The Quinmester world studies course for grades 7 through 9 investigates concepts of prehistory, culture, and civilization, offering an in depth understanding of the reasons why and how civilizations rise and fall. Emphasis is on comparing past and present civilizations. One major purpose of the course is for students to comprehend that civilizations evolve from one stage to another. By tracing early civilizations and comparing them to modern civilizations students will better see the pattern of development, giving them a better perspective of society and helping them to foresee a better future society. An interdisciplinary approach offers a broader scope to the course. Three units are: 1) The Lessons of Prehistory; 2) Dawn's Early Light gives specific treatment to the river valley civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China; and the new world civilizations in Central and South America; and, 3) Retrospection and Introspection: Dawn and the Coming Day examines internal and external pressures of civilizations affecting their growth and decline. Related documents are SO 002 708 through SO 002 718, SO 002 768 through SO 002 792, and SO 002 949 through SO 002 970. (SJM)