This guide is designed to provide seventh-grade social studies teachers with materials needed to present instruction in reading skills and to teach those facts, concepts, and attitudes which are the aim of social studies education. Entries on the subject of New York State government and local government are arranged by topic, and material within each topic is arranged according to two texts: "Living in New York" by Flierl and Urell, to be used with modified classes, and "New York: The Empire State" by Ellis, Frost, and Fink, to be used with honors and average classes. To promote the development of comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking, and study skills, the guide presents exercises in outlining, critical reading, skimming, and interpreting charts and diagrams. Questions are designed to evaluate the student's mastery of these skills and of content subject matter. Some questions included are designed to cover collateral chapters in the two texts. (RT)