Second grade spent the day “camping” and learning about the great outdoors! We were fortunate to have Emma and Halle from the Somerset Woods Trustees visit and share a mini lesson about nature. Students learned how to press flowers and leaves and even had the opportunity to create their own nature keepsakes.
Later in the day, students put their observation skills to the test by matching Maine wildlife to their footprints. After successfully completing the challenge, everyone enjoyed a well-earned camping favorite—s’mores! It was a fun-filled day of hands-on learning, exploration, and outdoor adventure.
Later in the day, students put their observation skills to the test by matching Maine wildlife to their footprints. After successfully completing the challenge, everyone enjoyed a well-earned camping favorite—s’mores! It was a fun-filled day of hands-on learning, exploration, and outdoor adventure.
Our 1st graders enjoyed a fun-filled Beach Day packed with learning and creativity! We spread out beach towels around the classroom and listened to beach-themed stories, including the delightful book Froggy Goes to Hawaii. Students learned a few hula dance moves and discovered how coconuts are harvested from coconut trees. We also explored the fascinating world of deep-sea creatures by learning fun facts about Anglerfish and creating our own angler fish crafts. For a special beach-themed snack, students enjoyed banana dolphins swimming in cups of goldfish crackers. After listening to the story Super Sand Castle Saturday, students worked together to build sandcastles using blocks, challenging themselves to design the tallest, longest, and most creative structures. It was a wonderful day of reading, science, engineering, movement, and beach-themed fun! 🌴🐬🏖️
Kindergarten recently enjoyed a fun-filled Water Day packed with hands-on learning activities! Students raced water droplets, fished letters out of water to build sight words, created beautiful mosaic raindrops, and participated in a science sink-or-float investigation.
During the science activity, students made predictions on their data sheets before testing different objects and recording their results. This gave them an opportunity to think like scientists while practicing observation and data collection skills.
To top off a wonderful day of learning and fun, students enjoyed a refreshing watermelon snack. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of the day while exploring all things water! 💧🍉🔬☀️
During the science activity, students made predictions on their data sheets before testing different objects and recording their results. This gave them an opportunity to think like scientists while practicing observation and data collection skills.
To top off a wonderful day of learning and fun, students enjoyed a refreshing watermelon snack. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of the day while exploring all things water! 💧🍉🔬☀️
Kindergarten has enjoyed a couple of special theme days over the last few weeks! One of their favorites was Camp Day. Students listened to camping-themed read-alouds, watched Curious George Goes Camping, and even made delicious s'mores in the oven.
Throughout the day, students participated in camping-related literacy activities and word work, along with creative projects such as marshmallow pattern painting and using paint and a fork to create campfire art. It was a fun-filled day of learning, creativity, and hands-on experiences that brought the camping theme to life! ⛺🔥🍫📚😊
Throughout the day, students participated in camping-related literacy activities and word work, along with creative projects such as marshmallow pattern painting and using paint and a fork to create campfire art. It was a fun-filled day of learning, creativity, and hands-on experiences that brought the camping theme to life! ⛺🔥🍫📚😊
Our second graders have been busy putting their engineering skills to the test! Students worked together to design and build tents for a stuffed animal that could withstand a windstorm—created by a fan. They planned, built, tested, and improved their designs while learning about problem-solving, teamwork, and the engineering design process. There was lots of excitement as students watched to see if their tents could stand up to the challenge! Great job, second graders! 🌬️⛺👏
First grade also had a blast bowling! Students enjoyed spending time with friends, practicing their bowling skills, and celebrating the end of the school year with lots of smiles and excitement. It was a fun-filled outing for everyone. 🎳😊
We started the day with a special treat as Mrs. Stevens, our music teacher, greeted students and staff with a bagpipe serenade. The beautiful music echoed through the school, creating a memorable and festive start to the day. Thank you, Mrs. Stevens, for sharing your talent and helping make the morning extra special! 🎶🎵🎉
To celebrate the conclusion of the Healthy Kid Pack program, "Miss Jenn" visited our students and read Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party. Students enjoyed the story before getting creative and decorating their own aprons. As a special final Healthy Kid Pack activity, each student received a pizza kit to take home and enjoy with their family.
A heartfelt thank you to New Balance for supporting the Healthy Kid Pack program. We are especially grateful for your generosity in providing healthy food for our students each week throughout the school year. Your support helps ensure that students have access to nutritious food while also creating fun and engaging learning opportunities. Thank you for making a positive difference in the lives of our students and families! 🍕📚👩🍳❤️🎉
A heartfelt thank you to New Balance for supporting the Healthy Kid Pack program. We are especially grateful for your generosity in providing healthy food for our students each week throughout the school year. Your support helps ensure that students have access to nutritious food while also creating fun and engaging learning opportunities. Thank you for making a positive difference in the lives of our students and families! 🍕📚👩🍳❤️🎉
On Tuesday, our Kindergarten through 2nd grade students enjoyed a fun-filled bowling trip organized by our PE teacher, Mrs. Grenier. We had a wonderful time at the Central Maine Family Fun Bowling Center, where students practiced their bowling skills, cheered on their friends, and shared lots of smiles and laughter.
As you can see, our kindergarten students had an absolute blast! Thank you to Mrs. Grenier for organizing this exciting experience and creating such a memorable day for our students. 🎳😊🎉
As you can see, our kindergarten students had an absolute blast! Thank you to Mrs. Grenier for organizing this exciting experience and creating such a memorable day for our students. 🎳😊🎉
Mrs. Whittemore's second graders have been hard at work strengthening their nonfiction reading skills! Students completed a nonfiction text features sort, which proved to be more challenging than it might seem. They also reviewed author's purpose through an engaging sorting activity and practiced identifying text features while playing Text Features Bingo.
These hands-on activities help students become more confident readers by recognizing how nonfiction texts are organized and understanding why authors write. Great work, second graders! 📚🎉
These hands-on activities help students become more confident readers by recognizing how nonfiction texts are organized and understanding why authors write. Great work, second graders! 📚🎉
Last Wednesday, Mrs. Gallison’s kindergarten class took a special walk to the Canaan Public Library. Librarian Dixie Ring welcomed students, introduced them to the library, and shared information about summer activities and programs. Students had the opportunity to explore the library and learn about all it has to offer.
Miss Dixie read ABC Ducks of Deering Oaks Park, and students enjoyed creating a fun duck craft inspired by the story. To top off the visit, the class had lunch outside on the lawn and enjoyed a picnic together. They even spotted a toad in the grass!
Thank you, Miss Dixie, for making our visit so memorable. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful resource in our community, and we appreciate all you do to encourage a love of reading and learning! 📚🦆☀️
A community champion is a person who collaborates with a variety of partners to strengthen school, business, and non-profit relationships for the benefit of the community and our students.
Canaan's final Community Champion of the school year is Katelyn Clukey!
Ms Clukey is always willing to lend a hand or cover a duty or classroom when a need arises. She helps all students who need an extra hand in class, and even took over supporting students with speech services in the middle of the year this year! Ms Clukey is a positive, valued part of our school community, and we are so lucky to have her here!
Congratulations, Ms Clukey!
Canaan's final Community Champion of the school year is Katelyn Clukey!
Ms Clukey is always willing to lend a hand or cover a duty or classroom when a need arises. She helps all students who need an extra hand in class, and even took over supporting students with speech services in the middle of the year this year! Ms Clukey is a positive, valued part of our school community, and we are so lucky to have her here!
Congratulations, Ms Clukey!
Look at this crew! One of the best things about our school is that we're a close-knit community. Our students have friends across all grade levels, and those relationships help make our school such a special place to learn and grow. 😊📚🏫
Please enjoy Canaan Elementary School's EOY News: https://bit.ly/49zAVFO
As an extension of our learning in the First for ME program, Animals Surviving and Thriving, we welcomed Audrey's dad, Dr. LeClair, a biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, to our first-grade classroom. Dr. LeClair shared a fascinating collection of animal skulls and furs from wildlife found in Maine. Students had the opportunity to observe, touch, and compare White tail deer, Beaver, Red Fox and Coyote, while learning how their adaptations help them survive and thrive in their habitats. This hands-on experience brought our classroom learning to life and we learned a new phrase, "Eyes and teeth tell us what it eats."
The Carrabassett Masonic Lodge #161 was back at CES to award bicycles through their annual Bikes for Books program! Throughout the spring, students earned tickets for books they read independently or had read to them. The Masons then drew one boy and one girl from each grade level to receive a new bike and helmet.
Our winners were thrilled to bring home their prizes in recognition of their reading efforts. Congratulations to Brantley, Alder, Breck, Addy, Reid, Yarra, Bailey, and Malcolm!
A special thank you to the Carrabassett Masonic Lodge #161 for their continued support of literacy and for encouraging a love of reading among our students. And, Congratulations to all of our CES readers for their hard work and dedication to reading this year! 📚🚲🎉
Our winners were thrilled to bring home their prizes in recognition of their reading efforts. Congratulations to Brantley, Alder, Breck, Addy, Reid, Yarra, Bailey, and Malcolm!
A special thank you to the Carrabassett Masonic Lodge #161 for their continued support of literacy and for encouraging a love of reading among our students. And, Congratulations to all of our CES readers for their hard work and dedication to reading this year! 📚🚲🎉
Today, we enjoyed a special visit from Wildlife Encounters sponsored by Aspire Riverhawks! Wildlife Encounters is a private, family-owned nature-based educational organization that delivers more than 1,200 live animal outreach programs annually throughout New England.
Derek Small, owner of Wildlife Encounters and a graduate of Skowhegan Area High School, shared a variety of fascinating animals with our students. In addition to teaching about each animal, Derek spoke about careers and aspirations involving working with animals, encouraging students to think about future possibilities and follow their interests.
Students were thoroughly engaged and excited throughout the presentation. Some of their favorite comments included:
• "The millipede was sticky when it was walking. We were touching its exoskeleton!"
• "I liked the hedgehog's pokes."
• "My heart beeped a little bit, but I was brave."
• "I liked the frog! It had cool eyes!"
• "We were brave! We believed in ourselves and touched them."
It was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about wildlife, explore future career aspirations, and practice being brave while interacting with some amazing animals!
Derek Small, owner of Wildlife Encounters and a graduate of Skowhegan Area High School, shared a variety of fascinating animals with our students. In addition to teaching about each animal, Derek spoke about careers and aspirations involving working with animals, encouraging students to think about future possibilities and follow their interests.
Students were thoroughly engaged and excited throughout the presentation. Some of their favorite comments included:
• "The millipede was sticky when it was walking. We were touching its exoskeleton!"
• "I liked the hedgehog's pokes."
• "My heart beeped a little bit, but I was brave."
• "I liked the frog! It had cool eyes!"
• "We were brave! We believed in ourselves and touched them."
It was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about wildlife, explore future career aspirations, and practice being brave while interacting with some amazing animals!
One of our favorite end-of-year traditions returned this week with a visit from school board member Jeannie Franklin! For decades, Jeannie has celebrated the close of the school year with the students of Canaan Elementary by treating every classroom to lunch and spending time playing bingo, complete with fun prizes. Her continued support of our little school and the Canaan community means so much to our students and staff. We are grateful for all she does to support CES and helping to make special memories for our students year after year.
Canaan Elementary School was thrilled to welcome author and illustrator Hazel Mitchell through the support of Aspire funding. Students had the unique opportunity to listen to Hazel read and discuss her book, Sweet Pea Summer, while also learning about the creative process behind becoming both an author and illustrator.
During her visit, Hazel shared how imagination can spark the beginning of a story and encouraged students to look for inspiration in their everyday lives, memories, and experiences. Her message helped students see that ideas can grow into something meaningful when nurtured with creativity, perseverance, and passion. By sharing her own journey, students were able to make real-world connections between their interests, talents, and future career possibilities in writing, art, publishing, and storytelling.
The experience also promoted literacy engagement across grade levels as students listened closely to the storytelling and illustrations that brought the book to life. To make the day even more memorable, one lucky student from each grade level received a personally signed copy of Sweet Pea Summer to take home and treasure.
Through Aspire funding, students were able to experience firsthand how creativity, imagination, and hard work can lead to exciting opportunities and future aspirations.
During her visit, Hazel shared how imagination can spark the beginning of a story and encouraged students to look for inspiration in their everyday lives, memories, and experiences. Her message helped students see that ideas can grow into something meaningful when nurtured with creativity, perseverance, and passion. By sharing her own journey, students were able to make real-world connections between their interests, talents, and future career possibilities in writing, art, publishing, and storytelling.
The experience also promoted literacy engagement across grade levels as students listened closely to the storytelling and illustrations that brought the book to life. To make the day even more memorable, one lucky student from each grade level received a personally signed copy of Sweet Pea Summer to take home and treasure.
Through Aspire funding, students were able to experience firsthand how creativity, imagination, and hard work can lead to exciting opportunities and future aspirations.
This time of year is always exciting as students enjoy the warmer weather and extra opportunities to play and socialize outside during recess. Outdoor play helps build friendships, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and gives students a chance to stay active and have fun together. While we may be counting down the days until summer break, we are not counting down our time together and continue to make the most of every moment we have left this school year.🌼
