The Witchcraft of Salem Village

Cycle 2, Day 2

Agenda

• Reading Goal:– Identify the big ideas, or themes, in the text

by looking for repeated topics.

• Today’s Big Question:– Why do people say that “the only thing we

have to fear is fear itself”?

• Team cooperation goal: explain your ideas and tell why.

Review and background

• Review the main events with your partner.

• T-P-S: • How did Tituba’s testimony contribute

to the witch scare?• Who were the latest people to be

accused of witchcraft? How were they different from the original three suspects?

• Is anyone in control in Salem?

Theme

• What are some single word themes you see in this book?

• Sometimes, simple, one-word themes are not sufficient to represent the ideas or themes of a book.

• Can you think of more complex themes that cannot be simplified to one word?

Listening

• Listen to pages 86-89.• Listen to Think Aloud.

• T-P-S• How did I decide that it might be a

theme?• What are some other possible

themes that came up in this passage?

Vocabulary

Word DefinitionInterpreted Explained or made

understandableMatriarch A female who heads a familySolemnly Done in a serious or gloomy

wayDin A loud, constant noiseIndignation Anger over injusticePreliminary Necessary before something

else can happenTribunal A court of justiceAccountable

Responsible for something

Partner read pgs 89-100, stop at “Alas, alas, alas!”

1. How were the witchcraft accusations like a disease? Was anyone safe from the epidemic? Why or why not? (write)

2. What were the results of Deodat Lawson’s sermon? How did this spur on the hunt for witches?

3. What does the author think of “learned judges” who oversaw the examinations? How do you know?

4. Was it possible to get a fair trial under such circumstances? Why or why not?

Reflection• What were some of the things

people were most afraid of during the witch scare?

• How did their fear end up contributing to the scare?

• Why do people say that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”?

• Has there ever been a time in your life when you were paralyzed by fear? When? What did it feel like? What did you to do get out of the situation?