GLEN RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Curriculum Guide

 

 

 

Course Title:                             Life Management

 

Subject:                                    Home Economics

 

Grade level:                              9 –12

 

Department:                              Practical Arts

 

Duration:                                  ˝ Year

 

No. of credits:                          2 ˝

 

Prerequisite:                              None

 

Elective or Required:                 Elective

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author:  Diane Lenney

Date Submitted:  Summer 2004

Course Description

 

 

Life Management prepares students for the responsibility of making decisions through the learning of life management skills.  Personal life skills including an understanding of yourself and your relationship with others and skills related to work, money, material things, nutrition, and leisure time will be emphasized.

 

The student will have a better understanding of living on their own at the end of this course.

GLEN RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MISSION STATEMENT

 

 

Life management skills presents students with practical information to help succeed fully in the management of the many aspects of their lives…personal relationships, friends, family, nutrition, housing, and consumer awareness.  The course information and practical application will help students deal with the ever-changing society issues that confront them both now and in the future.

New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards

 

 

Life Management

 

STANDARD 9.1         CAUSE AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

A.  CAREER AWARENESS AND PLANNING

B.  EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

 

STANDARD 9.2         CONSUMER, FAMILY AND LIFE SKILLS

A.  CRITICAL THINKING

B.  SELF-MANAGEMENT

C.  INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

D.  CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND ETHICS

E.  CONSUMER AND PERSONAL FINANCES

F.  SAFETY

Scope and Sequence

 

This course completes the New Jersey requirement for ˝ year of practical arts.

Curriculum Description

 

UNIT 1 - THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Standard 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Define the management process.  (9.2A)

2.      Describe the ways the management process can be applied to their lives.  (9.2A)

3.      Explain how to make decisions.  (9.2B)

4.      Identify factors that influence their decision.  (9.2A)

 

Duration of Time: 1 Week

 

Activities:

 

-         Diagram a goal chart.

-         Establish an awareness of personal self by exploring their personality traits using posters.

-         Use color for personality analysis including color analysis for personality and color scarves for clothing.

-         Learn the steps in the decision making process using case studies and role play.

-         Apply the decision-making process to personal life situations.

-         Role play different problem situations.

 

 

UNIT 2 - UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF

Standard 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Describe how heredity, environment, needs, emotions, and attitude affect who they are.  (9.2A)

2.      Understand the components of good communication.  (9.2C)

3.      Apply the management process to their personal decisions.  (9.2B)

 

Duration of Time: 1 ˝ Weeks

 

Activities:

 

-         Create a collage of ethnic background information by interviewing family members.

-         Share customs and traditions from their backgrounds.

-         Establish a plan for tradition in their future lives.

-         Role play emotions without using their voice / using other forms of communication.

-         Draw faces showing poor communication.

-         Role play how non-verbal communication conveys a message.

UNIT 3 - PLANNING FOR WORK/CAREER

Standards 9.1, 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Identify reasons for working.  (9.1A)

2.      Understand aptitude skills for career development.  (9.1B)

3.      Develop a personal career cluster.  (9.1A)

4.      Identify realistic expectations for career development.  (9.2B)

5.      Analyze how the workplace is affected by forces such as the changing technology and the global economy.  (9.2E)

 

Duration of Time: 3 Weeks

 

Activities:

 

-         Interview 3 people about their jobs.

-         Create a chart showing a career ladder.

-         Outline a newspaper article describing the economy, trends, and prices.

-         Take the Harrington Oshea career inventory test.

-         Chart a personal career cluster.

-         Define job choices by using Occupational Handbook.

-         Research a career job using technology/online.

-         Present a power point job cluster outlook including job availability, education, growth, skills, area and salary.

 

 

UNIT 4 - PLANNING FOR LIVING ON YOUR OWN

Standard 9.1, 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Understand the job skills required for different types of work.  (9.1B)

2.      Describe the steps needed to find a job.  (9.1A)

3.      Be aware of written skills for applications.  (9.1B)

4.      Display knowledge of interview etiquette.  (9.1B)

5.      Understand importance of job attitude with employer and employee.  (9.1B, 9.2 C)

 

Time:  2 Weeks

 

Activities:

 

-         Living on Your Own – a personal simulation for each student using a workbook for 14 weeks.  The student will have a job, receive a paycheck, have a place to live, keep a financial record of checks and credit savings to gain an understanding of the financial burdens of living on a salary and paying for their personal needs, wants, and bills.  This activity provides the student with a realistic outlook for living on your own.  Salary constraints, rent and bills become more realistic by this personal simulation.  The simulation becomes a reality and the classroom instruction creates a tool for financial and personal satisfaction.

-         Use the newspapers for job opportunities.

-         Use web sites for local jobs.

-         Complete job application forms.

-         Create a resume.

-         Role play job interviews.

-         Create a poster showing clothing etiquette for jobs.

-         Using workbook, students will pick a job for the living on your own simulation.

 

 

UNIT 5 - LIFE SKILLS – MANAGING YOUR MONEY

Standard 9.2

 

Objective:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Make a realistic budget based on their simulation.  (9.2A)

2.      Explain how to establish a checking account.  (9.2E)

3.      Understand the process of check writing and bank statement reconciliation.  (9.2E)

4.      Be able to establish a savings account.  (9.2E)

5.      Be able to pay their simulation bills.  (9.2E)

 

Duration of Time:  2 Weeks

 

Activities:

 

1.      Plan a budget based on their simulation salary.

2.      List effective tools for financial record keeping.

3.      Practice check writing skills, including keeping a check register and reconciliation of month end bank statements.

4.      Visit a local bank.

5.      Complete weeks 2-3-4 in student workbook.

6.      Compare interest rates at 3 local banking institutions.

UNIT 6 - CREDIT AND INVESTMENT RESOURCES

Standard 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Compare methods for saving money.  (9.2E)

2.      Explain the characteristics of different savings plans.  (9.2E)

3.      Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using credit.  (9.2E)

4.      Describe the different types of credit.  (9.2B)

5.      Understand how to compare credit costs.  (9.2E)

 

Duration of Time:  3 Weeks

 

Activities:

 

-         Discuss savings and investment options with a local bank representative.

-         Use newspapers to check current interest rates on savings accounts and certificates.

-         Plan a project of financial gain based on saving $600.00 a year, investing for ten years with a four percent return rate.

-         Write a short paragraph about the “plastic” money world and how it relates to their future.

-         Critique credit case studies.

-         Calculate financial charges for case studies.

-         Present a plan to establish good credit.

-         Fill out a credit card application for their workbook simulation.

-         Compare three types of credit cards using ads and newspapers.

 

 

UNIT 7 - MANAGING HOUSING DECISION

Standard 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1. Choose housing alternatives.  (9.2A)

2. Select living arrangements.  (9.2B)

3. Learn the components of interior design.  (9.2B)

4. Understand lease and rental agreements.  (9.2B)

5. Use Living on their Own Workbook to manage total housing costs.  (9.2A)

 

Duration of Time:  3 Weeks

 

Activities:

 

-         Choose a place to live for their workbook simulation using ads.

-         Choose to live on their own, or choose a roommate.

-         Review financial status for renting a place to live.

-         Each student will draw their Glen Ridge house and research the style of architecture.

-         Walking tour of Glen Ridge homes.

-         Review types of rental agreements.

-         Interior design project- plan a room of their own using a floor plan, color scheme and furnishings.

 

 

UNIT 8 - BECOMING AN INFORMED CONSUMER

Standards 9.1, 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Understand consumer rights and responsibilities.  (9.2E)

2.      Describe how to evaluate advertising ads in order to make wise decisions.  (9.2B)

3.      Learn about entrepreneurs.  (9.1A)

4.      Understand warranties and contracts.  (9.2E)

 

Duration of Time:  2 Weeks

 

Activities:

 

-         Research government agencies for consumer protection.

-         Design an advertisement to attract teens to  new product or service.

-         Preview video- Giants of Entrepreneurs history of product origin.

-         Choose an entrepreneur for an oral presentation.

-         Workbook weeks 10 – 14 complete case studies for product warranties.

-         Compare product ratings using “Consumer Reports” magazine.

 

 

UNIT 9 - MANAGING TIME AND MATERIAL RESOURCES

Standard 9.2

 

Objectives:

Each student will be able to:

1.      Explain how to achieve a balance of nutrition in their diets.  (9.2A)

2.      Plan  and prepare meals using convenience food and appliances.  (9.2B)

3.      Apply new food technologies to their lifestyles.  (9.2B.F)

4.      Plan and prepare meals based on various budgets.  (9.2B)

5.      Be able to use microwave cooking for management of time.   (9.2 B.F)

6.      Understand food labels for nutrition.  (9.2A)

Time: 4 Weeks

 

Activities:

 

-         Food labs using the food pyramid.

-         Preparation of recipe using small convenience appliances.

-         Microwave cooking.

-         Plan and prepare meals using various budgets:  medium, high, and low.

-         Choose 5 products and compare nutrients on their labels.

-         Choose 5 products in the same food group and analyze their nutritional fat contents.

-         Research a new food product and target the age group, diet, and nutritional advantages.

-         Prepare a food product in its fresh state, frozen, and canned.  Analyze results for taste texture, and appeal.

 

 

List of Texts and Resources:

 

·          Life Management, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 1998

·          Kimbal, G, Succeeding in the World of Work, Glencal, McGraw Hill, California, 2003.

·          Living on Your Own, student workbook, J. Weston Walch, 2001, Ohio

·          Dictionary of Occupational Titles

·          Occupational Outlook Handbook

·          Consumer Magazine

·          Newspapers, computer use, speakers and videos