The hit Broadway musical Hamilton has been playing to enthusiastic audiences everywhere it opens. Tickets sell out fast, and it can cost a pretty penny to get good seats.
That wasn’t a problem for Pacific High School student Maria Stroud who, along with many other San Bernardino City Unified School District students, attended a special performance in San Diego earlier this year as part of the Hamilton Education Program.
“It was my first time going to the theater,” Stroud said. “Everyone was talking about how good Hamilton the musical was, and I didn’t believe them until I actually came here.”
Hamilton is a musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda based on the biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. The musical has drawn acclaim for its innovative music and for casting racially diverse actors and actresses in the roles of white historical figures.
Students from Title I schools all over southern California were invited to participate in the Hamilton Education Program, which integrates the musical into classroom studies about the founding era. As part of the program, students are treated to a special matinee performance and a question-and-answer session with the cast. Select students are invited to perform an original, historically based number for the other students.
Two San Bernardino High School students were selected for that honor when the SBCUSD students attended Hamilton. Lorena Hernandez and Natalie Valdez performed for 2,800 students.
The musical and accompanying educational program have expanded students’ appreciation for theater and understanding of the people and events that shaped the founding of the United States.
Families don’t have to wait for the new school year or for a special program to introduce children to new experiences or incorporate science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) into daily activities or lessons in history and literacy.
6 FREE or LOW-COST Activities to Incorporate STEAM into your Summer
1. Fine Arts Lunch Break: The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra performs free concerts featuring a variety of musical genres at the Feldheym Central Library, 555 West 6th Street in San Bernardino. Admission: FREE for all. Hours: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. on the second Monday and fourth Wednesday of every month through August.
2. RAFFMA, 5500 University Parkway in San Bernardino: The art museum features a permanent exhibit of Egyptian art and artifacts alongside a rotating exhibit of modern art in a variety of mediums. Admission: FREE for all; parking is $6. Hours: Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Thursday; Closed Friday–Sunday.
3. Every Kid in a Park: The Every Kid in a Park program provides fourth-graders with free passes to all federal parks, lands, and waters through August 31, 2018, including the San Bernardino National Forest. The pass is only valid for U.S. fourth-graders and their families. Students must go online with parent supervision and answer a few fun questions to obtain the pass, and only printed passes will be accepted by park rangers. Passes do not cover fees for camping, boat rentals, or special tours. Select the Educators option for worksheets and lesson plans.
4. Discovery Time: The Highland Sam J. Racadio Library & Environmental Learning Center, 7863 Central Avenue in Highland, offers children ages 6–12 a chance to explore the world of science through hands-on, messy projects. Admission: FREE. Hours: 4 p.m. on Tuesdays.
5. San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands: Take a walk through local history, discover the science of nature, and see technological art created by Garner Holt Productions. Admission: Families with an EBT card are $1 per person for up to nine people. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5–12; children under 5 are always free. Hours: Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; Closed Mondays. More information: (909) 798-8608 or http://www.sbcounty.gov/museum/
6. Storytime and Arts & Crafts: The Dorothy Inghram Branch Library, 1505 W. Highland Avenue in San Bernardino, offers story time and arts & crafts for children throughout the year. Admission: FREE. Hours: 4 p.m. on Thursdays and 11 a.m. on Saturdays.