This teacher's guide introduces students to problems and potentials of the future in an effort to prepare them for life in the 21st century. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, the lesson plans within four major units represent five futuristic trends and assumptions: (1) the shift of emphasis from subject matter to conceptual frameworks; (2) increasing attention to the cultivation of human potential; (3) the focus on durable, flexible, and transferable education; (4) the commitment to experiential learning; and (5) the increasing influence of the visual on communication. The first unit examines personal and social behavior through presentation of lessons on genetic engineering, biofeedback, meditation, brain research, violence, and mental illness. The second unit explores types of communication, including media, music, religion, group therapy, art and design. Future habitats and life styles are described in the third unit, followed by lessons on natural resources, ecology, population, war, and space in unit four. The units suggest a variety of activities, including: interviewing experts, research and evaluation projects, class discussion, multimedia presentations, and survey research. Seven major areas are presented in each lesson format. These include cognitive organizers to involve students in concepts, terminology, key questions, objectives, learning activities, and resources to accompany television films, and recommendations for citizen action. A student attitude survey, for use in both pretest and posttest evaluation, is included. (Author/DB)