Progressive Era Visual Metaphor Project
This project challenges – CHALLENGES – you to create a visual metaphor representing
the achievements and failures of the Progressive Era. To do this, you will work in groups
to create a metaphor that represents key ideas from the unit's most important topics. You
will choose a metaphorand make comparisons between it and key aspects of the
Progressive Era. To complete this project you will use your notes and your text.
Note: According to knowgramming.com, a metaphoris:
A simile- or to be like something - is to retain some irresolvable difference which
means one can never fully substitute for the other. On the other hand, a
metaphor actually is a substitution - it is an equation in principle.
It could be said, then, that: a metaphor is an equation where a simile an
approximation.
Requirements
1) Design your visual metaphor to show your understanding of the key aspects of the
Progressive Era. Your metaphor must contain information on these topics:
A) Meaning & Objectives, Sources, Accomplishments, Weaknesses, Disappearance,
Heritage, and Presidents
2) Begin your metaphor with this sentence – “The Progressive Era is like [insert your
simile] because [insert reason why you think the Progressive Era was like it].”
You may use one of these similes to represent the Progressive Era – a garden, a tree, a
cub scout, a friend, two sides of a coin, a basketball or football game, your parents or choose one of your own. The only limitation is that you must make sure that the
viewer can quickly determine the key aspects of the Progressive Era simply by
examining your simile.
3) You must create bold, detailed visuals and clearly label comparisons between your
metaphor and these key items:
A) Meaning & Objectives – include at least 2
B) Sources – include at least 3
C) Accomplishments – include at least 10
D) Weaknesses, Disappearance – include at least 5
E) Heritage – include at least 1
F) People – include at least 3
4) For each part of your simile, include a one-sentence explanation of how your
metaphor label matches each historical item. For example, if you choose a garden as
your simile, your title would be “The Progressive Era is like a garden because …”
you might label the “seeds” or “soil” in the metaphor as "Big Business Abuses" and
write, "The Progressive Era grew from abuses from big business just like the garden
grows from seeds." Write your explanations on the poster near the simile.
Steps for Completing a Visual Simile
Step 1: Review notes from the unit and discuss which metaphor you think best represents
the Progressive Era. You may choose from the list provided or create one of your
own.
Step 2: Brainstorm details your metaphor might include. Review the key items for each
topic listed and talk about how to connect them with the details of the simile.
Here are examples of two comparisons you might make using the garden simile:
Simile
Soil
Seeds
The Progressive Era
Beginning stages of the Progressive Era grew from the abuses of
Big Business
The closeness of Big Business and the Government led many
people to want reforms in the way business and government
worked
Step 3: Quickly draw a rough sketch of your metaphor and label the comparisons.
Review it with your teacher so you can receive feedback before creating the final
version.
Step 4: Write a rough draft of your summary statement. Make sure you explain how the
Metaphor represents the key aspects the Progressive Era.
Step 5: Create the final version of the visual simile.
Name___________________________________________
Visual Metaphor Project Evaluation
(turn in with the project)
Pts Poss.
Student
Grade
______
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________
________
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________
______
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3) Visual Presentation
- Visual elements are laid out in an interesting and
colorful way
______
________
________
4) Participation
- Participated fully in the project
______
________
________
5) Total Points
______
________
________
1) Interpretation
- Visual details support, explain, and extend
the simile
- Label explanations are clear and historically
accurate
2) Historical Evidence
- Key historical items are connected with the
Simile
- Adequate evidence is provided to convincingly
support the simile
Student Comments (i.e., why your group deserves the grade you gave) -
Teacher Comments –
Teacher
Grade