Balto Companion Pack

Balto: The Hero Dog Book Companion Unit
 
Bring the legendary 1925 Serum Run to Nome to life with the Balto Book Companion Unit. This comprehensive, five-day, multi-subject study pack is designed to accompany any book about Balto and the courageous sled dog relay that saved a town from a diphtheria epidemic.
 
The unit is structured to combine history, geography, science, and literature into a single, engaging learning experience:
Day One: Reading & Reflection: Includes classic book companion activities like Reading Notes, a Book Review, and a "Draw It!" activity to capture your favorite part of the story.
Day Two: Geography & Mapping: Students will explore the 675-mile (1,086km) Serum Run route from Nenana to Nome. The day culminates in a hands-on Sensory Map activity, where students use materials like cotton balls, sand, aluminum foil, and glitter to create a tactile map that represents the diverse, challenging terrain of the frozen Alaskan wilderness.
Day Three: Science of Survival: Dive into Sled Dog Adaptations, learning about how their double-layered coat and dense, furry paws (which act like natural snowshoes) allow them to thrive in the Arctic. The unit includes a hands-on experiment to understand the insulating properties of a double coat.
Day Four: Literature & Character Analysis: Analyze the story's main players by completing a Character Analysis that pits Balto as the superhero against the Arctic Weather as the supervillain. This is followed by a Comic Strip Design activity.
Day Five: Art & Celebration: Honor the heroic team with a lesson on the Balto Statue in Central Park, New York City, and a guided Clay Sculpture activity. The unit also includes a recipe to make Arctic Balto Bites.
 
This unit is a fantastic way to teach children about bravery, history, and the incredible survival traits of sled dogs!
 
* This is a digital product. No physical item will be sent!