Unit+Plan+Outline+-+The+Great+Gatsby

Lauren Houck


 * Unit Plan:** //The Great Gatsby// & the American dream


 * Canonical text:** //The Great Gatsby//, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
 * Supplemental texts:** //Jake Reinvented//, by Gordon Korman; //Nickel & Dimed//, by Barbara Ehrenreich; //30 Days: Minimum Wage//, (film) directed by Morgan Spurlock

__**Bibliography**__ Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scriner’s Sons, 1925

__**Unifying Concept**__ The overarching theme of this unit is for students to focus on the idea of the American dream, or perhaps, the destruction or unattainable idea of the American dream. As they move through the texts, students will dive deeper into the idea of whether the “American dream” is reasonable or is in fact unrealistic. The main text will be //The Great Gatsby//, and we will specifically focus on the characters and their achievement of the American dream - were they ever satisfied, or did this idea cause their destruction? We will then focus on the idea of the American dream within two supplemental texts. //Jake Reinvented// will focus on a teenager’s view from a social standpoint, and //Nickel & Dimed// will focus on the American dream from a economic standpoint.

__**Annotated Bibliography**__ Korman, Gordon. Jake Reinvented. New York: Hyperion Books, 2003
 * //Jake Reinvented// is homage to //The Great Gatsby//, with modern twists and social issues affecting teens today. Jake Garret is a mysterious new student at Fitzgerald High School who hosts the best parties, is star of the football team, and has all the girls swooning after him – but he only has eyes for the gorgeous Didi. The story is told through the eyes of Jake’s friend Rick, and readers get to know Jake and, eventually, his secrets.

Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel & Dimed. New York: Owl Books, 2001
 * Barbara Ehrenreich is a journalist who decides to leave her job and go uncover as a low-wage worker to investigate the 1996 welfare reform on “working poor.” She travels from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking the cheapest lodgings available and accepting work as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson. She soon finds that one job is not enough to defeat poverty, but having more than one is both mentally and physically exhausting.

Spurlock, Morgan (director). 30 Days: Minimum Wage (film). 2005
 * 30 Days is a television series in which Morgan Spurlock challenges viewers to experience life outside of their comfort zone for one month. In //30 Days: Minimum Wage//, Morgan and his fiancé left their home in New York City and tried to survive for one month in Columbus, Ohio, living on minimum wage. They agreed on three ground rules: they had to earn minimum wage, they could start with only week’s pay in case, and they had to freeze their credit cards.

__**Reader Response Activities**__ //**Letter from Characters**//
 * Choose a character from //Jake Reinvented//
 * Write a letter from that character to the equivalent character in //The Great Gatsby//. Example: Jake to Jay Gatsby, Rick to Nick Carraway, Didi to Daisy Buchanan
 * In your letter discuss a decision made by the character in //The Great Gatsby// and whether or not the modern character understands this decision, or if they agree or disagree with the decision.

//**Sociogram**//
 * Create a sociogram to create a visual representation of the social links of the characters within //The Great Gatsby//.
 * Drawings, magazine cut outs, and other visual channels can be used.
 * Use symbols to represent each character, and space them appropriately regarding the relationship of the characters. Example, a picture of a flower can represent Daisy; a set of eyes could be used as Nick representing his point of view.
 * Use symbols to connect the characters, representing their relationship.
 * Add quotes if needed to further explain your sociogram,

//**Draw the American Dream**//
 * At the beginning of the unit, have students quick write how they think the American dream should be described.
 * After reading //Nickel & Dimed//, have students draw a scene from her book, showing how the narrator is trying to achieve the American dream.


 * //Journal: Can you live on minimum wage?//**
 * Keep a journal throughout the unit. The teacher will give prompts as to how much they make each day and what they need to spend their money on. Write your thoughts about your spending and any surprises you run into.
 * Students will create a budget and try to stick to that budget, relying on the information given from the teacher each day.
 * At the end of the unit – could you live on minimum wage depending on the life you want to lead? What surprised you about this notion? Is the American dream possible?
 * After watching //30 Days: Minimum Wage//, log your thoughts in your minimum wage journal.