Overview
Is comedy facing more censorship these days? Why? Has everyone lost their sense of humor? Are comedians today pushing boundaries? Can humor bridge political divides, and is the art of satire under threat? Explore free speech through the lens of comedy.

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Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Government
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify examples and characteristics of humor and satire used in political commentary;
• analyze the impact of political satire on public discourse, recognizing how comedians express and convey their viewpoints through humor; and
• evaluate the need for and impact of free speech in society.

Key concepts and terms covered
Cancel Culture, Censorship, Fact-Checking, and Satire.

Sample discussion questions
• What is comedy? What is satire? What benefits do comedy and satire bring to our society?
• How do comedians navigate the line between making people laugh and delivering thought-provoking messages?
• Why would someone fact-check a joke?
• How might the fear of backlash cancel culture affect comedians' willingness to take risks and challenge the status quo?
• What happened to tolerance?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 8-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.