Sesame Street Magical Halloween Adventure is a children's television special that aired in 1986. The special revolves around Elmo, who is excitedly getting ready for Halloween. He joins his Sesame Street friends – Big Bird, Grover, Bert, Ernie, and more – as they embark on a magical adventure to find the missing pieces of their costumes. The story begins in Count von Count's castle, where the Count reveals that all the costumes for the Sesame Street Halloween party have been stolen. Elmo and his friends decide to help out and set off on an adventurous quest to find the missing costumes. Along the way, they come across various challenges and meet new characters, including a friendly witch named The Amazing Mumford.
Along the way, they come across various challenges and meet new characters, including a friendly witch named The Amazing Mumford. Throughout the special, there are catchy songs and funny moments that engage young viewers. The Muppet characters teach important lessons about teamwork, friendship, and problem-solving.
Understanding the Salem Witch Trials
Engraving of a witchcraft trial at Salem Village. The central figure in this 1876 illustration of the courtroom is usually identified as Mary Walcott.
Salem, Massachusetts in 1691 was the home of a Puritan community with a strict moral code. In addition to the difficulties of farming in a harsh climate with rough terrain, Salem faced economic and political unrest. In this community, a group of girls accused an Indian slave named Tituba of witchcraft. Tituba confessed under pressure from court officials, and her confession ignited a hunt for witches that left 19 men and women hanged, one man pressed to death, and over 150 more people in prison awaiting a trial. In this lesson, students will explore the characteristics of the Puritan community in Salem, learn about the Salem Witchcraft Trials, and try to understand how and why this event occurred.
Guiding Questions
What was life like in Puritan New England?
What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
To what extent do the historic records show that the accused were innocent until proven guilty?
Learning Objectives
Describe cultural practices of the majority in Puritan New England.
Create a timeline of the events of the Salem Witch Trials.
Analyze multiple interpretations of the Salem Witch Trials.
Construct a position on whether the trials were justified.
Subjects & Topic:A More Perfect Union
History & Social Studies
Civics U.S. History Grade: 6-8Lesson Plan Details
BackgroundSalem, Massachusetts in the late 1600s faced a number of serious challenges to a peaceful social fabric. Salem was divided into a prosperous town and a farming village. The villagers, in turn, were split into factions that fiercely debated whether to seek ecclesiastical and political independence from the town. In 1689 the villagers won the right to establish their own church and chose the Reverend Samuel Parris, a former merchant, as their minister. His rigid ways and seemingly boundless demands for compensation increased the already present friction. Many villagers vowed to drive Parris out, and they stopped contributing to his salary in October 1691.
These local concerns only compounded the severe social stresses that had already been affecting New England for two decades. A 1675 conflict with the Indians known as King Philip's War had resulted in more deaths relative to the size of the population than any other war in American history. A decade later, in 1685, King James II's government revoked the Massachusetts charter. A new royally-appointed governor, Sir Edmund Andros, sought to unite New England, New York, and New Jersey into a single Dominion of New England. He tried to abolish elected colonial assemblies, restrict town meetings, and impose direct control over militia appointments, and permitted the first public celebration of Christmas in Massachusetts, a celebration of which Puritans strongly disapproved. After William III replaced James II as King of England in 1689, Andros's government was overthrown, but Massachusetts was required to eliminate religious qualifications for voting and to extend religious toleration to sects such as the Quakers. The late seventeenth century also saw a increase in the number of black slaves in New England, which further unsettled the existing social order.
In February 1692, Betty Parris, Reverend Parris's daughter, as well as her friends Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam, became ill with symptoms that doctors could not diagnose, including fits and delirium. Dr. Griggs, who attended to the "afflicted" girls, suggested that they might be bewitched. Mercy Lewis, Mary Walcott, and Mary Warren later claimed affliction as well.
Prodded by Parris and others, the girls named their tormentors: Sarah Good, a poor woman; Sarah Osbourn, an elderly woman; and Tituba, a slave who had told them stories involving Vudou beliefs. The women were tried for witchcraft - Good and Osbourn claimed innocence, and Tituba confessed. Tituba's detailed confession included a claim that there were several undiscovered witches who wanted to destroy the community. This caused a witch-hunting rampage: 19 men and women were hanged, one man was pressed to death, and over 150 more people were imprisoned, awaiting trial.
On September 22, 1692, the last eight alleged witches were hanged. On October 8, 1692, Governor Phipps ordered that spectral evidence (when someone claimed to witness a person's spirit in a separate location from that same person's physical body) could no longer be admitted in witchcraft trials. On October 29, 1692 Phipps prohibited further arrests and released many accused witches. The remaining alleged witches were pardoned by May 1693. The hangings of witches in 1692 were the last such hangings in America.
For more information, see the following EDSITEment-reviewed websites:
- Digital History: The Salem Witch Scare
- Witchcraft in Salem Village
- Overview
- Tituba Biography
NCSS. D1.1.6-8. Explain how a question represents key ideas in the field.
NCSS.D2.His.1.6-8. Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts.
NCSS.D2.His.2.6-8. Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity.
NCSS.D2.His.3.6-8. Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.
NCSS.D2.His.4.6-8. Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras.
NCSS.D2.His.5.6-8. Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time.
Preparation- Review the lesson plan. Locate and bookmark suggested materials and other useful websites. Download and print out documents you will use and duplicate copies as necessary for student viewing.
- Students can access the primary source materials and some of the activity materials via the EDSITEment LaunchPad.
- Familiarize yourself with the Salem Witch Trials. For an overview, consult Digital History. For more detailed information, consult Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive.
- If you plan to have students create pictures, or if you want to use larger sized paper for your students' timelines, be sure to have those materials handy.
- Though each reading activity provides questions for discussion for the readings, teachers may wish to spend a few minutes with students asking introductory questions to help distill what they have read.
Elmo is portrayed as an enthusiastic and determined character, inspiring children to be resourceful and never give up. The animation and puppetry in Sesame Street Magical Halloween Adventure are top-notch, providing a visually appealing and entertaining experience for young audiences. The special showcases the creativity and talent of the Sesame Street puppeteers and animators. Overall, Sesame Street Magical Halloween Adventure is a delightful special that captures the spirit of Halloween while delivering positive messages to children. It encourages imagination, creativity, and emphasizes the value of working together to overcome obstacles. This timeless Halloween adventure is a favorite among both children and adults, making it a beloved addition to the Sesame Street franchise..
Reviews for "Join Zoe and Friends on a Memorable Halloween Experience on Sesame Street"
1. John - 2/5 - "Sesame Street Magical Halloween Adventure was a major disappointment for me. The storyline lacked depth and creativity, and it felt like a mishmash of random Halloween elements thrown together. The characters didn't have much to do, and the dialogue was boring and repetitive. I was hoping for a fun and engaging Halloween-themed adventure, but instead, I was left feeling bored and uninterested. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this DVD to anyone looking for a quality Halloween special."
2. Emily - 1/5 - "I found Sesame Street Magical Halloween Adventure to be extremely underwhelming. The animation and visuals were outdated, and it was evident that very little effort was put into the production value. The story was predictable and lacked any originality. It felt like a cheap cash grab rather than a genuine attempt to create a memorable Halloween special. I found myself wishing for it to end sooner rather than later. Save your time and skip this one."
3. Mike - 2/5 - "I have been a long-time fan of Sesame Street, but Magical Halloween Adventure left me feeling disappointed. The jokes were stale, and the overall humor fell flat. It didn't feel like the show was trying to engage its audience or capture their attention. The pacing was also off, and it felt like the episode dragged on for far too long. Unfortunately, this Halloween special missed the mark and failed to deliver the entertaining and educational content that I have come to expect from Sesame Street."
4. Sarah - 3/5 - "While Sesame Street Magical Halloween Adventure had its moments, it didn't live up to my expectations. The plot felt disjointed at times, and the transitions between scenes were clunky. It was difficult to fully immerse myself in the story because of these flaws. Additionally, some of the songs were forgettable and lacked the usual catchy tunes that Sesame Street is known for. While it had its Halloween charm, it didn't fully capture the magic of the holiday. It was an average effort from Sesame Street."
5. David - 2/5 - "I have fond memories of watching Sesame Street as a child, but Magical Halloween Adventure fell short for me. The characters seemed out of touch and less relatable than their previous portrayals. The educational elements were minimal, and it felt like the show was more focused on entertainment than teaching valuable lessons. The Halloween theme felt forced and didn't seamlessly mesh with the Sesame Street universe. Overall, it was a disappointment and missed the mark for me as an adult viewer."
The Magical World of Sesame Street: A Halloween Adventure Like No Other