- Attention-grabbing anecdotes open the first chapter and help draw in reluctant readers.- Includes current information on recent events surrounding Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the 2005 tsunami in the Indian Ocean.- Exciting on-site photography puts the reader where the action is.- Series features include photos, diagrams, glossary, and resources.Grades 5-8 Social Studies StandardsCulture- Explore the ways people and societies address similar human needs and concerns.Time, Continuity, and Change- Compare different accounts about past events/situations and identify how they contribute to our understanding of the past.Power, Authority, and Governance- Describe the ways nations respond to forces of unity/diversity affecting order/security.- Explain conditions that contribute to conflict and cooperation within nations.Science, Technology, and Society- Show how science/technology have changed perceptions of social world, such as in their relationship to economic needs, wants, and security.Global Connections- Analyze examples of interdependence among groups, societies, nations.- Explore causes, effects, solutions to persistent global issues such as health and security.Grades 5-8 Science StandardsEarth and Space Science- Structure of the Earth System and Earth's History.Science in Personal and Social Perspectives- Develop understanding of personal health; populations, resources, and environments; natural hazards; risks and benefits; science and technology in society.