This guide, the first in a series of eight, provides an outline and overview of the K-12 social studies curriculum of Manitoba, Canada. The first part of the guide presents brief sections on the rationale, selection of content, evaluation, time allotment within the program, and scope and sequence. The bulk of the guide contains abstracts of individual guides for grades K-9 and an overview statement outlining the direction of the program for grades 10-12. Within each K-9 abstract, there is a grade overview stating the major purposes to be explored. The units to be covered are then listed with an outline giving topics, questions, and objectives for each unit. The focus of the social studies curriculum is: grades K-6, the needs and interdependence of individual students, their families, and their communities, and a comparison of the life within the students' own community with that of another Manitoba community, a Canadian community, and several world communities; grade 7, a geographic orientation to the world today; grade 8, an historical orientation to the way people lived through the ages; grade 9, the Canadian society in which the student lives; grade 10, a geographic perspective of North America; grade 11, a historical perspective of Canada; and grade 12, world issues. A checklist of skills K-12 and a bibliography is included in the appendices. (Author/NE)