Rationale

The rapid social, economic, and technological changes occurring in our society and their impact on work and on personal and social relationships are placing many strains on families and on young people. Increasing social diversity is creating changing patterns of needs and wants. Economic adjustments include higher labour force participation rates for women, and the employment of both parents of two-parent families in the labour force. At the same time, our complex marketplace, offering an enormous variety of goods and services from all over the world, forces individuals to sometimes make difficult choices about basic personal and family needs with respect to care services, textiles, and food. New technologies also affect the resources available in families and the ways we all interact.

Home economics addresses these challenges related to family and daily living. It draws knowledge from many disciplines and uses the experiences and needs of students to make learning meaningful in both personal and family contexts. Home economics focusses on helping students develop practical abilities related to foods, textiles, and care giving. It also fosters the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills needed to manage resources effectively. In so doing, home economics makes an important contribution to:

• improving the quality of students' present and future family lives
• increasing students' resourcefulness in dealing with domestic and workplace challenges
• students' development as responsible citizens

Home economics education helps students to interpret and understand the world of family and work, and to identify and solve challenges that occur in their daily lives. The aim of the Home Economics 8 to 10 curriculum is to provide opportunities for students to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that have immediate and future applications in their personal and family lives, as well as in several key sectors of our local and global economies. Specific areas include:

• understanding, creating, and managing economic and human resources to address the needs and wants of individuals and families
• practising and thinking critically about principles and techniques related to the acquisition, production, and processing of foods and textiles
• nurturing and caring for others in various situations and contexts

• participate in activities that reflect the work of families and of individuals pursuing careers
• consider, propose, and implement ways to meet the needs and wants of individuals and families
• practise managing resources to develop as globally responsible producers and consumers
• appreciate the diversity of cultures in relation to foods, textiles, and the care of others
• consider and apply practices to nurture the growth and development of individuals at various stages of their lives, with special emphasis on pre-adolescence

Home Economics K to 12 Overview

Grades K to 3 At this level, students build an awareness of their place in the family. They identify some of the roles of families in society and practise skills with which they can contribute to their own families' activities. They are encouraged to demonstrate behaviours that build positive relationships in the home and classroom.	In grades K to 3, students: consider types of family groupings and describe common tasks related to daily family life explore ways of consuming and conserving resources available to families look at ways people grow throughout the life cycle begin to understand human needs and wants, including food, clothing, shelter, safety, security, and a sense of belonging
Grades 4 to 7 Students consider the roles of the family within various societies. They become aware of the importance of the family unit to the well-being of individuals and the global society. They evaluate factors influencing the ways families meet their needs, as well as the consequences of these actions.	In grades 4 to 7, students: investigate responsibilities of families in various societies describe responsible family use of community and global resources choose and prepare simple foods from Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating explore types of shelter in a variety of settings use skills related to textiles in a practical and artistic manner relate the role of nurturing to an individual's growth and development throughout her or his life cycle practise positive communication skills
Grades 8 to 10 At this level, students participate in practical experiences that prepare them for future independent and community living. Classroom activities provide students with opportunities to prepare food, use textiles, and analyse individual and family needs. Students develop time-, money-, and energy-management skills. They also gain an understanding of families and improve their capacity to nurture and care for others.	In grades 8 to 10, students: use appropriate tools, techniques, and resources to plan and create food and textile items study factors that influence the changing needs and wants of individuals and families over time investigate issues related to human growth and development practise responsible care-giving attitudes and behaviours for self and others increase their awareness of the interrelationships among the work of families, volunteer work, future careers, and the well-being of society develop and apply criteria for evaluating products and services
Grades 11 and 12 Home economics courses offered at the secondary level become more specialized. Although content may be specific to the study of food preparation and service, textile production and use, or human growth and development throughout the life cycle, there is a continued focus on meeting the needs and wants of individuals and families in a responsible manner. Courses at this level support career exploration and preparation by encouraging each student to acquire a broad base of knowledge as a useful background for specific training or further education to support a future career.	In grades 11 and 12, depending on the courses elected, students: acquire skills and knowledge appropriate to the area of study investigate job and career opportunities in related industries analyse and evaluate strategies and products describe or use appropriate technology for completion of projects at home and in industry consider global implications of decision making use appropriate skills for enhancing interpersonal relationships at home and in the workplace

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