Give students a glimpse into the classroom of early America with this engaging informational text and comprehension activity! This resource features an article about one of America’s first known textbooks, helping students understand how and what students were taught in the colonies. Perfect as a supplement to your study of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible or as part of a Social Studies/History unit on early America, this activity connects literature and history while building background knowledge. Includes comprehension questions and an answer key for easy grading.

Why Teachers Love It

• Provides fascinating historical context for The Crucible
• Shows students what education looked like in early America
• Connects ELA and Social Studies through informational text
• Flexible for whole-class, small-group, or independent use
• Saves prep time with ready-to-use questions and answer key

What’s Included

• 1-page informational article on one of America’s first textbooks
• 1 page of comprehension/reflection questions
• Answer Key
• Formats: Printable PDF + Digital

Why It Works
This article helps students make connections between education, religion, and culture in early America—while providing essential context for understanding The Crucible and other colonial literature. By engaging with primary historical ideas, students build stronger text-to-world connections.