South 고등학교 2학년 Inquiry into Human Ecology
Chapters: 3
1. Human behaviour and human ecology
Positive view of human traits · Childhood and lifelong wellbeing · Family life and social change · Consumers leading culture · Consumer psychology
- Human Development Throughout the Lifespan – Human development is how people change from before birth to old age. Change happens in three areas: body (physical), thinking (cognitive) and feelings and relationships (social-emotional). Theories help us explain it: Piaget for thinking, Kohlberg for right and wrong, Erikson for the self, and Bowlby and Ainsworth for attachment. The brain is plastic: used connections grow strong and unused ones are pruned, so early care and stimulation matter a lot. Some things put development at risk (poverty, neglect, violence, toxins before birth); others protect it (a caring adult, good school, healthy community, fair policies). When supports outweigh risks, a person shows resilience: they do well despite hard times.
- Family Ethics: Living Well Together as a Family – A family is a group of people who live with, care for and depend on each other. Families come in many shapes: nuclear, joint, single-parent, blended, couples, grandparent-led. Family ethics means the fair and kind ways members treat each other: equal respect, shared work, honest talk, and care for children and elders. A healthy couple relationship rests on free choice, trust and equality. Every family meets problems; good talk, fair sharing and outside help get it through.
- Consumer Education: How to Be a Smart Buyer – A consumer is anyone who buys or uses goods and services. Smart buying starts with sorting needs (must have) from wants (nice to have). Rational consumption compares benefit with cost, counts the opportunity cost (what else the money could buy) and stays inside a budget. Sellers use psychology: anchor prices (a big crossed-out price), bandwagon ('everyone has it'), rush (countdowns), 99-endings and celebrity ads; teens are a key target online. Clicking 'I agree' makes a contract, so read terms, auto-renewal, cancel and refund rules. Read labels: price per unit, expiry, ingredients, allergens, nutrition and safety marks. Consumers have rights (safety, information, choice, to be heard, redress, education, basic needs, clean environment) and duties (keep bills, check marks, complain properly, buy sustainably). Together, consumers shape culture: what we buy decides what gets made.
2. Living environment and human ecology
Lifestyle diseases · Food processing · Choosing and cooking ingredients · Fashion design basics · Fashion merchandising · Housing and social change · Elements of living space
- Nutrition – Nutrition is how we get and use the substances in food. The body needs six groups of nutrients: carbohydrates and fats (mainly energy), proteins (growth and repair), vitamins and minerals (small amounts to keep the body working), and water, plus fibre for healthy digestion. Carbohydrate and protein give about 17 kJ per gram, fat about 37 kJ per gram. A balanced diet gives all nutrients in the right amounts, and energy in should roughly equal energy out.
- Food Science: The Chemistry of What We Eat – Food science studies what food is made of and how it changes from farm to plate. Food contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, vitamins and minerals. Cooking changes them: heat unfolds proteins (denaturation), starch swells in water (gelatinisation), and dry heat browns food through the Maillard reaction and caramelisation. Microbes ferment food into bread, curd and pickles, but can also spoil it. Processing, preservation and safe temperatures keep food safe and nutritious for a growing world population.
- Fashion Design Basics – Fashion design is planning clothes that look good, fit well, work for their purpose and sell. Every garment travels along a chain: fibre is spun into yarn, yarn is woven or knitted into fabric, fabric is cut and sewn into a garment, and the garment is sold in a shop or online. Fibres can be natural (cotton, wool, silk, linen) or synthetic (polyester, nylon), and each gives fabric different properties. Designers use elements of design (colour, line, shape or silhouette, texture) and principles of design (balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm, harmony). The design process goes from research and a mood board to sketches, patterns, a sample, production and selling. Merchandising and marketing match the product to a target market using the 4 Ps: product, price, place and promotion. Today designers must also think about sustainability.
- Housing: How Homes Meet Our Needs and Change Over Time – Housing is the place where people live. A good home gives shelter, safety, privacy, health and a sense of belonging. Houses are shaped by climate, local materials, culture, money and the way families live. Inside, living space is arranged into private, shared and service zones. A healthy home has fresh air, daylight, low damp and is kept clean and organised. Housing changes as society changes: from traditional houses such as courtyard homes to city apartments and future green, smart and shared homes. Fair access to decent, affordable housing is an important social issue.
3. Human ecology careers
Social issues in human ecology · Basics of human life now and future
- Career Planning: From Knowing Yourself to Your First Job – Career planning has five steps. 1) Know yourself: interests, skills and values. 2) Explore career families and find out the work, study needed, pay and demand. 3) Plan a pathway with SMART goals and a plan B. 4) Search for jobs with a CV, cover letter, digital portfolio and interview practice. 5) Make the move from school to work and keep learning, because careers change over a lifetime.
- Life Planning: Designing a Happy, Independent Life – Life planning means thinking ahead about the kind of life you want and how to get there. Life passes through stages (childhood, teenage years, young adulthood, adulthood, older age), each with its own tasks. Along the way come life events, some shared by most people and some chosen. You use five resources: time, money, health, people and skills. A good plan sets short, medium and long-term goals, prepares for risks with savings, insurance and public welfare, and is reviewed as life changes. Being an independent citizen means taking responsibility for yourself and others. In ageing societies with few births, planning for later life matters more than ever. Happiness comes from wellbeing in body, mind, relationships and purpose, not from money alone.