Home Economics develops the knowledge, understanding, skills and values necessary to achieve optimal, healthy and sustainable living for every person as an individual, and as members of families and society. The course comprises of three strands: Food, Health & Culinary Skills; Responsible Family Living; Textiles & Crafts. In the Junior Cycle, Home Economics has both practical and written assessments. The students engage in two Classroom Based Assessments (CBA’s), one in Year 2 and one in Year 3. CBA1 focuses on Creative Textiles and will be completed in Year 2. CBA2 focuses on Food Literacy Skills and is completed in Year 3. The final assessment comprises of a practical culinary exam (50%) and a written examination (50%) which takes place at the end of Year 3.
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Home Economics |
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Course Content:
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The central focus of home economics as a field of study is achieving optimal, healthy and sustainable living for individuals, families and society. In home economics, students learn how to address practical, real-world problems of individuals, families, households and society in socially responsible ways. Home economics draws on diverse disciplines integrating social, physical and human sciences. It teaches students how to solve everyday challenges using a blend of knowledge and skills acquired from multiple disciplines.
Home economics education develops students’ essential lifeskills and personal independence. It supports the development of students who are critical, creative thinkers and encourages students to be problem-solvers capable of making ethically and socially responsible decisions.
Home Economics specification is broken in to three strands:
1) Food, health and culinary skills
- Understanding the importance of nutrition and diet in contributing to health and wellbeing
- Planning, preparing and producing healthy and nutritious meals and snacks safely and on a budget
- Catering for special dietary needs
- Understand the impact of their food choices from an ecological and ethical perspective and understand how to apply sustainable practices when selecting food
- Understand how to read and apply the information found on nutritional labels
2) Responsible family living
- Explore the roles and responsibilities within the family and how these may vary in different forms of families
- Knowing the importance of making an informed and responsible decision in day to day life
- Designing an interior space such as a room in the home
- Understand how the family can contribute to sustainable and responsible living
- Explore the influence of technology in the home
- Consumer studies including the rights and responsibilities of a consumer
- Financial literacy skills to include the preparation of a budget to run a household
3) Textiles and craft
- Basic hand and machine sewing techniques
- Using the design brief process to design a textile item for the home or an individual
- Investigate how the fashion industry can be more sustainable and ways textiles can be repaired, reused, recycled and upcycled
- Understand how to launder clothing to maintain it to the highest standards.
For more details on the course content the full specification can be viewed here: https://curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/6d9ca864-75a5-4f99-80bc-7a9c416e6f05/JCSpec_HomeEc.pdf
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| Who would this subject suit? |
Home Economics is a fantastic subject for all as it gives students the skills and knowledge to live independently as an adult. Home Economics is ideal for students who are creative and those who prefer practical assessment methods. It would also suit anyone with an interest in food or diet.
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| How is this subject assessed? |
Home Economics is assessed through two classroom based assessments, a practical exam and a final written exam.
Classroom Based Assessment 1: Creative Textiles
Students make a textile item for an individual or the home
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Students recycle or upcycle a textile item for an individual or the home.
Classroom Based Assessment 2: Food Literacy Skills Brief
Students carry out research on a brief set by the State Examinations Commission. This will form the basis for their practical cookery exam.
The practical cookery exam makes up 50% of their final grade for their Junior Cycle exam in the subject. They are completed sometime after Christmas in third year.
The final 50% is awarded through a written paper at the end of third year.
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| Careers linked to the subject? |
Many careers are related to the study of Home Economics, some examples include: food sciences, careers in the food industry, home economist, nutritionist, dietician, fashion and design industry, interior designer, social care, childcare.
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For more information on the Home Economics Curriculum, please click here.
Click here to return to Junior Cycle Subjects.