This guide is designed to take teachers through a step-by-step process for developing an integrated, standards-based curriculum that focuses on the stories, history, folkways, and agrarian traditions of the local community. Such a place-based curriculum helps students to become culturally literate, makes learning relevant and engaging, draws on the knowledge and understanding of community elders, and reconnects the community to its traditions and history. Part 1 presents a systematic eight-step process for developing and implementing a schoolwide cultural literacy curriculum focused on the history and cultural heritage of the local community. The first step describes a comprehensive 10-stage process for creating and implementing local, standards-based cultural literacy units. Although this first step can stand alone as an effective tool for developing place-based curricula, the remaining steps help to produce a sustainable community-based program. These steps are: identifying a community coordinator, preparing students, preparing elders and community participants, having community members share their stories and knowledge with students, incorporating community service learning, a culminating celebration, and assessment. Part 2 includes a complete sample unit for the fall season and an outline for a winter unit. Throughout the guide are local history activities from around Vermont and from rural California, Alabama, Alaska, and Montana. Appendices present a local history "starter kit," forms, rubrics, checklists, and a glossary. (SV)