Grades 9 through 12 / Lesson Plans

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Forming Opinions

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Objectives: Students will be able to form and express an opinion about current news events.

Materials: Computer lab w/internet access-1 station per 2 students

Activities: Investigate editorial cartoons as research for students expressing their own point of view through the creation of an editorial cartoon

Teacher Procedure

Student Activities

Set	Ask students their opinion about some current news story. For example; Should the government fund the arts?	Discussion. Contribute to list of events.
Instruct	Direct students to log onto interent & proceed to www.cagle.com & select editorial cartoons contents page from the left hand navigation column then select editorial cartoons:page 1 from the contents page. Proceed through cartoons pages. Have everyone look at the same cartoon-what is the event portrayed & the opinion being expressed. Direct sturdents to find a cartoon whose point of view is different from their own.	Active listening & opening web pages. Discussion.
Guided Practice	Circulate to keep students on task & offer assistance. Act as resource. Have students record the events depicted on overhead transparencies or on the board.	Students will choose a single cartoon about an event with which they are familiar, but which illustrates an opinion other than their own. Use the cartoon as a springboard to plan their own cartoon in response to the cartoon they have chosen.
Closure	Direct discussion.	Selected students will present the cartoons they have chosen, the opinion being expressed & their reason for making their choice.

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Homework:

Execute their plan for a cartoon for the opposing view of the event depicted in the cartoon they selected.

Evaluation:

Assess comprehension of the point of views depicted through discussion & development of the opposing cartoons.

Extension:

Submit student cartoons to the school paper, if applicable. Use the pairs of cartoons as the catalyst for debate on the issues portrayed.