+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salem Witch Trials

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the Salem Witch Trials. They discover that differences should be celebrated and judgements should not be made on appearances alone. They use multiple sources to gather their information.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Worksheet #24 Questions - Witch Trials

For Students 7th - 8th
In this historical quiz worksheet, students test their terminology about the Salem witch trials in the ten fill in the blank questions.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Petitions of Two Convicted Witches

For Students 9th - 10th
This webpage features the full text of the petitions for mercy made by Mary Easty and John Proctor, two convicted witches awaiting execution.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Examination of Tituba

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a court transcript of the examination of "Tituba the Indian Woman," on March 1, 1692, suspected of harming her children under the direction of demonic familiars. Transcript is unedited and features 17th century spellings and syntax.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Examination of Rebecca Nurse

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a transcript of the court examination of Rebecca Nurse, March 24, 1692, with original spellings and syntax.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Letters of Gov. William Phips

For Students 9th - 10th
This transcript of two letters written by Governor William Phips to the Earl of Nottingham, London, explains the presence of witchcraft in Salem and its environs and the Governor's response to the situation.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Examination of Sarah Good

For Students 9th - 10th
This court examination of Sarah Good, March 1, 1692, retains the original spellings and syntax. The accused is questioned for contact with the devil and harming children.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Trial and Execution of Sarah Good

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a selection of records of the trial and execution of Sarah Good that includes the summary of evidence, Sarah Good's confession, indictments against Sarah Good, and sentencing.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Examination of Mary Easty (Court Transcript)

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the original transcript of the trial examination of Mary Easty, accused witch, April 22, 1692.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Examination of Bridget Bishop

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a transcript of the court examination of Bridget Bishop, April 19, 1692.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Trial of Rebecca Nurse

For Students 9th - 10th
This webpage features a transcript of court testimony from the trial of Rebecca Nurse, with evidence for Nurse, evidence against Nurse, petition of Nurse, and juror's statement. Includes historic painting of a scene from the trial.
+
Primary
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Salem Witch Trials: Arrest Warrant

For Students 9th - 10th
A reproduction of the original warrant for the arrest of Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce is shown together with a facing transcription.
+
Website
University of Oxford (UK)

University of Oxford: Lorraine Witchcraft Trials

For Students 9th - 10th
The resources used in the book The Witches of Lorraine by Robin Briggs are provided here. These include 400 witchcraft trials that took place in the Duchy of Lorraine. The 'Search trials' section lists all the trial materials. These have...
+
Handout
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: A Brief History of Witchcraft Persecutions Before Salem

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents a history in the form of a timeline of the persecution of witches prior to the Salem witch trials.
+
Website
Teacher Oz

Teacher Oz: Castles, Plague, Witch Trials, the Church, Royalty

For Students 9th - 10th
List of excellent links to a great deal of information about witches, witchcraft, the witch hunt and all of the hysteria that surrounded the time period.
+
Interactive
Other

King's College: A Witch Hunt: Germany 1628

For Students 9th - 10th
A witch hunt simulation that is based on events from the seventeenth century Roman Empire, and set in Germany in 1628. The participant makes choices after reading the text at each step along the way. At the end of the simulation, there...
+
eBook
Other

The Malleus Maleficarum of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete Malleus Maleficarum, the manual used during the European witch hunts to identify and convict witches, along with introductions to the various editions and other supporting documents.
+
Website
Hanover College

Hanover College: Early Modern Europe: The Witch Hunts

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of the web page has a collection of resources on early European witch hunts as well as some of the Salem witch trials.
+
Website
Other

The Malleus Maleficarum of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses controversies around the authors of the Malleus Maleficarum, the manual used during the European witch hunts to identify and convict witches. Other sections of the site provide the complete Malleus Maleficarum, in sections as...
+
Article
Other

The Historical Significance of Matthew Hopkins: England's "Witchfinder General"

For Students 9th - 10th
A fascinating examination of the history of witchfinders, and how Matthew Hopkins came to have a central role during the period of witch persecution in early modern England.
+
Unit Plan
TES Global

Tes: Teaching Shakespeare: Themes: Magic and Supernatural

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This collection of resources will help to understand the significance of magical characters and events in Shakespeare's works. Enchantment and the occult fascinated the Elizabethans. It includes videos,...
+
Lesson Plan
TES Global

Tes: Macbeth by William Shakespeare: The Role of the Witches

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson plan focuses on the role of the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth including background information about the fear of witches in Shakespeare's time, reading excerpts and answering questions to...
+
Lesson Plan
TES Global

Tes: Macbeth: Introduction to Witchcraft Context Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This slide show lesson focuses context of witchcraft in Shakespeare's Macbeth including learning about witchcraft in the 17th century, identifying a witch, the timeline of The Witch Acts, and watching...
+
Unit Plan
TES Global

Tes: James Stuart and Witchcraft

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson focuses on King James I and his belief in witchcraft. It includes information and activities about witches, conducting research about James's superstitions and his book Deamonologie, and...