The Museum of Australian Democracy acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

The museum respectfully acknowledges the role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play in shaping Australia’s democracy.

xClose
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • About
  • Blog
  • Prime Ministers
  • Websites
  • Venue hire
  • Visiting
  • What's On
  • Collection
  • Learning
  • Democracy
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • Visiting
    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library
  • What’s On
    • Exhibitions
    • Events
  • Collection
    • The Building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Oral Histories
  • Learning
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents
  • Democracy
    • Defining democracy
    • Australian democracy: an overview
    • The democratic audit of Australia
    • One thing I like about democracy
    • Links
    • Quotes
    • Notes
    • About
    • Blog
    • Prime Ministers
    • Websites
    • Venue hire
    All schools resources

    Political Cartoons

    Discover how Australia’s rich tradition of political cartoons can support your teaching

    Examining political cartoons helps students develop media literacy skills and understand freedom of expression and freedom of speech within Australia’s media landscape. Our teacher and student resources will hook students into the wonderful world of political cartooning and help you engage your students with contemporary and historical events. How will your students be inspired to have their say?

    Political cartoons image

    ⚲
    Democracy and Free Speech
    ⚲
    Democracy and Free Speech
    ⚲
    Democracy and Free Speech
    ⚲
    Democracy and Free Speech
    ⚲
    Democracy and Free Speech
    ⚲
    Democracy and Free Speech
    ⚲
    Democracy and Free Speech
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    Globalising world
    ⚲
    Rights and Freedoms
    ⚲
    ⚲
    Rights and Freedoms
    ⚲
    Rights and freedoms
    ⚲
    Rights and Freedoms
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    Rights and Freedoms
    ⚲
    ⚲
    Rights and Freedoms
    ⚲
    Rights and Freedoms
    ⚲
    ⚲
    Political Personalities
    ⚲
    Political Personalities
    ⚲
    Political Personalities
    ⚲
    Political Personalities
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲
    Political personalities
    ⚲
    ⚲
    ⚲

    Teacher and student resources

    These resources are updated each year to reflect the pieces selected for our annual Behind the Lines exhibition. All resources are suitable for years 5-12, written by educators and adaptable for your classroom.


    Political Cartoons in the Classroom

    Whether you are new to incorporating political cartoons in your teaching, or looking for fresh ideas and cartoons to unpack, this comprehensive resource is designed to support you and your students to explore the wonderful world of political cartooning!

    Political cartoons in the classroom image

    Download the Political Cartoons in the Classroom resource here


    How to Analyse a Political Cartoon

    Guide your students through a range of strategies used by cartoonists with this resource. Each page contains carefully selected examples, discussion points and explanatory notes.

    How to analyse a political cartoon image

    Download the How to Analyse a Political Cartoon Teachers’ Notes here


    Teachers’ Notes: Cartoons and Democracy

    This resource will support rich discussion around the choices cartoonists make, the history of political cartooning in Australia, and how both historic and contemporary cartoons help us better understand our democratic rights and freedoms.

    Download the Cartoons and Democracy Teachers’ Notes here


    How to Draw a Caricature!

    How many ways can we draw a face? Getting creative with these caricatures can inspire conversations around characteristics, leadership qualities and respect for diversity, while also helping your students learn about some of our past and present political leaders.

    Download the How to Draw a Caricature resource here 


    • Behind the Lines exhibition student activity sheet - primary (235 KB)
    • Behind the Lines exhibition student activity sheet - secondary (232 KB)


    Still want more? Continue exploring…

    • John Frith | the art of politics, MoAD Collection
    • Cartoon Analysis | John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library
    • Cartoon PD in a Package | John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library


    Sign up to our mailing list

    *Australian Curriculum V8.3 – Curriculum Learning Areas

    HASSCivics and CitizenshipHistoryEnglishVisual ArtsMedia Arts

    Years

    5-67-89-1011-12

    Themes

    Political CartooningFree SpeechContemporary issuesAustralian politicsInternational eventsHow to create a political cartoonMeet the cartoonistBehind the Lines

    Useful resources

    MoAD's Behind the Lines yearly political cartoons collections

    John Frith | the art of politics, MoAD Collection

    Australian Curriculum learning areas

    Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

    18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

    PO Box 3934
    Manuka ACT 2603

    9am to 5pm daily 
    Closed Christmas Day

    ABN: 30 620 774 963

    Telephone: 02 6270 8222

    Enquiries:
    info@moadoph.gov.au

    Please note: video surveillance is used 24 hours a day around and throughout the building and may be used for research purposes

    Visiting

    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library

    What's On

    • Events
    • Exhibitions

    Collection

    • The building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Highlights
    • Oral histories

    Learning

    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents

    Democracy

    • Exploring democracy
    • Documenting a democracy
    • Australian democracy
    • Defining democracy

    About

    • Disability Inclusion Action Plan
    • Our prime minister patrons
    • OPH Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Budget
    • Corporate documents
    • Employment
    • Freedom of information
    • Public Interest Disclosure
    • Media
    • Newsletter
    • Support us
    • Partnerships
    • Democracy 2025
    • Donate to our collection
    • eCommerce terms and conditions
    • Online house rules

    Blog

    Prime Ministers

    Websites

    Further information

    View our recruitment opportunities.

    View our copyright policy.

    View our privacy statement.

    View our ticketing terms and conditions.

    Questions about the website:
    website@moadoph.gov.au

    The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet