Content: A course which assists students in understanding themselves in making healthy life choices. Some of the areas students will explore are self-esteem, decision-making, communication, problem solving and relationships. Each unit will vary in length.

Activities: Class activities will include: individual and group hands on projects, videos, guest speakers, community service projects and a variety of reading and writing related tasks.

Content: The student will learn simple techniques of working with young children and the importance of early years on the development of children. Career opportunities in child development will be discussed.

Activities: Many hands-on activities as well as reading, video, class discussion, and projects.

Content: Childhood Education and Occupations is designed to provide student opportunities utilizing classroom instruction and lab experiences enabling students to explore, develop, and experience school-to-work skills in various careers working with children. Emphasis in C.E.O. involves the regular interaction of students with children in an on-site preschool lab.

Activities: The structure of the class includes work in the classroom studying various topics concerning growth and development, and education as well as working with the 3 and 4 year old children who attend the on-campus nursery school. Videos and speakers are included.

Content: This course is for students interested in learning about the growth and development as well as work skills necessary in the Early Childhood Education field. This course is designed to be an in depth study experience in working with children, while planning for a career and/or parenthood.

Activities: The structure of this class includes work in the classroom developing school to work skills in the field of Early Childhood Education as well as working with three year old children that attend an on-campus lab/preschool.

Content: This course is for students pursuing a career in performing arts or fashion (graphic) design. The course enables students to explore career opportunities, the history of costume design, production, and care of costumes.

Activities: Students will have the opportunity to use current industrial and academic technology to produce presentations and actual costumes for use in performance classes. Teams of students will produce costumes for the Children’s Theater class.

Content: This course is for students pursuing a career in performing arts or fashion (graphic) design. It is written to challenge advanced level Visual and Performing Arts Academy students, Fashion Design and Construction students. The course enables students to explore career opportunities, the history of costume design, production and care of costumes.

Activities: Students will present a portfolio of designs created for a one-act play and for characters of a historical play. Current industrial and academic technology will be used to produce presentations and actual costumes for use in performance classes. Teams of students will produce costumes for the Children’s Theater class.

Content: A basic one year course which exposes students to the principles and practices of working with food, working with people, culinary arts and the food service industry. Sanitation practices will be emphasized. This is an activity filled introduction course.

Activities: Students and teachers will prepare various types of nutritious and economical foods in the classroom lab. The products will be prepared, tasted, and evaluated.

Content: Advanced Foods course for students interested in gaining additional skills and techniques in the Foods area. Topics covered include American Regional and International food customs and cuisine. Students will also learn techniques for planning and serving family meals. Sanitation practices will be emphasized.

Activities: Lab includes research, study, field trips, meal, and product preparation.

Content: Advanced Foods course for students interested in gaining additional skills and techniques in the Foods area. Large quantity cooking methods are studied and practiced. Sanitation practices will be emphasized.

Activities: A hands-on approach to running a catering business which includes learning activities such as; lab, research, study, catering service, field trips, guest speakers. Entrepreneurial businesses include: BHS – Hawks Catering; EHS – Quick to Rise Catering; LHS – Lettuce Cater-U; SEHS – Lightening Qwik; SHS – Upper Crust.

Content: A practical application course for students interested in a career in the food service industry and culinary arts. Students participate in all aspects of the restaurant industry including quantity food preparation with creative presentations while performing “back” and “front” of the house duties at the student run restaurants. Sanitation practices will be emphasized.

Activities: An on-campus restaurant is the setting for training in the principles of food service. The class meets two hours in the middle of the day. Prepares students for entry-level food service jobs and/or further education beyond high school. Class work includes field trips and guest speakers. Entrepreneurial businesses include: BHS – Hungry Hawk; EHS – The Clumsy Chef; LHS – Blue Denim Diner; SEHS – Rainy Day Cafe; SHS – The Silver Spoon.

Content: The students will learn basic hand and machine clothing construction techniques. They will also learn about textile fibers, proper wardrobe planning, care of clothing and redesign of existing clothing. Recommended for students with career interests in clothing merchandising, fashion design, and interior design as well as for the student who wish to make and/or alter personal and family clothing.

Activities: Majority of class work is on sewing projects students select according to ability. Work and study on related material are incorporated, including a personal wardrobe plan.

Content: Individualized instruction to increase student’s skill in specialized construction techniques, beginning tailoring, and alterations leading to dress design. History of fashion and fashion terminology is stressed. Career opportunities in the clothing/ textiles field are explored.

Activities: Lab work on projects of the student’s choice. Individual and group study of fashion history and design. Speakers and/or field trips on clothing careers.

Content: An advanced course for students interested in learning tailoring and advanced construction techniques and fashion design and applying these skills to creative projects. Students will explore color theory, redesign a garment and create a knock-off project. Career opportunities will be explored.

Activities: With the assistance of the teacher students will select individual projects and complete them in class. Other projects will involve solving fitting problems and clothes remodeling and some study with special projects such as fashion show organization.

Content: An advanced course for students with great interest, ability, and experience in the Fashion Construction field who wish to perfect their skills and pursue creative ideas. Students create a garment and use the computerized sewing machine to embellish the design. Students will also tailor a jacket. Career opportunities will be explored. Students will plan and produce a fashion show.

Activities: Individualized instruction within the class. Students must provide own materials.

Content: A course for students interested in a career in some facet of fashion merchandising. Students will learn color theory and visual merchandising display theory. The retail market is explored from designing the garments to buying to merchandising a store. Students will do a variety of hands-on projects.

Activities: Combination of class work, lab experience, and out of class projects.

Content: This course integrates decision making and problem solving as tools to understand self, life planning and personal management. Topics to be included are self-awareness, lifestyles, financial and resource management, career planning, communication, conflict management and resolution. This course will provide information needed to successfully complete the Consumer Education Proficiency test.

Activities: Projects, class lecture-discussion, independent and group study, some lab work.

Content: A course that studies various architectural styles and assists students in selecting housing to fit individual and family values and needs. The course is recommended for students who have career interests in architecture, interior design, and home furnishings merchandising as well as those who wish to improve consumer skills for home care.

Activities: Study, class work, and projects involving study of blueprints and architectural styles, evaluation of existing floor plans drawing up the plans for a specific home. Field trips to see model homes and historical homes. Guest speakers on real estate.

Content: A survey of principles and practices involved in furnishing a home. Includes the following: selection, purchasing and care of furniture, appropriate floor and wall and window treatment, and choice of accessories. The course is recommended for students who have career interests in interior design, art, and merchandising as well as those who want to improve consumer skills for home use.

Activities: Class work, projects, field trips to decorated apartments and Merchandise Mart, guest speakers, and reading of related material.

Content: This is a career exploration program intended only for students seriously considering education, early childhood education or childcare. TAP students must be reliable, dependable, get along well with most people, and be willing to work 1- 1/2 hours per school day in a U-46 elementary school. Transportation is the student’s own responsibility. Since this is for exploration, one year in TAP during high school should be sufficient.

Activities: One week of pre-job training to acquaint student with the job and work with students in the classroom under the direction of the teacher.

Content: Designed for students interested in a career in Family and Consumer Science related occupations such as child care, food production, food sales, restaurant and dietary occupations, fashion design, production and merchandising, and home furnishings. The course addresses getting and keeping a job, work relationships, career opportunities, leadership, and resource management.

Activities: Students will receive on-the-job training and related classroom experience. Students will use current technology to locate employment opportunities, research careers, and write career related documents. Students will be members of a national Career and Technical Education organization that will give them the opportunity to develop leadership and teamwork skills and other work related activities.

Content: Designed for senior students interested in a career in Family and Consumer Science related occupations. The course focuses on providing students with survival skills, career exploration skills related to the job and improving students ability to work positively with others.

Activities: Students may be members of a national Career and Technical Education organization which will give them the opportunity to develop: job seeking skills; personal skills; human relationships skills, an understanding of legal protection and responsibilities; an understanding of economics and the job; organizations, and job termination, leadership and teamwork skills. Students receive on-the-job training and related classroom experience.