We’re making a popsicle stick STEM dogsled as we enjoy a ride through the story of Balto. Also, look at my 4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas.
Even though Balto might make you think of simply a literature unit, you can still work in some amazing history, geography, math, language arts, and science.
You have a great choice of activities and resources below.
Also, I have a tutorial for you to build your own dog sled from popsicle sticks.
The STEM part of this study can be learned naturally.
For example, your child investigates different methods for creating a sled to make it aerodynamic.
In addition, he learns about friction as it glides or sticks on the path down the ramp, problem-solving, and encourages outside-of-the-box thinking.
Encourage everyone in the family to create a sled and then race.
Ask questions like what made your sleds go faster or slower? What would you change next time?
Facts About the Book Balto
First, if you are not already familiar with the story of Balto let me give you a quick rundown.
It is based on a true story set in Nome Alaska and centers around the dog Balto who is a purebred Siberian husky.
He leads a dog team on a life-saving mission for serum when there is an outbreak of diphtheria.
- Balto was not the only dog responsible for saving the children of Nome, sled dogs took turns carrying the medicine from Nenena, Alaska to Nome.
- There is a statue of Balto that was placed in Central Park, and it remains there, still today.
- The run by mushers and dogs for the diphtheria serum was also known as the Great Race of Mercy.
- The trip from Nenena to Nome normally took 30 days for a sled dog team, this time it was done in a miraculous 6 days to deliver the medicine before it expired.
- A sled dog team is typically made up of a musher and 4 to 6 dogs or a pair and 8 to 12 dogs. This relay included 20 mushers and around 100 to 150 dogs.
Next, if your kids love reading books about dogs and dogs stories, look at some of these fun reads.
I lean toward living books to bring unit studies to life.
9 Books and Resources for Kids Who Love Dogs and Sled Dogs
If your child loves books about dogs and sled dogs, grab some of these for a fun unit study.
Balto has a quiet life as a sled dog—until tragedy strikes. Dozens of children in Nome become sick with diphtheria. Without antitoxin serum, they will perish—and the closest supply is 650 miles away! The only way to get the serum to Nome is by sled, but can the dogs deliver it in time? Heading bravely into a brutal blizzard, Balto leads the race for life.
Togo wasn't meant to be a sled dog. He was too feisty and independent to make a good team member, let alone a leader. But Togo is determined, and when his trainer, Leonhard Seppala, gives him a chance, he soon becomes one of the fastest sled dogs in history! His skills are put to the ultimate test, though, when Seppala and his team are called on to make the now-famous run across the frozen Arctic to deliver the serum that will save Alaska from a life-threatening outbreak of diphtheria.
Kiana is no ordinary dog. Born and bred to race, she leads her team of huskies on a journey unlike any other. The Iditarod - known traditionally as Alaska's 'Last Great Race' - spans 1,049 icy miles from Anchorage to Nome. From the treacherous terrain to the bitter, blowing winds, the trail is full of obstacles Kiana and her team must overcome in order to reach the finish line. Along the way, they encounter packs of wild wolves, a mighty moose, and other dog-sled teams fighting for first place. Can Kiana summon the strength of her team and lead them to victory? Author Shelley Gill brings her firsthand experience as the fifth woman to complete the Iditarod race to this crackling adventure story, while Shannon Cartwright's vibrant color illustrations bring Kiana and her team's extraordinary efforts to life for young readers.
When Andy Evans stumbles upon the snow-covered wreckage of a small plane, he’s shocked to find a survivor. Should he put the gravely injured dog out of his misery? The look in the animal’s eyes says he’s not ready to die. It turns out that Kävik’s a champion sled dog, and soon he makes a full recovery. When his rightful owner finds out Kävik is alive, he wants the dog back. But Kävik has other ideas.
Detailed Representation: Hand-painted by professionals, this Siberian Husky figurine comes alive with realistic features and markings, a perfect gift for dog lovers.
WHITE FANG !!!! (PART 1 of 2) From Jack London, one of the greatest American writers of all time, comes this masterpiece in adventure story telling: WHITE FANG!!! Can White Fang the timber wolf pup ever be tamed? WHITE FANG (PART 1 of 2)examines the violent world of wild animals and the equally violent world of humans. WHITE FANG! A tale of animal heroism, survival and adventure like never before seen in American literature.
Based on a Rocky Mountain legend, Stone Fox tells the story of Little Willy, who lives with his grandfather in Wyoming. When Grandfather falls ill, he is no longer able to work the farm, which is in danger of foreclosure. Little Willy is determined to win the National Dogsled Race—the prize money would save the farm and his grandfather. But he isn't the only one who desperately wants to win. Willy and his brave dog Searchlight must face off against experienced racers, including a Native American man named Stone Fox, who has never lost a race.
On a moonlit winter night, a team of dogs pulls a sled, taking the narrator and readers on a wondrous ride through the snow, into and out of the woods. It is a ride you'll wish would never end.
Balto, the great Alaska sled dog, has been dead since 1933. But he still stands larger-than-life on Dogdom's Mount Olympus, where the world's great canines are immortalized. Yet few people know Balto's true story.
Additionally, look at some of these unit study facts to go along the popsicle stick stem dogsled.
Balto Unit Study
Don’t just read the book, immerse yourselves in it with fun hands-on activities that cover a wide variety of subjects and ages so everyone in the family is included.
You can widen your unit a bit by incorporating the topics of winter, Alaska, snow, blizzards, and other themes that are prevalent throughout the story.
Math Unit Study Ideas for Balto
- Research how long it takes to get from where you are to Nome, Alaska-by foot, car, train, and plane.
- For the littlest learners, you can do Winter Math Activities With Printable Snowflake Number Circle.
- Here is a wintery-themed Hands-On Math: Fun and Easy Snowflake Geometry idea.
- If you live somewhere with snow have your child create and maintain a record of the daily snowfall.
Science Unit Study Ideas for Balto
- Learn about the different wildlife found in Alaska- Caribou, moose, polar bear, bald eagle, Orcas, and more for science.
- Use a Siberian Husky Figure to reenact the story, use it in a diorama, or as part of a lovely winter sensory bin.
- Your popsicle stick stem dogsled craft today is a great opportunity for hands-on science. This is a great time to let your child hypothesize and experiment, they will be naturally problem-solving, engineering, and thinking critically along the way.
- Find out how Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity, goes along with this unit very well.
History/Geography Unit Study Ideas for Balto
- Locate Nome, Alaska on a map or globe. Then locate the starting point in Nenena, Alaska, and track the path with your finger.
- Use this stencil of Alaska as a base to create a felt, salt dough, paper, or any other material map to learn the geography of this chilly state.
After finishing the book, watch the animated adaptation of Balto.
Language Arts Unit Study Ideas For Balto
For younger readers, Totally True Adventures, Balto and The Great Race is a wonderful retelling of the story.
- Provide your child with writing prompts. Encourage them to write or type a paragraph or an entire story from the inspiration. “As the snow started falling faster my dogsled team and I…” , “ If I could be anywhere during the winter time it would be….”. Or “ Let me tell you about the time I interviewed Balto.”
- Flip through your copy of Balto ahead of time. Then write down words that your child might not know or might be a challenge for spelling. Use these throughout your study as spelling/vocabulary words.
- This Snow & Ice Salt Writing Tray is great for prewriting letters. But it is also a really fun sensory activity. For older children they can practice sight words and spelling.
Crafts for Learning About Balto
- Follow this tutorial video and draw a Siberian husky, just like Balto for art.
- Create these fabulous DIY Stand-up Cardboard Huskies to display, and add them to your dogsled to complete it.
- A Super Easy Snowball Painting is not only fun but can help your child understand the total white-out conditions that can be faced in a winter storm.
If you are looking for more ideas like this Balto Unit Study you can work in more winter studies with the 8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace and a list of other great books that fit the theme to get them through winter.
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled
I am giving you a general how-to make a popsicle stick stem dogsled.
But remember this is a stem project and you may want to try several ways and models to test which one goes faster, holds more weight, etc.
You will need:
- Popsicle sticks
- Sturdy scissors or straight edge blade
- Cardboard
- Glue gun/glue sticks
- Paint-optional
If you enjoy doing projects with craft sticks you may want to invest in this tool.
It comes in really handy and makes cutting much easier, especially with angles like I did on the side braces of this.
First, determine the length and width you would like to make your sled, use scissors or a razor knife to trim pieces for the bottom, side, and front.
First lay out all the pieces to get an idea of where everything goes.
I used 4 sticks for the base and then secured them with a stick going across at each end, using hot glue.
Cut them slightly short on each side so you have room to attach runners, so it just needs to be the width of one craft stick on either side.
Hot glue craft sticks that are full size or cut them down to either side of the base to create runners.
Flip the sled over and begin construction of the front, to keep it light you will want to cut your sticks in half and again cut down a piece for support across the back.
Glue on side rails and support at an angle to stabilize the whole thing, you can cut angles or leave the ends straight.
Finally, you can leave your sled unfinished or paint it.
Create a snowy ramp with a long strip of cardboard painted white.
Prop it up at varying heights to test its speed.
