How the Curriculum Works
The Hamilton Education Program combines theatrical experiences with rigorous historical study and creative expression. It makes history more engaging and accessible to students while empowering them to explore and interpret history through their own artistic talents.
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Educators
Grade 6–12 educators receive curriculum materials that include primary source documents related to Alexander Hamilton and the Founding Era of the United States. They can then use these resources to teach the historical context of Hamilton’s life, the American Revolution and early America, and the broader social and political issues of the time.
Students
Students in grades 6–12 conduct research using the primary source documents provided, gaining insights into the historical figures and events depicted in the musical. They can then create original performance pieces inspired by the primary source materials they have studied. These pieces can include songs, rap, poetry, scenes, or other forms of artistic expression.
Two Programs, One Curriculum
Both the in-person and online options of the Hamilton Education Program engage students deeply in the study of American history through Hamilton’s creative lens. The in-person option is available for New York City–area schools, while the online option leverages digital tools to deliver educational content and foster collaborative learning anywhere in the world.
Online Program In-Person ProgramSneak Peek at the Curriculum
When you create your free account, you will be able to access the Hamilton Education Program curriculum. The key steps of the program walk students through how to create their own performance piece based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s process.
Step 1
Background of the Musical
Discover what inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to make a hip-hop musical about a poor orphan from the West Indies who died more than 200 years ago
Step 2
Setting the Stage: Alexander Hamilton and His Era
Explore a timeline integrating major Founding Era events with events in Alexander Hamilton’s life
Step 3
Looking at Documents: A Close Examination of Primary Sources
Introduce students to two primary source documents that Lin-Manuel Miranda used to write the song “Farmer Refuted”
Step 4
History through Artistic Expression
Compare the original primary sources by Samuel Seabury and Alexander Hamilton with the lyrics Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote for “Farmer Refuted”
Step 5
Creating the Student Performance
Research a person, event, or key document to identify the subject and the primary sources to use for creative performance pieces