Abstract
The purpose of this study is to discuss the effectiveness of home economics lessons about the issues related to the collective housing. We analyzed textbooks and evaluated the lesson practices in a junior high school. The results are as follows; 1. Issues of collective housing are described mostly in the house and living section of the home economics textbooks. The descriptions suggest possibilities to further develop lessons, however, a few textbooks contain incorrect or difficult words. 2. Serial lessons on collective housing with the themes of housing culture, floor plans and family composition and relationships enabled to create a class with a story-like content. 3. It is difficult for students to comprehend the theory of collective housing. However, some methods may facilitate this learning process, including painting different colors in common and private spheres, watching videotapes, and reading the discourses written by the residents. 4. Reading the references and exchanging opinions among students enabled them to learn about "independence" and "co-existence" within families and communities, which, in turn, gave students opportunities to improve their strengths in thinking, judgment, and expression.