chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.
May 01, 2014

Salem Witch Trials

Grade Level:

Elementary/Middle

Overview:

This lesson centers around a short play in which the accused person is given an obviously unfair trial. Students are asked to discuss why they think the trial is unfair, and propose measures to rectify the problems they found. It leads naturally into a discussion of why we have due process guarantees under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Time needed:

60 minutes

 

Materials required:

Salem Witch Trials Lesson Plan

 

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, National Council for the Social Studies:

Theme 6: Power, Authority, and Governance

Theme 10: Civic Ideals and Practices