Jessi_Sessions

Sessions - English 11

The Great Gatsby Group Project

Objective: To understand the 1920's Jazz Age by researching specific elements of the 1920's.

First things first! The class must split up into groups of 2 - 4 students. Student groups will be assigned one of four topic groups to research and present in a power point presentation.

Topic Group 1: Daily Life / Foods / Slang (Choose 6)
 * The Charleston
 * Flagpole sitting
 * Mah jongg
 * Crossword puzzles
 * Music
 * Radio
 * Jazz
 * Food & Beverages
 * 20 popular words / expressions (and their meanings)
 * The economy

Topic Group 2: Flappers / Fashion / Cars (Do all) (Include as many pictures as possible)
 * Describe the flappers. How did they behave? Who were they?
 * Describe fashionable female attire / accessories.
 * Describe fashionable men's attire.
 * Describe the cars of the era.

Topic Group 3: Prohibition / Crime / Scandals (Choose 6)
 * Prohibition: What? When? Why?
 * Speakeasies
 * Izzy Einstein & Moe Smith
 * Al Capone and organized crime
 * St. Valentine's Day Massacre
 * Sacco & Vanzetti
 * 1919 World Series
 * Fatty Arbuckle
 * KKK

Topic Group 4: Famous People / Famous Events / Noteworthy Inventions (Choose 6)
 * Harry Houdini
 * Henry Ford
 * Richard Byrd
 * Rudoph Valentino
 * "Shoeless" Joe Jackson
 * Scopes Monkey Trial
 * Leopold-Loeb case with Clarence Darrow
 * Lindbergh solo flight
 * Rosewood Massacre
 * Women's suffrage

The end product will be a thorough power point presentation lasting approximately 10 minutes with all group members delivering the presentation. Your group will have 3 days in the media center to do research. You will have 2 more days in class to work on your project. Be aware if you are not using class time wisely, a portion of your project will need to be developed outside of class. Be sure to get your partners' phone numbers and email addresses!