6th Grade SCIENCE

Ms. Ploss Jefferson Middle School

Class overview

Welcome! This year, we will get to know each other as we explore, investigate, and explain our world--the Earth! I'm excited to hear your questions about our Earth, and to work together to answer them in creative, collaborative ways (as scientists)!

Use this website to write the week's agenda, access all of our activities, and turn in graded assignments in Google Classroom. You will work in your Interactive Notebook (a new 100-page notebook for each semester), and then take photos that represent your learning and describe them in your Digital Portfolio (your very own website!).

***NOTE: I have changed the grading system and course materials slightly (and hopefully it is easier to use!!!). Here is the syllabus and a video explaining our new (and improved) system.

Weekly Agenda and Class Calendar

Use this calendar to complete your agenda the first day of each week.

For Quick Reference, here are some handy links:

Syllabus (Spanish here)

Chemical Kitchen

This unit is about baking cookies, and the chemical and physical changes that occur with the transfer of thermal energy. Did you know that ...?

Catastrophic Cycles

This unit is about the patterns we see in natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Did you know that these natural hazards are mostly in specific places around the world? Why are there places that have a higher or lower risk of volcanoes and earthquakes?

Rock Files

This unit is about fossils and rock layers we can see and find around Albuquerque and all over the world. Did you know that marine fossils can be found at the top of the Sandia Mountains?!! How and when did they get there, and how can we "read" the history of the Sandia Mountains in the layers of rocks we find?

Ear Attack

This unit is about cells, living things, and the diseases that can affect them. Did you know that there are some diseases that can cause hearing loss?!! Are diseases living things, and how can a disease change our hearing?

La Niña Winter

This unit is about the weather patterns that can affect how dry or wet our year is here in Albuquerque. Did you know this year isn't expected to be a great snow season because it is a "La Niña" year?!! What makes our weather patterns change year-to-year?

Class Learning Blog!

During each unit, each student will choose AT LEAST ONE question they are really interested in. During ANY FREE TIME, and/or when a student achieves "mastery" (at least 3/4 on a standard ticket), you may spend time researching, designing your own investigations, and creating a project of your choice to show what you learned.

We will add these independent projects to this class website as a learning gallery and science blog at the end of each unit!

About Ms. Ploss

Hello! I am a 6th grade science teacher here at Jefferson--I’ve spent my life thus far as a physical therapist, photographer, mother, researcher, teacher and adventurer. I’m so excited to be a Jet and to learn with and from all of you!

Please reach out with anything you'd really like to learn or do while we are exploring our world this year together.

By the way, we'll be exploring three main themes together this year: Inquiry, Connection, and Change... Get ready!

Resources

Here are some quick resources for you and your parents. Please reach out with any suggestions, ideas or issues. We're all working together to make this a fulfilling year!

Log onto My.APS.EDU (Classlink) to access Google Classroom, Gmail, and our online interactive textbook, STEMscopes!

Student Links

Syllabus
Google Classroom
Bell Schedules

For Parents

Email Ms. Ploss (or chat from email)
Jefferson Middle School Website

Help with Google Classroom

Earth's Surface Photos from climate.gov (NOAA):
Mt. St. Helens: U.S. Geological Survey photo by Robert Krimmel.Hurricane Madeline: NASA/NOAA image from the Suomi-NPP satelliteArctic Ocean: Photo by Patrick Kelley, U.S. Coast Guard.
Alaska coast erosion: Stratus Consulting/University of Colorado

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