Project+Citizen

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=Juarez Project Citizen Wiki=

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=Research Sites:= [|Ebschohost] (username = ewood, password = library)

=Background 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 a portfolio of our work 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 majority of the unit takes place online via laptops and the computer lab. 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 8th grade can try to help fix.

= = = = = = = = = = =Project Citizen Videos= [| "The World We Want": Project Citizen Documentary Trailer - Oct 7, 2007]

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media type="youtube" key="Dwvrh42yHJs?rel=0" height="390" width="480" Independent Film Producer and former Disney executive Patrick Davidson is producing a documentary film about students around the world ... all participating in the Center for Civic Education's "Project Citizen" international civic education program. The film highlights students using the democratic process to make a positive difference in their communities and countries.  This video was originally found at www.civiced.org and downloaded from video.google.com.

Project Citizen in Missouri media type="custom" key="8208576"  This video produced by Youth Empowerment in Action describes the antitobacco efforts of three groups of Project Citizen students in Missouri. At Jennings High School, students developed a portfolio explaining their case against the sale of loose cigarettes to minors. Project Citizen students at Scott County Central sought to reform the way the Missouri tobacco settlement is used. Students from Support a Child International addressed the need for enforcement of the law banning tobacco advertising withing 2,000 feet of schools and other places frequented by young people. = = = =

=Marsha Mellow: A Case Study=

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= = =Websites for Exploration= [|Impact of Congress]

[|Center for Civic Education] Watch the video from the National Project Citizen showcase

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 - you must find a local topic that Edgewood students can impact and change. The only way to do this is to start thinking and looking for ideas now - you will have to search and brainstorm possible ideas - this is not an easy job and often will lead to a dead end but Mrs Ott is NOT helping nor choosing a topic - the 8th grade students are. This is not an easy task that will take 5 minutes - this is a confusing difficult task. As we begin to learn about public policy and other requirements that will bring clarity to Project Citizen.

=Forms=

=[|Sample Projects]=

=[|Students Making A Difference]=