Nuffield Home Economics: People and Homes

People and Homes was one of the four topics that featured as a separate area of study in the Nuffield Home Economics course for students aged 14–16. Students were encouraged to recognise the inter-relationships between people and their home environments. The topic drew together themes which had been studied in the three other topics in this series: Food science, Nutrition, and Fibres and fabrics, and also built on the People and homes section of the Basic Course.

The treatment explored needs of people from childhood through to old age and included groups with special needs. The course sought to explain how these needs could be met in our society by analysis of available data, by a study of people’s varying energy requirements, and by an assessment of the management skills necessary to function as educated consumers in a technological society.

The book concluded with a chapter on design in the home. The authors pointed out that design is an aspect of the curriculum which transcends subject barriers. They planned this topic on the basis that home economics could provide opportunities for students to experience and practise the skills required in the design process. There was a strong emphasis on the idea that we are all designers, working out solutions, searching for answers, and developing ideas.

The Students’ book and Teachers’ guide were supplemented by a pack of photocopiable worksheets and assessment card masters. The worksheets provide additional information to supplement the text, material for discussion, and some investigations which can be carried out by students.

The assessment cards offer the teacher a variety of tests and projects for each chapter and help towards effective assessment of students' performance. They were designed to be flexible in use and were intended for display on an overhead projector or to be duplicated either in part or in their entirety for a written test. The questions are varied and include objective questions, structured questions, and questions using mathematics. Each card includes suggestions for projects or course work investigations. Many of the questions have no one right answer.

Contents
Chapter 1. Making a home
Chapter 2. A baby in the house
Chapter 3. Child development
Chapter 4. The world of young people
Chapter 5. Households with special needs
Chapter 6. Finding somewhere to live
Chapter 7. The home as a building
Chapter 8. Thinking about energy
Chapter 9. Stopping the rot
Chapter 10. Ergonomics and efficiency
Chapter 11. Accidents and why they happen
Chapter 12. 'Home economics'
Chapter 13. Using technology
Chapter 14. Choosing and buying
Chapter 15. What is design?