Curated OER
Witches through History
Spark interest in a historic phenomena that lasted over 1000 years. The topic, witch hunts throughout history! A timeline beginning in 1000 BC follows how various religious groups have persecuted those thought to be witches up through...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Understanding the Salem Witch Trials
Students describe some of the important elements of life in Puritan New England. They create a timeline of the events of the Salem Witch Trials. They work in groups to explore the concept of multiple interpretations of history.
Curated OER
Which of You Is A Witch?
Students gain comprehensive background knowledge of the Salem witch trials in preparation for reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. They participate in a role-play activity designed to simulate a modern day witch-hunt.
Curated OER
Religious Intolerance and the Salem Witch Trials
High schoolers describe the basic beliefs of the Puritan religion; identify the principle figures in the Salem Witch Trials;explain the events that led to the mass hysteria suffered by the town; analyze the First Amendment; and examine...
Curated OER
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Examine the life of Arthur Miller and the characters in one of his well-known plays, The Crucible. The first few slides give background information on Miller as well as Senator McCarthy and the blacklisted celebrities during the...
Curated OER
Pilgrims and Puritans
With graphic organizers galore, learners will follow the changes of church and state in early colonial America. They look at the differences between the pilgrims and the puritans in terms of beliefs and life ways. Myths and...
Curated OER
Colonial America
Eleventh graders study the Salem Witch Trials and the different theories for the hysteria. In this American History channel, 11th graders explore primary source documents to understand the stories of various people involved in the...
Curated OER
Uncovering The Truth
Students investigate the social and religious contexts that surrounded the Salem Witch Trials. The research is guided using the worksheets included in the lesson plan. The culminating assignment is writing an editorial of personal...
Curated OER
Nathaniel Hawthorne: "Young Goodman Brown"
Give your class some background information on both Nathaniel Hawthorne and his short story "Young Goodman Brown." Basic themes and characters are introduced, especially as this is an allegory with many symbolic elements. Help your...
Curated OER
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Students read and analyze the novel, 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond.' They list choices they have in society today, conduct a debate on freedom, role-play interviews with characters from the novel, create a timeline of a character, and...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Nathaniel Hawthorne and Literary Humor
Young scholars examine Nathaniel Hawthorne's style of humor and compare it to other humorists. They discuss the purpose of literary humor and determine how it develops characters and plots in stories. They analyze the use of different...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Understanding the Salem Witch Trials
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Understanding the Salem Witch Trials." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Other
Salem Witch Museum: Welcome to 1692
Virtual tour from the Salem Witch Museum highlights the historical sites of the Salem Witch Trials and provides an overview and an FAQ concerning the events of 1692.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Salem Witch Trials
Use this site to learn what life was like in Salem during the late 1700s and history behind the Salem Witch Trials.
TES Global
Blendspace: Witchcraft, Puritans, and the Salem Witch Trials
A learning module with fifteen links to information, videos, and websites about witchcraft, Puritans, and the Salem Witch Trials.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Puritan New England: Massachusetts Bay
An overview of the Puritans who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the New Haven Colony and Rhode Island. The internal and external struggles with these colonies is discussed including the Salem Witch Trials, King Philip's War,...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Religious Dissent [Pdf]
This lesson supplements one on the "Settlement of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies of New England." It looks at religious dissent and intolerance among the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Students look at Roger...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Report the Trials: Salem Hysteria
Students will act as a radio/TV reporter informing the public of the hysteria of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Within partners/groups, students will create a podcast/vodcast connecting Puritan life and culture with the events in Salem.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Witches of Salem
In 1692 a group of adolescent girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, became subject to strange fits after hearing tales told by a West Indian slave. When they were questioned, they accused several women of being witches who were...
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: Salem Witchcraft Trials
This article on the Salem Witchcraft Trials describes the people and events that led to the hanging of 19 people in 1692.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Gothic Undercurrents: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne is featured in this brief biography highlighting his Puritan family background which inspired his thought provoking writings of the nineteenth century. Click on "Nathaniel Hawthorne Activities" for related resources.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Salem Witchcraft Hysteria
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart is an inferencing lesson to introduce the Salem Witch Trials used for teaching The Crucible. Students are presumed to already have background on the Puritans.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period of American History
Comprehensive information about the colonial period of American History. Includes information about New England, colonies, government, people, The French and Indian War, and the Salem Witch Trials.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller
In +J1105:J1113this allegorical drama, inspired by the witch hunt trials of 1692-93 and the 1950s Red Scare, the town of Salem is plagued by hysteria and accusations of witchcraft. Selected (9) reading passages (grades 8-12) to pair with...