By: Robert Dutches

Academic Focus/
Core Curriculum Standards:

Social Studies: 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6

Consumer, Family & Life Skills: 9.2A, B, C, D

Three 8^th grade classes will participate in “Project Citizen”, a curricular program created by The Center for Civic Education. The project helps students to learn what public policy is, and how to monitor and influence it by participating in their local government. The Maxson students will decide on an issue to address, conduct research on that issue, come up with multiple solutions, and work on an action plan that presents the one solution that they chose. The final product will be presented to the city council for review. In addition, students will be in contact with a class of similar age in the Czech Republic. The Plainfield students will describe their community problem and possible solution, and see if the Czech students have similar troubles and what they’ve done to solve them.

Target Audience:

The Plainfield community

Project Scheduling:

During class time                                                                                                                                                      Equipment Needed:

Computers with internet access, Project Citizen materials, stationery

Language Arts Literacy: Students improve their reading and media literacy skills as they conduct research on the internet and in print form. Their speaking and listening abilities will be tested because another part of their research involves interviews. Also, students will use their writing skills to develop an action plan that will be presented to the city council.

Social Studies: The main component of Project Citizen is for students to understand what public policy is, and how they can use public policy to change their community. Students develop a sense of civic responsibility and political efficacy as they identify a community problem and plan a solution for it. Elements of local history and geography will come into play during the research component.

World Languages: The three classes will learn about a different culture as they interact with students of similar age from the Czech Republic. The Plainfield students will share the issues and solutions that they have come up with, and will see if the Czech students have similar problems and how they have dealt with them.  

Technology: The 8^th graders will use computers to carry out their research. Computers will also be the medium of communication between the students in Plainfield and the Czech Republic.

Consumer, Family, & Life Skills: Students will enhance their critical thinking proficiency by coming up with an action plan to solve a community problem. Their interpersonal communication skills will be tested during the interviews and class sessions where they will discuss the focus of the project as a group.

Hurdles Encountered:

Students may feel they have not made a difference if the city council does not adopt their solution.

The teaching team will emphasize that the point of the project is to make students informed and concerned citizens, not necessarily public policy gurus.

The research component of the project is independently done by the students, and involves reaching out to the community and in-depth investigation. 

As a group, students will decide on a single issue to address and develop an action plan to present to the city council.

The project combines language arts, world languages, social studies, and technology in order for students to feel like they are able to make a difference in their community, while also learning about the local culture of their peers in a distant country.

Students will feel a sense of civic-mindedness after taking the time to analyze and present a solution to a problem that affects their community, their families, and themselves. The 8^th graders will develop a sense of responsibility for what goes on in their city, and realize they possess the power to make changes.

Students will go on a field trip to Trenton to observe a legislative meeting.

Students are aware of many issues that affect their community.

The 8^th graders will give interviews to community members and ask what problems they think the community has, and how they think the issues should be solved. Also, the students will present their action plan to the city council for review and possible legislation.

Parents can be participants in the interview process.

Students will fill out a post-project reflection form.

Pre- and post-project assessments. Grades for assignment.