The primary purpose of education is preparation for life. But what kind of life, and life for whom? Within the social studies, emphasis has long been placed on preparation for civic life in diverse and democratic societies within an interconnected world. This remains essential. There is an ongoing need for people who are willing and able to address the challenges of society, including structural problems such as racism, classism, and patriarchy. However, in addition to continuing threats to the quality of "human" life, growing concerns have also arisen regarding the quality, indeed the survival, of "all" life on the planet. One of the most urgent challenges of today is the decline of the environment upon which all life depends. This paper examines the implications of the environmental crisis for the social studies. First, I explore the deep interconnectivity that exists between humans and the nonhuman world and, by extension, between our social and environmental challenges. Next, I consider the implications of these connections for a socioenvironmental approach to social studies education. In addition to practical curricular and instructional factors, I argue that we must promote the development of a "critical ecological perspective" through which to interpret the fundamental relationships between humans and the world.