1. The Great Gatsby Unit Plan Focusing on The American Dream

2. Overview Understand the concept of “The American Dream” Analyzing The American Dream during the Roaring 20’s. Evaluate the influence on our society and evaluate own status within The American Dream Analysis of the novel The Great Gatsby Examining informational texts pertaining to the 1920s Demonstrate the overall understanding of the period and the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald by creating a 1920’s style newspaper.

3. Essential Questions What is The American Dream? How do the characters in The Great Gatsby exhibit or not exhibit the characteristics of The American Dream? Does The American Dream still exist today? How does it apply to you? What connections can you make between The Great Gatsby and informational texts about The American Dream and the Roaring 20’s?

4. Understandings The American Dream represents an ideal implying that position, wealth, and power can be achieved by anyone through hard work. While some characters see The American Dream as an illusion, others see it as a tangible reality; still others fail to attain it because of their unrealistic approach. The existence of The American Dream depends on each individual’s definition and the context of his or her life. The American Dream is seen to exist through available informational texts.

5. Performance Task Students will create a 1920’s newspaper based on the informational texts along with the novel. Students will take into consideration the main aspects of the Roaring 1920’s. Students will be able to identify characters and their motives throughout the book. They will be able to take on the role of a journalist and through their tone and language, be able to bring the reader to the year that they are writing. Will close reading, students will display their knowledge of the recurring images into their newspaper.

6. GRASP Model Goal: Students will be ale to use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters Role: Students will be taking on the role of a reporter in the 1920s reporting on The Great Gatsby events, characters, and themes. Audience: Readers of the 1920s aka our class Scenario: Students will be working under the scenario of a journalist. They are competing to produce a newspaper that reflects their understanding of the vocabulary and time period. Product or Performance: Each student will create a newspaper of the 1920s based on the characters and events that take place during The Great Gatsby.

7. Inquiry Based Activities Engage: Pre- Reading of the 1920s Students will talk about their idea of The American Dream Explore: Close reading of the 1920s Reading The Great Gatsby Exploring the role of The American Dream in each character Explain: Make connections between characters and The American Dream How does The American Dream become visible in the book? Extend: What would The American Dream be in our society today? What political/celebrity figures resemble that of the characters in The Great Gatsby?

8. Textbook Resources

9. Website Resources Creating Your Own Newspaper What is the American Dream? A Better Life Creating the American Dream