BACKGROUND

SUBJECT:  English Language Arts, Social Studies

LEARNER OUTCOMES:

• Students will learn about Puritan doctrine as it affected the witch trials.
• Students will express what they learned in meaningful, well written paragraphs.
• Students will learn about the causes and effects of the witchcraft hysteria.
• Students will learn about the individuals involved, both the accused and the accusers.
• Students will become familiar with a chronology of the trial events.
• Students will learn how the Puritans affected our values today.

TIME FRAME:

• Assignment #1:  one or two 50 minute class periods, depending upon the students.
• Assignment #2:  one or two 50 minute class periods.

MATERIALS:
    See Technology Tools

TECHNOLOGY TOOLS:

• Internet
• word processing program

• Before the students read about Puritans on the Internet, the teacher may need to discuss with them skills in skimming for information.
• When answering worksheet questions from selected Internet readings, many students  have difficulty because they are accustomed to finding the answers in order within text.  This task becomes easier when students carefully read over all questions before going on-line.  That way they know what to look for, and they should answer the questions as they find the information instead of feeling compelled to answer them in order.  Less advanced students or ones with less Internet experience will have more difficulty.

 ASSIGNMENT #1

• Read about the history and beliefs of the Puritans.
• Go to these sites:
• http://home.earthlink.net/~corith/purtain.html
• http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/lec.pur.html
• http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap1/1intro.html
• http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/txc/puritani.htm  (scroll down to “convictions”)
• http://www.cet.com/~mtr/GereeChar.html
• http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/puritan.htm
• http://204.165.132.2:90/crucible/background/frame_puritan_beliefs.htm

• Using a word processing program, compose a well written summary/explanation of  their beliefs.
• Length=400-600 words.
• Proofread carefully for errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, and grammar.
• Use transition and well developed paragraphs.
• Double space the document.
• Make sure that you have discussed these points:
• theocracy
• the elect
• predestination
• original sin
• why they were called “Puritans”
• the importance they placed on the Bible
• their views about adultery
• their lack of tolerance for differences of opinion
• their attitude toward dancing
• their contributions to American society that exist today
• reasons for decline of Puritanism

• Read about the Salem witchcraft hysteria and trials.
• Answer the questions on the worksheetSALEM WITCH TRIALS(Microsoft Word format)or SALEM WITCH TRIALS (html format)
• Students will read about the events at these sites:
• http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/
• http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/ASAL_CH.HTM
• http://www.users.uswest.net/~graywolf/witch.html
• http://home.earthlink.net/~corith/purtain.html

MODIFICATIONS:

Teacher should make necessary modifications for students to comply with individual students' IEP's.

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES:

Students could act out a courtroom scene, deriving their script from the play or from actual court transcripts.  Students may go to http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm to find court transcripts or search the Internet for other transcripts.

EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT:
 

• The teacher will use one of two rubrics to evaluate the first assignment.  The detailed rubric is designed for English teachers who prefer a careful or detailed grading of the paragraphs.  The second rubric is for teachers of other disciplines who focus more on content than on construction of the paragraphs.
• To evaluate the second assignment, the teacher should assign a point value to the worksheet questions and assess accordingly.

IGO'S:

English Language Arts 11.16, 11.27, 11.31, 11.43, 11.49, 11.60, 11.61, 11.62, 11.69, 11.81, 11.94, 11.97
Social Studies 9.39, 9.45

National Standards

REFERENCES:

http://home.earthlink.net/~corith/purtain.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/lec.pur.html
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap1/1intro.html
http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/txc/puritani.htm  (scroll down to “convictions”) http://www.cet.com/~mtr/GereeChar.html
http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/puritan.htm
http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/ASAL_CH.HTM
http://www.users.uswest.net/~graywolf/witch.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~corith/purtain.html
http://204.165.132.2:90/crucible/background/frame_puritan_beliefs.htm

CREATED BY:
           Rusty Campbell
                                         David Underwood
                                         Carol White

 
North Marion High School
Rt. 1, Box 100
Farmington, WV  26571

DATE CREATED: 04-01-1999

DATE MODIFIED:
 
 

ATTACHMENTS:
SALEM WITCH TRIALS worksheet
 

SALEM WITCH TRIALS(html)

1.    When and where did the witch accusations begin?
2.    Briefly identify the following characters:

• Tituba
• Samuel Parris
• Betty Parris
• Abigail Williams