This guidebook for the teacher of geography or social studies includes teaching and learning suggestions. The major theme is teaching geography using one's local area as the prime resource. The four sections in the guidebook deal with: 1) Relating Geographic Concepts to the Local Community gives quick, non-technical explanations of some of the major concepts in geography. 2) Preparing to Teach about the Local Community makes suggestions for assembling resource materials such as aerial photographs and topographic maps, various kinds of census data, and local histories. 3) Classroom Activities about the Local Community. Thirteen classroom activities about the local community are included and nearly all are examples from actual local areas. The first two activities are field trips followed by a discussion of student perceptions. Activities 4 through 11 enable the students to learn additional concepts, to apply their newly formed generalizations in problem solving activities. In the final two activities, students look at the area surrounding their community. 4) Selected Bibliography contains a list of background readings on aspects of local geography in each of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States and Canada. (Author/AWW)