In this adventure, students will be given a chance to simulate the life of a dog musher. Throughout the curriculum, students will be learning the basics of mushing through hands on activities and problem solving. These compiled skills will then be tested in a final race modeled after the Iditarod. (To purchase the full paper version of the paper curriculum go to the online store.)

During the 2 weeks that students are participating in the curriculum, they will be working on breeding, equipping, training, and racing their very own dog team across the expanse of the Alaskan Wilderness. There are seven stages they will have to work through in order to reach the finish line! In each stage they will have the chance to earn mushing money and points by completing activities and exercises that will teach them more and more about the world of sled dog racing. The higher the quality of work they do in these assignments, the more money and points they will earn! The mushing money allows them to buy the supplies and equipment they will need to succeed in the cut-throat world of professional virtual sled dog racing. The points are used to determine the strength of their dog team. Throughout the stages they will be making decisions about how many and what type of points to earn. The quality of their assignments will determine what percentage of the potential game points they earn (less than, equal to, or greater than the points shown in each stage). Then, in teh final stage, they will use all their earned mushing points to race their dogs across the wilds of Alaska. The Team with the most points left at the end, wins. Link here for a Quicktime description.

Pre-Week:
Coverage of the Iditarod Race Start
Teacher Training via Audio Conference and/ or VTC

Week 1:
All racers meet on Video Conference Musher's Meeting(Optional), web streaming with chat for those participating in web based program.
Breed, Equip, Train Dog Team using Classroom and Web Based Activities
Discussion Boards and Chat Rooms Daily (Monitored and Run by Kigluait Staff) with Guest Mushers

Week 2:
Race Dog Team
Discussion Boards and Chat Rooms Daily (Monitored and Run by Kigluait Staff) with Guest Mushers and other Professionals
Meet on Video Conference for Awards Banquet.
Coverage of the Iditarod Race

For more information view the race framework.

Concepts Covered/ Primary Standards Covered

General Objectives:

Acquire the motivation for learning through the active exploration of a unique lifestyle.
Acquire general skills in animal husbandry.
Acquire critical and higher order thinking skills.
Acquire problem-solving skills that require the connection to consequences and a recognition of a variety of real-life solutions that all serve as a basis for learning.

Each lesson plan will consist of standards, objectives (purpose and essential questions), some form of direct instruction(quickitme videos or online lessons), resource materials, activity directions, and rubric/ scoring guide for assessment, followed by the student handouts. (To see an example of this look at the sample lessons).In addition the following content matter will be focused on as well:

• Reading/ Writing
• Math
• Technology
• Science/ Geography
• Art
• Social Science/ History

For more information view the race framework.

Assessment:

Each lesson plan will consist of standards, objectives (purpose and essential questions), some form of direct instruction(quickitme videos or online lessons), resource materials, activity directions, and rubric/ scoring guide for assessment, followed by the student handouts. (To see an example of this please contact us).

Prior-Knowledge:

What students should know prior to project:

Students should be familiar with basic computer operation.
Students should be able to navigate the Internet.
Students should know Videoconference, chat and discussion board etiquette.
Students should be familiar with a budget and adding/ subtracting to manage a budget.
Students shouldbe familair with multiplying and rounding.

Resources: Teacher/ Student

Teachers and students alike will need access to the Internet, videoconference equipment is optional. Basic middle school laboratory equipment (i.e. string, rulers, simple glassware, etc…) should be available though may not be required. All other teaching resource materials will be provided via the Internet or faxed if required. All other resources, including multimedia, will be provided via the internet, as well as live coverage of the race trail.