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Lesson Plan
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Crime Drama Teaching Units

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the nature of crime dramas on television. What exactly are they trying to portray? Questions and a comparison chart support learners as they watch shows from Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. An oral presentation...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Unemployment

For Students 9th - 12th
It's the classic paradox in this political cartoon analysis; any jobs plan requires extra government spending. However, the unemployed aren't willing to concede to more federal spending for what they want most, jobs. Background...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: You've Got Mail!

For Students 9th - 12th
As the U.S. Postal System adjusts to virtual messaging, will snail mail slowly fade away? Examine the current phenomenon with your class through this political cartoon analysis, which has background information to give context for 2...
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Worksheet
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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
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Spinning off of Eyjafjallajökull

For Students 9th - 12th
The name itself may have your scholars' heads spinning: Eyjafjallajökull. Its recent volcanic eruption spurred many political cartoons on unrelated topics- using an analysis handout scholars examine the use of metaphor in 2 cartoons...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Shine the Light on Your Government

For Students 9th - 12th
What don't we know about our government? Explore the concept of transparency and freedom of information throught this analysis handout, in which scholars examine 2 political cartoons. Background information provides context, explaining...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Interpreting the "Tank Man" Symbol

For Students 9th - 12th
The iconic image of the Tank Man is imitated in this political cartoon analysis, in which learners examine a cartoon depicting a similar standoff. The original image is pictured, and learners compare it to a more modern cartoon of the...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Earthquake in Haiti

For Students 9th - 12th
Trying to expand your scholars' perspectives to think globally? Use this critical-analysis handout. A poignant political cartoon points out the devastation required to get U.S. attention focused on helping Haiti. Background information...
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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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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Nationalizing Banks

For Students 9th - 12th
Do your economists understand the complexities of the recent financial crisis? Use this political cartoon analysis instructional activity to shed some humor and light on the nationalization of banks. The cartoonist utilizes irony to make...
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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
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Oil Spill Perspectives

For Students 9th - 12th
With the BP oil spill still fresh on your scholars' minds, take the opportunity to analyze various perspectives on it through political cartoons. This critical-analysis handout features 2 cartoons on the incident. Background information...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Google vs. China

For Students 9th - 12th
Censorship remains a hot topic among teens. Evoke heated discussion with this political cartoon analysis handout, which features 2 cartoons focused on China's internet censorship. Background information gives pupils a brief description...
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Worksheet
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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
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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
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Joseph Wilson Accuses the President

For Students 9th - 12th
Get a fun discussion going with this current events worksheet, which has scholars analyzing 2 political cartoons about an incident in 2009, when Congressman Joseph Wilson accused President Barack Obama of lying during a speech....
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: The End Times

For Students 9th - 12th
Are these the end times? Combine current events with religious prophecy in this activity, where scholars analyze a 2007 political cartoon in the context of current issues. Background information explains the Four Horsemen of the...
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Worksheet
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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
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Cartoons for the Classroom: The Climate Change Debate

For Students 9th - 12th
Is global warming all smoke and mirrors? Find out what your scholars think with this handout, which has them analyzing two political cartoons on the topic. Background information gives context, detailing the computer hacking during the...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Berryman, Roosevelt, and the Teddy Bear

For Students 8th - 12th
Do your historians know the story behind the teddy bear? Background information clues learners in to the context of a political cartoon, which depicts Teddy Roosevelt on his famous hunting trip. They will read about renown cartoonist...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for The Classroom: Lame Duck Congress

For Students 9th - 12th
Clear up "lame duck" congressional confusion with this political cartoon analysis worksheet. Background information on the concept's history and current use is provided, and 2 cartoons give a past and present context. Three talking...
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Worksheet
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Cartoons for the Classroom: The Veepstakes!

For Students 8th - 12th
Take a step back in time with this political cartoon analysis worksheet, which features editorial cartoons from the 2008 presidential campaign. Background information allows pupils to "read between the lines" in their analysis, and three...
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Worksheet
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Teaming Up on Health Care

For Students 9th - 12th
Use this political cartoon handout to help pupils understand the role the Blue Dog Coalition plays with regard to Health Care Reform. Football is used metaphorically to represent a player (Blue Dogs) tackling someone on his team (Obama)....
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Worksheet
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McCarthyism: 60 Years Later

For Students 9th - 12th
Explore legendary cartoonist Herb Block's bold challenge of McCarthy-era politics through this analysis activity. Two cartoons are included, along with talking points to prompt analysis and background information to help pupils "read...