What is it? The Iditakid is a relay race in which the students play the role of either a sled dog or a musher. The course is set up outside and students must race from checkpoint to checkpoint, stopping to perform duties at each one. Each team is timed and penalty points are given for race "infractions". Teams may be made up from 3 - 5 members depending on your numbers.
What do you need? A classroom of students, an enthusiastic teacher, and volunteers! I was lucky to have another classroom (GR.6) help out as race officials. You may be able to do this activity without monitoring each station but that will depend on the students you are working with. You will definately need a couple of extra bodies to assist you.
Race Officials ( you and your volunteers) need to provide the following: - Bibs with team numbers on them. - Signs for each checkpoint - include number of station, name of checkpoint, miles to Nome. (see station page). I used pile-ons to mark the official checkpoint. - Log Book that must be carried by mushers and race officials must sign. - Baggies for each student - fill each with about a dozen cheerios. - Stopwatch - Chart to record start and finish times for each team.- Older student or adult who will play the part of the "Moose".Each Student Team must provide the following: - A sled of some kind. Students may use boxes, toboggans, flying discs, skis or any other kind of contraption to create a sled. It must have the capability of carrying all the supplies for the team and must be have a gangline attached in some way. - Gangline attached to sled, "dogs" attached to gangline by rope.- One water bottle with name printed on it for each team member.- An extra set of hat and mitts must be packed.- One scarf - long enough to wrap around head, dense material for blindfold. - Booties - Two pairs for each "dog" - Booties may be made from old socks, plastic bags or hospital paper slippers. They must be fastened in some way. If they fall off during the race the team must stop and replace them. 
