Bias, Symbolism, and Propaganda BUNDLE for Civics & American Government

This Bias, Symbolism, and Propaganda BUNDLE for Civics & American Government includes seven resources for teaching how bias, symbolism, and propaganda techniques are used in American politics — and how they can influence public opinion! This bundle includes engaging reading activities, comprehension reviews, creative writing exercises, and research activities. Your students will analyze bias in political cartoons and symbolism in presidential campaign posters, as well as find propaganda techniques in campaign ads! There are task cards and review puzzles included as well! A perfect bundle for middle or high school students studying media bias, symbolism, and propaganda in American politics! 

Aligned to the Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics:

• SS.7.CG.2.9 Analyze media and political communications and identify examples of bias, symbolism and propaganda: “Students will evaluate how bias, symbolism and propaganda can impact public opinion.”

This Bias, Symbolism, and Propaganda bundle includes:

✯ Detecting Media Bias Article & Review Activities for Civics: A three-page Detecting Media Bias article is accompanied by a comprehension review reinforcing vocabulary and key concepts. An Interpreting Bias political cartoon activity and Reporting Bias creative writing assignment provide further application. Finally, an optional Bias in the Media internet activity has students analyzing bias in Left- and Right-leaning news articles online.

✯ Detecting Bias: Media Literacy & Bias Digital Google Slides Activity for Civics: Students watch two YouTube videos introducing media as an institution, media literacy, and bias — and how media bias influences public opinion and the news we receive. Students will fill out graphic organizers, interpret quotes, and fact-check their own news story by applying what they have learned about media literacy and detecting bias!

✯ Interpreting Symbolism Picture Analysis for Civics & American Government: In this resource, students analyze four historic propaganda posters and political campaign ads for the meaning and purpose behind the symbolism used. Students should walk away from this activity with a firm understanding of how to analyze symbolism in media, as well as how political propaganda can use symbolism to convey certain messages and influence public opinion.

✯ Types of Propaganda Techniques Article & Review | Civics & American Government: This article & review introduces the concept of propaganda and describes, with examples, each of the major seven types: Bandwagon, Card Stacking, Glittering Generalities, Name-Calling, Plain Folks, Testimonials, and Transfer. Includes a note-taking chart, comprehension review, and optional internet activity analyzing propaganda techniques in historical campaign ads!

✯ Identifying Propaganda Techniques | Worksheet for Civics & American Government: Students are given a picture of a political candidate giving a campaign speech. In something a bit like a scavenger hunt, they read through the speech and analyze the image, hunting down every example of propaganda they can find.

✯ Bias, Symbolism, Propaganda Techniques Review Games: Four review puzzle worksheets reinforce vocabulary related to bias, symbolism, and propaganda techniques. Included is a Maze Escape, a Vocabulary Crossword, a Word Search, and an Emoji Riddle page. Students break the emoji codes to reveal vocabulary words related to citizenship!

✯ Civics Task Cards: Bias, Symbolism, and Propaganda: This set of 32 task cards quizzes students on vocabulary and key concepts, and includes definitions, multiple choice questions, scenarios to interpret, and pictures to analyze! Use individually or class-wide in a game of Scoot!

These resources include print and digital versions. One is a Google Slides exclusive activity, and the other two are non-editable printable PDFs that also have digital versions through TPT Easel. The digital TPT Easel version can be assigned directly through Google Classroom, or you can generate a link that can be shared with your students over email or through your school’s LMS!

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