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Lesson 6

We will continue to explore the question, “Who is Alexander Hamilton?” We will listen to four songs from Act 2 of Hamilton: An American Musical and will track our thinking about the characters as well as where we are confused or need additional background knowledge.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I summarize what is happening in the first part of Act 2 of Hamilton: An American Musical?

  • Can I identify different characters and how they relate to the plot?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Hamilton: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Grand Central, 2016
  • Multimedia
    • Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording), Lin-Manuel Miranda, Atlantic, October 16, 2015

Optional

  • Digital Access
    • “Cabinet Battle #1 Hamilton Animatic,” Lin-Manuel Miranda, YouTube, January 4, 2017
  • Multimedia
    • Hamilton, Thomas Kail, Walt Disney Studios, 2020

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Listen – Read

We will read the lyrics and listen to the songs “What’d I Miss” and “Cabinet Battle #1.”

Listen to and read the lyrics of the songs "What’d I Miss" and "Cabinet Battle #1.”

Add responses to your Act 2 Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tool to track your observations, thoughts, and questions in the correct section. As you do this, think about the following questions:

  1. What new characters are you introduced to in this song?

  2. What new information have you gained about Alexander Hamilton?

  3. How does Miranda use the format of a modern-day rap battle to highlight the debate in these songs? Why is that format effective?

With a partner, share your observations, thoughts, and questions.

Activity 2: Listen – Read

We read the lyrics and listen to the songs “Take A Break” and “The Room Where It Happens.”

Listen to and read the lyrics of the songs "Take a Break" and "The Room Where it Happens."

Add responses to your Act 2 Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tool to track your observations, thoughts, and questions in the correct section. As you do this, think about the following question:

  1. What new information have you gained about Alexander Hamilton?

With a partner, share your observations, thoughts, and questions.

Activity 3: Read – View

We will view and discuss the songs “What’d I Miss,” “Cabinet Battle #1,” “Take A Break,” and “The Room Where It Happens” from the filmed stage production of Hamilton.

View the songs "What’d I Miss," "Cabinet Battle #1,” "Take a Break," and "The Room Where it Happens" from the filmed stage production of Hamilton. Refer to the lyrics in Hamilton: The Revolution book as needed.

While watching, add responses to your Act 2Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tool in the appropriate sections to track your observations, thoughts, and questions for each song and its scene. Think about the following questions:

  1. What new characters are you introduced to in these songs?

  2. How does Miranda use the format of a modern-day rap battle to highlight the debate in these songs?

  3. What new information have you gained about Alexander Hamilton?

  4. What else do you learn about the characters from their movement, facial expressions, gestures, and interactions with other characters in these scenes?

  5. How does the staging of these scenes impact your understanding of the events and characters in the musical?

In a whole-class discussion, share your observations first, your thoughts second, and your questions last.

Activity 4: Write

We will summarize what has happened in Act 2 of Hamilton: An American Musical so far.

Review the definition of objective in your Vocabulary Journal.

Write an objective summary of events from "What’d I Miss" through “The Room Where it Happens." Use evidence from the text to support your response.

Activity 5: Discuss

We will discuss the effect the appearance of Thomas Jefferson has on the plot and the development of Hamilton’s character.

In small groups, discuss the effect the appearance of Thomas Jefferson has on the plot and the development of Hamilton’s character.

Share your ideas and thoughts with the whole class.