Earlier I wrote about two specific ways I have used primary sources in my classroom. If you didn’t read that blog post, I highly suggest you hop on over to check it out (there *might* be a freebie in that post!). In this blog post, I want to share how you can incorporate political cartoons in your classroom. If you missed my posts on how to use stations, simulations, interactive notebooks, and social studies escape rooms, and are serious about adding new teaching strategies to your toolbox, you will want to read them!
WHAT ARE POLITICAL CARTOONS?
Political cartoons are also known as editorial cartoons. They are illustrations or comic strips that contain either a political or social message. The artist uses specific devices to convey his/her message (we will take a closer look at these devices below).
WHY ARE POLITICAL CARTOONS CREATED?
In the 18th and 19th centuries, political cartoons were primarily used to communicate specific messages to people who could not read. People could use the visual clues in the illustration to understand what the artist is saying. Some political cartoons do use text, and it is very important to pay attention to any text within the cartoon because it will help the viewer better understand the intended message. Political cartoons are biased, representing the artist’s opinion, and they can contain propaganda. Propaganda is the use of information (often biased or sometimes even misleading) to promote or publicize a political or social cause or point of view.
DEVICES USED IN POLITICAL CARTOONS
*Symbolism– simple pictures that are used to represent ideas or groups
example: dove = peace; elephant = Republican Party
*Stereotypes– a generalization (that is usually exaggerated, oversimplified, and/or offensive) that is used to describe a group
example: dishonest lawyers; dumb jocks)
*Irony– use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning or an outcome that is contradictory to what was expected
example: someone says during a thunderstorm “What nice weather we are having!”
*Caricatures– drawing of a person or group that exaggerates features for comedic effect
example: extra-wide eyes; huge ears; super-pointed nose
*Analogies– comparisons of objects, events, or people
example: comparing today’s events with Russia to US/Soviet Union relationships during the Cold War
*Juxtaposition– positioning objects or people side-by-side for comparison purposes
example: putting a politician next to a dollar sign
*Labels and captions– text used for emphasis and clarity
WHY INCLUDE Social Studies POLITICAL CARTOONS IN THE CLASSROOM?
Using social studies political cartoons in the classroom can greatly enhance a student’s learning and understanding of specific topics. They can also help students construct their own meaning. Political cartoons are primary documents that reflect a given time period. By analyzing political cartoons, students will have to look beyond the cartoon and think about the events that occurred during that time in history, which will help students make connections between events.
HOW TO INCORPORATE Social Studies POLITICAL CARTOONS
Political cartoons can be difficult for students to understand, so it’s very important to make sure they have adequate background knowledge. If you want students to be detectives, using the clues to construct their own meaning, then you don’t want to give too much away. However, students do need to have some kind of background information.
Sorting activity using comics and political cartoons (day 1) [I have 50 minute class periods]
When I first begin using social studies political cartoons in my classroom, I always start with a sorting activity using regular comics (you can find lots of them by googling “comic strips”) and a mix of political cartoons from the past and present. I use present-day political cartoons because students will most likely have the background knowledge needed to understand that these are somehow different from the normal comics. I also include political cartoons that are about sports because I know for sure many of my students will be able to make connections. Here is one of Peyton Manning as an example. Once I have a small assortment of comics and political cartoons, I make sets of them. I split my students into groups of 4-5, so I make however many sets I need. Typically I make 7-8 sets. I place these in a manilla envelope and pass one out to each group. The only direction I give my students is that they need to organize the illustrations into categories. It’s up to them how many categories they use. Once they have their illustrations groups, I have them name each category. I have had students make categories of “sports,” “animals,” “silly,” “serious,” “famous people,” and many more. I give about 10 minutes for their first categorization. I also have groups share some of their categories. This helps other groups see how differently the comics can be sorted. Then I tell students they have to get rid of 1-2 categories, so they need to reorganize them. I give about 5 minutes for this round, and, again, I have groups share their categories. I do one last round, telling students they need to have no more than 3 categories (and if a group already had 3 or fewer, I tell them they need to reorganize into different categories…unless they have already included political cartoons as a category). I give 5 minutes, and then groups share again. It’s very interesting to see how students organize the comics, as well as their conversations behind their reasoning. I almost always have one group that includes some type of political cartoon category, although they may not call it that. I try not to tell students there are political cartoons because I want them to really look at the comics to see the difference between the normal comics and the political cartoons.
If students still have not realized the difference, I do a “Yes/No” concept attainment activity. I will hold up one comic and say that it is either a “yes” or “no.” I do this for about 6 of them, then I ask students to tell me if the next comic I hold up is a “yes” or “no” based on the previous comics. This will help students categorize the political cartoons.
***I wish I could share a download PDF of the cartoons I use, but most of the normal comic strips are copyrighted***
Analyze a political cartoon about a familiar issue (day 2)
Once students have differentiated between the normal comics and the political cartoons, I show them one political cartoon that most of them should be able to interpret. A sports one or one with a celebrity (appropriate) is a good one. They will have enough background knowledge to analyze it. Then we pick them apart together. I like to use chart paper to record their responses so they can refer back to it when they analyze political cartoons on their own (yes to anchor charts!). We start out analyzing basic features before moving on to the symbolism and message of the political cartoon. You can download the political cartoon analysis page I use with my students for FREE! This page has the questions I ask my students as we analyze the political cartoon, and it is the same page they fill out when they analyze political cartoons on their own. It takes most of the 2nd day to analyze one political cartoon together because I want to make sure my students are the ones thinking through the questions and answering them, not me. I also allow discussion time for them at their tables, so they can discuss their thoughts before responding. This day is primarily me guiding them through the questions, and them conversing among themselves before sharing responses that I write down. I always have 2 social studies political cartoons ready to be analyzed, though, just in case one class is actually super quick.
Analyze a political cartoon about an issue related to your unit of study (days 3-4)
Once students have analyzed a political cartoon about a current event, I then give them a political cartoon about an issue related to a unit of study we are currently on or have finished. I let students work in groups, analyzing the political cartoon, and they fill out one analysis page. I make sure I circulate through the room, listening in on discussions, giving advice or tips when needed (just because they ask doesn’t mean I help. I do believe in letting them struggle on their own). I still have the example we did together the day before posted, so students can refer back to it if needed. The last 10 minutes of class is reserved for groups to share their analysis. I believe students can learn just as much (if not more sometimes) from each other than me, so I want students to listen to each others’ reasoning and rationale (especially about political cartoons).
On day 4, I have students analyze a political cartoon on their own, filling out their own analysis page. Students who I know will still have difficulty are paired with a partner on the same level, so they are working through it together, and not just one working while the other one sits. Students need adequate time to practice analyzing political cartoons because they can be very difficult to understand. I have found that spending about a week on how to analyze political cartoons enables me to spend the entire year incorporating them into as many lessons as possible, which leads to more in-depth understanding of those topics. Remember, a little leg work at the beginning will set your students up for smooth sailing the rest of the year!
WHERE TO FIND Social studies POLITICAL CARTOONS
Don’t forget to download the FREE political cartoon analysis page! You can either have students fill it out, or you can use the questions as a discussion guide.
I would love to hear about your experience using political cartoons in your classroom in the comment section below!
Hi Heather,
I need to create two separate Social Studies centers and this is always difficult because of condense information into one center, no formal lesson just centers. So thank you for the ideas.
Janine
Hey, Janine! You are welcome! Political cartoons can always be used as one station because most of them can be very detailed, depending on the age of your students.
Heather