Unit: TeamworkTheme: Iditarod

Jeri Spears / Roberto CancholaFifth Grade/Language Arts

Introduction• As we are reading the stories “Iditarod Dream” and

“Woodsong” we will be learning more about the Iditarod Race, Alaska, and sled dogs through this WebQuest journey. Click on the links below to read and watch some video to begin your journey. www.iditarod.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race

More IntroThe Iditarod, or Last Great Race, takes place in Alaska the first

weekend of March. First officially run in its entirety in 1973, teams of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover 1,500 miles in 10 to 17 days.

Traveling from Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, this National Historic Trail, commemorates the route used in the late 19th and early 20th century to get mail and supplies from coastal towns like Seward and Knik to mining camps in the interior. Everything went into the small mining communities along the trail while gold came out - all by sled dog.

This race honors the beautiful terrain of Alaska, the spirit of the people that live there, and the teamwork between the dogs and their musher.

Task• This WebQuest has three task for you to complete. You will be

doing these task individually. You can complete them in any order.

Quest 1: Dog Sled Races Around the WorldQuest 2: What Type of Dog is Best?

Quest 3: Looking at Mushers

ProcessQuest 1: Dog Sled Races Around the World

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sled_dog_races

Using the website above, identify, locate, and label on the map provided to you five places other than Alaska where dog sled races are held. You must choose places on at least three different continents. On the back of the map, write a paragraph why you think these places are good places for dog sled races.

Process

• Quest 2: What Type of Dog is Best?http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/sled-dogs-an-alaskan-epic/introduction/3146/Go to the above website and read about the qualities of a good

sled dog. Then go to the website below and read about at least five of the types of dogs used in sled dog racing. Choose one breed of dog that you think would make the best sled dog and write a paragraph to support your choice. Be sure to include a description of the dog, information on temperament, size, and any other information that supports your choice.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/sleddogs.htm

Process

• Quest 3: Looking at Mushershttp://iditarod.com/race/2013/mushers/

Choose two mushers from the website above and read their “bio’s.” Use the Venn Diagram (provided to you) to list at least five similarities and five differences between the two mushers.

Resources• www.iditarod.com• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sled_dog

_races• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/sl

ed-dogs-an-alaskan-epic/introduction/3146/• http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/sleddogs.htm• http://iditarod.com/race/2013/mushers/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race

Evaluation - Quest 1: World Map – Dog Sleds

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Labels - Accuracy More than 5 places labeled and located correctly .

5 places labeled and located correctly .

3-4 places labeled and located correctly .

Less than 3 places labeled and located correctly .

Continents Located places on at least 4 different continents.

Located places on 3 different continents.

Located places on 2 different continents.

Located places on only one continent.

Labels - Neatness 5 or more labeled places are easy to read.

4 labeled places are easy to read. 2-3 labeled places are easy to read.

One or less labeled places are easy to read.

Topic Student has addressed the prompt with at more than 1 supporting detail and stayed on topic.

Student has addressed the prompt with at least 1 supporting detail and stayed on topic.

Student has addressed the prompt.

Student has not addressed the prompt.

Conventions Student has 3 or less errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Student has 6 or less errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Student has 10 or less errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Student has more than 10 errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Evaluation: Quest 2: Which dog is best?

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Focus on Topic (Content)

There is one, clear, well-focused idea. This idea is supported by details/information.

The idea is clear but supporting information is general.

The idea is somewhat clear but there is a need for more supporting information.

The idea is not clear. There is a seemingly random collection of information.

Support for Topic (content)

The writer gives 4 or more relevant, telling, quality details that support the writer\'s choice.

The writer gives 3 relevant, telling, quality details that support the writer\'s choice.

The writer gives 2-3 relevant, telling, quality details that support the writer\'s choice.

The writer gives 1 or less relevant, telling, quality details that support the writer\'s choice.

Conventions Student has 3 or less errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar

Student has 6 or less errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Student has 10 or less errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Student has more than 10 errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling, or grammar.

Evaluation: Quest 3: Looking at Mushers

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Text Support of Comparison Statement

Statements have been made that have been inferred or concluded and all statements are supported by the text.

All statements are supported by the text.

Most statements are supported by the text.

Few or none of the statements are supported by the text.

Placements of statements within the Venn diagram

All statements noting similarities are placed in the center circle and all statements that note differences are placed in the correct outer circle and student has used technology to complete the product.

All statements noting similarities are placed in the center circle and all statements that note differences are placed in the correct outer circle.

Most statements are placed in the correct circle, but student mixed up a few statements.

Few statements are placed in the correct circle.

Number of quality statements

Student is able to make more than five comparison statements in each circle.

Student is able to make five comparison statements in each circle.

Student is able to make 3–4 comparison statements in each circle.

Student makes two or fewer comparison statements in each circle.

Conclusion

• Congratulations – You made it through the WebQuest! We hope you learned something about the Iditarod race, the dogs, the mushers, and some geography thrown in there, too! Here are a couple of books if you are interested in reading more about these type of things:

• Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner• Iditarod Country: Exploring the route of the last great race by

Tricia Brown• Winterdance: the fine madness of running the Iditarod by

Gary Paulsen (or any other book by Gary Paulsen)• Black Star, Bright Dawn by Scott O’Dell

Teacher Page

• This WebQuest goes along with two stories from the 5th grade Harcourt Trophies anthology: “Iditarod Dream” by Ted Wood and “Woodsong” by Gary Paulsen. There is also a learning center to go along with this. Please see next slide for a list of learning center activities.

Teacher Page • Learning Center Activities “Iditarod Dream” and “Woodsong”

• You will be choosing any 4 activities to do throughout this unit.

• Comparison of size of Alaska to other states. • Traffic Light Thinking – rereading the stories and see directions for specific

instructions of how to complete this activity. • Totem Pole – read the background information provided on Totem Poles and their

symbols, as well as Whale in the Sky. Design and create your own totem pole. See folder for specific instructions/guidelines.

• Read the story “The Wolf and the Dog” and respond to the questions provided. • Literary Response (Read and Respond). Choose ONE of the books from the center

to read and respond by completing EITHER a Sequence Diagram OR a Conclusions Chart.

• The Iditarod Trail Board Game – this game is played with 2 to 4 players. See instructions/guidelines for playing the game. AFTER the game has been played, EACH player must write down two things they learned from the game.

• Supplies on a sled – Take a look at the model of a sled. There is a list of 12 supply items to take on your sled for the race. Choose the top 5 items you would take (and prioritize them) and explain why you chose these items.

References• www.iditarod.com• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sled_dog_races• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/sled-

dogs-an-alaskan-epic/introduction/3146/• http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/sleddogs.htm• http://iditarod.com/race/2013/mushers/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race• Also, please make sure to make use of your school

library, public library, or EMC (Education Materials Center).