To begin our unit on The Salem Witch Trials we are first doing a KWL.  A KWL is a worksheet that the students do so they can see what they know, what they want to know and what they learn.
Here is an example:
 
 

What You Know	What You Want to Know	What You've Learned

     On the KWL, have the students just fill out the first two columns: what you know, and what you want to know.
     After the students have finished doing the KWL, they will watch the movie The Salem Witch Trials.  This is an informative movie produced by the History Channel about what happened in Salem, how the persons accused were treated, how the afflicted acted, etc.
     After the movie has finished, ask the students to fill in what they have learned from the movie.  It is a good idea to suggest that the students leave some space in this column, so that when they are learning more information, they can have it all in one place.