Posted in Delight Directed Learning
Well, we are ready to embark on our Iditarod study. This is a unit The Wild One has been asking to do since last year (after the Iditarod was run). This is the first "big" unit I have prepared on my own. I did use a few lapbook pieces from Homeschool Share which I will link below. I also used an outline prepared and posted at Homeschool in the Woods. I will post pics at the end of each week as we go along.
Here's our general outline...
Lesson 1: Origins of the Iditarod
I will read MUSH!. I will then read some online info about the Iditarod. Afterward, we will complete lapbook pieces about race details (how long is it, how many trails, etc). We will work on coloring our wall map and labeling checkpoint on that map. The Wild One will read chapters 1-3 in Balto and the Great Race. The Princess will read pages 1-15 in The True Story of Balto.
Lesson2: The 1925 Serum Run to Nome
We will discuss diphtheria. Then, I will read The Great Serum Run. I will also read the chapter about Balto in Five True Dog Stories. We will lapbook the pieces about Balto from HSS. On these pieces we will discuss the purpose of the mission, the danger of crossing the frozen river and how Balto acccomplished that, how long Balto's run was, and we will trace the route. The Wild One will read chapters 4-7 in Balto and the Great Race. The Princess will read pages 16-29 in The True Story of Balto.
Lesson 3: History of the Iditarod and Records
We will discuss the history of the Iditarod. We will lapbook some Iditarod records found on the internet. I will read Storm Run. The Wild One will read chapters 8-10 in Balto and the Great Race. The Princess will read pages 30-40 in The True Story of Balto.
Lesson 4: Traditions
Today is a short lesson. I will read Togo. We will discuss and lapbook the Widow's Lamp and the Red Lantern. Both kids will finish their Balto books.
Lesson 5: Mushers
Today we will each pick our mushers. We will read some online bios and print out pitures of "our" mushers. We will attach these to our wall map. Once the race starts, we will track our mushers through each checkpoint to see how they do daily. After choosing our mushers, the kids will fill out a biography sheet for their mushers. We will then play "musher". After discussing some common musher commands, the kids will try to follow the commands I (the musher) call out. They will also do the drawing portion of the Arctic People page in our Draw Write Now book. I will read Akiak. The Wild One will read Susan Butcher: Sled Dog Racer. The Princess will read Arctic Fives Arrive (1/2 the book).
Lesson 6: Mushing Basics
Today we'll talk about dog sleds. We'll discuss the difference between basket sleds and toboggan sleds (info from a Sled Dogs lapbook for purchase at Currclick.com). We will compare these sleds on a Venn diagram. We will look at pictures of dog sleds and discuss the parts of a dog sled. We will also have a short discussion (and complete a Venn diagram) comparing the Iditarod to the Jr. Iditarod. After these discussions, the kids will create their own dog sleds out of craft sticks. I will read Iditarod Dream. The Wild One will read chapters 4-6 about Susan Butcher, and The Princess will finish Arctic Fives Arrive.
Lesson 7: Cold Weather
We'll complete a lapbook piece about Alaska's climate. We'll talk about how insulation keeps polar animals warm. Then we will do a "blubber" experiment. We'll talk about how mushers would survive in Alaska's climate. What would they have to wear? What would they sleep in? They'll do the drawing/coloring portion of the Polar Bear in our Draw Write Now books. I will read Animals in Winter, Recess at 20 Below, and pages 8-11 in Arctic Expedition. The Wild One will read Ookpik (about a snowy owl), and The Princess will read Snowy Owl at Home on the Tundra.
Lesson 8: Arctic Animals
Isaac has chosen to do an animal report on the Arctic fox, and Emma has chosen to learn about arctic animals and their babies. The kids will do the copywork portion of the Draw Write Now lesson. Mom will read Ice Bear and Little Fox. The Wild One will read Arctic Fox and p. 11 in Arctic Alphabet. The Princess will read Who Grows Up in the Snow.
Lesson 9: Sled Dogs
We will discuss sled dogs. We'll talk about what kinds of dogs are used and how they are trained for racing. We will make felt booties and cook some "dog biscuits" (cookies). We will also talk about the anatomy of a dog team. I will read Kiana's Iditarod. The Wild One will read Sled Dogs, and The Princess will read Dog Team.
Lesson 10: Alaska
We'll now focus on the state of Alaska. We will learn about when/how Alaska became a state. We'll learn about Alaska's geography and why it's called "The Land of the Midnight Sun". Mom will read pages 110-111 in Quilt of States and Under Alaska's Midnight Sun. The Wild One will read pages 1-23 in A Child's Alaska. The Princess will read Hello, Arctic.
Lesson 11: Native Alaskans
Inuits and igloos are the topics of the day today. We will do the igloo Draw Write Now lesson. We will also make igloos out of mini-marshmallows. I will read Igloo, pages 24-27 in Arctic Expedition, and page 14 in Arctic Alphabet. The Wild One will finish A Child's Alaska, and The Princess will read Carry Me, Mama.
Lesson 12: Aurora Borealis
What Alaska study is complete with a discussion of the aurora borealis? Not ours. We will talk about what it is, how it is formed, and where you can find it. The kids will then paint their own aurora borealis. I will read Northern LIghts and page 6 in Arctic Alphabet. The Wild One will read pages 1-28 in The Bite of the Gold Bug, and The Princess will read Mama Do You Love Me?
Lesson 13: Gold Rush and Black Gold
We'll discuss the Gold Rush and the Alaska Pipeline oil spill. Not sure what I will read yet. The Wild One will finish reading The Bite of the Gold Bug, and The Princess will read Aunt Lulu.
Once we have completed each of these activities, we will contine to track our mushers until the race is finished.
