Kateika: Piloting home economics in the EU primary school curricula

The overall objective of the project was to “pilot home economics activities in EU primary schools to develop key skills for independent and responsible adults” and to achieve this overall objecti...

The overall objective of the project was to “pilot home economics activities in EU primary schools to develop key skills for independent and responsible adults” and to achieve this overall objective, 2 specific objectives (+ 1 transversal one) were defined: each of them focussed on the change we want to see at the end of the project on different levels. The specific objectives were: S.O.1: By the project end, finalise an EU roadmap to integrate kateika in the school curriculum. S.O.2: By the project end, teachers have acquired an understanding of how to mainstreaming kateika in the curricula. A third - transversal - objective is to "understand how home economics can contribute to the three horizontal priorities of the Erasmus+ programme, namely: a. green practices; b. inclusion and diversity; c. digital transition.

The project had two main activities: Activity 1: Learning about Kateika: an interdisciplinary approach Through online sessions, presentations and group work the partners have first learnt about Kateika with our Japanese partners and in a second phase have developed kateika activities that could be integrated in the school curricula. The activities have been discussed during the online sessions and reviewed with the Japanese partner. Activity 2: Piloting Kateika in EU schools In the second part of the project, we organised two mobilities for pupils and teachers, one to Portugal and one to Italy. During these mobilities we piloted the kateika activities with pupils of both countries and we had the opportunity to organise integration activities, as well as intercultural exchange activities among the schools. The kateika activities have been piloted in the school of the Turkish partner, which, at the end of this phase, has organised an online conference with school decision-makers to discuss the potential of kateika in the school curricula. All kateika activities were assessed from a digital, environmental and inclusion perspectives, and have been gathered in a handbook titled “Introducing Kateika into EU Primary Schools"

The results of the project have been the following: 1. Two international mobilities for Italian and Portuguese pupils to pilot kateika activities. The activities have allowed schools to internationalise their activities and experiment with home economics in the curriculum. 2. Kateika activities piloted with 385 pupils across Portugal, Italy, and Turkey. Pupils have developed strong skills to be independent and there has been a strong focus on sustainability in home economics. 2. An handbook for teachers to introduce simple kateika elements in their own school and a roadmap for decision-makers. The handbook presents the activities implemented in the schools and allow other teachers to replicate them. Moreover, it includes a section on digital and green practices and inclusion. Finally, the handbook entails a roadmap for decision-makers to include kateika in the curriculum.