Intended as a starting point for junior and senior high school teachers, this guide contains five lessons that give an overview of the nuclear age and provide the most basic information that students must learn in order to understand the threat of nuclear war. Topics of the lessons include the history of weapons development, how nuclear weapons are different, the United States/USSR arms race, the current state of affairs regarding nuclear weapons, the effects of nuclear war, and what can be done to prevent nuclear war. Provided for each lesson are an outline of the main ideas, relevant quotations that complement the outline, learning aids that explain important facts within the lesson (e.g., maps, charts, graphs, lists of organizations), and discussion questions. Students are expected to read and study the outline and quotations, analyze the maps, charts, and graphs, and participate in classroom discussions. Provided at the end of the guide are some additional learning tools and resources, including a glossary of nuclear war terms, suggested learning exercises, a bibliography, and audiovisual suggestions which can supplement the various lessons. (RM)