What's So Funny about Climate Change? Editorial Cartoon Opinions

• In this media literacy activity, students will analyze six climate change-related editorial cartoons and discuss how each cartoon conveys a different message. 
• This resource includes a lesson plan, a student activity, a student handout, and a video clip. 

Positives

• The lesson plan includes discussion questions for several academic subjects.
• Students will enjoy interpreting the messages in the editorial cartoons.

Additional Prerequisites

• The video was made in 2015, so the narrator references an "upcoming" UN Climate Change Conference that took place in 2015, resulting in the Paris Agreement.
• Teachers must create a free account to access the materials.
• This handout will help students understand how to analyze media messages.

Differentiation

• Visual arts classes could use this lesson and then have students create editorial cartoons.
• English language arts classes could use this activity in a lesson on symbolism, irony, hyperbole, or metaphors.
• Other resources on this topic include this video on using doubt to keep people from believing in climate change, this video on how to talk to climate change deniers, and this podcast episode on Americans' opinions on climate change.
  

There is no contradiction in the resource; the cartoons illustrate the human impact on climate change. This resource is recommended for teaching.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.