Grade Level:
    5th

Subjects:
    Math
    Social Studies
    Language Arts

Learner Outcomes:
    1.  Find the range, median, mode and average population for the start, middle, and finish of the 1999
         Iditarod trail
    2.  Write a brief description of what occurs during each leg of the race
    3.   Map the Iditarod trail onto a map of Alaska

Duration of Lesson:  2/40 minute sessions

Materials:
    calculators
    1 map of Alaska for every 3 students
    student record sheet for populations
    teacher answer key for populations

Technology Tools/Courseware:
    Internet accessible computers
    Excel
    Microsoft Word
    Calculators

Teacher Notes:
    Students will work in groups of 3
   Teacher will need to read background information

Procedures:
    1.  The teacher will introduce the lesson by calling upon students' knowledge from lesson 1 and
         and lesson 2.
    2.  Teacher will explain how to find the range, median, mode, and average using a set of data.
    3.  Students will then visit the Explore the Trail  site and record the population of each city along
         the trail for each leg of the race: start, middle, finish using their copy of the population spread sheet.
    4.  Students will then use a calculator to find the average, median, mode, and range of the population
         for each leg of the race.
    5.   Students will now enter this information into Excel and print out their data.
    6.   After searching the web, students will write a brief description about each leg of the race in their
          Iditarod journals.
    7.   Finally, students will draw the route of the race on a blank map of Alaska.  Students will visit the
          web site Iditarod National Historic Trail System Maps to find the exact route of the race. They
          will include this map in their Iditarod journals.

Modifications:
    peer tutors, reduced assignment length as needed

Enrichments:
    In place of the Microsoft Word report, students could create a Power Point
    presentation describing the race.

Evaluation/Assessment:
    Completed print out of Excel spreadsheet using population (Population Key)
    Microsoft Word report
    Optional Power Point Presentation
    Map of Alaska showing the trail route

State Standards:  West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives
    Language Arts: 5.2, 5.12, 5.16, 5.20, 5.52, 5.54
    Computer/Technology: 5.180, 5.182, 5.183, 5.188
    Math:  5.11, 5.14, 5.24, 5.26
    Social Studies:  5.26, 5.61

National Standards:
    Language Arts:
        1.  Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.
        2.  Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
        3.  Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts.
    Social Studies:
        1.  Understands the physical and human characteristics of place.
        2.  Understands the concept of regions.
    Math:
        1.  Uses a variety of strategies in the problem solving process.
        2.  Uses basic and advanced procedures while performing the processes of computation.
        3.  Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement.
References:
    Iditarod National Historic Trail System Maps
     Explore the Trail

Authors:
    Jeannine Brand
    Libby Davis
    Susan Seitz