Passport to Learning

You are about to embark on a wonderful journey of discovery. You will visit distant and exotic lands, through the Global Studies Program at one of FUSD’s newest magnet schools — Hamilton K-8.

You will learn to sing new songs, dance ancient ritual dances and even kick up your heels with the American Square. So grab your boots, pack your bags—your tour guide is ready to start on the journey.

We celebrate our passport to learning by showcasing our students’ work on Museum Nights. You will be surrounded by the students’ artwork and student performances as they share with you the discoveries they have made while traveling around the world. Museum Night is a Global Experience!

In the planning and development of the program, each Hamilton teacher, with special assistance and support from the Bonner Family Foundation for the Arts and the Fresno Art Museum, has received training to develop the skills needed to implement this unique educational program.

Imagine a classroom transformed to an energetic learning environment where each instructor receives specific training on the use of embedded technology, art, drama and music in the standards-based curriculum. Alexander Hamilton showcases and celebrates wonders of the world in every classroom.

This program was made possible by the Magnet School Assistance Program Grant from the United States Department of Education.

Your journey starts in Kindergarten where you will be learning about yourself. We will be visiting the far corners of the world to celebrate your family heritage, which will be infused with the cultural arts. Kindergartners will also learn about:

• Animals, Plants and Weather from Around the World
• Songs and Dances from Around the World

As First Graders you will dive into the Great Barrier Reef, create a boomerang or explore the outback as you journey to the continent “Down Under” and learn about the wonders of Australia. Celebrate unique diversity and begin to learn about the similarities of all people from around the world. First Graders will also explore:

• Art through multiple mediums
• Music from around the world

In Second Grade, you’ll become an ancestral historian and travel the globe in search of the past. Your first destination . . . Africa! Visit a village in Kenya, and peer into the daily lives of the people, their culture, and the community in which they live.

On your global exploration, you experience “A World of Cultures” and discover exciting similarities and unique differences in the places we live today, and the communities from which our ancestors came. Second Graders also study:

• Geography and Map Skills
• Cultural Art and Artistic Expression
• The Life Sciences of Plants and Animals

In Third Grade you are off to Asia to learn about ancient cultures. You will travel to the Great Wall of China, and visit the artisans and crafts people of Japan. You will travel to the streets of Tokyo when the Shogun still ruled and the Samurai’s sword prevailed!

Third Graders also study:

• Asian Art, Music, and Calligraphy
• Geography Landforms and Mapskills
• Solar System, Volcanoes, and Other Natural Wonders

In Fourth Grade you will study the early settlers of California and America. You learn about Native American life and Mexican influences on local culture today. You may also strike it rich while studying the early settlers and the California Gold Rush. Fourth Graders also explore:

• Creative Drama
• California Geography
• The Interaction of Living Things

Fifth Grade broadens your historical understanding of the United States by focusing on early colonization and the effects of immigration on today’s culture. Oral presentations and performances are emphasized and used to express your understanding of many topics, including:

• Westward Expansion
• Adventures of Explorers
• Art of Textiles
• Science of Human Body, Weather, Space, Energy, and Chemical Reactions

In Sixth Grade you will take a journey to the ancient and mystical pyramids of Egypt. The drama and art of ancient civilizations reveals the clues that connect the past and the present. Sixth Graders also experience:

• Creating Ancient Civilization Artifacts
• Adventures in Geometry and model making
• The Science of Earthquakes and Volcanoes
• Transforming into a Historical Character

In Seventh Grade, you travel the mountains of South America and witness the power and beauty of the Ancient Mayan culture. Travel on to the marvels of Ancient China and Japan. Take a tour of a Medieval Castle. What better place to explore the wonders of:

• Biology, Genetics and Evolution
• The study of sound technology
• PowerPoint Presentation on Ancient China
• Algebra
• The Magic of Stage Performance and Music
• Renaissance Art appreciation through iMovie
• Aztec, Inca, and Mayan Life Magazine using Microsoft Word and journalistic feature writing

Declare your Independence, at least in a historical sense, in Eighth Grade. Study the influence of England and the British Isles on early American culture. Become a key figure in American History and role play events leading up to the writing of the Constitution and beyond. Eighth Graders also learn:

• Basic Chemistry and the Periodic Table
• Science using Vernier LabPro probes
• Rocks & Minerals Magazine using Microsoft Word & journalistic feature writing
• Laws of Physics – Rollercoaster Commercials through iMovie
• PowerPoint Presentation of Life on the Oregon Trail
• The Art of Dance and Painting
• The Preparation Skills for High School Readiness

Located in the historic Fresno High area, Alexander Hamilton is one of the most respected neighborhood schools in FUSD. The mission-style buildings create a unique school environment for the traditional classroom setting that includes a community performance center. There is ample open space for recess, sports and events. The school also features two enclosed courtyards for outdoor classroom space. .

The school day starts at 8:30 a.m. with an extended Kindergarten program. Students have the opportunity to attend the Extended-Day After-School Program, which allows focused attention on homework and academic skills practice. Start your exploration around the world at Hamilton K-8 Global Studies Magnet School. Applications are available at
www.fresno.k12.ca.us/divdept/magnet, or call FUSD at 559.457.3343.

• Magnet Schools Office - (559) 457-6073
• Fresno High School - (559) 457-2780
• Wawona IB Middle School - (559) 248-7310
• Alexander Hamilton K-8 - (559) 248-7370
• Sequoia Middle School Science Center - (559) 457-3210
• Yokomi Science Academy - (559) 457-6073