This guide is designed to provide a process for identifying and developing understanding of the many ways that the law touches the individual at the community level. A study done by 7th grade students at Wellwood Middle School in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District in New York is described. A geographic feature in the community known as the Swan Pond was studied. As detailed in the day by day account of this study, the students interviewed town residents, took pictures, and searched official records to learn about the pond's history, the community's use of the facility, and many other aspects. Technological, communicative, and analytical skills are stressed in this project. The students benefited from their face to face contact with the people of the community, and had opportunity to see their "known world" in another context. Models, suggested activities, and samples of interviews, reports, and documents are included. To use this study as a prototype, teachers might identify a similar focal point in the community in which they teach, and adapt the procedures developed by the teaching team and students at the Wellwood school. (Author/KC)