Food Science Labs

The students spent time reviewing the Scientific Method this week in Consumer Ed.  They were able to design their own Food Science Experiment using popcorn kernels.  Each group of students worked with a partner to identify a possible hypothesis.  They also specified the materials and the steps needed to conduct their experiment.  Each group collected data and shared their results with their class on Friday.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Oreo Cookie Ice Cream

This was quite a fun-filled week. All of the seventh grade students made Oreo Cookie Ice Cream in our Consumer Education Lab.  The students couldn't believe how easy it was to make the recipe. They were very proud of themselves. I must admit it did taste yummy. 

The seventh graders will be bringing their recipe packets home this week. I hope they continue to cook at home.

Each of the 8th grade classes spent time in the IMC this week working on the planning sections of their Meal Project Packet.  

Both 7th and 8th grade students will be spending the next several weeks discussing nutrition basics and healthy food choices.  We will also be completing our Food Science Labs.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Fruit Pizza

Now that the seventh grade students have several foods' labs behind them things are settling down a bit. Each class was able to get the lab completed on time. The students also did well with their clean up tasks this week.

We made Fruit Pizza in our lab this week. The students did a great job making the dough and baking the crust.  I was impressed with how well the sugar cookie pizza crusts turned out. The students were able to select four of their favorite fruits to use as toppings on their pizza.  The students also did a fine job consuming their pizzas.

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

What a feast!

The 8th grade students prepared quite a feast this week. They did a fine job peeling, coring, paring, cutting, chopping, mixing, baking, tossing, and stirring strawberry delight jello, taco salad, cheesy potato casserole and apple crisp.

The students used all of the skills they have acquired this semester to prepare this well-balanced meal. I hope they will share some of their talents with you. You may get a night off of kitchen duty.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. J. Bretl

Tater Tot Casserole and Strawberry Delight Jell-O

It was easy to tell that the lab this week was a huge success. The 7th grade students completed their two-day lab by making Tater Tot Casserole and Strawberry Fruit Delight Jello Rings. Each lab group made one of the recipes and the food was served buffet style. There were no leftovers! I hope the students get a chance to make these at home sometime. The lab results were spectacular!

The students also spent time this week learning how salads fit into a healthy eating plan. They discovered various ways to put salads together; mixed or tossed, arranged in an attractive pattern, or molded in a decorative container.

This week the 8th grade students learned how easy it is to make one of their favorite one-dish meals. Spaghetti! They even discussed how nutritious it is. Students also determined that one-dish mixtures are convenient and economical entrees.

Have an enjoyable weekend.

Mrs. J. Bretl

Pizza!

Now that the 8th grade students have several foods' labs behind them things are settling down a bit. Each class was able to get their pizza lab completed on time. The students also did very well with clean up tasks this week.  The 8th graders made cheese pizza in their lab this week. The students did a nice job making the dough and assembling the pizzas. I was impressed with how well the pizza crusts turned out. The students also did a fine job consuming their pizzas.

The 7th grade students made Tomato Basil Pizza Squares this week.  Several lab groups had a difficult time following directions.  Most of the students did a nice job with kitchen clean up on the second day of their lab.  They all did a fine job consuming their pizza!

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Rolls and Individual Apple Crisps

Our 8th grade foods' lab was quite successful this week. The students made Cinnamon 
Pull-Apart Rolls. The hallways were filled with their sweet aroma. 
MMMM MMMM! The students put forth great effort in planning the lab and 
following directions. The Cinnamon Pull-Apart Rolls turned out great! 
I hope they will share the recipe with you.

We also reviewed the principles of baking this week. The students 
identified the seven categories of ingredients commonly used in baked goods. 
They were able to analyze recipe ingredients based on this information.

The seventh grade students made Individual Apple Crisps this week. The students worked well with their lab partners and had successful lab results. What a difference one week makes! Most of the students did a great job with lab clean up. 

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Oatmeal Cookies and Fruit Smoothies

The lab for the 8th graders this week was Easy Oatmeal Cookies. The students worked well with their lab partners and had successful lab results.

We reviewed good manners and appropriate table etiquette this week. The 8th grade students seem to be well versed in this area. They did a nice job brainstorming the good manners that they use everyday. I am sure that they practice these same good manners at home, too.

The 7th graders had their first lab this week.  They made Fruity Smoothies with fresh strawberries, bananas, yogurt and orange juice.  They did a great job working together with their lab partners.

We went over several helpful hints for dish washing techniques for our foods' labs and the students were given the opportunity to describe dish washing techniques and proper clean up procedures. It is amazing how well each class performed when it was time for the real clean up during their lab. Nice job!

Preparing for cooking labs!

The first cooking lab for the 8th grade students went very well this week. The students made Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Cups using fresh strawberries, bananas, orange juice and yogurt. I was very impressed with how well each group worked with their lab partners.

The students did a nice job with kitchen safety and lab procedures. A few lab groups will need to work more efficiently with clean up. I am sure that will get better with each lab.

The 7th grade students have completed their review of kitchen safety and measuring techniques.  They created mini-books on safe procedures to follow in the kitchen labs.  The 7th grade students will take their kitchen safety, equipment and measuring techniques' quiz on Tuesday, October 2.

Enjoy your weekend.
Mrs. J. Bretl

Getting Reacquainted!

Our first semester is in full swing and the seventh and eighth grade students are already working hard! We have been doing a few "getting reacquainted" activities this week.

The eighth graders created a "Wall of Fame" poster to display in our classroom. The students utilized a "Think-Pair-Share" discussion strategy as we brainstormed vocabulary for our Money Management unit in Consumer Education.

The seventh graders are learning different ways of communicating and how to speak clearly and listen carefully.  We have been discussing the importance of friends and the characteristics of a good friendship.

I am learning many interesting things about each student. It is quite evident that all of the seventh and eighth grade students are ready for a great year. Their enthusiasm is very refreshing!

Enjoy your weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Getting off to a great start!

Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year! My name is Judy Bretl. I am the Consumer Education teacher here at Lakeview Junior High School. This is my sixth year teaching at Lakeview and my eleventh year teaching Consumer Education. I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics and received my Master's degree and teaching certificate from Northern Illinois University. I am delighted to be teaching here at Lakeview.

Consumer Education is a Family and Consumer Science course designed to help middle school students learn the life skills they need to be responsible, productive family and community members. The primary objective of this program is to help students meet the challenges of daily living while providing laboratory experiences that foster leadership and group skills.

Most of our coursework will be done in class. We will have very little homework due to the “hands-on” nature of our foods’ labs. Your child will use the textbook Discovering Food and Nutrition in class. If necessary, students may check out a textbook from me in order to make up work. I am available before school each morning at 7:35 a.m. and during study hall “B”.

Students are expected to be respectful, listen and follow directions, report to class on time, and use all kitchen equipment safely and appropriately. If expectations are not met, students will receive a verbal warning. If the behavior continues after the warning, consequences will be given based on the severity of the behavior. Students who demonstrate positive, on-task behavior may earn Spartan Stars for tangible rewards.

***There are many consumable materials used in Consumer Education class. To help defer the cost of the consumable material, a $20.00 lab fee is necessary. Please pay the lab fee within the first week of class. Checks may be made payable to District 66. We prefer a check, but will accept cash. For cash payment, please put in an envelope with your child's name and class period on it. Payments are due by Wednesday, September 5th.

I am looking forward to an exciting semester working with your child. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please feel free to contact me at

630-783-5034 or jbretl@ccsd66.org.

Sincerely,

Mrs. J. Bretl

Sewing is "sew" much fun!

The seventh grade students brushed up on the sewing skills that they learned last year in Consumer Education. Each student selected a pattern design of their choice and used their previously acquired hand-sewing skills to sew a miniature pillow or ornament. The students used felt and embroidery floss to complete their projects. 

The students were very creative in their design choices. They have been using the "back stitch" and blanket stitch" to sew their pillows. The results were stellar!


Have a nice weekend.


Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!

This was quite a fun-filled week. All of the seventh grade students made Oreo Cookie Ice Cream in our Consumer Education Lab. Most of the lab groups have gotten to eat their ice cream already.

The students couldn't believe how easy it was to make the recipe. They were very proud of themselves. I must admit it did taste yummy. Several teachers were able to be taste testers along with me.

The seventh graders will be bringing their recipe packets home this week. I hope they continue to cook at home during the summer.

Enjoy your weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Not So "Easy Drop Danish"

The seventh grade students learned more about 'baking basics" and the history of customary measuring utensils this week.  Our system of measuring ingredients is known as the "English" or calibrated method.
The lab this week was an "Easy Drop Danish" recipe that turned out to be a little more difficult than expected.  Several lab groups had trouble measuring and leveling fruit preserves for the Danish Rolls.  The end results were amazing, but clean-up was a little rushed.
Have a nice weekend.

Mrs. J. Bretl

Tater Tot Casserole and Strawberry Delight!

It was easy to tell that the lab this week was a huge success. The students completed their two-day lab by making Tater Tot Casserole and Strawberry Fruit Delight Jello Rings. Each lab group made one of the recipes and the food was served buffet style. There were no leftovers! I hope the students get a chance to make these at home sometime. The lab results were spectacular!

The students also spent time this week learning how salads fit into a healthy eating plan. They discovered various ways to put salads together; mixed or tossed, arranged in an attractive pattern, or molded in a decorative container.

Have an enjoyable weekend.

Tomato Basil Pizza Squares

We spent time learning about Main Dish Mixtures and how they fit into a healthy eating plan. The students decided that pizza is their favorite "main dish mixture". The lab for Consumer Education this week was Tomato Basil Pizza Squares! The students did a nice job working cooperatively with their lab partners. The seventh graders made their pizza dough and assembled the pizzas on the first day of their lab and then baked and ate their pizzas on the second day of the lab. The fabulous pizzas were proof of their great work. Enjoy your weekend!

Bountiful Brunch Pizza!

The 7th Grade students spent time discovering the purpose of ingredients in baking this week. They also learned about the differences between quick breads and yeast breads. The foods' lab for Consumer Education this week was Bountiful Brunch Pizza. The students used a quick bread crust for their hearty breakfast pizzas and then topped them with their favorite omelet ingredients. Their creations were delicious! Nice job! Have a nice weekend! Mrs. J. Bretl

Manners Do Matter!

We reviewed good manners and appropriate table etiquette this week. The students seem to be well versed in this area. They did a nice job brainstorming the good manners that they use everyday. I am sure that they practice these good manners at home, too. Most students shared the fact that they learned many of their good manners at home when they were small. Nice job parents!

The seventh grade students made Individual Apple Crisps this week. The students worked well with their lab partners and had successful lab results. What a difference one week makes! Most of the students did a great job with lab clean up.


Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Fruit and Cheese Kabobs!

We completed our first lab for the trimester! The seventh grade students made Fruit and Cheese Kabobs this week. The students worked well with their lab partners and had successful lab results. They need to work more efficiently while washing dishes. I know they will improve with practice.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Safety First!

The 7th grade students completed a short review of kitchen safety and kitchen equipment this week. The review was especially beneficial to those students that were not in Consumer Education class last year. We reviewed measuring techniques using a mimio activity. Our Kitchen Safety Quiz will be on Tuesday, April 10.

The first cooking lab will take place on April 12. The 7th graders are ready to cook!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Advertising Techniques

The 7th grade students continued their discussion of jobs; specifically careers in the field of Family and Consumer Science.

Students also worked together to analyze advertisements from local newspapers and magazines. They listed the persuasive techniques used in each advertisement.

Each class worked with their lab partners and determined which advertising ploy was being used to sell a particular product. The students became familiar with bandwagon, snob appeal, humor, emotional appeal, celebrity endorsement and lifestyle advertising techniques.

Have a wonderful Spring Break!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Jobs for Seventh Graders!

The 7th grade students watched a video on "Being a Wise Consumer" in class this week. They discussed the smart steps to follow when planning a purchase, making a purchase and evaluating their decisions.

After discussing how much money middle school students spend every week the 7th graders determined that it would be wise for them to earn some money of their own.

We discussed jobs that would be appropriate. Most of these jobs were service oriented; babysitting, lawn mowing, snow shoveling and pet sitting. We went on to discuss qualifications, fees, work schedules and other important factors to consider when starting a business venture.

The students will be working in the IMC to complete a "job brochure" to promote their business.
Nice job!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Welcome Seventh Graders!

It is so hard to believe that we have started our last trimester for this school year! It has been great getting reaquainted with last year's 6th graders. It is fun seeing how they have grown and matured. They tell me they are ready to begin cooking. I told them that we will need to review a few things first. We will need to go over kitchen safety, measuring techniques, and equipment before we start our lab work. I know they will be able to make it.

I have included a copy of the Consumer Education Parent Letter for you to view.

Dear Parents,

I am the Consumer Education teacher here at Lakeview Junior High School. This is my tenth year teaching Consumer Education. I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics and received my Master's degree and teaching certificate from Northern Illinois University. I am delighted to be teaching here at Lakeview.

Mrs. Judy Bretl
Consumer Education Teacher
Phone: (630) 783-5034
Email: jbretl@ccsd66.org

Consumer Education is a Family and Consumer Science course designed to help middle school students learn the life skills they need to be responsible, productive family and community members.

The units of study for your seventh grader include:
Kitchen Safety and Sanitation
Food Preparation
Recipe Math
Nutrition and Health Concerns
Consumer Skills
Careers
Sewing Skills

Most of our coursework will be done in class. We will have very little homework due to the “hands-on” nature of our labs. Your child will use the textbook Discovering Food and Nutrition in class. If necessary, students may check out a textbook from me in order to make up work. I am available before school each morning and during study hall “B”.

There are many consumable materials used in this class. To help defer the cost of the consumable material, a $20.00 lab fee is necessary. Please pay the lab fee within the first week of class. Checks may be made payable to District 66. We prefer a check, but will accept cash. For cash payment, please put in an envelope with your child's name on it.

I am looking forward to an exciting trimester working with your child. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Mrs. J. Bretl

Enjoy your weekend!

Making Healthy Choices

In this final week of sixth grade Consumer Education we discussed the importance of making healthy food choices. Students brainstormed various strategies they could use to ensure that they are eating a variety of foods (especially fruits and vegetables) each day.

We spent time in the IMC this week in order to learn more about making healthy food choices. Students were able to plan a healthy day of eating and then program their choices into the "food tracker" on the USDA "Choose My Plate" website. Students were able to analyze their food intake and determine where they needed to make adjustments. I have included a link to this site: http://www.choosemyplate.gov

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Pizza! Pizza!

Now that the sixth grade students have several foods' labs behind them things are settling down a bit. Each class was able to get the lab completed on time. The students also did well with their clean up tasks this week.

We made cheese pizza in our lab this week. The students did a great job making the dough and assembling the pizzas. I was impressed with how well the pizza crusts turned out. The students also did a fine job consuming their pizzas.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Wise Consumers

The sixth grade students discussed how to be smart shoppers and discovered the importance of reading nutrition facts' labels on food packages.

Students also learned about shopping for value. What do you buy most in a grocery store? It's not just food. Many of our dollars are spent for slicing, dicing, portioning, and packaging. We watched a video which illustrated how much "extra" we pay when we buy processed foods. The sixth grade students were able to share strategies to use to avoid many pitfalls when shopping for food.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

What did you eat for breakfast?

We continued our Nutrition Unit this week by discussing daily food choices and the importance of eating breakfast every morning. Students worked with a partner to plan a healthy breakfast menu that included food choices from at least three of the food groups. I was pleased to see how many students eat breakfast every day. Studies have shown that "students that eat breakfast do much better in school than the breakfast-skippers". I still need to encourage a few non-believers.

Our cooking lab this week was a great example of how easy it is to make and eat a healthy snack. The students were able to prepare and eat Fruit and Cheese Kabobs with Cinnamon Yogurt Dip in one class period. Students measured accurately and worked together efficiently; the result was a very successful lab. I was very impressed with the great effort each class put forth. Nice job!

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Muffin Time!

The second foods' lab for the 6th grade students went very well. We made Chocolate Chip Muffins. The recipe had many ingredients and the hosts did a great job measuring everything. Kitchen clean-up went off without a hitch, too. This was a two day lab; the students prepared the batter and baked the muffins on the first day and ate the muffins on the second day. My compliments to the chefs! The students raved about their creations and devoured every bite.

We also spent time learning about table manners and social conduct. The 6th grade students had the opportunity to learn about proper table manners from the experts after watching our “Etiquette Hotline” video. I am sure they have been using all of the good table manners they learned about in class.
I hope you stay warm this weekend.

Our first lab was successful!

The first cooking lab for the 6th grade students went very well this week. The students made creamy caramel apple dip which they served with Granny Smith apples. The students followed the recipe instructions quite well. Several kitchen labs completed clean up on time! I am sure the other groups will improve next week!

I was impressed with how well the students worked with their lab partners. It will take time for them to feel comfortable with all of the new lab procedures here at Lakeview, but I am sure they are up for the task.

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Safety First!

The 6th grade students had a busy week. The students spent the week reviewing kitchen safety as well as food safety and sanitation in Consumer Education class.

Each class made Kitchen Safety posters to illustrate safe procedures to follow. The students did a nice job illustrating ways to prevent cuts, burns, fires, falls, and electrical shocks.

I am happy to announce that the grades from our quiz on Friday were exceptional. The students will get their quizzes back on Tuesday. Our first lab is next week.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

The Sixth Grade Students Haven't Missed a Beat!

Everyone came back from break energized and ready to go. I hope it means that winter break was relaxing. I enjoyed spending time with my family and friends during break.

We spent this week in Consumer Education learning about kitchen safety and equipment. Ask your child some of the procedures they will need to follow to prevent cuts, burns, spills, falls, fires, and electric shocks. I was impressed with the students' knowledge of safe work habits.

The students are becoming familiar with the kitchen equipment and utensils they will be using to measure ingredients and prepare food. Our first foods' lab is around the corner. I know the students are excited!

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl