The Great Gatsby

Linda Maiden
Date:

Lesson Length 8:30 to 10:00

Preparation:
Lesson Aim for Today:
Lesson aim is for students to complete K-W-L activity.
Student Learning Objective:
The student will be able to complete K-W-L activity
The student will be able to list 3 cultural events of the 1920s
The student will be able to describe how the Harlem Renaissance affect literature and
music
The student will be able to list 3 social changes for women during the 1920s
The student will be able to define the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance
The student will be able to list 2 cultural events related to the "Cultural Civil War"
Review:
Review the information the class came up with as the information they know or thought
they know about the 1920s
o Quick write based on images video
o Have each student full out K-W-L chart on information about the 1920s
Introduction:
Lesson Content:
Material Attached
Questions:
How does American in the 1920s differ from today? (Cri)
How did the automobile affect American economics, society, and culture in the 1920s?
(Cri)
What is prohibition? (L)
What is The Great Migration? (L)
What is The Harlem Renaissance? (L)
How did The Harlem Renaissance affect literature and music? (Cri)
What other aspects of 1920's culture had an effect on American Literature? (Cri)
What are aspects of the "Cultural Civil War"? (L)
How did women's roles change in society? (L)

Teach the Lesson:

Activities:
Upon entering the classroom, teacher will have a video playing that consists of Images
from the 1920s. (5 minutes) (A)
Once all students have entered the class room and have observed the images, teacher will
have students compose a quick write based on the images using these thought provoking
questions (questions will have been written on the board prior to students entering the
classroom): (10 minutes) (A)
o When and where might these pictures been taken? (time period and location)
o What details in the pictures brought you to that conclusion? (setting, clothes,
activities being performed in the photos)
Students will be given K-W-L sheet and teacher will ask each student something they
know, or think they know, about the 1920s in America. Teacher will record answers on
K-W-L Key displayed on the overhead projector and students will fill out their personal
K-W-L sheet along with teacher. (10 minutes)(A)
Teacher will ask each student about something they want to know about American in the
1920s. Teacher will record answers on K-W-L Key displayed on the overhead projector
and students will fill out their personal K-W-L sheet along with teacher. (10 minutes)(A)
Teacher will break students into groups based on their reading level (NOTE: Please see
name listed on each article. Articles are divided by each student's instructional
reading level) and each group will read article given to them by the instructor. While
reading students will be asked to make information on K-W-L sheet that is confirmed by
their assigned article. Students will be asked to record in new information presented in
the article on the K-W-L sheet (10 minutes)(R)
Once everyone in their group has read his or her article, in their assigned groups, students
will discuss the things they learned in the article. (10 minutes) (R)
Students will then leave their groups and teacher will ask each student to list one piece of
information that was confirmed by their articles and one new piece of information that
they learned from reading the article. As each student does this teacher will continue to
fill out K-W-L Key on overhead and students will fill out their individual K-W-L sheet.
(10 minutes) (R)
Teacher will present a short power point presentation introducing the 1920s and how the
1920s connect to F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Great Gatsby. Students will be given a
paper copy of the power point presentation with designated areas next to each slide to
take notes (20 minutes) (C)
Students will be asked to bring a small 3 ring binder and 10 dividers (one divider for each
chapter and one divider for a section on information about literary elements) to class the
next day. This will be the only notebook they will need for the next two weeks. Students
will be given a list of literary elements with a brief description of each element that they
will be asked to review before the next class. Teacher will ask students to place the list of
literary element and the days K-W-L sheet inside the notebook they will bring with next
day (2 minutes)
Students will be asked to write an exit slip that contains three thing they learned today
about the 1920s. Teacher will collect exit slips as students exit the class room (3
minutes) (C)

Total Class Time: 90 minutes

Materials Needed
K-W-L Sheet
Reading material based on reading levels
Power Point handout
Literary Elements handout
Check for understanding:
Check for understanding by hearing correct information that each students learned in
reading their article.
Check for understanding by having student fill out an exit slip
o Student must list three thing they learned about the 1920s
Lesson Closure:
Conclusion of lesson: (Also included in teaching the lesson section)
Give students information on material need for their The Great Gatsby Notebook
(Needed by next class period)
Give students sheet of literary elements to review for next class
Reinforcement:
Reinforcement will done during next class period when we begin reading The Great
Gatsby and examining "Setting" of the novel.
Self-Evaluation of Lesson:

Review exit slips