The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Alex Griffith
Week One (classes run on a block schedule)
Day One
Introduction to the 1920’s
Brainstorm, as a whole, what
class knows about the 1920s
Watch movie on the 1920s, fastforwarding to parts relevant to
the novel
- Individually, find three
new facts about the 20s,
use for large group
discussion
Explain relevance between The
Great Gatsby and the Roaring
Twenties
Handout journals
- Explain expectations
- Give first journal
questions
- Large group discussion
about questions with
students sharing their
responses
Introduce settings
Homework: Read chapters one
and two/ journal quote and
reflection
Day Two
Journals:
Begin with journal question:
large group discussion based
on journal responses
Have students share quote
reflections (share my quote)
Setting Analysis: Think-Pair
Share Activity Worksheet
Assign students a setting,
individual analysis, grouped
based on assigned setting
-show clips of Titanic to
emphasize “old rich”, “new
rich”, “poor”
Character Corners Worksheet
Individually, students choose
which character is most
intriguing to them and form
pairs based on this
Large Group Discussion
Questions
Grade: 10
Day Three
Journals:
Journal question- large
group discussion
Quote reflections- large
group discussion
Chapter Three Scene
Analysis Worksheet:
Small-groups analyze a
scene from chapter three
Play Telephone:
Discuss Gatsby gossip
based on results
Large Group Discussion:
Who is Gatsby?
Miscellaneous discussion
questions to check for
understanding
Homework:
Read chapter four/ journal
quote reflection
Day Four
Day Five
Journals:
Journal question – large group
discussion; quote reflections
(share mine)
Journals:
Journal question – large group
discussion; quote reflections
(share mine)
Symbolism Jigsaw Activity:
What role does symbolism
play in the novel?
Chapter Five Quote
Interpretation:
Pick your favorite quote and
get into pairs based on this to
interpret the quote
F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography:
Find five parallels between
Fitzgerald and the novel. Why
do you think he wrote it?
Discussion Questions for
Chapter 4:
Asses students’
comprehension through large
group discussion
Homework:
Read chapter five/ journal
quote reflection
Silent Reading (if time)
Silent Reading (if time)
Homework: read chapter
three/ journal quote
Discussion Questions for
Chapter Five:
Assess student
comprehension through large
group discussion
Assessment Check:
Individually, fill out questions
about first five chapters of
novel (large group discussion)
Homework:
Read chapter six / journal
quote reflection
Silent Reading (if time)
Silent Reading (if time)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Alex Griffith
Week Tw0
Day Six
Journals:
Journal question – large group
discussion; quote reflections
(share mine)
2 Truths and a Lie:
Discuss chapter six through this
game and have students come up
with their own two truths and a
lie based on chapter six
Day Seven
Journals:
Journal question – large group
discussion; quote reflections
(share mine)
What’s the Forecast?
Small-group analysis of scenes
using weather as symbolism
Wall Quotes:
Have quotes from chapter six
taped around the room and
students must reflect on two of
their choosing
Three Rationale
Predictions/Three Moments of
Foreshadowing:
Individually, students offer
three rational predictions for
what will transpire In the rest
of the novel
Setting Brainstorm:
Have students brainstorm in pairs
all they know about assigned
settings thus far in the novel
Large Group Discussion:
Assess student knowledge of
main points of chapters via
discussion questions.
Homework:
Read chapter seven / journal
quote reflection
Homework:
Read chapters eight and nine/
journal quote reflections
Silent Reading (if time)
Silent Reading (if time)
Day Eight
Journals:
Journal question – large group
discussion; quote reflections
(share mine)
Character Assay:
Think-Pair-Share activity where
students analyze a character in
depth.
Name that Theme:
Students will brainstorm all of
the ways their given theme is
reflected in the scenes of the
novel
Handout Study Guides:
Go over study guide with class/
discuss format of test
Homework:
Bring in questions for Gatsby
party discussion
Study for test
Day Nine
Journals:
Journal question – large
group discussion; quote
reflections (share mine)
Great Gatsby Party:
I throw a Gatsby style party
with refreshments and
food. Students must bring
in at least three questions
about the novel to
generate a large group
discussion. This will
constitute as their review
and study session prior to
the cumulative test. I will
assess whether or not
students fully understand
the novel and scaffold the
discussion as needed.
Student Evaluation of
Teaching:
I ask students to fill out an
evaluation of my teaching.
Homework:
Study for test
Day Ten
Great Gatsby unit test
Watch The Great Gatsby
Movie
Find three ways in which
the movie and the novel
differ. How do the
differences affect the
message of the movie
versus the message of the
novel? Which version is the
stronger story?
No Homework