Competitive events offered by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) student organization provide today’s Family and Consumer Sciences students with valuable skills, knowledge and insights. A national career and technical student organization specifically for FCS students in grades 6-12, FCCLA offers competitive events that focus on a variety of skills, from character development and critical thinking to interpersonal communication and career preparation. Like any competitive event, dedicated preparation can really set competitors up for success. Realityworks’ FCS products can help prepare your students for competition while gaining employable skills for students’ future endeavors. In fact, here are 10 useful tools to prepare your FCS students for FCCLA competitions (plus the FCCLA challenges we recommend using them for).
Early Childhood Challenge
From practicing basic infant care skills to preparing for a CDA Certification to designing a childcare center layout, Realityworks’ child development and early childhood education learning tools deliver impactful lessons and skills for FCS.
From the FCCLA website: This individual event is a knowledge and skill test which allows participants to complete challenges related to Family and Consumer Sciences subject matter, including child development and early childhood education concepts.
Preparing your students to succeed in the Early Childhood Challenge? We recommend these products:
- RealCare Baby® 3 Infant Simulator
- CDA Scenario Kit
- Child Development Online Course
- Child Care Center Design Kit
Science in FCS Challenge
Frequently used for bringing STEM into the classroom, Realityworks’ Educational Hydroponics Systems provide numerous possibilities for creativity in food science.
From the FCCLA website: This individual event is a knowledge and skills test which allows participants to complete challenges related to Family and Consumer Sciences subject matter, including science and technology concepts related to food, health and textile sciences.
Preparing your students to succeed in the Science in FCS Challenge? We recommend these products:
- Plant Mini Educational Hydroponics System Class Pack (5-pack)
- Plant Lab Educational Hydroponics System
- Plant Producer Educational Hydroponics System
Culinary Knife Skills
Interactive exercises and repetition refine student’s knife skills and kitchen safety. Both of these are found in two convenient kits from Realityworks.
From the FCCLA website: This individual event will showcase the best of participants’ knife skills. Participants will produce six uniform pieces for each knife cut meeting industry standards and demonstrate proper safety and sanitation procedures.
Preparing your students to succeed in Culinary Knife Skills? We recommend these products:
Impromptu Speaking
With specific lessons on public speaking, people skills and creativity – just to name a few – you can rest assured that your students will be ahead of the game with Realityworks’ leadership soft skills programs.
From the FCCLA website: This individual event recognizes participants for their ability to address a topic relating to FCCLA and Family and Consumer Sciences without prior preparation. The ability to express one’s thoughts in an impromptu situation while maintaining poise, self-confidence, logical organization of point, and conversational speaking are important assets in family, career and community situations.
Preparing your students to succeed in Impromptu Speaking? We recommend these products:
Interior Design Sketch
Food trucks and child care centers are growing in popularity and demand every day. Provide your students with in-depth lessons and creative opportunities with two robust design kits from Realityworks.
From the FCCLA website: This individual event recognizes members for their ability to problem solve, design, and sketch an interior design space using the provided interior design scenario.
Preparing your students to succeed in Interior Design Sketch? We recommend these products:
Interviewing Skills
Interviews, presentation skills and self-confidence are just three of the 20 soft skills lesson topics included with Realityworks’ Employability Skills Program. This program helps students prepare for future employment by developing these important skills now.
From the FCCLA website: This individual event, an individual event, recognizes members for their ability to prepare employment materials and utilize job interviewing skills for an entry level position in an area of Family and Consumer Sciences and/or related occupations utilizing Family and Consumer Sciences knowledge and skills. This event provides an opportunity for members to gain self-confidence and demonstrate job seeking skills.
Preparing your students to succeed in Interviewing Skills? We recommend these products:
By providing comprehensive learning solutions that pair curriculum with hands-on learning aids, student activities and assessment tools, Realityworks product users gain practical, career preparation to aide in preparedness for competition while also promoting self-development.
Learn more:
Looking for more information to prepare your FCS students for FCCLA competitions (and future success)? Consider these resources:
- Free, downloadable infographics and posters that could jump-start classroom conversations about the future
- On-demand webinars focused on a variety of FCS topics, from engaging students to teaching needed skills
- See what’s new for FCS education in our 2021 FCS Program Catalog
