St. Joseph Catholic School

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Ms. Valerie Fresh » Home

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Welcome to Social Studies!

Hello, and welcome to the exciting world of social studies! My name is Ms. Fresh, and I am thrilled to be the middle school social studies teacher this year at St. Joseph. With a passion for history and cultures and understanding the complexities of our world, I am dedicated to making this academic journey both engaging and enlightening.
 
Allow me to share a bit about myself:  I earned a Bachelor of Science in History Education from Illinois State University, where I gained endorsements in Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Geography, and Economics, spanning History both World and American, including AP and Honors levels. Additionally, I am certified in Middle-Level History Education (5-8).  In my pursuit of excellence, I'm currently working towards acquiring my ESL endorsement.
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My overarching objective is to bring a profound understanding of history and all the social sciences while also helping students become responsible global citizens.  If you have any questions or want to know more, please feel free to contact me! 
 
~Study the Past, Build the Future~

 

Our Courses:

6th Grade: World History

7th Grade: American History 1600-1860s

8th Grade: American History 1780-Present

 

Mini-Units:

Throughout the year, Middle School students will be introduced to various social science subjects as "mini-units."

These subjects include Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Geography, and Economics.

 

History Day:  This project aims to enhance the teaching and learning of history in middle school through a dynamic framework of historical inquiry and research. Students select topics of personal interest and delve into months-long research projects. Their findings will be presented through creative approaches, ending in a tri-fold exhibit. The theme is "Turning Points." A turning point in history transcends a mere event or idea; it is an occurrence that directly, or sometimes indirectly, brings about change. The project will conclude on May 3rd, 2024 when all middle school students will showcase their outstanding projects to the St. Joseph school community.

 

Email: [email protected]

 

 

Posts

September 18th - September 21st

6th Grade: This week in 6th grade, the focus will be on early hominins. Students will gain knowledge about the physical and cultural characteristics of four hominin groups, namely Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens. We will highlight how later hominin groups managed to surpass their predecessors by developing new adaptations.
This lesson will establish the groundwork for future discussions on the lifestyles of hunters, gatherers, as well as farmers.
 
7th Grade: This week the 7th-grade students will be wrapping up their study of different Indigenous Peoples of North America. This will be marked by a summative quiz on Tuesday, September 19th. In preparation for the quiz, students will be provided with a study guide beforehand. Once the quiz is completed, students will have to turn in their notebooks for the first notebook check. It is important that they ensure that each day of notes is properly labeled with either the date or lesson topic.
 
Upon completion of the quiz and notebook check, students will move on to learning about European Colonization. 
 
8th Grade: This week 8th grade students will be wrapping up their study of what it meant to be an American in the early 1800s. This will be marked by a summative quiz on Wednesday, September 20th. In preparation for the quiz, students will be provided with a study guide beforehand. Once the quiz is completed, students will have to turn in their notebooks for the first notebook check. It is important that they ensure that each day of notes is properly labeled with either the date or lesson topic.
 
Upon completion of the quiz and notebook check, students will begin learning about Andrew Jackson and the Growth of American Democracy.

September 11th - September 15th

6th Grade: On Monday, which marks the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, a historical tragedy in our nation's past, 6th-grade students will learn about the events and conduct an interview with an individual who was alive to remember the event. For the rest of the week, 6th-grade students will continue their Mini-Unit on Geography. They will learn what it means to think like a geographer so that they can build their geographical skills.

7th Grade: On Monday, which marks the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, a historical tragedy in our nation's past, 7th-grade students will learn about the events and conduct an interview with an individual who was alive to remember the event. For the rest of the week, students will continue with Unit #1: America Before and After Colonization, where they will learn about the different Indigenous peoples of North America. They will also begin to prepare for their first summative quiz and notebook check. More information will be provided on their summative assessment in class and on Google Classroom.

8th Grade: On Monday, which marks the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, a historical tragedy in our nation's past, 8th-grade students will learn about the events and conduct an interview with an individual who was alive to remember the event. For the rest of the week, 8th-grade students will continue with Unit #1: Launching the New Republic, focusing on early American politics, literature, and music. They will also begin to prepare for their first summative quiz and notebook check. More information will be provided on their summative assessment in class and on Google Classroom.

Reminders of what to bring to class: 
Chromebook, Spiral Notebook, and Headphones

September 4th - September 8th

6th Grade:
This week, the 6th-grade class is starting Unit #1: Historical Beginnings of Early Humans. We'll begin by studying cave art and ancient tools to learn about the past. We'll also explore key themes in world history, like geography and early human history up to 4000 BCE.
 
7th Grade: 
This week, the 7th-grade class will be wrapping up Unit #0: Intro to History. They will learn about the 7 key themes of U.S. history and see that while historical events can happen in different places and at different times, there are many common themes among them. They will also start the beginnings of Unit #1: American Before and After Colonization, where they will spend time learning about the different Indigenous peoples of North America. 
 
8th Grade:
This week, the 8th-grade class will wrap up Unit #0: Intro to History by finishing learning about the idea of turning points in American History and the notion of continuity and change. They will also start Unit #1: Launching the New Republic, which will have them learn about the people, events, and ideas that shaped America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
 
Reminders of what to bring to class: 
Chromebook & Spiral Notebook

August 28th - September 1st

6th Grade 
Monday  - Why Study History 
Tuesday - Hydro History Activity & Show What You Know Quiz 
Wednesday - Why Study History Cont. 
Thursday - Foundations of Geography 
Friday - Foundations of Geography Cont. 
 
7th Grade 
Monday  - Why Study History 
Tuesday - Hydro History Activity & Show What You Know Quiz 
Wednesday - Why Study History Cont.
Thursday - Exploration and Colonization 
Friday - Exploration and Colonization Cont. 
 
 
8th Grade 
Monday  - Why Study History 
Tuesday - Hydro History Activity & Show What You Know Quiz 
Wednesday - Why Study History Cont.
Thursday - Foundations of U.S. History 
Friday - Foundations of U.S. History Cont. 

August 23rd - August 28th

6th Grace Social Studies

Intro to World History

Basic Rules and Expectations

Getting to Know the Classroom

About the Teacher

 

7th Grade Social Studies

Intro to American History

Basic Rules and Expectations

Getting to Know the Classroom

About the Teacher

 

8th Grade Social Studies

Intro to American History

Basic Rules and Expectations

Getting to Know the Classroom

About the Teacher