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 three sections focus on three major dimensions of community study--the natural environment, the environment as it existed years ago, and the community as it exists today. Section 1 contains 15 techniques for helping children become aware of their outdoor environment as it exists today and as it existed in the past. Numerous activities involve students in using their senses, observing numerical and spatial characteristics, using art to express feelings, interviewing the elderly, visiting museums, and finding old pictures and memorabilia. Section 2 lists topics to consider in studying early history. Resources and activities are provided for each topic. Topics and subtopics for use in comparing the historical community with the present one are described in section 3. The remaining three sections summarize additional activities and resources related to community study. Field trips, home projects, and school activities are detailed in section 4. Section 5 reviews a variety of general and Santa Cruz county material and human resources. The final section summarizes organizational strategies and problems which may be encountered in such a study. A bibliography concludes the book. (LP)