To Jan with Love from Cherry Valley in Duvall - this is what it's all about...

Hi Cindy,

Mrs. Peterson from Meridian did a great job sharing some Iditarod curriculum, which you kindly posted on Jan’s blog. Unfortunately, many of the ideas are some we have used as well-maps, charts, books, etc.  I instruct the reading groups for 4^th and 5^th graders, so I have many groups that come to me, rather than a full, all day class.

I begin the Iditarod unit with the true story of Balto and the Serum Relay of 1925. We go on to find out what happened to Balto and his team, learn a little about Leonard Seppala. In year’s past I have had the kids read Stone Fox as well.

In addition to what the kids will share in the following notes, we have also done a D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language) where the kids are given a sentence that is written incorrectly and they have to correct it, using editing marks. We’ve had a word search puzzle and a cryptogram. Of course, Jan’s blog has been the source of so much information. She’s taken us “inside” a musher’s life with pictures of her team, information, and preparation.

In trying to think up some ideas to send you, I thought the best thing to do was to hear what impacted the kids.  (The kids wrote in paragraph form-I just chose to type them out like this to save space.)The following are messages to Jan about what they have been studying:

 

Dear Jan,

I wanted to update you on stuff we have learned. We have learned about military time, Balto. We read Woodsong. We watched part of the ceremonial start on KTUU. We did a lot of research of mushers to win! Mrs. E. showed us some really cool videos about the Iditarod! I am excited for you to come and I’m looking forward to meeting you! Sincerely, Katie 11 years old.

Dear Jan,

I have been tracking you. I think that you are doing good. Tell Bob that he is doing good too. What I have been learning about is how many calories the dogs have to eat compared to a Big Mac and how you have to take care of the dogs. Last, but not least, I learned about the mushers. Have you heard of the Jr. Iditarod? Well, I have. It sounds kind of scary. So does the real Iditarod. I am tracking Dallas Seavey too, because he is the youngest musher to win. Sincerely, Gracie, age 9.

Dear Jan,

These are some things we have learned: We have learned about the trail, the Jr. Iditarod (that’s for kids 14-17 years old and is 150 miles long in Alaska), how military time works, like what is 13:30 (1:30 in the afternoon). We also learned about Balto and the Serum Run in 1925, when a small village in Nome was infected and the only cure was a serum and dogsled teams were needed. We have also watched some videos and the Alaska station. Sincerely, Alex (10)

Dear Jan,

I’ve been learning about the Iditarod and I chose to pick Jeff King to follow. I’ve also been following you. It’s really fun. We’ve been reading a book called Woodsong and I’ve learned about the trail and military time. We learned about the 24 hour break and I’m so happy Jeff King has been in the top ten every time I checked the Iditarod site. Sincerely, Shane, age 11.

 

Dear Jan,

I have been learning about the Iditarod. Some things we have learned are how to tell military time and how the person who finishes last gets a red lantern. We have been watching videos on the Alaska TV station. We’ve been reading books such as Balto and Woodsong. I am very excited for you to be coming here. I hope you’re doing well. Sincerely, Alex. I am 10 years old.

Dear Jan,

I’ve been learning about the Iditarod. I have learned military time. I also learned how to track a musher. I voted for Jeff King because he has won four Iditarods. We looked at mushers records and we are tracking you and Bob too on Mondays through Thursdays. We can follow it weekends if we want to. I read some of Balto The Greatest Dog Ever. We looked at Alaska TV stations. We watched some video and I learned that the musher who gets last place gets the red lantern. I learned about the 24 hour layover and the 8 hour layover. We are reading Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. Sincerely, Terry, age 11.

Dear Jan,

I have been learning about the Iditarod and these are some things I have been learning: How to tell military time and it’s fun, like 21:30:00. I have also been learning about Susan Butcher and the Jr. Iditarod and how the last place musher gets a red lantern. Also, we have learned all about how to track mushers and to to pick a musher this year in 2013. I picked Peter Kaiser because he has been mushing for 3 years now and he is an experienced musher. I also have been tracking you and Bob. You just left Grayling and Bob is at Eagle Island. Sincerely, Connor, age 9.

Dear Jan,

I have learned a lot on the Iditarod. I am tracking you, Bob and Lance Mackey. I have learned about Balto, the Serum Run, Susan Butcher. I picked Lance because is a 4 time winner. You are in Grayling!  From Sam age 9.

Dear Jan,

I have been learning about the Iditarod. I’ve learned military time, Balto, the Serum Run. I have learned how to track mushers and so much more. I am tracking you and Bob. You just left Grayling. I’m looking forward to meeting you and hopefully one of the dogs. I’m also tracking Lance Mackey because he is a four time winner. Sincerely, Brennan.

Dear Jan,

I’ve learned the Iditarod can help learn about living with wildlife, about getting beat up by rock. I’ve learned about scratching in the Iditarod, moose attacks, the Red Lantern. It all started with Balto in 1925.  I’ve learned that Alaska is the last great frontier. I’ve been learning facts about mushers. My musher to win is Dallas Seavey because he’s the youngest winner. We’ve been tracking you and Bob. Sincerely, Nathan age 11.

 

Dear Jan,

I’ve been learning about military time. I didn’t understand that much. Also we learned last place gets a red lantern. I wish I had one. We read some Iditarod books and Iditarod rules. You know we think the Red Lantern is cool. The musher that I voted for is Martin Buser because he won the race four times. From Nicholas, 10 years old.

Dear Jan,

 

I have been learning about eh Iditarod and it’s so cool. I have learned about the Jr. Iditarod and some famous mushers like Susan Butcher. I have read books like Woodsong, Balto and more. My favorite thing to do when the Iditarod was going on was tracking mushers like you Jan. I got to also learn how to tell military time. JAN, YOU DID SO WELL! Sincerely, Kaiti, age 10.

Dear Jan,

I have been learning about stuff I would never even guessed of like the great true story of Balto, The Jr. Iditarod and Susan Butcher. Also we look at your blog every day. I voted for Dallas Seavey. I voted for him because he won last year and trained at the Olympic Training Center. I also voted that you would do good. From Nikoli, age 10.

 

Dear Jan,

I have read a lot of books about the Iditarod. Even about Susan Butcher and the Jr. Iditarod. I am following you and Bob. I have even voted for Bob to win. I hope you do well. I’ve also learned about military time. It’s cool-not my favorite but it’s pretty cool. I think you have gotten pretty far. I read a book about Balto. The videos of people on the Iditarod look pretty harsh. I’m crossing my fingers you are okay. Hope you do well. From Molly, age 9.

Dear Jan,

I have been learning about the Iditarod. Here are some things I have learned: I have learned about military time. I bet it is hard to remember. Then I also learned we were picking mushers. I picked Martin Buser. I hope he and you do well. I have a wonderful reading teacher that teaches us about the Iditarod. I have been tracking where people are going. I hope you and Bob catch up together, because he is at Eagle Island and you are at Grayling. I have been learning about Balto and the dogs. I’ve heard that the dogs are the most important.  HOPE YOU DO WELL!  By Rylan (I am a boy and I’m 10 years old.)

Dear Jan,

I learned a lot about the Iditarod. I read a lot of books of the Iditarod. I learned about Balto. My teacher is reading a book called Woodsong. She read it to me last year so now I understand it more. We are seeing a lot of videos on the Iditarod. I know about military time. It’s like knowing another language! I’ll bet the Iditarod feels so long. The whole class was reading your blog. It is awesome!  I’m so sorry you scratched. You’re        AWESOME! WAY TO GO! I hope you win next year!!!  Melani age 11.

 

Dear Jan,

I learned about in the Iditarod there are many difficult things. I learned about Balto. At first I thought the Iditarod sounded easy and then I learned that it is hard. I voted for Jeff King , but I hope you do well too. You are a winner to me!  Sincerely, Moses age 10

 

Dear Jan,

I am learning a lot of things. First, when I went to Alaska I did dog sledding and they told us about the Iditarod as well. I tried on an Iditarod coat then and saw a sled. Some things I learned facts in our scavenger hunt at school. I learned military time. That was fun. I learned that the last musher gets a red lantern. I think that is a fun tradition and you will have something to remember the race. Sincerely, Ava, age 10.

Dear Jan,

I have learned many things about the Iditarod. I learned that the last person to finish gets a lantern. I learned military time. I think it’s very interesting that after 12:00 they go to 13:00. The musher I have been tracking is Lance Mackey. We have talked about you and Bob. I think it is cool that you guys are in Grayling and that Bob is in Eagle Island. Sincerely, Philip 9 years old.

 

Dear Jan,

I’ve been studying the Iditarod. I’ve been learning military time, Balto, the Serum Run. I picked Jeff King to win and I picked you to do well. Right now you’re in Grayling and you just left. Bob is in Eagle Island. So I hope you do well. Sincerely, Jevon age 10.

 

Dear Jan,

I have heard so much stuff about you that I really want to meet you. I learned that the book Balto was about  a disease that was deadly to children. The book Woodsong feels like you’re actually in the Iditarod. How are your dogs?  I’m really hoping to meet one of your dogs and to meet you! At first when we learned about military time it was sort of hard but then I got used to it. I saw on the Iditarod that you scratched. I’m really sorry. But you get to stay in your warm house!  YOU ROCK JAN!!!  Sincerely, Valeria 10 years old!

 

Thank you so much for supporting Jan in this way. You are also supporting teachers and students with their journey into the adventure of Iditarod.

 

Sincerely,

Julie,

Duvall, WA