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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: Inspiration from the Classics

For Students 11th - 12th
Even cartoonists can take inspiration from the masters. Learners will learn about Fuseli's The Nightmare and compare it to the cartoon it inspired. They'll analyze the cartoon in relation to the original piece as well as the political...
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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: The Economic Paradox

For Students 9th - 12th
It's a classic conundrum of economics: voters want jobs, but don't want to spend the money required for businesses to hire. This political cartoon analysis worksheet has students analyzing this enigma and responding to 3 talking points...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Unemployment that Just Won't Quit

For Students 9th - 12th
It's an economic Catch-22! Expose your scholars to the hiring/unemployment paradox using this political cartoon analysis worksheet. The cartoon shows corporations explaining to a job seeker that they cannot hire him due to the unstable...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Dogging the Dems

For Students 9th - 12th
Political cartoons add an element of fun as your scholars study current events in Washington D.C. This analysis handout uses two cartoons to bring learners into discussion about the many issues democrats have concern over as November...
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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: 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: 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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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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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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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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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: China, Tibet, and the Olympics

For Students 10th - Higher Ed
Political tensions have surrounded the Olympics for centuries; take a look back at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with this political cartoon analysis worksheet. Background information gives learners context regarding Tibetan protests...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Human Rights

For Students 11th - 12th
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a political cartoon is like reading an essay. Have your critical thinkers examine three cartoons to read between the lines, gaining insight and information. They analyze how these cartoons...
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Cartoons for the Classroom

For Students 8th - 11th
Political cartoons have been used to decades. What do they symbolize? Why use a political cartoon instead of an editorial piece? Look at the two political cartoons illustrated here and analyze them as a class or in pairs. Consider...
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Cartoons in the Classroom: Economic Blame Game

For Students 10th - 12th
Two political cartoons grace this critical analysis worksheet. Several very good discussion questions and points to consider, could make this an interesting start to any US Government class. Prepare upper graders for identifying...
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Comics for the Classroom: Debt Ceiling

For Students 10th - 11th
Upper graders examine the clichés that accompany this political cartoon, depicting how various people handle the national debt. They review several clichés quoted in recent times and write a 1-2 paragraph analysis of each. 
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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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Cartoons for the Classroom: 2012 Mid-Term Elections

For Students 8th - 12th
Use a political cartoon to help scholars grasp the significant turnover in Congress following the 2012 mid-term election. A Mike Keefe cartoon uses symbols and current political lingo to convey perspective on the issue, and background...
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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: 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: Congress and the President

For Students 11th - 12th
Learners take a critical look at the ways in which the president interacts with Congress in order to make political and economic decisions. They use a series of well-constructed discussion questions to guide their thinking as they...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Sunshine Week

For Students 11th - 12th
Do the people have the right to know? Is there a real dialogue between U.S. political powers and the American people? Upper graders evaluate these concepts and more when they critically examine two political cartoons depicting Sunshine...