Designed for inclusion in an eighth grade course on U.S. history or civics, this unit introduces local students to the history of Alexandria (Virginia) through a study of its buildings and urban growth. By examining factors which have changed the community (technology, transportation, economic influences) as well as the relationship between physical environment and lifestyle, students are encouraged to think about solutions to future problems of community development. Following an overview of evaluation strategies, the unit is divided into three parts. In part 1, students examine local buildings and documents. Part 2 contains 2 lessons in which students examine ways in which buildings convey historical information. Four lessons in part 3 focus on Alexandria as a contemporary city. Students explore ways in which the area is still undergoing change by looking at transportation innovations and planned development. They consider a case study of each of these types of change (the city's waterfront area and metro station), conduct a survey of these two sites, and develop written and visual presentations. A bibliography and list of resources conclude the manual. (LP)