Family & Consumer Sciences

Family and Consumer Sciences is an academic discipline that combines characteristics of social and natural science, as well as the arts. Family and consumer sciences deal with the relationship between individuals, families, and communities. Our classes represent many disciplines including consumer science, nutrition, culinary arts, parenting, early childhood education, family economics and resource management, human development, financial independence, interior design, textiles, apparel design, and sewing as well as other related subjects. Classes are taught as electives, and some may count as an arts credit required for graduation. Our courses assist students in the transfer of reading, writing and math to real life. Our mission is to prepare students for family life, life in college and career life while educating them to identify and create alternative solutions to significant everyday challenges and to take responsibility of their actions in a diverse global society.

Course Listing

Apparel Construction I

Course: #6304
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None

Apparel Construction is for the student who has a passion for fashion and apparel and wishes to create their own clothing and fashion items. Learn sewing techniques and develop skills that are used in basic clothing construction.

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Apparel Construction II

Course: #6305
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: Apparel Construction I

This course builds upon the techniques learned in Apparel Construction I as students construct a variety of individual garment projects. Challenge yourself with more advanced & technical skills used in clothing construction.

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Child Development and Education

Course: #6314
Grade(s) offered: grade 10, grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None

This course examines child development from conception to preschool age. Students will also receive experiential learning by observing and interacting with preschoolers at local preschools or within the classroom during Tonka Tykes Preschool. This class will encourage students to discover the main factors that affect human development at an early age. 

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CIS Exploring the Teaching Profession (VANTAGE)

Course: #V400
Grades Offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 FACS elective credit
College Credits: 2.0 (University of Minnesota credits)

*Successful completion of this course will give students University of Minnesota credits through our partnership with their CIS program.

This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Education track. For details about taking CIS Exploring the Teaching Profession through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.

 

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Culinary I

Course: #6300
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None

Culinary I is a course for an aspiring chef or a novice in the kitchen, this course will give you the confidence to be successful in the culinary world. Students will cover basic principles of food preparation and nutrition.

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Culinary II: International Foods

Course: #6302
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12

Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: Culinary 1

Culinary II is a course that explores connections between what we eat and cultures around us. Explore the historical timeline and geographical influences on the regional cuisine from the United States. Then, "travel" around the globe and learn about a variety of dietary customs, cuisines and cooking methods while preparing a variety of global food items. 

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Fashion Design I

Course: #6306
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit
Prerequisites: None

Fashion Design I is a hands-on and project-based course. Students will learn the techniques of fashion sketching, mood board creation, draping and applying the elements and principles of design through various projects including a life sized newspaper dress creation.

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A person sketching fashion designs on paper

Course: # 6307
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit
Prerequisites:  Fashion Design I

Students in Fashion Design II will go deeper into the world of fashion by expanding their knowledge previously learned in Fashion Design I. This course is project based and will go deeper into the history of fashion, current sketching techniques, understanding textiles and fibers, and styling. Students will enjoy designing for "clients" and applying previously learned elements and principles to their designs and projects in new and advanced ways. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the world of fashion through an optional New York City fashion tour as well.

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Independent Living

Course: #6312
Online Option: #T6312, Tonka Online 
Grade(s) offered: 0.5 (single semester course)
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None

Learn strategies for a successful transition to life after high school. Explore areas of money management, insurance, housing, professionalism, and job interviewing skills.

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Interior Design I

Course: #6310
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit
Prerequisites: None

Explore the field of Interior Design and learn how to use space, color and design to create beautiful environments. Projects will include both digital designs and hand drawn designs to plan and decorate rooms and showcase your creative side. 

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An office room with colorful paintings on the wall positioned behind a modern wooden desk

Course: # 6311
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit
Prerequisites:  Interior Design I

Advance your understanding of the field of Interior Design! Explore the world of residential homes and commercial business spaces as you gain skills in designing, arranging and decorating. Topics include designing multicultural environments, the historical trends of interior design and the future concepts of interior design. Students will apply the elements/principles of design and through a variety of projects using traditional and digital aided design programs. Learn through individual and group interior design projects, a design team challenge, working with materials, and hands-on interior design projects.

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Personal and Family Relationships

Course: #6318
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None

This course will help students develop skills in the area of interpersonal relationships and family life. Students will learn to identify healthy relationships and the strategies used to create and maintain them in all realms of life across the lifespan; including friendships, dating, partnership or marriage, workforce and more. 

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Dresses Feature Story

Dress to "In Press"

Minnetonka High School fashion design class brought their couture fashions to life by creating dresses out of newspapers. The fashion design course was developed 13 years ago and is one of the few fashion courses available in Minnesota public schools.

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Academic Standards

Minnetonka Public Schools adheres to academic standards developed by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).

View MDE Academic Standards