The social studies unit involves students in learning about how their families and neighbors view their community. In addition, students identify community issues and problems, and explore their own attitudes about their community. It is designed for use in grade five through junior high school. There are four parts to the community study project. During part one, students interview members of their own families about reasons for living in this particular community, positive community features, population size, economic and cultural life, use of leisure time, job market, and important historical events. Part two involves a visit to community officials and an interview relating to the community's strengths, problems, and changes over the past 20 years. In part three, students analyze the responses from parts one and two and use the information to make individual reports about their own attitudes toward the community. Students consider whether they would like to settle in the community, what they could eventually do there that would be important, and what they can do right now to improve the community. Part four involves a community forum during which students work in groups to identify community problems, write proposals for change, and create a community song, story, and symbol. Student worksheets and a teacher's guide for conducting the forum are included. (AV)