Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS)

  • Mrs. Nicole Mullenix

    Voice Mail: 630-579-7616 
    Subject Area:  FACS

     

    Family And Consumer Science curriculum requires high-level, critical thinking skills students need to solve the personal, family, career, and community challenges students will face throughout their lives.

    Students Develop Critical Life Skills

    While it is easy to recognize the importance of traditional academics for future success, too often we do not recognize the importance positive human relationships, good nutrition, and a balanced lifestyle play in students ability to come to school ready to learn. Family and Consumer Science curriculum is more than “common sense”, it is the discipline that fills an educational void with knowledge, skills, and habits of the mind that make a difference, equipping students to enter the ‘adult’ world ready to raise strong families and fulfill their role as productive citizens. 

    Using time and resource management, FACS students develop abilities to improve communication skills, understand consumer-related problems, investigate how health-related problems can be remedied by good nutrition, comprehend challenges in human development, and strategize for functional design.

    Engaging students through observation, deduction, hands-on development, critical thinking, time management, and evaluation, FACS has a long history of helping students attain the knowledge and skills needed to meet challenges of their contemporary society. 

    6th Grade - Navigating as a Young Consumer

    Students learn to navigate the world as a young, independent consumer.  Students will engage in hands-on learning experiences based in hospitality and culinary skills, and apply foundations of financial literacy in an introductory entrepreneurial venture.  At the completion of this course, students will be able to confidently make real-world decisions.


    Units of Study:

     

    Unit 1: Me as a Consumer

     

    We’ll learn about:

    • Financial Decision Making
    • Budgets and Spending
    • Income and Careers
    • Credit and Borrowing
    • Future Investments

    Unit 2: Food Production and Services

     

    Do you ever wonder where your food comes from?  Where does each ingredient start out in the world? In this unit we’ll explore:

    • Food Production (farms, factories, and small businesses)
    • Careers in the Food Production Industry
    • Entrepreneurs in the Food Industry
    • Trends in Food Production

    Unit 3: Nutritional Considerations and Preparations

    In this unit we’ll learn all about:

    • Nutritional Balanced Meals
    • Healthy Lifestyles
    • Recipes and Kitchen Math
    • And of course we’ll practice making some recipes in the kitchen!

    Unit 4: Designing as an Entrepreneur

    In this unit you will learn how to run your own cookie business! You’ll learn about:

    • The Cost of Running a Cookie Business
    • Marketing Your Product
    • Production
    • Selling Techniques
    • Calculating Profits and Losses

    7th Grade - Hospitality and Culinary Arts

    Students develop an understanding of what it takes to succeed in the hospitality and food service industry.  Working in collaborative teams, students will explore culinary skills and menu planning for a target market.  Students will prepare a variety of recipes in the lab, developing a menu while refining their products based on consumer feedback.  Career exploration in related fields of study will be embedded.


    Units of Study:

     

    Unit 1: Hospitality

     

    We’ll analyze career paths in the hospitality, tourism, and recreation industries.

    • Explore the Hospitality Industry
    • Career Opportunities
    • Trends in the Industry

    Unit 2: Menu Planning and Food Preparation

     

    In this unit we’ll learn about:

    • Menu Planning
    • Basic Nutrition
    • Recipe Adaptation
    • Methods of Cooking with Heat
    • Knife Skills
    • Of course we’ll be practicing this all in the kitchens!

    Unit 3: Nutritional Considerations

     

    In this unit we’ll explore:

    • Dietary Guidelines
    • Dietary Restrictions and Needs
    • Health Conditions that Affect Food Choices
    • We’ll create some well-balanced modified recipes

    Unit 4: Consumerism

    In this unit we’ll talk about:

    • Trends in the Food Industry
    • Nutritional Content of Food Products
    • Marketing Strategies in the Food Industry

    8th Grade - Entrepreneurship

    Students become entrepreneurs in this course by evaluating the world around them and clearly identifying a problem to solve.  Student groups then create a product concept and evaluate the performance of their business idea, while also creating, iterating, and selling their product/service.  Students will be expected to work in groups in this class.  Students will be graded individually on their group work.  Students will also be expected

    to present in front of the class and community members.

     

    Units of Study:

     

    Unit 1: The Entrepreneurial Mindset

     

    Let’s start thinking like ENTREPRENEURS!

    • Portfolios
    • Successful Start-Up Teams
    • Idea Creation
    • Problem Identification
    • Creative Brainstorming

    Unit 2: Design a Solution

     

    In this unit you will learn about:

    • The Business Model Canvas
    • The Budget
    • You’ll Sketch an Outline for Your Product

    Unit 3: Pitch a Business Idea

     

    In this unit you will:

    • Build a Prototype
    • Collect Customer Information
    • Prepare a Pitch for Investment in Your Product

     

    Unit 4: Create a Solution

     

    During this unit you will:

    • Build Your Inventory
    • Create Brand Materials
    • Perfect Product Details

    Unit 5: Sell Your Solution

    Now your business will:

    • Create a marketplace to sell your products 
    • Advertise your product
    • Sell to the inventory you’ve created
    • Interact with customers