Aims

Each of the five activities uses the events described in The Crucible to ask students to consider the citizenship themes of justice and human rights. The activities begin with a personal, student-centred approach before broadening out to require students to adopt a political perspective.

Activity 1 asks students to consider the power of peer pressure and bullying and asks what personality traits and personal circumstances would be needed to enable an individual stand up to the girls of Salem. Activity 2 looks at the nature of justice and what safeguards exist today which would prevent the summary justice meted out in the play.

Activities 3 and 4 require students to look at what reasons there may have been to justify the Salem witch trials.

Activity 5 builds upon this by asking students to think about the threat posed to Britain by terrorism today and whether they think that the measures laid down in the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 are justified.