Virtual Sled Dog Race Framework

Introduction/ Game Rules

NOTE: This descirption is for the full version of the curriculum that can be purchased at the online store. The online game uses pieces of this curriculum.

The adventures is about to begin! So lace up your boots! Throw on your parka and call up your dogs- It’s time to RACE!

Overall Description: In this adventure, students in grades 6-8 will be given a chance to simulate the life of a dog musher. Throughout the curriculum, students will be learning the basics of mushing through hands on activities and problem solving. These compiled skills will then be tested in a final race modeled after the Iditarod.

During the 2 weeks that students are participating in the curriculum, they will be working on breeding, equipping, training, and racing their very own dog team across the expanse of the Alaskan Wilderness. There are seven stages they will have to work through in order to reach the finish line! In each stage they will have the chance to earn mushing money and points by completing activities and exercises that will teach them more and more about the world of sled dog racing. The higher the quality of work they do in these assignments, the more money and points the will earn! The mushing money allows them to buy the supplies and equipment they will need to succeed in the cut throat world of professional virtual sled dog racing. The points are used to determine the strength of their dog team. Throughout the stages they will be making decisions about how many and what type of points to earn. The quality of their assignments will determine what percentage of the potential game points they earn (less than, equal to, or greater than the points shown in each stage).

Stage 1: This is the introduction stage- where students learn a little about mushing, dog racing , and where it all came from. At the beginning of this stage students are a fledgling musher- They have $5,000 and a will to win! But no DOGS! At the end of the stage they will have more money and be ready to put together their dog team.

Stage 2: This is the stage where it happens! The miracle of life! In this stage students create their dog team by choosing 3 females and 2 males from the breeding pool of 35 dogs. In the breeding pool, each dog is assigned varying points for 5 physical traits (speed, endurance, toughness of feet, quality of fur, and eating habits) with the total points for each dog being 100. At the end of the stage students will have a dog team! They will have breed anywhere from 12 to 21 puppies and have a kennel of 17 to 26 dogs (puppies plus breeding adults). Now what do you with them?

Stage 3: This is the stage where students get to spend all that hard earned money! In Stage 3 students will be setting up and equipping their kennel from a list of required and optional supplies. The supply list is divided into 4 categories; Kennel Supplies, Sled & Sled Equipment, Dog Care Items, and Musher’s Gear. Each item they buy has a certain point value attached to it- so by spending their money and purchasing the best equipment you can afford you are adding to the strength of your dog team! And in the end it is the number of points they have, and not the amount of money they have earned, that will help them to win the race (the money is just used to buy equipment)! A little hint- be sure to study the figures on the following pages to understand how the points from each category truly effect the point structure and overall strength of your dog team. At the end of this stage they will have a full and complete sled dog racing kennel! Now it’s time to start training!

Stage 4: Now it is time to train up the students newly organized dog team. Finding good training trails can be a hard thing though, but lucky for the student, they live right next to the world famous Trusty Trails Training Area! And the best part of all, is the good folks of the Trusty Trails Training Area Trail Association have published a trail guide to tell you exactly how many points they can earn on each trail in 4 separate categories; Speed, Endurance, Leader training, and obstacle experience.

Stage 5: Well the day has come, students have breed, equipped, and trained their very own dog team, earning points and money all along the way.Now it is time to see how well they have done! In order to compete in the final 1200 mile race, the race organizers have decided that every rookie must complete at least one 300 mile qualifying race. And for students, that means the Straight Cliffs 300- The most grueling 300 mile race in all the world. Are you ready? Students will need to pick out their 12 strongest dogs, create a race plan, and give it their best shot, in order to find out! This is the first stage where students are actually going to be losing points- but don’t worry in the next stage they will have a chance to learn from their mistakes and earn them all back so they can put the final touches on their team for the BIG RACE.

Stage 6: Okay, they have finished your first race, hopefully seen where their team is a little weak, and are ready to go back and strengthen everything up. In this stage students will be given the chance to go back into stages 1, 2, and 3 to gather more points.

Stage 7: The BIG RACE! Here it is, students' teams are as ready as it ever is going to be. Now you Race- let the chips fall where they may!

Sample Outline

The purpose of this unit is to do a pre-assessment of a student's knowledge base of dog mushing. The student will research the past and present of racing and mushing dogs. In addition, they will examine a musher profile and begin a simulated money account and budget to be used for designing and maintaining the kennel, as well as the pre and final race. It should be noted at this point that students will simulate earning money by producing quality work, based on a scoring guide/ rubric given for each lesson activity and assessment.