The four dimensions of this unit on politics for grade 9 are: political behavior, politics and the law, political action, and political theory. The course involves grouping students according to need, and attempts to get the prepared student into the community. Study skills, critical thinking, valuing and inquiry are integral parts of the course. There is no specific sequence for each of the four dimensions. There is, however, a sequencing of skills, with study skills taking first priority and inquiry skills being taught only to those who have reached a prescribed level of competence in other skills areas. Each topical lesson plan is set out in terms of understandings, teacher objectives, behavioral objectives, references, subject matter and method of teaching it. The study skills section incorporates a variety of components--note taking, skimming, summarizing, locating information, and library skills. In the section dealing with valuing skills, the authors propose a method to analyze positions on value issues and techniques that encourage students to take a stand on controversial problems. The section on critical thinking focuses on a variety of skills and stresses propaganda analysis. The material in the Inquiry Skills section deals with conducting polls, the use of sampling, interviewing, and the analysis of data. (Author/JLB)