Advertising Techniques

The 8th grade students shared their Family Meal Projects with fellow classmates.  I was very impressed with how well each student did on their project.  Nice job!

Students discussed their favorite snack foods and what factors influence them to buy or eat a particular product. 

The 7th grade students 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 nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Popcorn Experiments

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.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

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

This was quite a fun-filled week. All of the seventh and eighth 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

Veggie 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 Veggie Pizza in our lab this week. The students did a great job making and baking the crust.  I was impressed with how well the pizza crusts turned out. The students were able to select four of their favorite vegetables 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

Buffet Lab

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

Salads and Choose My Plate

The students 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.

We also spent time planning healthy meals that follow the recommendations of the Choose My Plate initiative.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl 

Bountiful Brunch Pizza

This week the 8th grade students were able to design their own pizzas. Each lab worked together to create an original pizza recipe. The students needed to include foods from several food groups in their pizza without repeating ingredients. Each group presented their favorite pizza recipe to the class and the class voted for their top choice. 

All of the classes did a fine job creating unique pizza recipes. The students used a variety of resources to come up with the right ingredients and amounts needed for each pizza.

The students were very pleased with their creations. I must admit that the pizza recipes turned out very well. Nice job!

The 7th grade students 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 Bountiful Brunch Pizza.

 Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs. J. Bretl

Yum Yum Cinnamon!

The 7th grade students made Cinnamon Twists for their lab. The hallways were filled with their sweet aroma. MMMMmmmm! The students put forth great effort in planning the lab and following directions. The Cinnamon Twists turned out great! I hope they will share the recipe with you. Bon appetite! 

The 8th grade students started the week by discussing menu planning and meal management. They were able to determine how to analyze menus for variety in color, shape, texture, temperature of foods and nutritional value. The students were able to design their own pizzas. Each lab worked together to create an original pizza recipe. The students needed to include foods from several food groups in their pizza without repeating ingredients. Each group presented their favorite pizza recipe to the class and the class voted for their top choice. All of the classes did a fine job creating unique pizza recipes. The students used a variety of resources to come up with the right ingredients and amounts needed for each pizza.

Pizza offers so many important nutrients!

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 continued their investigation of nutrition.  The students worked in the computer lab to create a Photo Story describing one of the essential nutrients needed to keep us healthy.  Each student was able to identify a nutrient and provide information about its function in the body. Students also included specific food sources that supply these nutrients.  Nice job!

Fresh Fruit Smoothies and Cinnamon Pull Apart Rolls

The 7th graders had their first lab this week.  The students made Individual Apple Crisps on Monday. The students worked well with their lab partners and had successful lab results.  

On Thursday the 7th graders made Fresh Fruit 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!

Our 8th grade foods' lab was quite successful this week, as well. 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.

The 8th grade students received the information for their Home Meal Project this week.  They spent time in the computer lab on Friday working on this exciting project.

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

The 7th grade students completed their kitchen safety and measuring review this week.  Their Kitchen Safety Quiz was Wednesday. Each student did very well on the quiz.

We discussed dish washing techniques as well as lab rules as the students got ready for their first lab this week. 

The 8th grade students made Chocolate Chip cookies this week.  The students worked well with their lab partners and had successful lab results. What a difference one week makes! The students did a great job with lab clean up.

We also reviewed the principles of baking this week. The 8th grade students identified the seven categories of ingredients commonly used in baked goods. The eighth graders were able to analyze recipe ingredients based on this information.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

The first lab went well!

The lab for the 8th graders this week was Individual Apple Crisps. 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.

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!

Welcome to Consumer Education!

Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year! My name is Judy Bretl.  I am the Consumer Education teacher here at Lakeview Junior High School.  This is my seventh year teaching at Lakeview and my twelfth 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 money in an envelope with your child's name and class period on it.  Payments are due by Friday, September 6.

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

Beverages are good sources of nutrients!

The sixth grade students discussed how beverages can be enjoyed as a snack as well as a refreshment.  Students also discovered how to make wise choices when selecting and storing nutritious beverages.  Each class was able to experiment with making their own energy drinks.  Some were better than others!

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Popcorn can be a healthy snack!

The 6th grade students discussed the nutrition benefits of healthy snacks.  They discovered how easy it is to prepare healthy snacks and the importance of making wise choices when selecting snacks to eat.  Students worked with a partner to compare vending machine snacks and make the best choice.  Most students decided that pretzels or air-popped popcorn would be a nutritious snack choice.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

How do you earn money?

We discussed jobs that would be appropriate for sixth grade students. 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 worked in the IMC to complete a "job brochure" to promote their business. 
Nice job!

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Yummy Muffins!

The foods' lab for the 6th grade students went very well, this week. We made Banana 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.

The sixth grade students continued their discussion on how to be smart shoppers and learned more about nutrition facts' labels on food packages. They worked with a partner to compare nutrition facts from cereal boxes; determining the cereal with the best nutritional value. They completed their comparisons on a graphic organizer and then used the information to create a new cereal. The students were very creative in designing the covers, selecting names, listing ingredients and nutrients for their new cereal boxes. 

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.

The cooking lab for this week was Breakfast Tacos.  The students worked efficiently to complete this lab in one day.  The recipe got rave reviews!  Many of the sixth graders are planning to make this at home.

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Breakfast Banana Splits

Our cooking lab this week was a great example of how easy it is to make and eat a healthy breakfast. The students were able to prepare and eat Breakfast Banana Splits in one class period. The ingredients included bananas, yogurt, strawberries, blueberries and granola. The 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! Several students told me they actually made the recipe at home after having made it in class!

We also read information in our textbook on fruit and learned how to select and store fruit, as well as how to prepare recipes using a variety of fruits.  On Friday, students had the opportunity to taste different fruits.  These included fresh coconut, mango and kiwi.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl 

Great Beginnings!

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.

Have a wonderful spring break!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Fruit Kebabs!

The sixth grade students made Fruit Kebabs with Yogurt Dip for their lab 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.

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 

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Manners Do Matter!

The sixth grade students had a busy week filled with ISAT testing and quite a bit of snow.

We discussed good manners and appropriate table etiquette this week in Consumer Education. The students seem to be well versed in this area. They did a nice job brainstorming the good manners that they use everyday. The students were able to identify specific table manners as they worked with their lab partners to complete a crossword puzzle. I am sure that they practice these same good manners at home, too.

We are beginning our Nutrition Unit.  The students will need to complete their three-day nutrition log for class on Monday.

Have a good weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Creamy Caramel Apple Dip with Granny Smith Apples

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

Ready for Cooking Labs

The Sixth Grade students did an excellent job on their Kitchen Safety and Measuring Quiz this week. It is evident that they are ready for their first cooking lab.

The students discussed dish-washing techniques and completed their kitchen orientation, as well.  We will be planning our first lab on Monday!

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Kitchen Equipment and Measuring Techniques

The 6th grade students were able to identify 30 pieces of kitchen equipment that they will be using in their Consumer Education foods' labs.  They watched a demonstration on proper measuring techniques and were able to  describe specific techniques needed to measure flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, vanilla and other liquids.

We will play Kitchen Safety and Measuring Jeopardy on Tuesday and the students will take their quiz on Wednesday.

Our first cooking lab will be the week of February 25.

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, spills, falls, and electrical shocks.

Have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Building Laundry Skills

After discussing clothing care and various laundry tips the students were able to identify appropriate clothing care practices to follow at home. Most of the 6th graders told me that they do help out with laundry chores. The students also figured out how to sort clothes according to color, degree of soil and fabric construction. It was fun to see how excited the students were about doing laundry.

I hope they practice some of these laundry skills at home this weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Welcome Sixth Graders!

It has been great getting to know all of the sixth grade students. They are very energetic and raring to go. They have done a nice job in class this week. We spent time completing several "getting to know you" activities. We also discussed procedures and expectations for Consumer Education.

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

Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl

Advertising Techniques

The 8th grade students shared their Family Meal Projects with fellow classmates.  I was very impressed with how well each student did on their project.  Nice job!

Students discussed their favorite snack foods and what factors influence them to buy or eat a particular product. The 8th grade students completed their Snack Food Taste Test on Friday and will analyze the results next week.

The 7th grade students 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 nice weekend.

Sincerely,
Mrs. J. Bretl