Leaders’ Perspectives

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 strengthen primary-source analysis, critical reading, evidence-based writing, and historical reasoning by examining contrasting viewpoints from the Salem Witch Trials. Students read excerpts from Governor Phips and Cotton Mather, answer questions using textual evidence, and compare the authors’ perspectives on how the trials should proceed, considering motivations, concerns, and proposed actions.

Learning Goals

• Primary Source Analysis (Grades 5-6) – Students evaluate historical documents to understand author perspective and intent.
• Comparing Historical Perspectives – Learners identify differences and similarities between leaders’ viewpoints.
• Evidence-Based Responses – The activity emphasizes supporting conclusions with specific textual details.
• Evaluating Arguments & Leadership – Students analyze motivations, problem-solving approaches, and decision-making during the trials.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper-elementary ELA and social studies standards.
• Supports Analytical Thinking – Encourages interpretation of complex viewpoints and comparison across sources.
• Structured Synthesis – Questions guide students to draw connections and form conclusions about leadership and decision-making.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Suitable for independent work, small groups, assessments, or discussion-based lessons.
• Low-Prep Printable – Ready for classroom or homeschool use.

This Leaders’ Perspectives worksheet helps students understand how differing opinions shaped the Salem Witch Trials. By analyzing primary sources, comparing viewpoints, and using textual evidence to support responses, learners strengthen historical literacy, critical thinking, and the ability to evaluate arguments within a real-world historical context.

This worksheet is part of our Salem Witch Trials Worksheets collection.