1. An Accurate Metaphor. The major challenge of the group is to choose a metaphor that you think most accurately completes the statement, “The three branches of government under the Constitution are like a…” You may choose from the following list of ideas, or you can come up with one of your own:

 A three-ring circus

 A football team

 A musical band

 A tricycle

 A three-part machine

2. Use of Proper Materials. One 24” x 28” piece of butcher paper or poster board; felt pens, crayons, or colored pencils; creative minds.

3. Title. At the top of their poster, you must have a title, written clearly and in large letters, that reads, “The three branches of government under the Constitution are like a __________.”

4. Visual Image. Create a central image for the metaphor. The image should be bold and artistic.  It can involve drawing, cut-out magazine pictures, or both. For each of the ten required items and the five optional items, create a visual or part of a visual that represents each item.  Be sure they are labeled and that they fit in with the theme of the metaphor.

5. Labels. The metaphor must make direct comparisons between the three branches of government and the metaphor. In doing so, you must label on the metaphor the 10 required items listed below plus at least 5 of the others. They include:

 Required: Constitution, The People, Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, Judicial Branch, President, Congress, The Supreme Court, Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers.

 Choice of at Least Five: Constitutional Convention, James Madison, Articles of Confederation, Great Compromise, George Washington, Shays’ Rebellion, John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Thomas Hobbes, Iroquois Confederacy, Senate, House of Representatives

For example, if you chose the metaphor of a three-ring circus, you might label each of the three rings the Legislative, Executive, or Judicial branch.  Or, if you chose the metaphor of a football team, you might label the quarterback as the President.

6. Explanation. Alongside or below your image, write the word “because,” followed by a list of the three most important similarities between the thing you illustrated and the three branches of government

7. Differences. On the back of your poster, write the two most important ways in which the thing in your metaphor is different from the three branches of government.

8. Extras. Your metaphor should be neat, colorful, and creative.

9. Sample Metaphor. Your metaphor should look something like the following:

SAMPLE METAPHOR