Set of 5 Guided Reading Play Scripts (plus quizzes) on The Salem Witch Trials.

Boredom, over-active imaginations and a certain flair for amateur dramatics - all fatally combined to produce one of the cruelest travesties of justice in U.S. history. 19 hangings of complete innocents, labeled as witches ... by children. Who, or what, was to blame? Sift through some very suspect evidence and draw your own conclusions, from this set of guided reading play scripts, written by Sue Russell, covering the course of those infamous events.
Please note: Teaching time of 40 minutes is very approximate, depending on time spent on reading and answering quiz questions.

Play 1 First Accusations
Speakers:
Betty Parris (accuser)
Abigail William (accuser – Betty’s cousin)
Reverend Samuel Parris (father of Betty)
Sarah Good (accused)
Sarah Osborne (accused)
Tituba Indian (accused)

Play 2 The First Hanging (June 10th)
Speakers:
Bridget Bishop (First to be hanged)
William Phips (Governor of Massachusetts)
William Stoughton (Deputy Governor and Chief Magistrate)
Mercy Lewis (maid in Putnam household)
Thomas Oliver (Bridget’s second husband)
Worker (on repairing Bridget’s tavern)

Play 3 Second and Third Hanging (July 19 and August 19)
Speakers:
Rebecca Nurse (hanged: sister-in-law of John Proctor)
Anne Putnam (ringleader of ‘possessed girls’)
John Proctor (hanged: husband of Elizabeth Proctor)
Elizabeth Proctor (saved from hanging because of pregnancy)
George Burroughs (hanged: former Salem Village minister)
Cotton Mather (Puritan minister: gave provocative sermons and pamphlets)

Play 4 Fourth Hanging (September 22nd)
Speakers:
Martha Corey (hanged)
Giles Corey (husband of Martha)
Anne Putnam (accuser)
Mary Walcott (accuser)
Martha Carrier (first Andover person to stand trial)
William Phips (governor)

Play 5 History’s Verdict – Who was to blame?
Speakers:
Robert Calef (Writer of “More Wonders of the Invisible World” – an account of the trials, published 1700)
William Phips
William Stoughton
Tituba
Betty Parris
Reverend Samuel Parris

I have written a set of guided reading play scripts to ‘compliment’ every ‘traditional’ class play I have written. The focus of these mini plays is more on reading than performing, which is why I refer to them as ‘Readers Theater’ and I see them as a wonderful classroom resource, delivering the curriculum via role play. I have used this format with classes I have taught and know first-hand how well this innovative form of teaching works. For the complete collection of guided reading play scripts I have written, visit my website www.plays-r-ussell.com
The Salem Witch Trials Guided Reading Play Scripts by Sue Russell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.