Junior high students examine selected primitive societies in this quinmester course. The concept of culture is defined and studied to expose similarities and differences between primitive and contemporary man and civilizations, not simply for greater understanding but also to permit further insight into American civilization. Both types of societies are analyzed for their advantages and disadvantages and require students to explore the value of a simple vs. complex culture. Activity units encourage students to employ the tools of the social scientist and examine primitive societies from the anthropologists point of view. Course content is divided into five units which include information on the meaning and development of culture, the identification of cultural characteristics and aspects of life concerning environment, food, clothing, homes, social and political structure, death, and religion of the Australian Aborigines, the Ainus' of Northern Japan, and the Eskimos. The last unit compares advanced and primitive societies. The quinmester course is arranged into goals, content, activity, and resource sections. (SJM)