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Lesson 8

We will consider the question, How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to create Hamilton: An American Musical? We will discuss why Lin-Manuel Miranda chose Aaron Burr as the narrator of Hamilton: An American Musical. Then, we will begin to prepare for the Section Diagnostic.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I actively focus my attention on group discussions?

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

  • How well do I change my ideas or perspective based on new, credible information and experiences?

  • Can I find evidence of the relationship between Hamilton and Angelica in the musical?

  • Can I explain Miranda’s interpretation of the relationship between Hamilton and Angelica?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Write

We will prepare for our small group discussion about the following guiding question: why did Lin-Manuel Miranda choose to have Aaron Burr be the narrator of Hamilton: An American Musical?

Use the Discussion Tool to prepare for the class discussion.

In the first row, write the claim from your Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tool from the previous lesson in the left column. Then summarize the evidence and explanation that supports your claim in the right column of the first row.

Review your classroom discussion norms, or review those found in the Academic Discussion Reference Guide before beginning the discussion.

Activity 2: Discuss

We will have a small group discussion about the guiding question: why did Lin-Manuel Miranda choose to have Aaron Burr be the narrator of Hamilton: An American Musical?

In your small group, do the following:

  1. Choose your group roles.

  2. Create group norms (refer to the Academic Discussion Reference Guide).

  3. Discuss your claims and evidence.

  4. Take notes in the "During Discussion" section.

Activity 3: Discuss

We will summarize and reflect on the discussion.

On your Discussion Tool, summarize the discussion beneath the chart on which you took notes.

After completing the summary, answer the reflection questions under the After Discussion section.

  1. Explain how the claims, evidence, and reasoning of your peers support or challenge your own understandings.

    1. Summarize your peers’ claims, evidence, and explanations.

    2. How does this support or challenge my thinking?

  2. Use the following questions to reflect on how the discussion affected your understanding.

    1. What were my claims and understanding prior to the discussion?

    2. What new understanding have I come to after discussing the texts?

    3. As needed, revise your claims.

  3. Reflect on skills and habits

    1. Rate the quality of the discussion based on the criteria.

Activity 4: Discuss

We will share our thoughts on the discussion.

As a class, share your claims in response to the guiding question: Why did Lin-Manuel Miranda choose to have Aaron Burr be the narrator of Hamilton: An American Musical? Also share your thoughts on what you learned and discovered during your small group discussion.

Activity 5: View

We will rewatch the songs “The Schuyler Sisters,” “A Winter’s Ball,” “Satisfied,” and “Take a Break” from the filmed stage production of Hamilton.

Rewatch the scenes for the songs "The Schuyler Sisters," "A Winters Ball," "Satisfied," and "Take a Break” from the filmed stage production of Hamilton.

While rewatching, add any additional observations, thoughts, and questions to your Act 1 and Act 2Notice and Wonder Note-Taking Tools.

Activity 6: Read

To prepare for our Section Diagnostic, we will closely read the songs “The Schuyler Sisters,” “A Winter’s Ball,” “Satisfied,” “Non Stop,” and “Take a Break.”

In a jigsaw activity, you will closely read the songs "The Schuyler Sisters," "Satisfied," "Non-Stop," and "Take a Break."

After being assigned a song, you will closely read that song in your expert group by using the Schuyler-Hamilton Note-Taking Tool.

  1. Write evidence of the relationship between Hamilton and Angelica in the second column and the song the evidence came from in the first column.

  2. In the third column, explain what the evidence tells you about the relationship between Hamilton and Angelica

After closely reading the song in your expert group, go back to your home group and present your evidence. While presenting, group members will take notes of the evidence and analysis on the Schuyler-Hamilton Note-Taking Tool.