Educating students about state and local government is vital to providing the skills necessary for effective citizenship. This six-part teachers guide addresses various aspects of incorporating the study of government into the social studies curriculum. Part 1 presents a rationale and goals for teaching government. Part 2 addresses the various ways in which content can be organized. Three examples are presented: an issues approach, an historical approach, and a social science approach. The advantages of each recommended approach are described. Parts 3, 4, and 5 provide an array of activities designed to fulfill the goals delineated in Part 1 and the suggested content organizations of Part 2. In these sections, specific activities are recommended as items that teachers can use in their classrooms as well as models for constructing new activities. These instructional activities and strategies fit into three focus areas: the structure of government, the function of government, and the funding of government. This three-part organization establishes a framework for investigating political and governmental issues, behavior, and institutions. Part 6 contains a list of people, organizations, print and nonprint materials, and agencies that can help teachers develop a reservoir of materials useful in the development of curriculum and the teaching of state and local government. A number of tables and graphs appear throughout the guide. (DB)