The overall goal of FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES,. is to prepare students to function successfully in the multiple roles of citizen, family member, parent, worker and consumer.
The middle school provides the first experience in all six core topic areas. At this level, the emphasis is exploratory. Competencies are developed in areas of Nutrition and Food, Textile Technology, Family Life, Child Development, Living Environments, and Personal Management.
Grade 6 Curriculum Outline: Child Development: Baby sitting unit. This includes topics on fire prevention and safety, age appropriate books and toys, how to handle emergencies and discovering the needs of young children. Nutrition and Food: Kitchen safety, basic equipment, measurement, snacks and breakfast.
Grade 7 Curriculum Outline: Nutrition and Food: Kitchen safety, measurement, basic equipment, breakfast, healthy eating, Regional Cooking of America. Textile Technology: one sewing project. Personal Management: building self-esteem, feelings, assertiveness, peer pressure.
Grade 8 Curriculum Outline: Nutrition and Food: Food pyramid, nutrients and calories, food labels, International Cooking, senior citizen luncheons. Textile Technology: quilts for Veterans or at-risk babies, individual sewing projects of student's choice. Personal Management: advertising, decision making.
By the end of the 8th grade, we will cover the following key concepts and skills during the class:
1. Develop planning and organizational skills when working in a kitchen.
2. Understanding of healthy eating habits by using the Food Pyramid Guide.
3. Develop basic skills in using a sewing machine.
4. Produce a sewing project that relates to grade level curriculum.
5. To discover the needs of young children and learn how to keep them safe and happily occupied.
6. Develop an awareness of peer pressure, feelings and other influences on self-image.
7. Formulate decisions and evaluate their outcomes.
8. Analyze various advertising techniques and apply the knowledge to consumer decision making.