The Great Gatsby Kill and Run ch 7 activity: music and art

Students read, annotate, and connect the lyrics of Sia's "Kill and Run" from the 2013 film soundtrack to the end of chapter 7. As they do, they'll better understand the complexities of Myrtle's death including who shoulders the blame and what her death symbolizes. This also includes a scaffolding activity to decode symbols in the novel, specifically the Eyes of T. J. Eckleburg.

• You can use this as an assessment at the end of chapter 7. It could be a chance to prove students read the text. It could also assess their ability to analyze complex plot points such as Myrtle’s death.
• You can do this activity as a reading quiz. If students know the novel, they should be able to make connections to the text (the song lyrics).
• This can also be used as a starter activity. I love using music and art to introduce to get students thinking.
• This works well for differentiated learning. Students who don’t often speak up during academic discussions will often share their ideas because they feel proud of the connections they made.