This lesson generally falls on St. Patrick's Day each year and I love having my students learn about their Irish heritage.  While much of St. Patrick's day involves discussing coloring leprechauns and crafting little leprechaun crafts, I strive to make sure my students critically analyze how far their descendants have come.   This lesson discusses the history surrounding the Irish famine and Irish immigration, and it also shows the racial bias and mistreatment that existed for Irish immigrants in the 1800s.  The students will learn about bias, and then examine cartoons that depicted the Irish unfairly.  This lesson works great for teaching bias because it seems so obvious to students today.  The lesson includes a handout that teaches students to read cartoons for specific kinds of imagery.  This lesson plan is linked to NYS Social Studies standards, however, I'm sure you could add standards from your state.  The zip file included a PDF, a PowerPoint version and a link to a Google Drive version if you'd like to make this project more digital. Within the zip file: 8 slides - 5 to review Historical Background Questions and 3 with each cartoon 1 page lesson plan 2 page History Background that addresses the Irish famine, immigration, and mistreatment in the U.S 1 page handout explaining Bias in Cartoon Imagery 3 Cartoons for students to analyze  1 exit ticket - This has students find examples of Exaggeration, Symbolism, and Sarcasm in another cartoon 1 page key for cartoons A Google Slides Digital Version Check out my other lessons from this era: ☆ The Industrial and Market Revolutions ☆ The Irish Famine - Seeing Bias Through Imagery ☆ The Women's Rights Movement and the Seneca Falls Convention ☆ Reform Movements - Temperance, Education, Mental Illness, and Prison Reform ☆ The Era of Reform - Word Wall ☆ The Era of Reform Review and Test Critical Thinking ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tips for Customers: Follow my store to be the first to know when I launch new products. Simply click the little green star next to my name, and my new products will appear on the front page of your TPT account.  Did you know you can earn TPT credit towards future purchases?  Make sure you’re logged into your account and find your My Purchases page. For each purchase you’ve made, make sure to leave feedback. This feedback earns you credit towards future purchases - it’s like free TPT money! Feedback is very important to me, as it helps me to create new products. If you have any questions regarding a TPT product you’ve purchased from me, simply e-mail me at [email protected] You can find more Social Studies resources, links, and discussion at my blog - peacefieldhistory.com