Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Understanding the Salem Witch Trials

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Which of You Is A Witch?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religious Intolerance and the Salem Witch Trials

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial America

For Teachers 11th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Uncovering The Truth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

For Teachers 7th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Nathaniel Hawthorne and Literary Humor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Understanding the Salem Witch Trials

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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.
Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Religious Dissent [Pdf]

For Teachers 5th
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...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Report the Trials: Salem Hysteria

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.