Objectives:  To Create and Interpret Political Cartoons

Project Begin & End Dates: September 2003-April 2004

Essential Question: How do political cartoons represent point of view?

Project Summary: Students will create a political cartoon based  on what they are studying or a current event.  The cartoons can be drawn and scanned or created with a computer drawing program and e-mailed to the project coordinator.  One of the cartoons will include three student created constructed response questions.   NARA's  Document Analysis Worksheet is an excellent model for questions.  Here is a modified version of their worksheet in PDF format.  Another helpful resource is the Editorial Cartoon Analysis on the Professional Cartoonists web site. 

Karen Kliegman, Editor, Library Media Specialist, Searingtown School, Herricks School District, Albertson, New York, created a Web Quest to be used in conjunction with this project. I recommend that you use her resource as a starting point.

The cartoon and three questions will be on a web page where visitors can answer the questions.  Participants will receive the answers via e-mail.  They will then be able to accept, revise, or submit the responses which will be automatically posted on on the web page.  Please click here for an example of a cartoon and constructed response questions. The remaining cartoons (10 maximum per class) will be showcased on the Cartoon Gallery page. 

This global project supports the following NET Standards as well as various State Standards in several curriculum areas.

1.  Basic operations and concepts

• Students are proficient in the use of technology.

2.  Social, ethical, and human issues

• Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.

3.  Technology productivity tools

• Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing publications, and producing other creative works.

4.  Technology communications tools

• Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.

Project Level: Basic

Curriculum Fit: Social Studies, English, Foreign Language

Technologies Used: Scanner, E-mail, Graphic Program

Project E-Mail Address: onlinedbqs@yahoo.com

Registration Acceptance Dates: August 2003- March 2004

Number of Classrooms: Unlimited

Age Range: 10-18 years

Target Audience: Middle and High School Students

Project Contact Information: Susan Silverman
Instructional Technology Integration Teacher
Comsewogue School District
Port Jefferson Station, New York

How To Register:
 

Please e-mail  the following information to Susan Silverman at susansilverman@yahoo.com

• Your name, e-mail address, URL, school name, town, state, phone number, grade level.
   

Click here to view past projects.

To find more collaborative Internet  projects  visit the project registry.