We the People...Project Citizen
A portfolio-based civic education project for middle school classes
We the People... PROJECT CITIZEN is a civic education program for grades 5-8 that promotes competent and responsible participation in state and local government. It actively engages students in learning how to monitor and influence public policy and encourages civic participation among students, their parents, and members of the community.
As a class project, students work together to identify and study a public policy issue, eventually developing an action plan for implementing their policy. The final product is a portfolio displaying each group's work.
In a culminating activity the class presents its portfolio in a simulated legislative hearing, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of how public policy is formulated. Classes may also be able to enter their portfolios in a local competition with other classes. Local winners submit their portfolios for a statewide competition, and state winners go on to be evaluated in the PROJECT CITIZEN national finals.
Cirriculum
We the People... PROJECT CITIZEN focuses on the role of state and local governments in the American federal system. The curriculum involves an entire class of students in a series of structured, cooperative learning activities which are guided by their teachers and adult volunteers. Working in cooperative teams, the class learns to interact with their government through a five step process that includes:
- Identifying a public policy problem in the community
- Gathering and evaluating information on the problem
- Examining and evaluating solutions
- Selecting or developing a proposed public policy
- Developing an action plan
Students' work is displayed in a class portfolio containing a display section and a documentation section.
The Textbook
We the People... PROJECT CITIZEN is a process oriented instructional guide designed for use in grades 5-8. The teacher's guide includes directions for leading the class through the five step process and developing a class portfolio. It also contains instructions and evaluation procedures for conducting a simulated legislative hearing. News of Interest
Monticello Middle earns top rating in national Project Citizen showcase
Monticello Middle School’s We the People: Project Citizen entry, Bullying Hurts!, recently earned the top rating of Superior at the national Project Citizen showcase. The showcase took place July 25-28 in Louisville during the National Conference of State Legislators Legislative Summit. Teams from 49 U.S. schools participated in the showcase. Monticello Middle School's team was selected to represent Kentucky at the national showcase after earning a rating of superior at the state showcase in May. The Kentucky Court of Justice and the Center for Civic Education in California are co-sponsors of the Project Citizen program for Kentucky.
Legislators recognize Paducah Middle School students for work with Project Citizen
 The Kentucky House of Representatives recognized students from Paducah Middle School Feb. 2, 2010, for their work with Project Citizen. The students represented Kentucky at the National Showcase for We the People … Project Citizen, held in conjunction with the National Conference of State Legislators in Philadelphia in July 2009. They were chosen to participate in the National Showcase after being interviewed at the State Showcase in May 2009, where they represented Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District with their Project Citizen project. Their project proposed that drivers 65 and older should retake a driver’s test to renew their licenses.
The students who appeared at the Capitol were Elizabeth Behrens, Lilly Burba, Miles Butler, Will Hancock, Justin Holt, Jacob Holtgrewe, Cole Spicer and Cason Walden. They were joined by Jeannie Miller, the Gifted and Talented teacher who led their Project Citizen project.
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