For the final project for this class, I intend to conduct research and reflect on how intermediate readers can understand The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the book, the culture of the “Roaring” 1920s is fully explored via Gatsby and other characters, especially their pursuit of money, extravagant lifestyle and status in society. In addition, the book portrays the heights of the “American Dream” in those years, but ends with a conclusion that the so-called dream is really an illusion. Gatsby is not an automatic member of this high society, although he does seem that he would like to be. His downfall actually comes from his heart, which cares less for the extravagant lifestyle but more for his eventual understanding of what corruption does to society and the ordinary citizen. For advanced students in fifth or sixth grade, I would also teach lessons from the book designed to expose the students to how this book and other fiction integrates history into literature. The students for this lesson will not only need to research details of that time period, but they will also need to apply what they learn from each character about their own individual goals, values and  personality. Finally, I would assign an exercise in creative writing that asks the students to put the character of their choice from Gatsby into a different situation  in today’s world that demonstrates what the chosen character might do to remedy a dilemma. My goals for this assignment include inspiring students write from the voice of the characters they choose and then either criticize or agree with the actions of that character. I would structure the assignment according to Harold Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which contemplates how different people have talents from one or more multiple intelligences. My objective is to bring out the differing interests and learnings styles of each of my students by engaging them to think about being someone else that they relate to in Gatsby. Students will address the challenges of the plot and character diversity in the book, as well as reflecting on their own feelings and the feelings of the characters they chose. The lesson plan will also require them to write effective descriptions that demonstrate their understanding of both the concept and the character.