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There's a Place That Has a Race (Grades 9-10)

Master Teacher

Gary Purinton

Time Allotment

Two 45-50 minute class periods

Overview

By looking at Alaska and the Iditarod race, students will come to understand the meaning of "place" (one of the five themes of geography). In the process they will encounter information and terms that are unique to Alaska and the Iditarod.

Subject Matter

Geography

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

define the term "place"
collect data about Alaska and the Iditarod from several Web sites and be able to take an online quiz using the information gathered
draw conclusions based upon their data collection and analysis

South Carolina Standards

These Standards can be found online at Office of Curriculum Standards.

Social Studies

Grade 10 _ 10.5 The learner will demonstrate an understanding of places and regions. The student should be able to:

Grade 10 _ 10.5.1 Explain the meaning and significance of place;

Grade 10 _ 10.5.3 Explain how relationships between humans and the physical environment lead to the formation of places and to a sense of personal and community identity;

Grade 10 _ 10.5.8 Describe the ways places serve as symbols for individuals and society;

Grade 10 - 10.5.9 Describe the ways different groups of people within a society view places

Media Components

Web Sites

The State of Alaska On-Line is the state's official Web site.

Alaska.com—Everything Alaska is the site for Alaskans, visitors, and anyone who has ever dreamed of the last frontier.

Alaska 360—A panoramic view of Alaska is full of 360 degree panoramic photo tours of different areas of Alaska.

Scholastic.com Iditarod Web site is a great site about the Iditarod with activities for students.

Dr. Sonny.com is Dr. Sonny King's Web site. He's a veterinarian from Spartanburg, SC, who competed in the Iditarod.

Dogsled.com provides good dog sledding information.

Anchorage Daily News. The Anchorage Daily newspaper releases updates on the Iditarod.

Funbrain Web site with online tests features a teacher-created Alaska facts test. Follow directions provided under Culminating Activity.

Materials

U.S. / World wall map

Inquiry Questions for the Iditarod Group (1 per student)

Inquiry Questions for the Alaska Group (1 per student)

copy of the directions for the online quiz at Funbrain Web site (for students in Alaska group)

1 page (cut up) of sentences from handout named "Definition" used in the Introductory Activity.

1 page created as an overhead transparency from handout named "Definition"

overhead projector

1 computer for every two students in the class

Prep for Teachers

Prepare handouts for all students (for use while in computer lab).

Prepare overhead transparency (used in Introductory Activity) using your computer's printer.

Bookmark all Web sites on each computer and create two folders (one for Alaska sites and one for Iditarod sites).

Cut the definition sheet up so there is one sentence on each sheet of paper to hand out to the students.

Create an online quiz by registering at Funbrain Web site and clicking on the teachers tab. Once you are on the teachers page, click on the "try quiz lab basic for free" link. Follow the directions on this site and you can create a test similar to the one included in this lesson.

Day One

Introductory Activity

Step 1: Introduce the characteristics of place. Distribute a cut-up definition to each student. If a student does not get a definition, have that student work with a classmate.

Step 2: Tell students that they will be learning about places and they are to read their sentence aloud when called on and tell an example to illus-trate their sentence. As each sentence is read, you will reveal the sentence on the overhead projector.

Step 3: Tell students that they just assembled a definition of the word "place" and now they are going to look at two things and see how they fit the definition of place. Tell them they will search for answers to questions and create a meaning for a new place through facts about a place and through an event that defines a place.

Learning Activities

Step 1: Divide the class into pairs and have them move to the available computers. Each pair will have a Web searcher and a recorder.

Step 2: Issue half the class the "Inquiry Questions on Alaska" and half the class the "Inquiry Questions on the Iditarod."

Step 3: Provide a Focus for Media Interaction by telling students to search for the answers to the inquiry questions by using the bookmarked Web sites on Alaska and the Iditarod by going to the folders labeled Alaska or Iditarod depending on their assignment.

Step 4: Both students can look at the Web sites for answers but have one student operate the computer and the other record their answers.

Step 5: Give students the remainder of class period to find answers to the questions.

End of Day One

Day Two

Learning Activities

Step 1: Whole class. Have student pairs recap their activities by discussing yesterday's activities for five minutes. Use the following questions to start the conversation.

"What two facts can you tell me about Alaska/Iditarod that you learned yesterday?"

"How does the climate affect daily life in Alaska?"

"Tell me how the Iditarod is a part of Alaskan culture."

Step 2: Whole class. Review the definition of "place." Take five minutes.

Step 3: Have students complete their online searches in the next 15 minutes using bookmarked sites.

Culminating Activity

Step 1: Direct students who did the Alaska inquiry sheet to go to the Web site http://www.funbrain.com and click on Quiz Lab. Under secret word have them type "computers67" and enter their name.

Step 2: They will now take an online quiz using the inquiry questions they answered earlier.

Step 3: Upon completion of the quiz they will print the results and turn it in to you.

Step 4: Direct the students who did the Iditarod inquiry to go to Be An Iditarod Reporter: The Dogs and complete the Iditarod Reporter Activity. They can print out their story and then submit it to be posted on the Iditarod Web site.

Cross-Curricular Extensions

Math: Go to the following Iditarod Map Web site and create a chart that totals the mileage you would travel each day in the Iditarod race.

Community Connections

Go to Dr. Sonny.com Web site. A veterinarian from Spartanburg, SC, Dr. King shares his perspective on the Iditarod race.

Student Materials

Inquiry Questions Sheets (either Alaska or the Iditarod)