Governments in action.

Dear Teacher,

Welcome to Junior Scholastic's World Affairs annual, an issue that you and your students can use all year. Inside, you will find colorful, up-todate maps, facts and figures on tile world's 195 independent countries, and charts and graphs that will engage your students while teaching them valuable skills.

Be sure to check out a feature that is new to JS this year: 21st Century Governments in Action (see p. 4). The series is designed to help students understand the different types of governments that can be found worldwide and how profoundly they affect people's lives. Here, we introduce readers to 11 major types of governments by showing how each works in a sample country, including the United Stales.

Finally, the World Affairs Skills Manual accompanying this issue contains reproducibles that will extend your classroom lessons. Teacher Lois Cohen explains how the skills manual came into being and why she thinks it is such a valuable resource. We hope that the entire issue will enrich your classroom experience and encourage your students to explore the world.

Suzanne McCabe, Editor

[e-mail]