Ohio State University
Opper Project: Using Editorial Cartoons to Teach History (Lesson Plans)
Two dozen lessons that focus on using political cartoons as primary source resources for teaching American history. Lessons cover a range of topics in U.S. history from the Civil War era forward and are linked to Ohio content standards.
Library of Congress
Loc: Editorial Cartoons by Ann Telnaes
An exhibit at the Library of Congress tracing the career of Pulitzer prize-winning political cartoonist Ann Telnaes.
Other
Dirksen Congressional Center: Political Cartoon Analysis
This activity, designed for students in grades 10-12, will develop an understanding of the messages that political cartoons communicate with readers. They will examine political cartoon primary sources as they investigate the question,...
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Philippine American War
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read primary source documents to solve a problem surrounding a historical question. This document-based inquiry lesson plan allows students to examine how advocates and critics of American...
Newspapers in Education
Ni Eonline: Cartoons for the Classroom: Cartoon Analysis Worksheet [Pdf]
Newspapers in Education and the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists developed this worksheet as a classroom handout to aid lessons in dissecting the visual and verbal messages of political cartoons.
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Thomas Nast
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read primary source documents to solve a problem surrounding a historical question. This document-based inquiry lesson allows students to analyze two cartoons drawn by Thomas Nast, and to chart...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Library of Congress: Media Gallery | Women's Suffrage
This collection of primary source documents from the Library of Congress supports teaching about women's suffrage in the United States. These primary sources include images, song sheets, articles, statistical documents, maps, political...
Other
Gettysburg College: Civil War Era Collection
A special collection of political cartoons, maps, letters, photographs, artifacts, etc. all relating to the Civil War Era.
Other
Middle Tennessee State University: The Progressive Era
This site offers a plethora of primary source documents to further your understanding of the Progressive Era. Background on this time period and a bibliography for further research are provided. Documents include flyers, pictures,...
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Social Media and Non Violent Protest
Lesson plan tackles the turbulent events in Egypt and other Middle East countries by asking students to examine political cartoons and understand how social and traditional media served as a tool for the nonviolent protests. February, 2011
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Civil War, a Nation Divided
A wonderful resource using primary and secondary source materials to explore many facets of the Civil War from the war itself to its impact on the home front. Includes video and text downloads.
US National Archives
National Archives: The Legislative Process
Learners will follow the legislative process for how a bill becomes a law by analyzing primary source documents. Included are worksheets that include a chart to be filled out in small groups, worksheets, materials, and an answer key....
National Archives (UK)
Cold War: The Potsdam Conference
An in-depth study of international relations at the time of the Potsdam Conference. Includes political cartoons, primary source documents, and teacher resources.
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based: Reading Like a Historian: Chinese Immigration, Exclusion
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students reading primary source documents to solve a problem surrounding a historical question. This inquiry lesson allows students to explore the social and economic factors that fueled the wave of...
Other
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Excellent resources for teaching about landmark Supreme Court cases. Strategies include case study, moot court activity, role play, continuum, community resources, evaluating websites, and political cartoon analysis.
The Washington Post
Washington Post: Special Reports: Revisiting Watergate
A retrospective of the Watergate crisis, compiled from the resources of the newspaper largely responsible for first bringing the crimes of the Nixon administration to light. Includes a chronology, an analysis of key players, links to...
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Odyssey: Reconstruction and Its Aftermath
From the Library of Congress, this resource documents the course of post-Civil War, post-slavery life for black Americans. Topics include education, constitutional amendments, voting rights and the many challenges African Americans faced...