Welcome back everyone. 

Welcome back everyone. Miss Hunsaker and I will be homeroom teachers for the 6th graders and I will be teaching the sciences. Our textbooks and the curriculum program is “Stemscopes” which is a hands on, inquiry based program. The "Stemscopes" program aligns beautifully with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which our school has adopted.  


This year the 6th graders will be studying Earth Science. We will begin the year by becoming familiar with laboratory procedures: lab safety, tools we use in the lab, measurement using the metric system followed by setting up and performing experiments. We will pay attention to the scientific method and work on lab write-ups going from formulating hypotheses through gathering pertinent data to developing appropriate conclusions.

Earth science is a study of the earth and of its position in the universe. Throughout the year students will become familiar with the structure of our earth and with the forces that formed it. We will begin by looking at rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes. We will follow that with a study of weather and water factors that shape the earth and finally a look at where in the universe our earth can be found.

 

We will be using different ways of obtaining information throughout the year including note-taking, discussion and labs. Students will be required to have a spiral-bound notebook for my class and I would also encourage them to have their own pens, pencils, graph paper and metric rulers.

            

 Labs will be performed in the classroom as often as possible and lab write-ups will be completed during school time.  Students will be paired up for experiments and each student will be responsible for a portion of the write-up. Quizzes on the lab procedures will follow each lab write up to ensure all students understand the process. 

Yearly grades will be obtained from: 

 

We will be attending MOSS - McCall Outdoor Science School from February 2nd - 6th, 2026. I will be sending out information as we get closer to December. MOSS is more than a field trip - At MOSS, we want all students to feel a sense of belonging. Students are invited to explore their unique identities and strengths, work together with others, and investigate complex issues in our local and global communities. We know that all learning is personal, based on first-hand observations.  So, whether they are snowshoeing through a state park and observing how animals fare during the winter months, or building a snow structure with different layers of the snowpack, students in MOSS programs are making connections with one another and the natural world!
At MOSS students learn that deep knowledge of math, science, and social studies help us understand how the world works and how to ensure equity, justice and sustainability among all living things. Through the MOSS experience, students leave with a better understanding of how to take care of themselves, how to take care of each other, and how to take care of the places we all live.

MOSS is an experience that we offer here at St. Joe's and we encourage 100% participation in our 6th grade classes. 

I am really looking forward to a great, productive year. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me here at school. My address is mcclurem@stjoes.com


Link to signing up your student for MOSS 2026

Here is the slide deck from the Back to School night (MOSS presentation)

Here is the link to the list of what to bring for winter/spring in McCall

Here is the link to the health forms