The Iditarod Race

The Iditarod Race started in Alaska yesterday, March 5.  I showed the kids the Iditarod web site and some YouTube videos of dog sled racing and they were really interested.  After watching the videos the kids went off to make their own dog teams.

This was the first attempt.

Yes - that is Matthew being pulled on his 'sled' by a team consisting of a stuffed dog and two Zhu Zhu pets.  I think they really thought that once they turned the Zhu Zhu pets on that Matthew and his sled would move - so funny! 

Sarah also came up with a sled for her American Girl pulled by her AG husky.

A great book and/or movie to go along with learning about the Iditarod is Balto.

Here is some info from Wikepedia about Balto and the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska.  This run is commemorated by the Iditarod.

You can also find a statue of Balto in New York City's Central Park.

Me on the Map - Update

Here is the book to go along with the Me on the Map activity we did yesterday.

Happy Mapping!

Me on the Map

It's not unusual for us to ask 'What country do we live in?' and hear 'Connecticut'!  or to ask 'What State do we live in?' and hear 'United States'!  I think this is pretty common for little kids but it is extra confusing for our kids since the girls were born in Ontario, Canada but now live in Connecticut, USA.

{On a side note, with the upcoming President's Day, my girls were very disappointed to hear that they could never be President since they were born in Canada.  We told them they could be Prime Minister of Canada but that didn't seem to make them feel better.}

I found this great geography activity that I hope will help the kids visualize where we are on a map.  I think I will have to make a version of this for where they were born and where all our relatives live too!

I used my nesting mixing bowls to trace out 7 circles on construction paper and on white paper.  The 7 white circles I then trimmed to slightly smaller than the construction paper circles. 

{This step is probably not necessary and you could just draw right on the colored paper.} 

I labeled the circles {see picture} and then Sarah drew or glued on pictures for each one.

I punched holes in the circles and strung some ribbon through.  It now hangs in our kitchen for future reference.

 Idea for Me on the Map by Finally in First.