How to teach geography with cartoons

1. Teaching geography with
cartoons
Ms. Nkosi

2. Cartoons
• Cartoons are drawings or pictures portraying contemporary issues or
topics
• May be used as an effective teaching and learning tool
• Cartoonists combine visual & non-visual elements to communicate an
opinion about something
• Cartoonist language: humor and satire, metaphor, irony, exaggeration,

3. Integrating cartoons in geography
1.Plan specific objectives for using the cartoon: is it to promote critical thinking or
debate on a contemporary environmental issue? Is it to enhance learners
understanding of the issue portrayed?
2.Analyse the cartoon: How does the cartoon relate to the content? How will the use
of the cartoon help learners? Which language is used by the cartoonist in this
cartoon? Which misconceptions can be addressed through this cartoon? Will it help
learners acquire the skills and achieve the learning objectives and big ideas?
3. Integrate the cartoon by teaching the geographical concept with it or by integrating
it in an assessment.

4. 5. If used in an assessment, learners can be asked to create their own
drawings/cartoons and interpretations of the environmental or other
geographical event depicted in the cartoon.
6.Use quotes from newspapers or magazines to supplement the cartoon.
Similar or differing views may be presented.
7.Use cartoons to initiate class discussions, role play, debate etc.
8.Be prepared to facilitate discussions that may lead contentious debate. Try
to not present only one viewpoint but a variety of viewpoints to get learners
to think for themselves.
9.Remember to always reference the cartoons.

5. Advantages and disadvantages of using cartoons as
a teaching and assessment resource
• Depicts real-life situations &
events in graphic forms;
• Makes learning fun;
• Can be used to promote
interest in and appreciation
and understanding on a
particular economic issue.
• Enhances critical thinking;
• Can be used to explain
difficult concepts visually.
• May result in stereotyping;
• Creates bias;
• Can be prescriptive around
model answers;
• Sometimes do not relate to
the prescribed content.

6. Key questions to ask yourself when you find a
relevant cartoon.
• Why do you think that this cartoon would be effective in the topic that you have selected
• In what way would this cartoon enhance your learner’s understanding about the topic that you
are teaching?
• What is happening in this picture? What do they mean? Look at the text: words, font, size etc.
• What is exaggerated in this cartoon? (satire & irony)
• What kind of misconceptions can this cartoon help to address?
• Identify the date of the cartoon
• Identify the diagrams or symbols represented in the cartoon. Why are they drawn this way?
• What is the humour and satire being depicted in the cartoon?
• What is the message that the cartoonist in trying to convey?
• Who is the cartoonist?

7. Teaching geography with cartoons can be an
effective and engaging approach for several
reasons:
• Visual Representation
• Simplification and Clarity
• Engaging and Memorable
• Cultural Exploration
• Multimodal Learning
• Creativity and Imagination

8. Examples of cartoons that can be integrated

9. Pay attention to these first three cartoons
Cartoon 1 Cartoon 2 Cartoon 3

10. Refer to these sources to check how the theory of plate tectonics is used to justify the
spheric shape view of the earth.
Charles Lyell (1797 - 1875): The Scottish geologist Charles Lyell contributed to our understanding of Earth's landforms and geological
processes, supporting the idea of a spherical Earth through geological evidence. I cannot find the actual sources and the references.
Davis, W. M. (1909). The Geographical Cycle. The Geographical Journal, 34(4), 481-504.
Lobeck, A. K. (1939). Geomorphology. McGraw-Hill.
Lyell, C. (1830). Principles of Geology (Vol. 1). John Murray.
Tricart, J. (1977). Principles of Geomorphology. W. H. Freeman and Company.
https://uhlibraries.pressbooks.pub/historicalgeologylab/chapter/chapter01-platetectonics/
https://www.sciencenews.org/century/earth-history-plate-tectonics-volcanoes-earthquakes
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12. Spooked markets swift to punis
Lisa Steyn 31 Mar 2017 23:27