Project update June 2002

Capt. Mattie Thomson and Canaan third graders

Class takes Adopt-a-Boat post survey about commercial fishing. Check out the results!

Students make Mattie a special gift
My third graders have been very busy making Mattie a special thank you gift. For the past month my students have been learning about Canaan history and as part of this unit we have Pioneer Week, which is a week devoted to learning about pioneer-like skills. Fifteen presenters demontrated and/or showed the children how to do such things as spinning wool, making bread, candles, baskets, furniture, etc...Our last presenter showed them how to quilt. The students actually made a quilt and used an ocean print material. The kids designed six squares and then it was all put together. We'll be sending his gift off to him very soon. It's beautiful and the kids are so proud of it.

F/V Striker to the rescue

On Wednesday morning, the fifteen children and fifteen adults headed out into the Gulf of Maine aboard the Hardy Boat. All were told to expect rough seas as the waves were from 6-8 feet. Captain Al did his best to make our ride a smooth one but despite his efforts, many aboard experienced some sea sickness. Waves washed aboard, spraying all those who stood in their way. Just when those aboard wondered if their "ocean adventure" would ever end, Mattie Thomson, our Adopt-A-Boat captain came to our rescue. He came out in his lobster boat, the Striker, and greeted us with an enthusiasic wave and smile, which brought relief to many seasick children and adult alike. He was like a knight on a white horse!

Students on F/V Striker

Once off the Hardy Boat, Mattie offered to take us out into the harbor to pull up some lobster traps. Those of us who managed to avoid seasickness on the first boat ride, jumped aboard the Striker. Mattie showed those aboard the equipment on his boat and also how he pulls up his lobster traps. The kids put the "hand cuffs" or bans on the lobster's claws and were able to hold lobsters. He demonstrated how lobsters are measured and checked for fertile females. The children got to see a female lobster which had been identified as a "fertile female" by a V notch in her tail. He also showed the children some harbor seals, which were up on the rocks near the island. The seals were within feet of the boat.

Next, Mattie showed the children his fish house and gear, which he just recently had taken out of the water because he lobstering season is over. The lobster season for the Monhegan lobstermen is from December 1-May 31. He spent time answering questions and explained what life is like for him on the island.

The children also hiked up to Monhegan Lighthouse, which gave everyone a beautiful view of Manana Island, which is located right next to Monhegan. They could see the harbor and also out into the Gulf of Maine. From the lighthouse they then walked to Lobster Cove and saw a shipwreck of a tug boat, which went aground sometime in the 1940s.

Monhegan Island School and Canaan students

The children then visited Monhegan Island School and talked with the five children who attend the school. Prior to our visit to Monhegan Island, the Canaan children had written letters to these students. The children discussed the differences and similarities in their lives. They found that rural children share many of the same things. The children on Monhegan told us what the weather is like and about storms they remembered. It was a terrific experience for both groups of children.

When we were ready to reboard the Hardy Boat, Mattie surprised the children by giving them each a buoy. He also gave Mrs. Brady a buoy for her classroom. The Canaan children presented him with some maple syrup, which was made by Courtney Madore's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Covil of Pittsburg. Mattie and Jessica waited on the wharf as the Hardy Boat departed and waved us on our way.

I am happy to report that the return trip to New Harbor on the Hardy Boat was much smoother and not a one got sick!

Our experience with the Adopt-A-Boat program has been awesome. With its help, the landlocked Canaan children really got to see first hand what making a living off the ocean is like. Mattie Thomson has earned our respect and we will never again complain about the cost of lobster because they are worth every cent we pay for them! We only wish that the commercial fishermen saw more of the profit.

Project update March 2002

1. The Ocean Fair was a great success! Mattie and Jessica arrived early in the afternoon on Wednesday, just in time to help the third graders with the finishing touches on their displays. The third graders were in the hallway putting up their welcome sign when they saw Mattie. They all jumped up and ran to the door to greet him. It was terrific.

The ocean fair started at six with the presentation of achievement certificates for all the children. The third graders presented Mattie with a stuffed Canaan Eagle, which they hope he'll keep on the Striker. They dressed it in a wet suit (plastic baggy) so that it could survive any rough weather. They also gave him a Canaan Elementary Cookbook, which was printed last year.
Mattie spoke to all those in attendance for a brief moment and then the festivities began.

The Striker was a big hit. Children and adults alike went aboard the Striker and enjoyed being in charge at the helm. The Adopt-a-Boat video also attracted a lot of attention and great crowds of people stood and watched the whole film.

The third graders did an excellent job telling everyone about their ocean life. They explained their experiments and shared fast facts.
Mattie and Jessica spent the night in Canaan and came back to school the following morning for the Thursday morning portion of the ocean fair. They both made a point to visit with each child and listened intensively to each. It was truly a wonderful experience for the children.

The whole affair was picked up and put away by 10:00. Mattie and Jessica even stayed to help us take care of everything. When we were all picked up, Mattie and Jessica enjoyed cake at our beach party celebration.

Meeting our boat captain really made involvement so wonderful. The children can't wait to go to Monheghen in June.

2. Update on Mattie's Boat...Canaan Style! Yesterday (March 27) the children painted the boat in preparation of our Ocean Fair. It ONLY took two gallons of paint, most of which ended up either on the floor or on the third graders. The good news...both the floor and the children clean up real nice! I called Mattie on Monday and he is coming to Canaan! He's going to first talk to the parents and students at the beginning of our Ocean Fair and then he will hang around to answer any questions our visitors have. He's staying in Canaan and will stop in the next day as well so that the students from other grades can meet him before he heads back to the island. The third graders are thrilled...


3. Our Ocean Fair is coming up very soon...March 27 and March 28. The kids and I are making a life size version of Mattie's boat F/V Striker and they are going to label all of its parts. It should be a cool deal. I've asked Mattie to come and I should know soon whether or not he can make it. At the Ocean Fair each child sets up their "station" complete with experiments, written report, home project, backdrop, books, charts etc... and they tell what they know to interested "customers" or anyone who they can get to listen. They become the expert on their species and let everyone know what they learned.

We'll also be showing the film, setting up displays of shells etc... and we provide puzzles and activities for our visitors that are related to the ocean. This year we're making Mattie's boat in (2-D) It's going to fill an entire wall of our cafeteria. After the Ocean Fair, we'll have a beach party. The kids wear their own T-shirts with their own designs at the fair and beach party. We usually end up watching an ocean video, while basking in the warm sunlight of Canaan, Vermont (the janitor turns up the heat). 
The kids put on sunscreen, sunglasses and wear sandals from last year that are an inch too small. It's a blast!

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Project update February 2002

1. Phil Averill, the "Ocean Guy" of Ocean Adventure, visited Canaan Elementary School on February 19 and 20. He presented programs on the Gulf of Maine, whales, sharks, touch-tank marine animals, commercial fishing and much, much more. All of his presentations were interactive, involving students in a variety of ways. He had the children crawling through a trawl net in the hallway to help them understand how this kind of net catches cod. He also showed the children starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers and allowed them to feel and hold them. Phil's programs are a preview for the Canaan third graders, as they will be visiting the Gulf of Maine and traveling out to Monhegan Island to meet Mattie Thomson, their Adopt-A-Boat captain and their Monhegan Island School penpals on June 4 and 5. Currently, the third graders are finishing up their research papers and have begun work on their experiments and other projects for their Ocean Fair, which is scheduled for March 21 and 22.

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2. The third graders viewed their film, along with anyone else who happened to walk by and peek in to see what we were enjoying so much. There was a mixed bag of reactions from the students. Some couldn't bare to watch themselves when it was their turn to ask Mattie their questions. Others giggled and laughed at how they looked or sounded. Despite their initial reactions, all really loved the finished product. They were delighted with Mattie Thomson's answers and can't wait to meet him. I heard many say, "This is so cool!"

The third graders continue to work on their ocean projects. The researching phase is well underway, and we're looking forward to Phil Averill's visit to Canaan in February. He'll be presenting to all of the students at Canaan School in grades pre-school through grade six, with extra presentations for the third graders on commercial fishing and the Gulf of Maine.
The students continue to chart the price of lobster. Mattie last reported that he's getting about $4.50/pound and our local store is selling lobsters for $6.99/pound.

Not much else to say...thanks again helping with this great project.

Check out some video clips!

Project summary update January 2002

 

Students researching ocean animals.

Students were introduced to the Adopt-A-Boat program early in the school year, although my Ocean unit didn't start until January. I made contact with Mattie Thomson as soon as I learned he was our partner. Plans were discussed at that time about the possibility of filming "A Day in the Life of a Maine Lobsterman."

After a few computer glitches (I was off-line for over a month) things started to roll. I talked with Cliff about the possibility of filming and before long, he gave us the go ahead. Matt, the cameraman, made his way up to Canaan to film my third graders asking questions for Mattie just before Christmas. Learn more.....

Next, Matt spent the day with Mattie on board the F/V Stiker. Mattie then answered the questions from my students on film.

Meanwhile, Mattie and I have been chatting occasionally via email. Mattie told the children about the low lobster prices in mid-December and this information sparked some discussion from my students. They decided they wanted to compare the cost of lobsters/ pound at our local supermarket to the price Mattie is given for his lobsters. A chart was made to record these prices so the children could easily visualize the differences.

NH Chronicle aired a program on Monhegan Island in early January, which I taped and showed my students. They became excited to learn that Monhegan Island had its own school, so I contacted the school to see if they might be interested in corresponding with us. I felt that the more the children understood about life near the ocean, the better they could understand Mattie's way of life.

My third graders wrote their first letters to the Monhegan students and are awaiting their replies. We are corresponding by email, as well as snail mail.

I also learned from the NH Chronicle show that Monhegan Island is known for being an artist colony in the summer. I ordered the books, Monhegan-an Artists' Island and An Eye for the Coast-The maritime and Monhegan Island Photographs of Eric Hudson, which I shared with my students and then gave to our art teacher, Ms. Keafer.

Ms. Keafer is exploring the possibility of introducing my third graders to the works of many of the artists featured in these books. We've also talked about the possibility of my students painting some of the familiar scenes while visiting Monhegan Island in June.

In class, my students are currently working on their ocean life projects, which includes a comprehensive (for third graders that is) report, experiment and other activities, which they will present for their parents at our Ocean Fair scheduled for March 22, 2002.

Throughout our Ocean Unit, the children will read many books about the ocean, which will include fictional as well as non-fictional materials. They will also incorporate art and music into their study of the ocean. See Ocean bibliography.

During story time, I will read many books, fictional as well as non-fictional, to my students. I read, A Year on Monhegan Island by , which detailed the life style of the people who live on the island. This book really gave my students an insight to life on an island. See Ocean bibliography.

Phil Averill, of Ocean Adventure, is slated to come on February 19 & 20. He will spend an entire day with my third graders to expose them to ocean animals, commercial fishing techniques, as well as other programs associated with the fishing industry and ocean life of the Gulf of Maine.

The Ocean Unit will officially end with our visit to the Gulf of Maine on June 5 & 6. With the guidance of Phil Averill, my students and parents will experience a true "ocean adventure."

We plan to take the Hardy Boat out to Monhegan Island to meet Mattie and possibly the students of Monhegan Island School. While on the island, we plan to explore tidal pools and visit with Mattie and other lobstermen. We'll also get to see the F/V Stiker and Mattie's lobster gear first hand.

On our trip to Maine, my students will also examine water samples from the Gulf of Maine, visit Pemaquid Lighthouse and museum, swim in at Pemaquid Beach, as well as enjoy music by the Castleton Players.

We have lots to do and are very excited about our involvement with this program.

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Project update December 28, 2001 Return to Top
We at Canaan School are busy with a great project with the help of a cameraman, Matt. Matt came to Canaan 12/19 to film my third graders asking questions to our boat captain, Mattie Thompson. He spent the morning filming me telling my students about the Adopt-A-Boat project.Using the charts provided, I showed my students where Monhegan Island is located and told them about the program.

Next, the children asked questions, which will later be added to footage being filmed of Mattie during an actual fishing trip. Matt hopes to have Mattie explain the answers to the children's questions by not only telling but also showing the children very specific equipment etc...We're excited about seeing the final product, which we were told would be ready by the end of January.