Murkowski: Iditarod Is “National Educational Tool”
Senator to Spotlight Learning Opportunities During Race, Lower 48 Principal Thanks Alaska for “Educational Victory”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Less than 24 hours before the Iditarod’s ceremonial start, Senator Lisa Murkowski is spotlighting teachers nationwide who use ‘The Last Great Race’ as a learning tool – opening up children’s minds to Arctic issues and Alaska’s unique role in the United States. Across the country, there is an effort to teach science, geography, language arts and other subjects through the Iditarod in elementary schools. Throughout the race, Senator Murkowski will be utilizing social media to share examples of classes across Alaska and the country using the race to illustrate academics in action.
“Teachers in Alaska, from Dallas to Delaware are using the Iditarod as a national learning tool, but the takeaway is always stronger knowledge of Alaska,” said Murkowski. “As we near the beginning of the 40th Iditarod, we realize it tells a lot of stories about our culture, our people and our determination – but it can instruct, as well. Diane Johnson and the ‘Teacher on the Trail’ program, and countless teachers nationwide are demonstrating that while we’ve only been a state for a little over fifty years, even the first state can learn from the forty-ninth state.”
The first example is Diana Torres’ class at South Dover Elementary School in Dover, Delaware.
(Click to watch – Video used with permission of Dover Post, South Dover Elementary)
“Students in Kindergarten to Fourth Grade exercise their skills in reading, writing, math, social studies, science, geography, spelling and technology to participate vicariously in this amazing event,” said South Dover Principal Michelle Duke. “Thank you for sharing the Iditarod with ‘the Lower 48 states.’ Your race is our educational victory in motivating students to learn.”
Delaware is roughly the same size as the Municipality of Anchorage.
