Designed for elementary school teachers in Santa Cruz, California, this book outlines an experiential approach to community study. Because the term community can encompass a scope as narrow as the school or as wide as the region, these guidelines are adaptable to several elementary grade levels. The book is arranged in six sections. The first…

These materials discuss the history of Chicago, Illinois, including prominent persons in the city's past, and landmarks for which Chicago is well known. A number of activities are suggested, some of which concern Chicago's industries, historical sites, architecture, newspapers, ethnic groups, and history. A list of books about Chicago for…

Reviews how census data are used every day to make decisions in businesses, government agencies, and community organizations. Identifies key tools used in demographic analysis, suggesting applications of demographic data at a local level. Concludes with ideas for student activities, including guidelines for creating a community profile. (LS)

Recognizing the importance of studying the community to develop a historical perspective in students, this lesson module tells the story of Fort Wayne, Indiana from the first Indian settlements to the present. It is written in narrative form and each segment of the story contains learning activities to reinforce and enhance it. Learning activities…

This year-long economics project helped first graders from a low-income area recognize and see themselves as participants in an economic world. Students studied their community to learn about the different types of work people do, goods and services, problems of scarcity, the necessity for rules and goals, the use of natural resources, the…

Precipitation data for Macomb (Illinois) for the period 1912-1981 were the bases for developing classroom exercises that offered college students experience in collecting such data. After students collected the data, they reduced them to manageable proportions, and then examined average long-term relations which may have emerged among yearly,…

This teacher guide contains 12 detailed local history investigations, complete with procedures, required materials, and evaluation exercises, based on performance objectives that support the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools' social studies and mathematics instructional objectives for grades K-6. The exercises draw students into their…

This unit was developed to help students gain a sense of personal identity by examining their heritage. This is accomplished through a study of their genealogical beginnings, their county, and their ancestors' way of life. Part I of the unit engages students in activities investigating their background such as writing an autobiography,…

This booklet describes how students and other researchers can use historical resources in their community to explore the history of their school and to determine how that history relates to community-wide and statewide developments. Although the manual is written primarily from the perspective of the public schools, the underlying theme of the…

Undergraduate students increase their understanding of human geography and become aware of their community's health ecology by examining the degree and geographical pattern of dog-associated health hazards in Athens, Georgia, and by studying the behavioral patterns and attitudes of Athens's residents that might be causally related to these health…

An elementary school teaching unit uses a visit to a one-room schoolhouse to increase student awareness of what pioneer schools were like. The first section consists of pre-visit activities and teacher preparation suggestions. A description of an early pioneer school is followed by six activities designed to make the visit more authentic.…

Seven authors contributed to a bulletin about using community studies to teach about the interrelationship of the local community with larger economic and social systems. "Young People and Community" (R. Beery and Mark C. Schug) addresses the need for the social studies curriculum to consider the local community, an area which is rarely covered…

Advocates teaching history through children's fictional and nonfictional literature in elementary social studies. Offers seven criteria for selecting books for elementary history units. Provides activities for teaching about American Indians, communities, and U.S. history based on award-winning children's books. (CH)

This resource file contains information for Utah elementary school teachers to help their level 3 students meet the state's instructional objectives in the social studies. This particular student level emphasizes comparative communities and environments. The following disciplines are covered in the resource file: psychology, anthropology,…

Intended to help elementary and intermediate level students develop a global perspective, this manual contains ready-to-use activities dealing with the concept of myself and others. The materials can be used in courses in the social studies, language arts, mathematics, arts, and science, or in interdisciplinary courses. There are four parts to the…