Short Story Guide: The Gift of the Magi Workbook

This is a short story guide for the short story titled "The Gift of the Magi," by O. Henry. There are five sections, so the guide is designed to be completed in a week.

This classic story begins with Della despairing because she only has $1.87 to buy a Christmas present for her wonderful husband, Jim. O. Henry is famous for his surprise endings, so if your student has not yet experienced this story, he or she will be amazed at happens. If your student has read the story, the guide will be helpful to add depth to a rereading of this classic tale.

Students read an adaptation (The Gift of the Magi -- Adapted). After students have completed reading the adaptation, the teacher reads aloud the original version (The Gift of the Magi -- Original) -- and students compare and contrast the two versions.

The guide includes:

• vocabulary
• questions
• reading activities: character, setting, problem/conflict, plot, theme, point of view, repetition, hyperbole, allusions, similes, metaphors, situational irony, act out the story, surprise endings
• crossword puzzle
• related activities
• writing activities
• life applications/Bible
• web links
• a complete Answer Key

In this workbook version of the guide, space is provided for students to write answers.

The guide is also available in interactive format (space is not provided for students to write all of the answers): Short Story Guide: The Gift of the Magi Interactive

NOTES:

1) The content of the guide in interactive format and in workbook format is the same; the only difference is spacing.

2) The grades listed are 4rd through 9th, but the story is able to be enjoyed by all ages.

MORE RESOURCES to USE at CHRISTMAS TIME:

Free activities for beginning readers:

Christmas Activities for Snowshoe Thompson

Activities and Links: At Home in a New Land

A free resource for Little Women:

Little Women: Questions and Activities for Christmas

A free resource for a picture book:

Boxes for Katje: Activities & Summary

Short Story/Movie Guide:

The Greatest Gift/It's a Wonderful Life Interactive

The Greatest Gift/It's a Wonderful Life Workbook

FREE: It's a Wonderful Life Quote Poster

FREE: It's a Wonderful Life Poster

Guides for 4th-6th Grades:

MIni-Guide for Juniors: Star of Light Interactive*

Mini-Guide for Juniors: Star of Light Workbook*

Mini-Guide for Juniors: Treasures of the Snow Interactive*

Mini-Guide for Juniors: Treasures of the Snow Workbook*

Mini-Guide for Juniors: The Birds’ Christmas Carol Interactive

Mini-Guide for Juniors: The Birds’ Christmas Carol Workbook

Mini-Guide for Juniors: The Family Under the Bridge Interactive

Mini-Guide for Juniors: The Family Under the Bridge Workbook

Mini-Guide for Juniors: The Light at Tern Rock Interactive

Mini-Guide for Juniors: The Light at Tern Rock Workbook

Mini-Guide for Juniors: The Tanglewoods’ Secret*

Mini-Guide for Juniors: Twenty and Ten Interactive

Mini-Guide for Juniors: Twenty and Ten Workbook

*Note: The books associated with these guides contain the Patricia St. John stories, but the writing has been revised by Mary Mills.

Mini-Guides for Middlers (6th-9th Grades):

Mini-Guide for Middlers: Little Women Interactive

Mini-Guide for Middlers: Little Women Workbook

Study Guides:

Study Guide: A Christmas Carol Interactive (9th-12th Grades)

Study Guide: A Christmas Carol Workbook

Study Guide: Star of Light Interactive** (5th-8th Grades)

Study Guide: Star of Light Workbook**

Study Guide: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Interactive (4th-8th Grades)

Study Guide: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Workbook

Study Guide: The Tanglewoods’ Secret Interactive**

Study Guide: Treasures of the Snow Interactive**

Study Guide: Treasures of the Snow Workbook**

Study Guide: Two From Galilee (9th-12th Grades)

**Note: These are guides for the original books by Patricia St. John.

A list of excellent Christmas books:

Celebrate Christmas!