Students in Modern American Literature at IHS studied the classic “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and as a culminating activity (in place of a final test), students showed what they learned at “The Gatsby Fair.”
Students were required to create a display booth (similar to a science fair set-up) at the Gatsby Fair to demonstrate what they learned. Students chose different project options to place on their display boards, creating something that they could use to teach people who visit their booth.
A large portion of their grade incorporated higher-level synthesis and evaluation activities in which students applied what they learned while studying the Great Gatsby. Students really go all out for this project creating a Gatsby Party-like atmosphere with 1920s food and music. For example, Josh Ferris included a short video with directions and music to show Gatsby Fair-goers how to perform the Charleston. Jamie Rancor made a price list of all of the items for a Gatsby party and compared the cost of a party during the 1920s to the same lavish party today.
Johnny Becker incorporated a clever game which encouraged audience members to figure out various Gatsby vocabulary words based on pictures. (The prize was a pumpkin bar.) Needless to say, this was a hit with fair attendees.
Kylee Conner also baked and provided refreshments in order to create the party-like atmosphere so often found in The Great Gatsby, and Jordan Haggberg created a unique I-spy game in which people who attended her display booth searched for symbolic elements found in the novel.
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