This guide is intended to aid in the development of a performance-based curriculum using social studies standards recommended by the National Council for Social Studies. The performance-based orientation encourages students to be accountable for knowing what they are learning, understanding why it is important, and reporting this knowledge and understanding through observable and measurable performances. Teachers are given instructions for making an incremental transition to a performance-based transition. Performance benchmarks for assessing progress are provided for grades 3, 5, 8, and 12 in the first of three sections, "Content/Concept Standards for Social Studies." Content/concept areas included are: (1) Culture, (2) Time, Continuity, and Change; (3) Individual Development and Identity; (4) Individual, Groups, and Institutions; (5) Power, Authority, and Governance; (6) Production, Distribution, and Consumption; (7) Science, Technology, and Society; (8) Global Connections; and (9) Civic Ideals and Practices. Other sections of the book discuss technology connections and performance designers. The appendix contains blank templates for performance designers and benchmarks. A bibliography concludes the guide. (MM)