This time of year, reading teachers cannot help but think of the classic story, “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. The ideal short story, it contains identifiable literary techniques that students can discuss. The story is, however, somewhat dated. Not many of us can relate to cutting our hair and selling it to buy a gift. One way to incorporate the theme of the story into a valuable lesson is to ask students what their most prized possession is, and would they part with it to get something for someone they love. Since our students are most likely not married, it may be hard for them to fully grasp the sacrifice, but they all have possessions that are valuable to them, and parting with them for the benefit of someone else is the point. Students can re-write the story with a modern twist in a modern setting and see where it goes. Writing and then presenting a scene would be a fun way to spend a class period while counting down to winter break.
