Task
Your task is to put together a booklet for people who are interested in the Iditarod - either as a musher or a viewer.  Your booklet will contain the following pieces (click here for a checklist):
  1. Facts on Alaska
  2. History of Iditarod
  3. Map of Alaska - marking the start, middle, and end of the Iditarod route
  4. Aurora Borealis -- Your artistic interpretation of an Aurora Borealis
  5. Include a profile of your group's musher and his/her progress in the race
  6. Weather chart: High and Low for Anchorage, Cripple and Nome for each day of the race
  7. Top 5 finishers this year. Their country and finishing time.
  8. Reflection: Three characteristics necessary to survive the Iditarod. Why? Would you want to run the Iditarod? Why or why not?
Process
Your teacher will break you into pairs to work together on a booklet.  You should work together on the same computer or on computers next to each other to gather the information required for this webquest.  Your teacher and this checklist will help you and your partner to gather all of the necessary information for your booklet.

Use the following links for each component within your booklet

1. Information on Alaska.
Answer the questions on this worksheet and include it in your booklet.

2. History of the Iditarod.
Follow the instructions on this worksheet to write your own history of the Iditarod to include in your booklet.

3. Map of Alaska with Iditarod Route.
Include the map that you printed during your History of the Iditarod in your booklet.

4. Aurora Borealis.
Use this website to find you and your partner's favorite photo of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Print out the photo to bring to art class.  This photo and your artistic interpretation of it will be included in the booklet.

5. Musher Tracking.
Research a musher using the Iditarod official Website. Print the profile of your musher to be included in the booklet. Use this chart to track your musher's progress in the race.

6. Weather Chart.
Use this chart to track the temperatures for Anchorage and Nome during every day of the race.  You will use this chart in computer class to create a temperature graph to include in your booklet.

7. Top 5 Finishers.
Use this table to document the list of the top 5 finishers, their country of origin and their finishing times.

8. Reflection.
Reflect on what you have learned from reading Hatchet and researching the Iditarod.  Discuss with your partner what three characteristics are necessary to survive and succeed in finishing the Iditarod. Why?  Include your list of three characteristics and your reasoning in your booklet.  You and your partner will then individually answer these questions and include your paragraphs in the booklet.  Which of these characteristics do you posess?  Would you want to run the Iditarod? Why or why not?

(back to top)
Task
Introduction
Iditarod Webquest
Process
Conclusion
Introduction
You have read "Hatchet" by Gary Paulson with your 5th grade class and learned how hard it is to survive in extreme conditions.  This webquest is designed around one of the most challenging races in the world: The Iditarod in Alaska.  It has a rich history.  Your job is to find out the history of the Iditarod and understand the endurance required to withstand the raw conditions faced by the mushers in this amazing race.
(back to top)
(back to top)
Conclusion
You have now researched Alaska and the Iditarod. You should now have a better understanding of the raw conditions faced by the mushers who compete in the Iditarod.  Through this webquest I hope you have learned a greater appreciation for the sport of dogsled racing.
(back to top)
Just for fun: Take the Husky Dog Survey
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1