The aim of my study is to focus on cognitive skills and cognitive learning environment in Home Economics. In my study, the cognitive learning environment is about accelerating the formal operational thinking of the pupils. My assumption is that the conceptualization of everyday practices in Home Economics can be used as a means of developing pupils thinking skills. Baking has been taken into closer consideration, because of its grounds in natural sciences. Making experiments during the lessons rather than following the given recipes help pupils to explain and to understand scientific phenomena in baking. This understanding by explaining is essential when developing higher-order thinking skills of the pupils. Thinking skills are the groundwork for knowledge building in Home Economics education.

In my study, a new model for teaching and learning Home Economics is introduced. The cognitive skills are brought about adapting the intervention strategy called CASE (Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education) created by doctors Philip Adey and Michael Shayer in Kings College London. The teaching method focuses on activities called Thinking Science, developed in CASE. Thinking Science activities are founded in theories of cognitive development described by Piaget and by Vygotsky. The main aim of CASE is to investigate the possibility of raising the general cognitive level of young adolescents in ordinary school settings. In my study Thinking Science activities are set in Home Economics context. The experiments done in the classroom gave very little information on how do the pupils actually solve the problems. In my following study pupils discussions will be videotaped and analyzed in collaborative learning situations.