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Hamilton: History On Stage!

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Alex Bryant

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Hamilton: History On Stage!

Students will analyze historical themes, character development, and narrative techniques within the musical "Hamilton," connecting its portrayal of the American Revolution to broader concepts of ambition, legacy, and historical interpretation.

Understanding "Hamilton" offers a unique lens into American history, illustrating how art can reinterpret and engage audiences with the past. It also encourages critical thinking about storytelling, historical accuracy, and the impact of individual choices on societal change.

Audience

9th Grade

Time

90 minutes

Approach

Through a guided watch-a-long, discussion, and interactive activities.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Speakers, Access to Disney+ (or recorded performance of Hamilton), Watch-Along Guide, and Post-Show Discussion Questions

Prep

Teacher Preparation

30 minutes

  • Review the entire lesson plan and all generated materials, including the Slide Deck, Watch-Along Guide, and Post-Show Discussion Questions.
  • Ensure access to Disney+ or a recorded version of the musical "Hamilton" and test the audio/visual setup.
  • Print copies of the Watch-Along Guide for each student.
  • Familiarize yourself with key historical figures and events depicted in "Hamilton" to facilitate discussions.
  • (Optional) Prepare a few additional fun facts or trivia about the musical's production or historical context to share.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Revolutionary Remix (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Project Slide 1 and Slide 2.
  • Begin with a quick discussion: "What do you already know about Alexander Hamilton or the American Revolution? What kind of music do you think tells a historical story best?" (5 minutes)
  • Introduce "Hamilton" as a groundbreaking musical that tells the story of America's founding fathers using hip-hop and R&B. Explain it blends history with modern musical styles. (5 minutes)

Step 2

Setting the Stage (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Project Slide 3 and Slide 4.
  • Distribute the Watch-Along Guide to each student.
  • Briefly go over the purpose of the guide: to help students track key characters, themes, and historical moments while watching. Explain that they don't need to write constantly, but to jot down thoughts during key songs or scenes. (5 minutes)
  • Provide a brief overview of Alexander Hamilton's background and his arrival in America, as covered in the opening song. (5 minutes)

Step 3

Watch-Along: Act I Highlights (45 minutes)

45 minutes

  • Project Slide 5.
  • Play selected clips from Act I of "Hamilton." Focus on key songs and scenes that introduce major characters, establish Hamilton's ambition, and depict significant historical events (e.g., "My Shot," "The Story of Tonight," "Non-Stop").
  • Pause periodically (every 10-15 minutes) to allow students to fill in their Watch-Along Guide and discuss initial reactions, questions, or observations about the historical events and character portrayals. (Encourage quick pair-shares or whole-class check-ins during these pauses.)
  • Teacher should guide observations toward historical context, character motivations, and how the music/lyrics convey emotion and information.
  • Teacher Note: Given the 90-minute timeframe, it's not possible to watch the entire Act I. Focus on clips that best illustrate the lesson's objectives.

Step 4

Debrief and Discussion (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Project Slide 6.
  • Lead a whole-class discussion using the Post-Show Discussion Questions. Encourage students to share their observations from the Watch-Along Guide.
  • Focus on questions that prompt analysis of themes (ambition, legacy), character impact, and the effectiveness of the musical as a storytelling medium.
  • Discuss how the musical uses different musical styles to tell a historical story and connect with a modern audience.

Step 5

Cool-Down: My Shot! (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Project Slide 7.
  • Have students complete the "My Shot!" cool-down activity, reflecting on one key idea or feeling they're taking away from the watching experience. (5 minutes)
  • Collect the Watch-Along Guides and cool-downs as exit tickets. (5 minutes)
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Slide Deck

Hamilton: History On Stage!

Bringing History to Life Through Music

Objective: Explore history, character, and storytelling in the musical 'Hamilton'.

Welcome students and introduce the lesson's exciting topic. This slide sets the stage and gets them thinking about history and music.

Revolutionary Remix: Your Thoughts!

What do you already know about Alexander Hamilton or the American Revolution?

What kind of music do you think tells a historical story best?

Engage students with a warm-up question. Encourage them to share anything they know or associate with the American Revolution or Alexander Hamilton. Ask about their favorite historical stories or how music can tell a story.

Why Hamilton?

A groundbreaking musical that reimagines American history.

  • Modern Storytelling: Uses hip-hop and R&B to tell historical narratives.
  • Relevant Themes: Ambition, legacy, immigration, revolution.
  • Cultural Phenomenon: Exploded onto the scene, making history engaging for new audiences.

Introduce Hamilton as a musical phenomenon. Explain its unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and traditional Broadway to tell a historical story. Emphasize its cultural impact and relevance.

Your Mission: The Watch-Along Guide

Your Watch-Along Guide will help you:

  • Identify key characters and their roles.
  • Track important historical events.
  • Reflect on themes like ambition and legacy.
  • Jot down your thoughts and questions!

Explain the purpose of the Watch-Along Guide. Tell students it's not a test, but a tool to help them engage actively, track characters/events, and form their own opinions during the viewing.

Act I Highlights: "My Shot!"

We'll watch key scenes and songs from Act I.

As you watch, think about:

  • Who are the main characters we meet?
  • What challenges does Hamilton face?
  • How does the music make history come alive?

Explain that due to time, we'll watch highlights from Act I. Guide them to focus on how characters are introduced, Hamilton's rising ambition, and pivotal historical moments. Emphasize pausing for discussion.

Debrief: What Did We Learn?

Let's discuss what we observed!

  • Share your thoughts from the Watch-Along Guide.
  • What themes stood out to you?
  • How did the musical bring history to life in a unique way?

Transition to the discussion phase. Encourage students to refer to their Watch-Along Guides and share their insights. Facilitate a dialogue around the discussion questions provided separately.

Cool-Down: Take Your Shot!

What is one new idea, feeling, or question you are taking away from today's 'Hamilton' experience?

Write your response on the provided slip or in your notebook.

Conclude with a cool-down activity related to Hamilton's iconic song. This serves as an exit ticket and a chance for personal reflection.

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Worksheet

Hamilton Watch-Along Guide: Act I Highlights

Name: __________________________________

Date: __________________________________

Part 1: Setting the Stage

  1. Before we watch, what are you hoping to learn or notice about the American Revolution or Alexander Hamilton?






Part 2: Key Characters & Their Roles (As Introduced in Act I)

As you watch the selected clips from Act I, identify the following characters and briefly note their role or key traits.

  • Alexander Hamilton:



  • Aaron Burr:



  • Angelica Schuyler:



  • Eliza Hamilton (Schuyler):



  • George Washington:



Part 3: Historical Moments & Key Ideas

During the clips, jot down important historical events or major ideas presented in the songs/scenes.

  1. "My Shot" / Early Life: What is Hamilton's main goal or ambition?






  2. Joining the Revolution: How does Hamilton get involved in the war effort?






  3. Schuyler Sisters: What do the Schuyler sisters care about? What is their role?






  4. "Non-Stop": What does this song reveal about Hamilton's work ethic and future ambitions?






Part 4: Your Observations

  1. What surprised you most about how history is presented in this musical?






  2. How does the music (hip-hop, R&B, etc.) help tell the story? Give an example.






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Answer Key

Hamilton Watch-Along Guide Answer Key: Act I Highlights

Part 1: Setting the Stage

  1. Before we watch, what are you hoping to learn or notice about the American Revolution or Alexander Hamilton?
    Self-reflection; answers will vary. Students might mention hoping to understand the historical context better, learn about key figures, see how a musical tells a historical story, or understand why Hamilton is so popular.

Part 2: Key Characters & Their Roles (As Introduced in Act I)

  • Alexander Hamilton: An ambitious, orphaned immigrant from the Caribbean, eager to make his mark on the new nation; becomes George Washington's right-hand man.
  • Aaron Burr: Hamilton's rival; a more cautious, calculating lawyer who advises Hamilton to
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Discussion

Post-Show Discussion Questions: Hamilton - Act I Highlights

These questions are designed to facilitate a classroom discussion after watching selected clips from Act I of Hamilton.

Reflecting on the Story & History

  1. What was your overall impression of the musical? What did you like or dislike about how the story was told?






  2. Hamilton presents historical figures in a very modern way. How did this impact your understanding or feelings about characters like Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, or George Washington?






  3. What key historical events or ideas did you learn or understand better by watching the musical clips, compared to just reading about them?






  4. The musical highlights themes like ambition, legacy, and revolution. How did you see these themes play out in the clips we watched?






Analyzing Musical & Theatrical Elements

  1. How did the use of hip-hop, R&B, and other modern musical styles affect your experience of the historical narrative? Did it make the history feel more or less relatable?






  2. Consider the pacing of the musical. How does the music and lyrics contribute to the fast-paced,

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