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Lesson 7

We will debate Burr and Hamilton’s perspectives. Then, we will listen to and closely read the songs “Stay Alive,” “Meet Me Inside,” and “Guns and Ships” from Act 1 of Hamilton: An American Musical. We will continue to analyze Alexander Hamilton and his motivations and perspectives.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use language and strategies to accomplish my intended purpose in communicating?

  • Can I generate and develop ideas, positions, products, and solutions to problems?

  • Can I make inferences about Alexander Hamilton, his motivations, and his perspectives using evidence from the lyrics?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Hamilton: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Grand Central, 2016

Optional

  • Multimedia
    • Hamilton, Thomas Kail, Walt Disney Studios, 2020

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss

We will debate Burr and Hamilton’s perspectives.

Get into your Burr and Hamilton groups. Gather your evidence and claims and prepare to debate the other group.

Use your academic discussion skills and follow group discussion norms as you debate Burr and Hamilton’s claims:

  • Hamilton’s Claim: I am not throwing away my shot.

  • Burr’s Claim: I’m willing to wait for it.

Activity 2: Write

We will reflect on our discussion and what we learned about Hamilton and Burr.

In your Learning Log, reflect on the class discussion by responding to the following questions in a quick-write:

  1. What did you learn about Alexander Hamilton?

  2. What did you learn about Burr?

Activity 3: View

We will rewatch the songs “Meet Me Inside,” “Guns And Ships,” and “Stay Alive” from the filmed stage production of Hamilton.

Rewatch the scenes for the songs "Meet Me Inside," "Guns and Ships," and "Stay Alive" from the filmed stage production of Hamilton.

While rewatching, add any additional observations, thoughts, and questions to your Act 1Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tool

Activity 4: Read

We will closely read the songs “Meet Me Inside,” “Guns And Ships,” and “Stay Alive.”

Find your Act 1 Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tool and look at what you wrote down for the songs "Meet Me Inside," "Guns and Ships," and "Stay Alive."

With a partner, read these songs, considering the following question:

  1. What do you learn about Alexander Hamilton in these songs?

Use your Character Note-Taking Tool for Hamilton to keep notes and guide your thinking:

  • Find details about what Hamilton says, does, or thinks, as well as what others say about him.

  • Explain what that detail shows you about his character.

  • Write an observation or inference about his character based on the evidence from the three songs.

Share your inferences and thoughts with the class.

Activity 5: Write

We will use the character Note-Taking Tool to write a claim inferring the motivations behind Alexander Hamilton’s actions and thoughts.

Using textual details and analysis you noted on your Character Note-Taking Tool for Hamilton, write a claim in which you infer the motivations behind Hamilton’s actions and thoughts.

Summarize Hamilton’s actions and thoughts in the bottom table. Then, respond to the following question using a copy of the Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool:

  1. What motivated Hamilton to do the things he did or think the way he did?

Note pertinent evidence you have gathered on your Character Note-Taking Tool.

After forming a claim in response to the question, discuss your thoughts and inferences with the class.