Family and Consumer Science

This is a comprehensive one-year course designed to give students experiences in the five main areas of home economics: Food and nutrition, textiles and clothing, personal and family life (including child care), housing and home furnishings, management and consumerism.

The study of nutrition and how the food we eat affects us and our health is of major concern to a semester class in FOODS AND NUTRITION. In addition, students will explore social, cultural, and other factors which influence the way we eat and the meaning food has in our lives. Principles and techniques of food preparation, food storage and care, time management, the kitchen work space, entertaining, and meal planning are all put into practice during lab experience.

Focus on Sports and Foods will help student to: Understand and value the importance of one's health. Recognize community resources involved with wellness. Understand the sources of reliable nutrition information. Obtain knowledge of advertising techniques and their influence on our decisions. Obtain knowledge of the nutrients, food sources, and their function in the body. Understand how one's diet compares to dietary guidelines and needs. Prepare a variety of nutritional foods with special focus on low fat, sugar and salt as well as the dietary guidelines. Develop creative skills in product development and marketing. Evaluate one's own nutrient and caloric intake. Create nutritional breakfasts, beverages, entrees and snacks. Understand the effects of body composition and energy balance. Understand the components of fitness and their effects of the body.

Child Development involves learning about self through the study of children. Parental develoment, including the influences of both hereditary and environmental factors, will be explored. Students will investigate how children grow-physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. They will put this learnting into practice through a variety of observations and hands-on experiences with children of all ages. The child as a member of a family will also be a topic, with emphasis placed on the importance of both mothering and fathering roles.

Attention will also be focused on current social issues such as child abuse and neglect, children with special needs, and life- style choices. Consumer education will be included in topics such as the costs of bearing and raising a child.

This class will involve understanding oneself and everyone else. It will explore areas of development, living with families, behavior, communication, marriage, relationships, and parenting.

Independent living is compregensive semester course designed to help prepare youth to assume responsibilities inherent in becoming self-sufficient young adults living away from the parental home during or immediately following high school.

Although marriage and family life are the eventual choice for most individuals, the majority of persons will spend some time living the single life-style. This course presents situations related to each concept area that single individuals may encounter as they begin living independently. This information will give students bases from which to make decisions that will enable them to deal constructively with the common situations of independent life.

The housing of yesterday and today will begin the semester in the Housing class. The class will also study selecting, furnishing, and maintaining a home. The final topics will include a "Look to the Future" in housing. The class will work on interior design, refinishing of furniture or crafts, class labs and tours of homes.