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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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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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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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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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Cartoons for the Classroom: Bipartisan Filibusters

For Students 11th - 12th
There is no doubt many changes or lack of changes are due to bipartisanism in the capital. Learners analyze a political cartoon that describes the issues surrounding changes to the current health care system, and consider whether...
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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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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...
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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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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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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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Cartoons for the Classroom: Herblock at 100

For Students 8th - 12th
In celebration of renowned cartoonist Herb Block's Library of Congress exhibition, this handout includes 2 of his famous political cartoons for scholars to analyze. Background information describes "Herblock's" career, and talking points...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Distracted Drivers

For Students 9th - 12th
How do your students feel about texting while driving? Two political cartoons display the issue using humor, and background information gives a more serious coverage of the dangers and legislation involved. Three talking points drive...
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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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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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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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Cartoons for the Classroom: Oh, What's the Next Crisis?

For Students 10th - 12th
As scholars examine a simple political cartoon, they consider some of the crises of 2009: oil, foreign wars, energy, global warming, Swine Flu, etc. A list is provided for background information, and 3 talking points (or writing points)...
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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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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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Cartoons for the Classroom: Vanishing Newspapers

For Students 8th - 12th
What is happening to our newspapers? In the context of the current trends of media and the ever-declining print news industry, this handout includes two political cartoons for pupils to analyze, both created by artists working for...
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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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Cartoons for the Classroom: Campaign Echoes

For Students 9th - 11th
Get on those thinking caps, because your class is going to analyze a political cartoon related to the 2008 presidential elections. Included is a large image of the cartoon, background information, and three guiding questions which can be...
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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...
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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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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...