Elections, Parties, and Pressure Groups
Session 5: Political Cartoons

Materials

• Political Process Vocabulary List (Attachment A)
• Newspapers
• Transparency: “Election Day” (Attachment D)
• Handout: “Cartoon Analysis Worksheet” (Attachment E)
• Computer with Internet access

Instructional Activities

1. Write the day's vocabulary words on an overhead or on the board (See Attachment A). Briefly discuss their meanings.
   
   
2. Remind students they will have a short vocabulary quiz on the week's words.
   
   
3. Explain to students that political cartoons reflect a particular time and place. They usually contain references to information and views people would easily recognize at the time that they are drawn. Explain that the cartoon the class is going to analyze was published around the time women first were able to vote.
   
   
4. Show the transparency of the Election Day cartoon (Attachment D). Then distribute the cartoon analysis sheet (Attachment E). Go through the Level 1 analysis with students. Then ask them to complete Levels 2 and 3 on their own. Stop the class and discuss student findings after each level.
   
   
5. Remind students they will have to draw their own political cartoon for a class project. Give them 5 minutes to begin thinking and sketching.