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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Cartoons: Literacy

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Readers decode and deconstruct political cartoons to heighten critical thinking, extra-textual literacy, and making meaning from symbolism and metaphor. A compatible activity to use in English class when your 8th or 11th graders are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Cartoons

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine a variety of historical cartoons. They recognize a political cartoon and identify the main idea, symbolism, exaggeration and caricature in political cartoons. Students analyze a political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin.
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Sarcasm, Irony, and Satire

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Satire, sarcasm, or irony? Editorial cartoons have long been the tool artists use to express their opinions about politics and politicians. Kevin "Kai" Kallaugher's four-panel cartoon offers readers an opportunity to examine how he uses...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Cartoons Illustrating Progressivism and the Election of 1912

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study a current political cartoon to introduce the ideas of symbolism, humor, exaggeration, and caricature in editorial cartoons. They study cartoons from the past to gain an understanding of the culture of 1912.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classrooms: Wall Street Financial Meltdown

For Students 9th - 12th
Combine two current events (2008) in one political cartoon. This handout examines the Large Hadron Collider, a scientific invention that caused a sudden fear of black holes, and the financial meltdown on Wall Street. Background...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Politics of Change

For Students 8th - 12th
Empty rhetoric in Washington timelessly inspires political cartoons. Examine this concept through an analysis handout, which features a cartoon by Pat Oliphant (archived work is linked for possible extension activities). Although this...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: What's Next in 2011?

For Students 9th - 12th
Examine the toolbox of political cartoons with this analysis handout, which features a cartoon utilizing satire, sarcasm, and irony as it predicts the current events of 2011. Interestingly, this will also serve to get scholars looking...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Social Commentary

For Students 9th - 12th
Expose your class to the genre of political cartoons less concerned with serious political issues. This political cartoon analysis handout features social commentary on the many entertainments of youth, ironically paired with their...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Fair Elections?

For Students 9th - 12th
Rigged elections make for both intriguing current events and hilarious political cartoons. In this analysis worksheet, pupils read background information to help them grasp a cartoon about rigged presidential elections in 2007 by Russia,...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Campaigns and Gas Pains

For Students 9th - 12th
Even before they are driving, your scholars have heard the ups and downs of gas prices. Assess the political turmoil behind rising prices using this analysis handout, which features a political cartoon from 2006. Background information...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Prorogue in Canada

For Students 9th - 12th
Canada's financial woes and a controversially suspended Parliament create fodder for political cartoons in this critical analysis handout. Background information clarifies the context, allowing scholars access to the cartoons, which poke...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Comparing Democracies

For Students 9th - 12th
Could a president just ignore election results? In this analysis handout, scholars consider this question as they read background information on the 2008 elections in Zimbabwe. Two political cartoons poke fun at President Robert Mugabe,...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Multinational Corporations

For Students 9th - 12th
The octopus is a commonly used symbol in political cartoons. Help your scholars examine why it has been used in this way throughout history. Three cartoons depict different uses of the octopus. Background information helps gives context...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Charisma vs. Experience

For Students 9th - 12th
Which is more important for a president: experience or charisma? Scholars consider this as they analyze 2 political cartoons in this analysis handout. Background information gives context through a quote from The Telegraph, and 3 talking...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: What's Replacing Our Newspapers?

For Students 9th - 12th
What is happening to print media? Use this political cartoon analysis handout to facilitate pupil exploration of the online-media takeover and the decline of newspapers. Background information gives them context, and 3 talking points...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: The Market Roller Coaster

For Students 9th - 12th
Hop on the stock market rollercoaster! This political cartoon analysis has scholars examine a cartoon about the ups and downs of a volatile market. Background information and a quote provide context for analyzing the cartoon, and 3...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Obama as the New Sisyphus

For Students 9th - 12th
Reveal how Greek Mythology can play into American politics through this political cartoon, where President Obama is depicted as Sisyphus. Background information gives scholars access to the cartoon's context, and three talking points...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classrooms: Wall Street

For Students 9th - 12th
Open up an intriguing dialogue about Wall Street controversy using political cartoons! Background information gives context, including quotes from various newspapers about compensation caps, bonuses, and the growing disenchantment with...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Stand By for Regime Change

For Students 9th - 11th
When Barak Obama was elected president, he was unable to affect change untill the official start date of January 20th. Learners examine this policy, America's need for change, and the duties of the president-elect in a political cartoon...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Invasion of the Superdelegates

For Students 9th - 12th
What are superdelegates? Use this political cartoon analysis handout to explore this informal term with your scholars. Background information gives brief context to help high schoolers examine the featured cartoon, and three talking...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Why is Freedom of Speech a Burning Issue?

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the freedom of speech and respond to three short answer questions
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Timely vs. Timeless

For Students 8th - 12th
In this historical events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about bank failure and respond to 2 talking point questions.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: College as Concept

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the college application process and respond to 3 talking point questions.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: The Credit Crisis

For Students 11th - 12th
Political cartoons are interesting and motivating, and they provide a great opportunity for critical informational analysis. This resource includes background information on the current credit crisis, a political cartoon, and three...