Witchcraft/Witches (Crime and Punishment)

This differentiated lesson explores beliefs in witchcraft during Early Modern England (1540–1650) as part of a wider Crime and Punishment unit. Students investigate why fear of witches increased during this period and how religious change, superstition, and social tensions contributed to the “witch craze.” Through source analysis, visual interpretation, and factor-based evaluation, students develop their understanding of how and why witchcraft was treated as a serious crime. The resource includes both Higher Ability (HA) and Lower Ability (LA) versions to support mixed-ability classrooms.

Learning Intention: To understand why fear of witchcraft increased between 1540 and 1650 and how it was viewed as a crime in Early Modern England.

Success Criteria:

• Describe how witches were viewed during the Tudor and Stuart periods.
• Explain the key factors that led to increased fear of witchcraft.
• Evaluate which factor had the greatest impact on the witch craze.

Activities Included

• Starter task analysing data and generating historical questions
• Visual source activity identifying symbols of witchcraft (e.g. familiars, cauldrons, demons)
• Source-based task explaining how people viewed witches
• Factor sorting activity categorising causes of the witch craze
• Discussion and evaluation task deciding which factor was most important
• Verbal reasoning activity (“pen-free zone”) to develop argument and justification skills

Format: PowerPoint lesson resources (HA and LA versions)

Ideal For
KS3 History (Crime and Punishment through Time / Early Modern England)
Mixed ability classes requiring differentiated resources
Lessons exploring beliefs, religion, and superstition in history
Inquiry-based learning developing evaluation, reasoning, and discussion skills