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Welcome to Social Studies!

 

Welcome to Social Studies! My name is Mrs. Secketa and I am honored to be the Middle School Social Studies Teacher at St. Joseph. With a passion for history, I am dedicated to engaging students in interactive activities that help them to connect to the past while understanding its relevance to the modern world.
 
I bring to St. Joe's 30 years of experience as a teacher and as an administrator. I received my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Geography from Augustana College. I next completed a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Barat College and then a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. I am licensed in the states of Illinois and Wisconsin.
 
My husband Scott and I have been married for 29 years and live in Antioch with our two children. Matthew and Katelyn are twins and are currently seniors at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Matthew is majoring in Computer Science while Katie in majoring in Business. We have two dogs, Finley and Millie, who complete our family.
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My main goal for my classes is to empower students to become informed, responsible citizens.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

Our Courses:

6th Grade: Ancient World History

7th Grade: American History 1400s-1860s

8th Grade: American History 1860s-Present

 

 

 

 

Posts

Week of April 20, 2026

6th Grade - Geography & Settlement of Ancient Greece
  • Examine the physical geography of the Greek peninsula. 
  • Analyze thematic maps of ancient Greece, including locations of colonies and trade routes. 
  • Discuss connections between the geography of Greece and the development of ancient Greek city-states. 
7th Grade - Illinois Constitution
  • Students will get the study guide for the Illinois Constitution test on Monday. They should begin preparing for the test scheduled for May 1.
8th Grade - US Constitution
  • We will begin studying the US Constitution. Each student will be provided with a Constitution book that they must bring to class every day.
  • It is required that students pass this test.

Week of April 13, 2026

6th Grade - Shang Dynasty & Three Chinese Philosophies
  • Describe the government, social structure, religion, writing, art, and technology of the Shang dynasty. 
  • Analyze artifacts to draw conclusions about the Shang dynasty.  
  • Identify political and cultural issues at the end of the Zhou dynasty. 
  • Describe the lives and fundamental teachings of Confucius, Laozi, and Hanfeizi. 
7th Grade - Illinois Constitution
  • We will be covering the Preamble, Amendments and the Three Branches of Government.
  • Students will need to bring their Constitution book and a highlighter to class everyday.
  • It is a requirement that students pass the Illinois Constitution test.
8th Grade - The Cold War
  • We will be wrapping up the Cold War with end of the unit questions.
  • After students return from their DC trip, we will begin the US Constitution.
  • Students will need to bring their Constitution book and a highlighter to class everyday.
  • It is a requirement that students pass the US Constitution test.

Week of April 6, 2026

6th Grade - Ancient China
  • Describe the geography of China’s regions and analyze how each region’s physical features, climate, and vegetation affect daily life. 
  • Locate the Huang He Valley and explain why Chinese civilization originated there. 
  • Explain how China’s geographic features isolated it from the rest of the world.  
7th Grade - Manifest Destiny
  • Analyze the causes, events, and effects of the Texas War for Independence and the Mexican-American War. 
  • Determine the effects of manifest destiny on westward expansion in the 1800s. 
  • Quiz over chapter on Thursday.
  • We will begin the Illinois Constitution. Students will need to bring a highlighter to class daily.
8th Grade - The Cold War
  • Identify military and nonmilitary actions taken by the United States during the Cold War to resist the spread of communism.
  • Analyze the social and political effects of the Cold War on the people of the United States.
  • Compare and contrast the involvement and role of the United States in global conflicts and acts of cooperation.

Week of March 30

6th Grade - Ancient China
  • Describe the geography of China’s regions and analyze how each region’s physical features, climate, and vegetation affect daily life. 
  • Locate the Huang He Valley and explain why Chinese civilization originated there. 
7th Grade - Manifest Destiny and the Growing Nation
  • Describe the changing boundaries of the United States throughout the 1800s. 
  • Analyze the causes, events, and effects of the Texas War for Independence and the Mexican-American War. 
  • Determine the effects of manifest destiny on westward expansion in the 1800s. 
8th Grade - The Cold War
  • Identify military and nonmilitary actions taken by the United States during the Cold War to resist the spread of communism.
  • Analyze the social and political effects of the Cold War on the people of the United States.
  • Compare and contrast the involvement and role of the United States in global conflicts and acts of cooperation.

Week of March 16, 2026

**Please be sure Chromebooks are charged every night. Thank you!**
 
6th Grade - The Achievements of the Gupta Empire
  • Identify the Gupta Empire on a map and locate its key cities. 
  • Define what characteristics classify a historical time period as a “golden age.” 
  • Describe the important aesthetic and intellectual traditions of ancient India, including literature, medicine, metallurgy, and mathematics. 
7th Grade - The Rise of the Jacksonian Democracy
  • Describe the perspectives of various groups of people in response to Jackson and his key policies. 
  • Assess the impact of Jackson’s policies on the outcome of events. 
8th Grade - World War II
  • Describe the conduct of World War II, including the nations involved, major political and military figures, key battles, and the Holocaust.
  • Open note quiz on Wednesday, March 18

Week of March 9, 2026

6th Grade - Unlocking Secrets of Mohenjodaro
  • Form hypotheses about the function of artifacts and ruins from an ancient city in the Indus Valley. 
  • Analyze artifacts to draw conclusions about daily life in the Indus valley civilization. 
  • Explain why Mohenjodaro is an important archaeological site.  
 
7th Grade - Growing Sense of Nationhood
  • Identify themes in American art, music, and literature, including works by several authors. 
  • Identify ways in which politics and popular culture reflected America’s growing national identity. 
*Sweatshirt money for Springfield Trip is due March 13.
 
8th Grade - World War II
  • Explain the causes of World War II, including the rise of totalitarian leaders, growing nationalism, and economic instability.
  • Describe the conduct of World War II, including the nations involved, major political and military figures, key battles, and the Holocaust.

Week of March 2, 2026

6th Grade - Ancient India
  • Locate and describe eight key physical features of the Indian subcontinent, including the major river systems. 
  • Explain how geography affected the location of early settlement in India and supported the rise of civilization there. 
7th Grade - Foreign Affairs in the Young Nation
  • Identify major events of the War of 1812 and sequence them on a timeline. 
  • Explain the intent of the Monroe Doctrine. 
8th Grade - The Great Depression
  • Identify causes of the Great Depression and factors that led to an extended period of economic collapse in the United States.
  • Describe the impact of the Great Depression on U.S. society, including ethnic and racial minorities, and how government responded to events with New Deal policies.

Week of February 23, 2026

6th Grade - Kingdom of Kush
  • Identify the location of the civilization of Kush. 
  • Analyze and describe images that show the commercial, cultural, and political relationship between Kush and Egypt, and the development in Kush of an independent economy, government, and culture. 
  • Explain how location influenced the history of Kush during four different periods.
7th Grade - Foreign Affairs in a Young Nation
  • Test over Political Developments in the Early Republic on Tuesday - Open Note
  • Propose solutions to early U.S. foreign policy challenges, then compare them with real decisions, and evaluate them. 
  • Identify major events of the War of 1812.
8th Grade - The Great Depression
  • Understand the economic, social, and political development of the United States in the period between World War I and World War II.
  • Identify causes of the Great Depression and factors that led to an extended period of economic collapse in the United States.

Week of February 16, 2026

6th Grade - Daily Life in Egypt & The Kingdom of Kush
  • Quiz over Ancient Egypt social pyramid on Wednesday. Study guide was completed on Friday, Feb. 13.
  • Identify the location of the civilization of Kush. 
  • Analyze and describe images that show the commercial, cultural, and political relationship between Kush and Egypt, and the development in Kush of an independent economy, government, and culture. 
7th Grade - Political Developments in the Early Republic
  • Identify the positions of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans in the election of 1800.
  • How the Federalist and Democratic-Republican visions for the United States differed.
8th Grade - The Roaring Twenties
  • Understand the economic, social, and political development of the United States in the 1920s.
  • Explain how women, African Americans, Asians, and immigrants were affected by societal changes in the 1920s.
 

Week of February 9, 2026

6th Grade - Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
  • Explain why the social structure of ancient Egypt is organized like a pyramid and how religion affects that organization. 
  • Identify the key aspects of daily life for five social classes in ancient Egypt. 
7th Grade - Launching the New Republic
  • Represent the key positions of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans in a debate, taking on the roles of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. 
  • Analyze Washington’s attitude toward the role of the federal government in the Whiskey Rebellion and in his Farewell Address. 
  • Identify the positions of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans in the election of 1800.
8th Grade - The Roaring Twenties
  • Test Tuesday
  • Understand the economic, social, and political development of the United States in the 1920s.
  • Explain how women, African Americans, Asians, and immigrants were affected by societal changes in the 1920s.

Week of February 2, 2026

6th Grade - Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs
  • Identify the accomplishments of four key pharaohs from ancient Egypt: Khufu, Senusret I, Hatshepsut, and Ramses the Great.
7th Grade - The Bill of Rights
  • Identify key rights and freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights and explain why those freedoms are important in their own lives. 
8th Grade - The US Becomes a World Power
  • Examine U.S. involvement in World War I and the subsequent peace negotiations.
  • Analyze political cartoons with differing viewpoints of U.S. actions in world affairs during this era.
  • Quiz will be on Tuesday, February 10.

Week of January 26, 2026

6th Grade - The Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs
  • Identify the accomplishments of four key pharaohs from ancient Egypt: Khufu, Senusret I, Hatshepsut, and Ramses the Great. 
  • Analyze ancient Egyptian art and architecture to better understand the accomplishments of the pharaohs. 
7th Grade - The Bill of Rights
  • Identify key rights and freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights and explain why those freedoms are important in their own lives. 
8th Grade - The United States Becomes a World Power
  • Identify causes and results of the Spanish-American War.
  • Explain the process by which the United States gained control of the Panama Canal.
  • Examine U.S. involvement in World War I and the subsequent peace negotiations.

Week of January 19, 2026

6th Grade - Ancient Egypt & the Middle East
  • Describe the physical geography, including major river systems, of ancient Egypt, Kush, and Canaan. 
  • Recognize locations of early human settlement in these areas. 
  • Describe how environmental factors supported permanent settlement and the development of civilization in these areas.  
7th Grade - The Constitution
  • Identify the main features of the Constitution and describe the basic lawmaking process. 
  • Analyze how the Constitution divides powers among various levels and branches and preserves individual rights. 
  • Explain how the guiding principles of the Constitution have created “a more perfect Union” and resulted in a government that can adapt to changing times. 
8th Grade - The United States Becomes a World Power
  • Summarize arguments for and against U.S. expansion.
  • Identify causes and results of the Spanish-American War.
  • Explain the process by which the United States gained control of the Panama Canal.
  • Examine U.S. involvement in World War I and the subsequent peace negotiations.
  • Analyze political cartoons with differing viewpoints of U.S. actions in world affairs during this era.

Week of January 12, 2026

Please make sure your child is charging their Chromebooks every night.
 
6th Grade - Early Civilizations in the Americas
  • Identify the features of early Indigenous civilizations in the Americas. 
  • Compare early Indigenous civilizations in the Americas.
  • Open note quiz on Friday, January 16.
  • Coming up - Ancient Egypt and the Middle East
7th Grade - Creating the Constitution
  • Describe the role of such leaders as George Washington and Roger Sherman in the writing and ratification of the Constitution.
  • Describe the underlying political philosophy of the Constitution championed by such men as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.  
  • Open note quiz on Friday, January 16.
  • Coming up - The Constitution
8th Grade - The Progressive Era
  • Analyze the success of Progressive reforms in the areas of government, child labor, workers’ rights, conservation, equal rights for African Americans, and women’s suffrage.
  • End of unit reflection and project. Directions will be provided in Google Classroom
  • Coming up - The United States Becomes a World Power

Week of January 5, 2026

6th Grade - Early Civilizations in the Americas
  • Recognize the role of traditions, including oral traditions, across cultures, past and present. 
  • Explain why our knowledge about the first people to live in the Americas continues to evolve. 
  • Identify the features of early Indigenous civilizations in the Americas. 
  • Discuss theories about the collapse of early Indigenous civilizations in the Americas. 
  • Compare early Indigenous civilizations in the Americas.
7th Grade - Creating the Constitution
  • Analyze the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation. 
  • Explain how the Northwest Ordinance helped establish new territory for the United States. 
  • Determine the causes of Shays’ Rebellion and its effects on the new nation. 
  • Identify the main points of contention during the development of the Constitution, the arguments surrounding them, and their resolutions. 
 
8th Grade - The Progressive Era
  • Open note quiz covering the Great Wave of Immigration on Monday, January 5.
  • Determine the impact of the National Grange and the Populist Party.
  • Discuss industrialists’ laissez-faire ideals.
  • Describe the effects of urbanization and industrialization on the environment and society.
  • Analyze the success of Progressive reforms in the areas of government, child labor, workers’ rights, conservation, equal rights for African Americans, and women’s suffrage.