Teaching The Great Gatsby doesn’t have to feel like trudging through “a valley of ashes.” If you’re teaching F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic this year, you know the power of setting the stage for Gatsby’s rich themes and historical context. Instead of using your usual introductory slideshow (which, let’s face it, can feel as dull as watching Daisy’s green light from afar), you can dazzle your students with pre-reading stations that bring the Roaring Twenties to life.
How Stations Can Hook Your Learners
Pre-reading learning stations are one of the most effective strategies for building the curiosity and background knowledge needed to tackle this fan favorite text. The Great Gatsby is set in the Roaring Twenties, an era many students are unfamiliar with. Students need to understand the historical context to analyze Fitzgerald’s social commentary thoroughly. These learning stations explore the many facets of the novel’s context: fashion, music, the economy, technology, and the modernization of the time. Research shows movement and chunked learning can boost retention and focus, so let’s get your students up and participating! Stations are like a Gatsby party: everyone is invited!
Overview of the Station Activities for The Great Gatsby
Station 1: Fashion and Social Culture
At this stop, students have the opportunity to pore over vintage Vogue spreads and explore the rise of the flapper. They’ll discover how fashion reflected new freedoms for women. Think, The Devil Wears Prada: 1920s edition. Then, they plot big cultural shifts on a timeline.
Station 2: Economic Boom and Prohibition in the 1920s
Here, students dive into the economic growth and the impact of Prohibition. They’ll read up on stock market stats and watch a short film clip revealing how people broke the law at speakeasies. Basically, Gatsby’s entire social circle in one station.
Station 3: The Jazz Age
Students listen to Jazz classics by Armstrong and Gershwin and respond to the energy and experimental spirit of the age. Then, they’ll analyze 1920s artwork and contemplate how the art conveyed the culture of the 1920s.
Station 4: Technology and Modernization
The 1920s were buzzing with new inventions. Students examine ads, catalogs, and data that show how technology and shiny new gadgets transformed the lives of Americans. Remind students this was the TikTok of its time!
Finale: One-Page Reflection
After the stations, students pull together what they have learned into a one-pager. They highlight their most fascinating discoveries, sketch a visual, and reflect on how the 1920s connect to today. This is their chance to synthesize the information they have learned, while also being creative!
Takeaways For Using Great Gatsby Stations
Pre-reading stations don’t just build background knowledge; these stations will help your students actually step into the 1920s, making the world of Gatsby more relatable. While rotating through, students will come to the novel curious and ready to see how Gatsby reflects the decade they’ve already explored.
Great Gatsby Stations Only $3
Are you ready to make your classroom into a Gatsby’s soiree (minus the champagne fountains)? Grab these stations for only $3 when you click here.
