The purpose of this monograph is to present some recent trends on current issues that should be taught in elementary social studies courses. It is designed to provide information for teachers who wish to make their social studies programs more relevant to the times. The topics under consideration have been selected because they are relatively new to most elementary programs and include women, law, ethnic studies, international education/global education, American studies, urban problems, environmental problems, Latin America, and Africa. Most of the materials and ideas for this publication are taken from the journals, yearbooks, and bulletins of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Each section contains a discussion of the need for studying a particular issue, some background information needed by the teacher to understand recent thinking about the issue, concepts that are significant in teaching and learning about the topic, and practical activities for children in an elementary school. (Author/DE)