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Last updated: June 18, 2020
Lesson Plan
No Laughing Matter
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- State Standards:
- TN Social Studies Standards:
4.38
4.4
SSP.01
SSP.02
ELA standards
4.FL.VA.7b
5.FL.VA.7b - Additional Standards:
- Common Core standards met:
4th grade:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.4.5B
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.2
5th grade:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.6
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.7
Essential Question
Is it possible to express a political opinion without speaking?
Objective
Students will recognize symbolism, exaggeration, irony, analogy, and captioning used by artists who created political cartoons during Andrew Johnson's Presidency. Students will analyze these cartoons to determine the artists' opinions regarding Andrew Johnson's plan for Reconstruction and the Nation's increasing frustration with the 17th President.
Background
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, Tennessee preserves two homes, the tailor shop, and final resting place of our nation’s 17th President. Andrew Johnson was born into an extremely poor family in Raleigh, North Carolina. Despite no formal education, he rose to become one of Tennessee’s most successful politicians. He was elected mayor of Greeneville and went on to be a major force in Tennessee politics, serving as state representative, state senator, and governor of the state of Tennessee. He then moved onto the national scene serving in the US House of Representatives, US Senate, and then becoming Abraham Lincoln’s Vice President.
When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, Johnson was thrust into the presidency under some of the most challenging circumstances ever faced by a Commander-in-Chief. How would he help reunite the two divided regions of our nation that had just battled in a bloody, four-year Civil War? How would the public and politicians react to his decisions?
One way that newspapers and artists express their opinions about politicians and current events is with the use of political cartoons.
A political cartoon is a drawing made for the purpose of conveying editorial commentary on politics, politicians, and current events. Such cartoons play a role in the political discourse of a society that provides freedom of the press.
Preparation
Students will work together to decode political cartoons. Teachers should decide how many students per group and have a political cartoon, a vocabulary sheet, and a worksheet per group.
Materials:
- Political Cartoon Analysis Worksheet
- 3 Reconstruction Era political cartoons
- Elements of Political Cartoons Reference Sheet
- Clipboards (one for each group)
- pencils
Materials
Download Rail Splitting and Tailor Mend the Nation
Download The Little Boy Who Persisted
Download President Johnson's Farewell
Lesson Hook/Preview
Ask how many of the students like cartoons. Explain that cartoons are not only watch you watch on TV but can be used to express opinions. Today we are going to learn about how cartoons can be used to express opinions about historic events and politicians.
Procedure
Begin the lesson by using the background information to remind students about Andrew Johnson and the challenges the nation was experiencing during his presidency.
Procedure:
- Briefly review Andrew Johnson’s presidency with the class. Make sure students recognize that the tension that existed at the time between the Radical Republicans in Congress and President Johnson.
- Introduce students to the elements of political cartoons. Use the “Elements of Political Cartoons Reference Sheet” for background information. Using the “Railsplitter” cartoon, show examples of each element to the class.
- Break students into groups, have each group of students utilize the “Cartoon Analysis Worksheet” to analyze a political cartoon. Give a different cartoon to each group.
- Have a student from each group present their analysis to the class. They should be able to support their position with evidence taken directly from the cartoon.
- Using the description sheets, provide the students with background information about each cartoon that they might not have noticed, or that might not have been obvious.
Vocabulary
analogy – a comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics
irony – the difference between the way things are & the way things are expected to be
exaggeration – overstating or magnifying a problem or a physical feature or habit: big nose, bushy eyebrows, large ears, baldness, etc.
symbolism – using an object to stand for an idea
Assessment Materials
Assessment GuidelineAssess student understanding by reviewing their completed Political Cartoon Analysis Worksheets.
Contact Information
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Tags: political cartoons