The Great Gatsby Vocabulary Activity

The Great Gatsby - Vocabulary

Activity Overview

As students read, they'll encounter unfamiliar vocabulary words. A great way to engage students with new words is to have them create visual vocabulary boards for the story. Students can choose between coming up with their use of the vocabulary board, finding the specific example from the text, or depicting it without words. Students can select their own words from The Great Gatsby, or you can provide them with the list below.

Gatsby Vocabulary

feign
supercilious
conscientious
infinitesimal
hauteur
repose
vestige
portentous
lethargic
magnanimous
succulent
permeate
cynical
affront
punctilious
jaunty
vacuous
retribution
innuendo
sporadic
deft
transpire
garrulous
pander

Student-created sentence for supercilious:

“When Tom hit Myrtle, he was supercilious because he believed she had no right to say Daisy's name.”

The actual usage from the novel:

“Now he was a sturdy straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward.”

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Visual Vocabulary Boards

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/11-12/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)
[ELA-Literacy/W/11-12/6] Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information
[ELA-Literacy/L/11-12/3] Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening

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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in The Great Gatsby by creating visualizations.

Choose three vocabulary words from the story and type them in the title boxes.
Find the definition in a print or online dictionary.
Write a sentence that uses the vocabulary word.
Illustrate the meaning of the word in the cell using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.

Alternatively, use Photos for Class to show the meaning of the words with the search bar.

Vocabulary Template Blank

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Rubric

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Visual Vocabulary Assignment

Define, illustrate, and give an example sentence for any three vocabulary words.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Word 1 - Sentence	Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context.	The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context.	The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence.
Word 1 - Visualization	The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word.	The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand.	The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word.
Word 2 - Sentence	Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context.	The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context.	The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence.
Word 2 - Visualization	The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word.	The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand.	The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word.
Word 3 - Sentence	Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context.	The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context.	The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence.
Word 3 - Visualization	The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word.	The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand.	The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word.