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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 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.

Week of December 15, 2025

6th Grade - Ancient Persia
  • We will be finishing our unit on Ancient Persia. Students will be writing a paragraph explaining how Ancient Persia is remembered today.
  • We will begin Early Civilizations in the Americas when we return from break.
7th Grade - The American Revolution
  • Open note test on The American Revolution on Monday, December 15.
  • We will begin the unit on Creating the Constitution.
8th Grade - The Great Wave of Immigration
  • We are finishing the unit on immigration. Open note quiz on Tuesday, December 16.
  • We will begin the unit on The Progressive Era when we return from break.

Week of December 8, 2025

6th Grade - The Achievements of Ancient Persia
  • In what ways did ancient Persians influence the world around them? 
  • Consider the development of writing across civilizations. 
  • Recognize the achievements of ancient Persia. 
  • Describe the legacy of ancient Persia. 
  • Understand the influence of different languages and cultures on the English language. 
7th Grade - The American Revolution
  • How was the Continental army able to win the war for independence from Great Britain? 
  • Identify the impact of the American Revolution on other parts of the world. 
  • Examine the course of the war for independence and the subsequent defeat of the British. 
8th Grade - The Great Wave of Immigration
  • What was life like for immigrants in the early 1900s?
  • Compare and contrast experiences of immigrant groups.
  • Describe the journeys of immigrants to the United States.
  • Interpret and express what life was like for U.S. immigrants.
  • Explain why nativism surged in this period and how Congress responded.

Weeks of November 24 and December 1

6th Grade - Ancient Persia
  • Understand the sequence of empires that ruled over ancient Persia and their similarities and differences.
  • Identify and explain resources that assist historians in learning about ancient Persia. 
7th Grade - The American Revolution
  • Identify the impact of the American Revolution on other parts of the world. 
  • Examine the course of the war for independence and the subsequent defeat of the British. 
8th Grade - The Rise of Industry
  • Inventor project - Guidelines will be posted in Google Classroom.
  • Open note test - Wednesday, December 3.

Week of November 17

6th grade - Four Empires of Mesopotamia
  • Identify the location of the Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian Empires. 
  • Describe the military, economic, and cultural achievements of early Mesopotamian empires, such as Hammurabi’s Code. 
  • Evaluate the importance of Mesopotamian achievements.
7th grade - The Declaration of Independence
  • Identify the final causes, such as the Battle of Breed’s Hill and Common Sense, that brought about independence. 
  • Analyze the principles of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence. 
  • Recognize how delegates to the Second Continental Congress were able to preserve the slave trade by suppressing Jefferson’s attempt to condemn it in the Declaration of Independence. 
8th grade - The Rise of Industry
  • Explain how industrialists, with government encouragement, created big businesses.
  • Compare the costs and benefits of industrialization and urbanization, and identify the effects of urbanization on the nation.
  • Evaluate the success of the labor movement in improving conditions.
  • Identify inventors and evaluate the impact of their inventions.