1. Topic-
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
 
2. Content-
Internet Resources: Google Scholar, Institute, Quintura, Clusty, Mahalo, Google Coop, Google (Define:), Google (~Synonym)
Vocabulary to Search: Salem Witch Trials, theocracy, Puritanism, slavery, witchcraft, "witch hunts", hate groups, McCarthyism, allegory, democracy
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
Students will learn to use search engines other than Google to conduct research on the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism in the 1950s, culminating in a project/presentation delivered to the class.
 
4. Objectives-
Students will be able to:
1. Effectively use search engines that may be unfamiliar to them in order to conduct more focused, in-depth research 2. Demonstrate understanding of the historical content of The Crucible through research gathered and shared with the class.
3. Demonstrate the historical context of 1950s America, the period in which The Crucible was written, through research gathered and shared with the class
 
5. Materials and Aids-
Texts of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible for each student, board to write down important terms in class discussion, computers with Internet access for conducting research
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

I will begin the class by posing a question: What does it mean when a situation "gets out of hand"? Have any of you ever been in such a situation? I will take some stories from students, then link that to the play.
 

B. Development-

I will explain that the girls in the play let their imaginations "get out of hand", ultimately causing the deaths of innocent people. Once a chain reaction like that starts, it's difficult to stop. We will discuss the temptation of power, and why these girls didn't fully realize what they were doing. I will then connect the play to Miller's time, and introduce the activity for the day: researching the historical context.
 

C. Practice-

Students will pair up and choose which search engine they want to use to explore their assigned vocabulary term(s).
 

D. Independent Practice-

1. Once the searches have been performed, each pair will decide how they want to present their findings to the whole group: presentation, TEDTalk, newsletter, letter to the editor, YouTube video, collage of images representing the period of their research terms.
 

F. Checking for understanding-

I will circulate among the students while they are searching to ask if there's any confusion and to make sure that they are a) using the sites correctly, and b) staying on task by searching their assigned topics.
 

G. Closure-

We will come back together and each pair will share the most surprising thing they discovered about their topic. Homework will be to work on their projects.
 
7. Evaluation-
Students will be assessed on the depth of their research, the depth of their understanding of the material researched, and quality of effort put into preparing the presentation/project.
 

This Lesson Plan is available at (www.teacherjet.com)