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Progressive Era PSA - US History: Home

Progressive Era

OVERVIEW

Overview: You will be researching one of the issues of the Progressive Era. Then, in groups of 1-3, you will create a public service announcement for your issue. 

What is a Public Service Announcement (PSA)? A short message, broadcast, or video commissioned by a government agency or non-profit organization in order to raise awareness about an issue of public interest.

Your public service announcement design should be:

  • Attention grabbing
  • Informative
  • Thought provoking
  • Move people to action
  • Visually striking

Progressive Era Issues:

  • Poor Food Quality
  • Child Labor
  • Poor Working Conditions
  • Alcohol Abuse
  • Political Corruption
  • Racism/Civil Rights
  • Women's Suffrage
  • Environmental Issues 

Part 1: Research

Research Directions: Working on your own, you will use your textbook to research your assigned Progressive Era Issue. Use the notes page linked here to take notes on your issue and the solution.

Part 2: Planning

Planning Directions:  You may complete parts 2 & 3 as a group of 1-3. Your final product will be a public service announcement video.

  1. Planning Step 1: Create Storyboard Doc
    1. Make a copy of this google doc storyboard outline and share it with each person in your group so you can all be working on this document together.
  2. Planning Step 2: Primary Source Visual Images
    • Find primary source images relating to your progressive era issue. Think about what images could visually communicate something important about your topic? What statement do you want to make about your topic to your audience, and how might images help make that statement? What do you want your audience to know about your topic, and what images can help you communicate that? 
    • You must have a minimum of 3 primary source images.
    • Use the databases to find primary source images.
      • World History in Context This link opens in a new window

        This extensive database provides primary source documents and articles, biographies, and more all related to world history.

      • EBSCO (Explora) - BVSW This link opens in a new window

        Rich, reliable, general content, generated for student use in schools and libraries. High quality, scholarly, and verified articles, easily accessible for students.

      • History Reference Center - BVSW This link opens in a new window

        A subsection of Ebsco, History Reference Center focuses your research on historical topics with the ease of Ebsco's search options.

      • Gale eBooks - BVSW This link opens in a new window

        This database contains a variety of encyclopedia articles and reference sources; a great starting point for background research.

    • Copy the citations for each image and add it to the end of your story board. You will need to include a citation page at the end of your video to cite your primary source images. 
  3. Planning Step 3: Storyboard Outline
    • Once you have selected your images, complete the story board planning guide by adding in what text or audio you will have in each scene.
    • Note the following requirements for your final PSA video as you are planning your story board.
      • You video must be between 1-2 minutes long.
      • It must describe the problem/issue.
      • It must give a real solution to the issue.
      • It must include at least 3 primary source images.

Due Dates

Part 1: Research Notes Google Doc Due Date

  • Odd: due end of class Monday 10/14
  • Even: due end of class Tuesday 10/15

Part 2: Planning Storyboard Google Doc Due Date

  • Odd: due end of class Monday 10/14
  • Even: due end of class Tuesday 10/15

Part 3: PSA Video Due Date

  • Odd: due end of class Wednesday 10/16
  • Even: due end of class Thursday 10/17

Part 3: Public Service Announcement

PSA Video Directions: Now that you have planned your storyboard, you can start creating your PSA video. You will create your video using WeVideo. As you create your PSA video, remember these requirements: 

  • You video must be between 1-2 minutes long.
  • It must describe the problem/issue.
  • It must give a real solution to the issue.
  • It must include at least 3 primary source images.

Real Public Service Announcement Examples

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