Haryana BSEH Secondary Home Science key terms

An applied field of study that uses knowledge from science, arts and social science to improve everyday living in food, clothing, shelter, family relations, child care and community health.

The range of subject areas covered by the discipline, including nutrition, textiles, housing, resource management, child development and community hygiene, and the careers each area opens up.

The jobs and further-study paths available to a Home Science student, such as dietetics, teaching, tailoring and fashion, interior design, preschool care, extension work and food service.

Using Home Science principles to solve real problems in homes and communities, for example planning a cheap balanced diet or improving kitchen hygiene in a village.

A group of people related by blood, marriage or adoption who live together, share resources and take care of each other's physical, emotional and social needs.

Needs are things a family must have to survive and function well; resources are the means, such as money, time, skills and energy, used to satisfy those needs.

The stages a family passes through over time, from the newly married couple to child-rearing, launching children and old age, each stage bringing different needs and demands.

A diet that supplies all nutrients in the right amounts and proportions for a person's age, sex and activity level, made up of a variety of foods from different food groups.

A simple classification of foods with similar nutrient content, commonly cereals, pulses, milk and meat, fruits and vegetables, and fats and sugars, used to plan balanced meals.

Substances in food that the body needs to grow, repair itself and work properly, namely carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water and dietary fibre.

Poor health caused by an unbalanced diet, either from eating too little or too much, or from lacking specific nutrients, leading to conditions such as stunting, anaemia or obesity.

An illness caused by a shortage of a particular nutrient over time, for example anaemia from lack of iron, goitre from lack of iodine, or night blindness from lack of vitamin A.

Deciding in advance what foods to serve at each meal so that nutritional needs are met while considering budget, season, availability, family likes and dislikes, and time for cooking.

Treating food so it keeps longer without spoiling, using methods such as drying, salting, pickling, refrigeration, canning and freezing that slow or stop microbial growth.

Changes that make food unfit to eat, caused by micro-organisms, enzymes, air, moisture or temperature, shown by bad smell, colour change, slime or off-flavour.

The techniques used to prepare food, such as boiling, steaming, frying, baking and pressure cooking, each affecting nutrient loss, taste, texture and cooking time differently.

The basic thread-like units from which cloth is made, either natural (cotton, silk, wool, jute) or man-made (nylon, polyester), each giving fabric different properties.

The process of making fabric by interlacing two sets of yarns, the warp running lengthwise and the weft crosswise, on a loom to produce woven cloth.

Choosing garments wisely by considering fibre and fabric quality, fit, comfort, climate, durability, budget, occasion and the wearer's age and figure.

The correct treatment of marks on cloth using suitable agents and methods for each type of stain, such as cold water for blood, before washing the garment.

The provision of a safe, well-ventilated and well-lit shelter that protects the family from weather and danger and supports health, privacy and family activities.

Organising the available area in a home so that each activity has a suitable place, movement is easy and furniture and storage are used efficiently.

Selecting and arranging furniture, curtains, floor coverings and decoration to make a home comfortable, functional and attractive within the family's budget.

Planning and using resources such as time, money, energy and skills wisely to reach family goals, involving decisions about what to do, how and when.

A written plan that estimates expected income and sets out how it will be spent on different needs over a period, helping a family control spending and save.

The legal protections available to buyers, including the right to safety, information, choice, being heard and redressal for defective goods or poor services.

Teaching people to make wise buying decisions by comparing quality, price and labels, reading advertisements critically and knowing where to complain about unfair trade.

Certification symbols on products, such as ISI, Agmark and Hallmark, that assure the buyer of quality and safety standards set by recognised agencies.

The study of how children grow and change physically, mentally, socially and emotionally from birth to adolescence, and how care and environment influence this growth.

Typical skills or behaviours a child can be expected to show at certain ages, such as sitting, walking or speaking first words, used to check normal progress.

The natural activity through which children learn, exercise their bodies, practise social roles and express feelings; it is essential for healthy development.

Personal cleanliness practices such as bathing, hand washing, oral care and clean clothing that prevent illness and keep the body healthy.

Systems and practices for safe disposal of human waste, wastewater and garbage, and for keeping water and surroundings clean, so that disease does not spread.

Understanding how human actions affect air, water, soil and living things, and adopting habits such as reducing waste, saving water and planting trees to protect them.

A process of teaching and motivating families and communities, often in rural areas, to adopt better practices in nutrition, health, hygiene and home management.

A practical assignment in which a student investigates a real problem, collects information, applies Home Science ideas and presents findings in a written report.

Immediate, simple care given to an injured or suddenly ill person before professional medical help arrives, such as cleaning a wound or treating a burn with cool water.