Home · For Teachers · Caricaturizing the B & B Commission
9-10
Caricaturizing the B & B Commission
Project type: Assignment
Related topic:
The Road to Bilingualism
The Road to Bilingualism
Subjects
History
Visual Arts
Political Science
Visual Arts
Political Science
Summary
Students will examine the lighter side of bilingualism and create a political cartoon.
Duration
1 lesson
Purpose
To expose students to political satire as a way of communicating meaning
Materials
recent issues of Canadian news magazines and newspaper editorial sections
Before Exploring
Provide several Canadian news magazines and newspaper editorial sections. Have students browse to find political cartoons and present them to the class. Identify the characteristics of a political cartoon and the issues presented. Ask: What makes political cartoons funny? How do they use humour and exaggeration to express meaning?
Outline the Opportunity
Give students time to browse the topic The Road to Bilingualism on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Students should pay particular attention to Clips #3, 7, and 9. Students will create a political cartoon to illustrate some issue or aspect of the Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. Remind them that a political cartoon should portray a clearly identifiable issue or character and should suggest satire or irony.
Revisit and Reflect
Compile the cartoons in book form and distribute copies to the students. Students will then analyze their classmates’ cartoons using the following criteria:
- What issues are illustrated?
- What characters or groups are represented?
- Where are the cartoons set?
- What makes the cartoons funny?
Extension
Students can search newspaper archives to find actual political cartoons about the B & B Commission and analyze them using the criteria from Revisit and Reflect.
