Salem Witch Trials
Grade Level:
Grades 5-8
Language:
English and Spanish
Format:
Activity
Source:
INTRODUCTION
Judge Joan Weber (Ret.), San Diego County Superior Court
Focused on the 6th and 7th Amendments, this lesson brings the Salem Witch Trials to life in the classroom. In the late 1600s, young girls in Salem Village began having strange fits that led to their arrest for witchcraft. Using scripts from the actual trial, students are assigned roles to reenact the courtroom proceedings, helping them understand how justice was delivered before the Bill of Rights — and how it changed after.
OBJECTIVES
Students will:
- Identify and explain the three branches of government, with a focus on the judicial branch.
- Compare and contrast a historic court case with and without the Bill of Rights.
- Apply and analyze the Bill of Rights, with a focus on Amendments 6 and 7.
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
Focused on the 6th and 7th Amendments, this lesson brings the Salem Witch Trials to life in the classroom. In the late 1600s, young girls in Salem Village began having strange fits that led to their arrest for witchcraft. Using scripts from the actual trial, students are assigned roles to reenact the courtroom proceedings, helping them understand how justice was delivered before the Bill of Rights — and how it changed after.