Gatsby Themed Escape Room Challenge
Created byErin Brown
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Gatsby Themed Escape Room Challenge

Grade 10English15 days
This project involves 10th-grade students designing a 'Gatsby Themed Escape Room Challenge' to explore and analyze key themes and literary devices from 'The Great Gatsby'. Students engage in activities that require analyzing themes, such as social class and foreshadowing, and translating these elements into creative escape room puzzles. Through collaborative discussions, research, and blueprint creation, students build an escape room experience that demonstrates a deep understanding of the novel’s themes and characters, enhancing their analytical and presentation skills.
Escape RoomThe Great GatsbyLiterary AnalysisSocial ClassForeshadowingCollaborative LearningCreative Design
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design an engaging escape room activity that effectively explores and teaches the key themes and literary devices used in The Great Gatsby, while considering the influence of social class and the role of foreshadowing?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the key themes present in The Great Gatsby?
  • How do literary devices enhance the understanding of a text?
  • In what ways does social class influence the characters in The Great Gatsby?
  • What role does foreshadowing play in literature?
  • How can designing an escape room help us understand complex themes and characters?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Analyze key themes such as social class in The Great Gatsby and how they influence character development.
  • Understand and identify literary devices like foreshadowing used in The Great Gatsby and analyze their impact.
  • Collaboratively design an engaging escape room activity that explores literary themes and devices.
  • Develop skills in citing textual evidence to support theme analysis and interpretations.
  • Enhance oral and written communication skills through discussion and presentation of ideas.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.1
Primary
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.Reason: Students will analyze 'The Great Gatsby' with a focus on citing textual evidence from the novel to support their interpretations of themes and literary devices.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2
Primary
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.Reason: The project focuses on identifying and analyzing key themes in 'The Great Gatsby,' making this standard highly relevant.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.3
Primary
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.Reason: Students will explore the influence of social class and analyze character development in 'The Great Gatsby,' aligning well with this standard.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.7
Secondary
Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.Reason: Designing an escape room requires research and synthesis of multiple sources, aligning with this research-focused standard.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1
Supporting
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.Reason: The escape room design project involves collaborative discussions to plan and execute the activity effectively.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Thematic Escape Room Marketing Launch

Students participate in a simulated marketing launch event for their designed escape room based on The Great Gatsby themes. They learn the essentials of pitching and market appeal while creatively synthesizing social class dynamics, symbols, and metaphors from the book.

Time Traveler's Journal Discovery

Students find a fictional journal that appears to have belonged to a party-goer from Gatsby's era, filled with clues tied to key themes from the book. This discovery drives the need to explore the depth of these themes as they correlate with crafting puzzle elements, foreshadowing the tragic end.

Virtual Reality Visit to Gatsby's Mansion

Through a VR headset experience, students virtually 'enter' Gatsby's mansion and witness pivotal scenes from the book, sparking interest in re-creating these moments physically in their escape room while exploring literary devices and societal themes present in the novel.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Literary Device Detective

Through investigation and research, students explore literary devices used in 'The Great Gatsby,' and plan how these can be used as foreshadowing elements in their escape room design.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Students individually identify and document examples of literary devices used in the novel, such as symbolism and metaphors.
2. Research the purpose and effect of these devices on the reader's understanding of themes.
3. Discuss in groups how these literary devices could be transformed into puzzles or clues for the escape room.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA portfolio containing literary device analyses and proposals for escape room puzzles based on these devices.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsMeets CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.1 (Cite textual evidence) and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2 (Analyze theme development).
Activity 2

Character Connection Chronicles

Students analyze complex characters in 'The Great Gatsby,' focusing on their relationships and how social class influences their actions, and develop character-driven challenges for the escape room.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Assign each group a main character from the novel to explore, such as Gatsby, Tom, or Daisy.
2. Conduct character studies to understand their motives, conflicts, and development, especially in the context of social class.
3. Present character analyses, and brainstorm character-related challenges for the escape room.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityCharacter analysis reports and a proposed set of character-driven escape room challenges.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.3 (Analyze complex characters) and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.1 (Cite textual evidence).
Activity 3

Escape Room Blueprint Bonanza

With their research and analyses completed, students collaboratively design and refine their escape room blueprints, integrating themes, literary devices, and character analysis into an engaging experience.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Gather all reports and analyses from previous activities to use as a reference for the escape room design.
2. Start designing an escape room blueprint, incorporating key themes, literary puzzles, and character challenges outlined in previous activities.
3. Groups present their blueprints and receive peer feedback to refine their design.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed escape room blueprint incorporating literary themes, devices, and character challenges.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.7 (Conduct research projects) and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1 (Participate in collaborative discussions).
Activity 4

Escape Room Experience Extravaganza

Students set up the designed escape room for others to experience, guiding participants through the themes and literary devices explored in 'The Great Gatsby.'

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Transform the classroom or designated area into the escape room using the blueprint as a guide.
2. Invite other students or classes to participate and act as facilitators, explaining the thematic and literary significance of each puzzle.
3. Collect feedback from participants on the effectiveness and engagement of the escape room.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn interactive escape room experience showcasing students' understanding of 'The Great Gatsby's themes and literary devices.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.7 (Demonstrating understanding through projects) and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1 (Engage in discussions and presentations).
Activity 5

Theme Identification Showdown

Students work collaboratively to identify and analyze key themes in 'The Great Gatsby.' They will create a detailed theme report that influences the design of their escape room puzzles.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a specific theme from 'The Great Gatsby,' such as social class or the American Dream.
2. Each group reads assigned sections of the book and notes instances where their theme is prominent, citing textual evidence.
3. Groups collaborate to create a short presentation summarizing their findings and how these themes can be incorporated into escape room puzzles.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA group presentation and written theme report with cited textual evidence that outlines how themes will be integrated into the escape room.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.1 (Cite strong and thorough textual evidence) and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2 (Determine a theme or central idea of a text).
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Thematic Escape Room: The Great Gatsby

Category 1

Literary Analysis

Assessment of understanding and articulation of key literary devices and themes in 'The Great Gatsby.'
Criterion 1

Theme Identification

Ability to identify and articulate key themes in 'The Great Gatsby' with supporting textual evidence.

Exemplary
4 Points

Thoroughly identifies and explains multiple key themes, using extensive textual evidence that shows deep understanding and insight.

Proficient
3 Points

Clearly identifies and explains several key themes, supported by well-chosen textual evidence.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some themes with limited explanation and uses minimal evidence.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify themes and rarely uses textual evidence to support explanations.

Criterion 2

Literary Device Analysis

Ability to analyze the impact of literary devices in conveying themes and messages.

Exemplary
4 Points

Thoroughly analyzes multiple literary devices, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of their effect on the text.

Proficient
3 Points

Analyzes several literary devices accurately with competent understanding of their impact.

Developing
2 Points

Provides a basic analysis of few literary devices, with limited understanding of their impact.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to analyze literary devices and understand their significance.

Category 2

Creative Design

Evaluation of originality and creativity in escape room design, integrating literary elements.
Criterion 1

Puzzle Creativity

Originality and creativity in designing puzzles that reflect literary themes and devices.

Exemplary
4 Points

Designs exceptionally creative and unique puzzles that intricately integrate literary themes and devices.

Proficient
3 Points

Designs creative and relevant puzzles that integrate literary themes and devices.

Developing
2 Points

Designs simple puzzles with limited creativity, showing partial integration of themes and devices.

Beginning
1 Points

Designs basic puzzles lacking creativity and integration of literary elements.

Criterion 2

Theme Integration in Design

Effectiveness of theme integration within escape room design elements.

Exemplary
4 Points

Ingeniously incorporates themes throughout design, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.

Proficient
3 Points

Successfully incorporates themes in the design, creating a coherent experience.

Developing
2 Points

Incorporates some themes into design with partial coherence.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to incorporate themes effectively into the design.

Category 3

Collaboration and Communication

Assessment of group collaboration, idea-sharing, and communication throughout the project.
Criterion 1

Collaborative Effort

Effective participation and collaboration within the group during the escape room project.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates leadership in group activities, facilitates idea-sharing, and integrates diverse ideas seamlessly.

Proficient
3 Points

Actively participates and contributes to group activities, supporting idea-sharing.

Developing
2 Points

Participates but shows inconsistency in contribution and idea-sharing.

Beginning
1 Points

Limited participation and minimal contribution to group efforts.

Criterion 2

Presentation Skills

Clarity and effectiveness in presenting ideas and the final escape room design.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents ideas with exceptional clarity, confidence, and persuasive elements, engaging the audience fully.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents ideas clearly and confidently with some engaging elements.

Developing
2 Points

Presents ideas with basic clarity, lacking engagement strategies.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to present ideas clearly and engagingly.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How did the process of designing an escape room help you better understand the key themes and literary devices in 'The Great Gatsby'?

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Question 2

Which literary device in 'The Great Gatsby' did you find most challenging to incorporate into your escape room design, and why?

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Question 3

On a scale of 1 to 5, how effective do you think your escape room was in helping others understand the themes of 'The Great Gatsby'?

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Question 4

What was your most significant learning experience during the collaborative aspects of the escape room project?

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Question 5

Which aspect of the escape room design and execution would you improve if given another chance?

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