The Lizzie Borden case
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Teacher preview: this event includes loss, violence, discrimination, or a criminal case. Choose a suitable reading together. No reenactment of harm is needed.
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All four include an image, vocabulary, comprehension questions, a follow-up reading, and teacher guidance. These English PDFs have selectable text; use the reading below for adjustable text and listening tools.
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Words to know
- accuse
- say that someone did something wrong
- evidence
- information that helps support or question a claim
- verdict
- a court’s decision about a case
Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father and stepmother in Fall River. The case drew great public attention. She was tried and acquitted in 1893. Being accused is not the same as being found guilty.
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What happened? Point to a detail that supports your answer. What does the picture help you understand? What would you like to investigate next?
Follow-up: Volleyball begins in Holyoke
William G. Morgan created a game in Holyoke. It was first called mintonette and later volleyball. Players sent a ball over a net. The game changed and spread to many countries.
How are the two events connected or different? Their order does not prove that one caused the other.
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Check the evidence
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Historical images, later portraits, reconstructions, and modern topic illustrations are identified in their captions. They are different kinds of evidence.
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