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About 'From Alaska':
The 'From Alaska' educational program was established by the Pike Legal Group, PLLC to provide teachers with free, web-based material that complements the curriculum they are already teaching. As a curriculum supplement, the From Alaska program provides an additional chance for teachers to show students how what they are learning in the classroom applies in the 'real world', while at the same time providing insight into what life is like in one of the most remote regions of the United States.
About the 'Mushing In Alaska' Unit:
The 'Mushing In Alaska' unit takes students through the history of mushing, where they observe a historic form of transportation transforming into a highly competitive sport. People who run dogs today throughout the state of Alaska have different reasons to do so than people 100 years ago, and they have come to utilize very different dogs and equipment. In addition to teaching about the modern sport of mushing, the multimedia presentations and written resources in this unit cause students to consider how changing technology has influenced people, particularly in extreme environments.
About the 'Exploring the Denali Region' Unit:
In this segment, students learn about the challenges of traveling through one of the most extreme environments in Alaska - where weather and terrain demonstrates the need for, and the use of, technology. A short video presentation introduces students to both modern and ancient forms of travel, ranging from snowshoes to dog teams to airplanes, and demonstrates how each form of transportation is still used today. Students are engaged through video footage that makes them feel as if they are actually in Alaska, traveling across the rugged landscape. Through exposure to both modern and ancient modes of travel, students observe a very clear example of how humans can adapt to extreme natural surroundings: This lesson in adaptability extends to areas far beyond the Alaskan landscape that will inspire them.
To assist students in making the link between the video content and their own lives, numerous projects and lesson plans have been created on topics ranging from human adaptability to map making. These projects cause students to relate what they have learned about Alaska to their own lives, while sharpening their analytical skills and inspiring creativity.
About the Program Developer:
Andy Moderow, a lifelong Alaskan, grew up exploring Alaska, using numerous forms of transportation. His earliest memories involve skis, canoes, snowshoes and dog teams - activities that he continues to enjoy today. Since 1989, the Moderow household has included sled dogs. Today, their kennel is home to 30 adult dogs and 8 puppies. Andy has completed numerous dog sled races in Alaska, including the 1100-mile Iditarod, the Copper Basin 300, four Junior Iditarods and the Sheep Mountain 150. He is most proud of being the only two-time recipient of the Jr. Iditarod Humanitarian award, an award given for exemplary dog care.
While attending Cornell University, Andy spoke to numerous Elementary schools in the Ithaca, NY region about Iditarod and the Alaskan lifestyle. Since graduation, Andy has spent most of his time in the Anchorage area, where he has worked analyzing wildlife harvest trends for the National Park Service and the National Park Conservation Association. On weekends, however, he can almost always be found exploring some part of Alaska, using one of the forms of transportation discussed in this program. It is his hope that, through this curriculum, the inspiration he receives from Alaska can be spread to students who live far away.
Andy can be contacted at: info@fromalaska.org
Copyright © 2005-2006, From Alaska Educational Program, All Rights Reserved.
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