Reading Project

In our school, this year we are trying the project based learning. In each term a school subject is chosen and the project topic is given to the students. Then we group them, give all the necessary meeting dates, deadlines, rubrics, etc. We ask them to find and generate a problem. Usually, in class we brainstorm the ideas and come up with a problem. The challenge is they have to match the problem, topic with all the subjects that they are studying. (Of course, as long as it is possible) This year with my grade 11 students we are reading THE GREAT GATSBY. The project will be something related with the novel. Their problem is or let me say thir project topic is ‘How does the concept of American Dream affect the other cultures?’ That was something they came up with.Before we started reading the book, I wanted them to research the followings.

THE GREAT GATSBY                                                    

BEFORE READING

RESEARCH

1.THE AUTHOR

a.  Where was Fitzgerald born?

b.  What is his family background?

c.  When did he meet Zelda Sayre?

e.  What was Zelda’s background?

f.  How did the Fitzgeralds live?

h.  What happened to Fitzgerald in the last years of his life?

 

 

2. JAZZ AGE

When did it start? When and how did it end? Why was it called The Jazz Age?

 

3.  PROHIBITION

What was prohibited in some states in the USA during 1920s? What happened as a consequence of this?

What does ‘bootlegger’ mean?

 

4.  AMERICAN DREAM

What does American Dream mean?

 

5.  GREAT GATSBY

What qualities should a person have to be called ‘GREAT’?

They have already prepared some posters from GLOGSTER and some slide shows from ANIMOTO.

Actually I’m looking forward to seeing the result as this year I can also guide them to prepare much better presantations using the Web 2.0 tools.

I will also be very happy if you could also help me to guide my students to prepare something amazing.