Introduction To Home Economics JSS1 Home Economics Lesson Note

TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO HOME ECONOMICS

DEFINITIONS OF HOME-ECONOMICS

Home economics can also be defined as a field of study that teaches us how to manage ourselves, our resources, and our household. It therefore deals with the management of material and non-material things in the family e.g people, money, food e.t.c. Home economics can be defined as the study of cooking, sewing, laundry, and all matters relating to the management of the home.

AREAS OF HOME ECONOMICS

1.                 Foods and nutrition

2.                Clothing and textiles

3.                Home management

4.                Child development

5.                Family living

FOODS AND NUTRITION: this deals with the study of food and nutrients, it includes food processing, preservation, preparation, management, and service, etc. It also prepares people for employment in food and nutrition-related jobs.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILES: deals with textiles, designing, and sewing of clothes. It also includes a wide selection of clothes, personal hygiene, and good grooming.

HOME MANAGEMENT deals with the processes of using those things (resources) that the family has to obtain the things needed by the family, such as using money, time, and energy which the family has to obtain the family needs like food, clothing, a house, etc.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT: deals with how children grow and develop, it also deals with how to care for the children properly.

FAMILY LIVING: deals with how people live in the family, it teaches people how to maintain good relationships in the family. Other areas of home economics include (a) Consumer education and (b) Housing and interior decoration.

IMPORTANCE OF HOME-ECONOMICS

1.  It teaches people how to live a healthy, good and happy life

2.  it prepares boys and girls for homemaking

3.  It teaches people how to care for their home

4.  It helps people to develop their abilities

5.  It teaches people how to plan, cook, serve, and eat good food

6.  it teaches people how to live a happy life in the family

7.  it enables people to be self-reliance

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOME ECONOMICS AND OTHER RELATED SUBJECTS

Home economics draws knowledge from many other subjects. It unifies the knowledge drawn and uses it to form its own body of knowledge. Here are some examples;

1.  Chemistry: teaches us about the nutrients in foods we eat, their properties, and the effects of heat on them.

2.  Physics: helps us to understand the workings of the refrigerator and electricity in the home.

3.  Mathematics: teaches us how to determine quantities and do calculations.

4.  Biology: helps us to know about plants and animals, food groups, different parts of our body, and how they function.

5.  Economics: teaches us how to manage personal and family resources to meet our needs and goals.

Other subjects include Sociology, History, Geography, Fine and applied arts, Agriculture, Engineering, etc.