This year for our co-op, we are using movies to educate our kids. One week we watch a movie and the next week we analyze it. Recently the kids watched “Togo,” so I created this Free Togo Movie Study Guide to accompany it. You can watch the movie on Disney Plus.
What is the movie “Togo” about?
The movie tells the true story of the Serum Run of 1925, also called “The Great Race of Mercy.” In Nome, Alaska, diphtheria hit the remote town. The closest antitoxin was in Fairbanks, more than 500 miles away. It could travel by train to Nenana, which was 483 miles away from Nome. Because planes at the time were open cockpit, flying was out of the question because of the weather. A storm was coming that would bring temperatures of -40 degrees with windchill of -85 degrees. The town and its population had to rely on 25 mushers and their teams of dogs to deliver the life saving antitoxin.
Who was Togo?
Togo was a 12 year old husky, considered old for a sled dog. Yet Togo would lead Leonhard Seppala’s team of dogs 261 miles in their journey to deliver the serum to Nome. The team twice crossed the extremely hazardous Norton Sound which was iced over, but the ice was starting to break up. Eventually another team’s leg of the trip would bring the serum into Nome. Another dog, Balto, would receive the notoriety Togo deserved.
What is included in the free Togo movie study guide?
At 10 pages, the guide includes the title page, a diary entry, a word search puzzle, discussion questions, and a venn diagram. Here’s a few samples:
I also included two answer keys for the Venn Diagram and the discussion questions. In addition, you’ll receive a “draw a husky” page, a list of extension activities, and links to the resources that I used to make the guide. I have a number of video links, including this tutorial on how to draw a husky.
How can I learn more about Togo?
This site seeks to correct history as far as which dog should have received the credit for being the “hero dog” of the run. It contains a list of all the mushers involved and how far each traveled.)
History vs. Hollywood attempts to give readers the truth versus what is contained in the Disney movie regarding the Serum Run. Surprisingly, there is a lot of truth in the movie.
Slate.com has a similar take as it looks at what is fact versus fiction in the movie.
How can I get a copy of the free Togo movie study guide?
It’s easy! Just sign up below and you’ll receive the code to my free resource library. There you’ll find the free Togo movie study guide among other free printables.
If you’re interested in more history printables, you can download my worksheets on the Japanese Internment camps. You can read about those here.
I plan to create more free movie study guides, so stay tuned for those! Let me know if there is a particular movie you’d like me to cover.