What's in a Name?

I want to change my course name.

There's nothing wrong with "Home Ec". It's an appropriate name for the course, but it really doesn't give the middle schoolers much information about what the course IS. Despite the lack of sewing this year (and possibly the next few years), it's not "Foods" either, although many of them call it that.

A student said, this week, "This is like an extra science class!" I don't think he was displeased.

It IS a science class.

After the applesauce labs we discussed the ingredients. I have a pretty good video on apples that's more or less local. We talked about where sugar comes from, and looked at the website for a local sugar refinery. Cinnamon was next - and that surprised most of them! But the one that generated the most discussion was WATER.

Water - where does it come from, where does it go? Water safety. Bottled water. Storm drains. Watersheds. Sewers.

So much to think about with such simple ingredients.

So what to call the course? I'd like to call it "Life Skills" but that has another meaning locally, which would confuse people. I don't know yet. We cook and learn about food and nutrition, but also about the cycle that provides that food, and about closing the cycle with our food waste.

Let me know if you have a suggestion!

PS: Food Science and Sustainability came out while talking to some student teachers.