In U.S. history classrooms, teachers have discovered that local history offers students richer content, more enjoyable learning experiences, and unique insight into the national character. Using several social studies and geography standards as a framework for planning, this book offers teachers instructional activities for learning more about the lifeblood of communities--their traditions, beliefs, social and economic forces, religion, and ethnicity. The first half of the book contains descriptions of activities in which students visit cemeteries and historic sites, compose a local history, study architectural and housing patterns, review old photographs, conduct interviews, interpret maps, write their own family history, and create a community image. The second half of the book features a collection of highly successful state and nationally recognized projects that represent best practices in local history. It is suggested that these model activities are great starting points for teachers who want to develop their own local history projects. (BT)