Project Citizen

The Curriculum

Project Citizen & Illinois Learning Standards

Illinois Student Portfolios

Illinois Portfolio Competitions

Portfolio Checklist (pdf)

Simulated Legislative Hearings

Illinois Winning Project

Project Citizen Across the U.S.

Sponsors

Project Citizen Program Brochure

Project Citizen

The Curriculum

The We the People: Project Citizen textbooks focus on the role of the state and local governments in the American federal system. The curriculum involves an entire class of middle school students who are guided by their teachers and other adults.

Teachers who attend the "Project Citizen" training will receive a complimentary set of We the People: Project Citizen textbooks, designed for use in grades 5-8. Also included is a teacher's guide for working with students and developing a class portfolio.

Through their participation in the "Project Citizen" program, Illinois students learn to interact with their government through a process that includes:

• identifying a public policy problem in their community
• gathering information on the problem and examining possible solutions
• selecting or developing a public policy
• implementing an action plan or project that promotes the public policy
• reflecting on their learning experience