Cartoon PD in a Package

Exam markers have identified cartoon interpretation as an area of weakness in the teaching of History in Australian schools. Cartoon PD in a Package is a resource from the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, developed with the support of a grant from the Public Education Endowment Trust. The package is designed to develop confidence and proficiency in teachers and students using cartoon resources.

The value of this resource lies in its self-contained nature which allows it to deliver quality professional development without a presenter and at a time that suits the individual teacher. Teachers will find this package invaluable.

Authors: Liz McGinnis, Meredith Wright, Jan Bishop and Rosslyn Marshall.

The package is freely downloadable as a series of .pdf files.

Section 1: Instructions to the Teacher

Download cover, acknowledgements, contents and Section 1 (Pages 1-10) (159 Kbyte .pdf file)

Section 2: Scaffolding Cartoons suitable for years 9 and 10

Download Section 2 (Pages 11-71) (628 Kbyte .pdf file)

‘Look, Bert; and no Yanks about!’    Page 11

Teaching point: Australian male perspective on the attractions of American servicemen in Australia during WW2.

Her letter to her soldier    Page 20

Teaching point: Use of caption and text to clarify and provide the cartoonist’s bias to the pictorial message.

‘I’ll have you!’    Page 31

Teaching point: Conscription and Hughes: use of caricature to create a negative impression of a person.

Leg-roped    Page 41

Teaching point: How a cartoonist presents a message and opinion using symbols, words and a caption.

Fall of Singapore    Page 52

Teaching point: Fall of Singapore and its impact on Australia.

Diggers arrive in Vietnam    Page 61

Teaching point: The nature of Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War.

How to Scaffold a Cartoon    Page 71

Section 3: Chunking Cartoons suitable for year 12 (1900-1945)

Download Section 3 (Pages 72-88) (628 Kbyte .pdf file)

Section 4: Chunking Cartoons suitable for year 12 (1945-1990)

Download Section 4 (Pages 89-106) (285 Kbyte .pdf file)

Supported by a grant from the Public Education Endowment Trust.

Additional cartoon interpretations can be found in other online activities associated with JCPML resources.