Witchcraft during the Early Modern Period (Edexcel)

Why was there a ‘witch-finding’ craze in the 17th Century? [#4]

An insight into the factors behind the witch-craze of the seventeenth century, adapted for the Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Paper 1 - Thematic Study w/ Historic Environment. See my TES shop for other lesson and bundle offers!

Suitable as a standalone lesson or within the scheme of work!

Overview: Students will gain a contextual understanding about the growing hysteria around “witches” during the Early Modern Period. Specifically, students will analyse the factors for this growth (i.e., individuals such as Matthew Hopkins, or the media including James I’s Daemonology). This lesson can be used as a precursor to a 12-mark “Explain why…” question or another piece of extended writing (see my TES shop).

Suitability: Designed for Key Stage 4 (Years 10 – 11), but highly suitable for upper-KS3.

Approximate Delivery Time: 50 – 60 Minutes

What will you get?

• Exam Question Focus - Embeded exam-style questions to familiarise students with the assessment phase, and success criteria.
• PowerPoint Presentation – Fully scaffolded PPT to support teaching. Note: The PPT may contain animations / clips.
• Video Clip - Link to a trailer for “The Witchfinder General”, from Screenbound Pictures.
• Scaffolded Worksheets – Printable worksheets to support teaching activities to a range of abilities.
• Adaptive Teaching Strategies – An adaptable lesson for a range of learning abilities, with a variety of activities (i.e., whiteboards; think-pair-share; stretch-and-challenge activities).
• Focus on Language - Tier 3 vocabulary is highlighted and defined throughout, to support disciplinary understanding.