Show 23: Education & the Iditarod

IN-STUDIO GUESTS: March in Alaska is here bringing with it more sunlight, hints of Spring and of course - The Last Great Race which has been inspiring fascination in people of all ages for years. But did you know that the Iditarod also inspires classroom lessons in math, geography, science, reading, technology, history, social studies and the arts? It's true! There's nothing like dogs to get kids all over the world interested in learning.

To talk about the educational opportunities provided by the world's biggest sled dog race we invited Diane Johnson, Education Director for the Iditarod Trail Committee and Herb Brambley, the 2010 Target Teacher on the Trail, to share the many lessons they've learned, developed and taught from the Iditarod trail. (See a slideshow of Herb's trip.)

FEATURED STORIES: Every year teenage mushers from all over the US and Canada ages 14-17 compete in the Junior Iditarod. Seiji Takagi, a 14-year old freshman at South Anchorage High School, spoke with Alaska Teen Media Institute's Ishmael Streever for Kids These Days! before the race about what it's like to be a teenage musher preparing to run his first Junior Iditarod! Find out how the Junior Iditarod mushers did last weekend.

The Iditarod is being used to creatively educate children all over the world, while here in Alaska contributor Jessica Cochran takes a look at a new way educators are approaching Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) in the modern classroom. (Hint: it involves power tools and marshmallows!)

AKontheGo Mom, Erin Kirkland, brings us another fun-filled installment of KTDontheGO, this time it's all about when and where to experience the best of the Iditarod with the whole family. See a full schedule of events at Iditarod.com/calendar

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