This yearlong project for a third grade classroom focuses on the California Social Studies standard, local history.

Grade Three History-Social Science Content Standards.        Continuity and Change Students in grade three learn more about our connections to the past and the ways in which particularly local, but also regional and national, government and traditions have developed and left their marks on current society, providing common memories. Emphasis is on the physical and cultural landscape of California, including the study of American Indians, the subsequent arrival of immigrants, and the impact they have had in forming the character of our contemporary society.

My goal is to guide students to the realization that there are many influences on the development of a community, these influences are ongoing and the students actions can have a powerful affect. Each month a different aspect of the student's community is explored (eg. topography, Native Americans, immigration, flora and fauna). This information is gathered from text books, trade books, field trips, experts in the area and of course, the internet. Along the way teachers use various assessments, quizzes, essay tests, observations, etc. To summarize and conclude each section students add a page to their own community web site with the focus being "How have each of these areas affected the development of my community?" To celebrate the culmination of the project we will invite parents, local political leaders, and school leaders to a premier.