Tuesday's Agenda

Today we are reviewing the background of Project Citizen (below), and then we will have a full class discussion over public policy problems we (7th graders) face, and brainstorm possible solutions that can be reached through petitioning the local and state governments.

Welcome to Project Citizen

We the People: Project Citizen is a curricular program for middle school students that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps participants learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, they develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy. Project Citizen is a five-step process that relies on effort and teamwork. Each class works cooperatively to identify a public policy problem in their community. They then research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solution in the form of a public policy, and create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy. As a class we will develop and present our project in a public hearing showcase before a panel of civic-minded community members. In addition, students learn how to critically examine political cartoons, evaluate sources, and other research tools and skills necessary as they advance through school.  The unit takes approximately 10-12 weeks to complete. The majority of the unit takes place online using iPads. The final projects are all technology based trying to teach you 21st century presentation skills. An important part of the project is choosing a local problem we as a 7th grade can try to help fix. There are several keys to making a good Project Citizen Project - hard work, research, working as a group, dedication... But one often overlooked aspect of the project is picking a good topic - - one that is a local topic that Edgewood students can impact and change.