This handbook will help secondary teachers in all subject areas use the "Why in the World" television series to teach current events. The handbook presents the origin of and rationale for the series, describes the programs, suggests general class activities that teachers can use with all the programs in the series, discusses additional resources and in-school scheduling, and contains a student listening/viewing guide. This series is Walter Cronkite's long-held dream of using television to bring news events interpreted by some of the nation's outstanding minds to high school students. In each program a news story of the day will be presented and discussed by an expert or authority on the topic. The topic will be addressed from the perspective of one of the main subject areas studied in secondary schools. For example, a presentation based on the "Encounter with Saturn" report from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory could be viewed by students in mathematics courses. One major idea explored in the presentation might be the calculation of trajectories and occultations. Or students in the social studies courses might view a presentation on the oil embargo in which the ideas of supply and demand, power, and future projections are discussed. This presentation of 15-20 minutes will conclude with a question and answer session with the students in the studio. Finally, at the end of the formal presentation, viewers will be provided with a list of inexpensively obtained reading and nonprint materials. Teachers are encouraged to videotape the series for more convenient time scheduling. (Author/RM)