The junior high school instructional unit, part of a field-tested grade school level career education series, is designed to assist learners in relating present experiences to past and future ones. Before the main body of the lessons is described, field testing results are reported and key items are presented: the concepts, the estimated time for delivering the lessons, the vocabulary introduced, the resources required, and the instructor preparation tasks. Instructional procedures are presented in three sections--an introduction, learners' tasks, and a summary. Some supplemental activities are presented, strategy and resource profiles are provided, and assessment procedures outlined. Designed to provide the learner insights into the working world, lessons emphasize that different occupations require different training and competencies, appeal to different personalities, and offer different benefits. Firsthand contact with workers and-guest speakers is provided, and activities aid the student in identifying his vocational interests and in developing skills in decision making and problem solving. The 20- to 25-hour unit, suitable for group instruction, relates primarily to the social studies area. An instructional strategy guide and a list of supplemental materials are appended. (MW)