really great educational website dedicated to nothing but THE IDITAROD. If you do any extra exploration on this topic, I would definitely start here.
I also highly recommend this 3-minute video, What Is The Iditarod. It’s short but gives a great little overview of the subject.
If you want to enjoy something quick just about the dogs and how they train, this little video will do the trick!
Or you could go the route of this nearly two-hour documentary, Iditarod 2020 Highlights.
And, if nothing else, check out these cute husky puppies just because!
ENJOY: Unless you’re down for making husky shaped cookies, the snack options for THE IDITAROD are pretty limited. But, what happens when homeschool mamas can’t find what they want? They get creative! So, check out this video and let your kids eat LIKE husky dogs! All you’ll need is some deli turkey, a banana, plain yogurt and a few blueberries.
READ MORE: There are lots of great options for books about THE IDITAROD. Below is just a small sample….
Check out the entire series,
12 Days of Winter Unit Studies!
READ~WRITE~CREATE~EXPLORE~ENJOY~LEARN!
I hope this IDITAROD UNIT STUDY gave you a little inspiration for teaching about this unique subject.
Be sure to check out the other UNIT STUDIES as they go live. You can find the full schedule, along with the rest of the Homeschooling Fun Through the Holidays Series, HERE!
Next up: POINSETTIAS
Much appreciation goes out to my good friend, Jamie Spear! She helped me find these fun books, crafts, snacks and more! Without her, these UNIT STUDIES would have nothing but “read this, print that, and write something!” You can find her on FaceBook, Instagram and Pinterest.
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