American

 Stories  
The Christmas present
Based  on  the  story  by  O.  Henry  
Lesson  Plan  
by   Arstanbekkyzy
Aigerim
 Introduc5on  

This  lesson  plan  is  to  accompany  the  American  Stories  series  episode,  the Chr
istmas present ,  by    O.  Henry.
A  transcript  of  the  story  is  included  at  the  end  of  this  lesson  to  print  so  
students  can  read  as  they  listen.  Teachers  who  cannot  play  the  audio  from  the  
website  can  read  the  story  aloud  or  have  students  read  it.  
Lesson  Elements  

Prepare  
Present  
Prac5ce  
Self-­‐Evaluate  
Expand  
Prepare  
Introduce  the  theme  of  the  story.  “This  story  is  
about  giving  giDs.  One  of  the  ?mes  people  in  
America  give  giDs  is  at  Christmas  ?me.  What  do  you  
know  about  the  tradi?on  of  giving  Christmas  giDs?”  
Listen  to  students’  
Explain  the  class  focus:  “Today  we  will  learn  about  a  
famous  story  of  Christmas  giDs  with  a  kind  of  funny  
ending.  Let’s  learn  some  of  the  new  words  first.”    
 

Teach  vocabulary  and  new  concepts  

 Vocabulary  

nego5ate  -­‐  v.  to  discuss  something  formally  in  order  to  make  an  
agreement  

immovable  -­‐  adj.  not  able  to  be  moved  :  firmly  fixed  in  place  

expression  -­‐  n.    the  way  someone's  face  looks  that  shows  emo?ons  
and  feelings  

magi  -­‐  n.  the  wise  men,  generally  assumed  to  be  three  in  number,  
who  paid  homage  to  the  infant  Jesus  (from  the  Bible:  MaT.  2:1–12)  
Present  
Introduce  the  story:  “This  story  is  about  a  young  couple  in  love.  We  
learn  about  what  is  most  important  in  their  lives.  Before  we  begin  
reading,  please  take  a  minute  to  think  about  what  is  most  important  
in  your  life.  Tell  your  neighbor  what  you  decide.”  
Give  students  ?me  to  think  and  talk  about  the  most  important  
things  in  their  lives.  
Ask  students  “Was  your  most  important  thing  something  you  can  
see?  Or  was  it  something  you  can’t  see?”  
Discuss  the  idea  of  abstract  concepts,  like  love,  being  more  
important  than  physical  possessions.    
 

Explain  the  task  and  model  the  learning  strategy  

Explain  the  strategy:  “Today  we  are  going  to  use  the  strategy,  focus.  
As  we  read  this  story,  we  can  focus  on  how  we  learn  about  the  
characters,  Jim  and  Della.  I’ll  show  you  with  the  first  part.  I’m  going  to  
focus  as  I  listen  to  find  out  about  the  characters  in  the  story.”  
Play  or  read  the  story  to  ‘And  the  next  day  would  be  Christmas.’  
Re-­‐read  the  lines,  “Nego>a>ng  un>l  one's  face  burned  with  the  silent  
knowledge  of  being  poor.”  Say,  “When  I  read  this,  I  know  something  
about  Della.  She  tries  hard  to  save  money,  but  she  is  poor.”      
 

Explain  the  task  and  model  the  learning  strategy  

Prac5ce  
“Now  it’s  your  turn.  As  we  read  the  next  part  of  the  story,  focus  on  
anything  else  you  can  learn  about  Della.”  
Play  the  story  to  “She  had  been  saving  every  penny  she  could  for  
months,  with  this  result.”    
“What  did  you  learn?  Why  is  Della  sad?  Why  is  she  saving  money?”  
Ask  students  to  turn  to  their  neighbor  and  share  what  they  
learned  about  Della.  Have  several  share  with  the  class  as  a  whole.  
“Let’s  read  a  liTle  more  of  the  story  now.  Remember  to  focus  on  what  
you  can  learn  about  Jim  and  Della.”  

Allow  students  to  prac?ce  the  strategy  with  the  story  

 Play  to  ‘She  stood  s?ll  while  a  few  tears  fell  on  the  floor.’  
Ask,  “What  else  did  you  learn?  Do  you  know  more  about  Jim  now?”  
Ask  students  to  turn  to  their  neighbor  and  share  what  they  
learned  about  Della  and  Jim.  Have  several  share  with  the  class  as  
a  whole.  
“Let’s  read  a  the  rest  of  the  story  now.”  
Play  to  the  end  of  the  story.  Ask  students  to  make  a  list  together  
with  their  neighbor  of  the  things  they  learned  about  the  
characters  in  the  story.    

Allow  students  to  prac?ce  the  strategy  with  the  story  

Self-­‐Evaluate  
Ask  students  to  stay  with  their  neighbor  and  turn  to  join  another  pair  
of  students.  “I’d  like  you  to  do  something  a  liTle  different  today  as  we  
evaluate  the  strategy,  focus.  In  your  group  of  four,  talk  about  the  end  
of  the  story.  Was  it  a  surprise  to  you?  Did  you  guess  that  this  might  
happen,  based  on  what  you  learned  about  Jim  and  Della?”  
Give  students  ?me  to  talk  about  the  surprise  ending.    
Ask,  “Now  I’d  like  to  ask  you  what  you  think  about  using  this  strategy,  
focus,  when  you  read.  If  you  think  it  helps  you,  put  your  right  thumb  
up.  If  you’re  not  sure,  put  your  right  thumb  sideways.  If  you  don’t  
think  it  helped,  put  your  right  thumb  down.”  

Ask  students  to  evaluate  for  themselves  whether  the  strategy  helped  them  
Expand  
Ask  students,  “Are  there  other  ?mes  when  you  can  focus  on  what  you  
learn  by  reading?”    
Listen  to  students’  ideas.  
Con?nue,  “This  strategy  is  helpful  if  you  need  to  pay  aTen?on  to  
specific  informa?on.  For  example,  when  you  are  listening  to  a  voice  
message  to  get  a  phone  number,  you  use  this  strategy.  If  your  teacher  
starts  talking  about  what’s  going  to  be  on  a  test,  you  will  probably  
focus  on  the  informa?on  that  will  help  you  prepare  for  the  test.  
Try  using  this  strategy  tonight  when  you  do  your  homework,  or  in  
your  next  class.  Let  me  know  how  it  goes!”  

Ask  students  use  the  strategy  in  other  contexts  

 The  Gift  of  the  Magi  by  O.  Henry  

One   dollar   and   eighty-­‐seven   cents.   That   was   all.   And   sixty   cents   of   it   in   the   smallest  
pieces  of  money  -­‐  pennies.  Pennies  saved  one  and  two  at  a  time  by  negotiating  with  the  
men   at   the   market   who   sold   vegetables   and   meat.   Negotiating   until   one's   face   burned  
with   the   silent   knowledge   of   being   poor.   Three   times   Della   counted   it.   One   dollar   and  
eighty-­‐seven  cents.  And  the  next  day  would  be  Christmas.  

There  was  clearly  nothing  to  do  but  sit  down  and  cry.  So  Della  cried.  Which  led  to  the  
thought  that  life  is  made  up  of  little  cries  and  smiles,  with  more  little  cries  than  smiles.  

Della  finished  her  crying  and  dried  her  face.  She  stood  by  the  window  and  looked  out  
unhappily  at  a  gray  cat  walking  along  a  gray  fence  in  a  gray  back  yard.  Tomorrow  would  
be   Christmas   Day,   and   she   had   only   one   dollar   and   eighty-­‐seven   cents   to   buy   her  
husband   Jim   a   gift.   She   had   been   saving   every   penny   she   could   for   months,   with   this  
result.  

Jim   earned   twenty   dollars   a   week,   which   does   not   go   far.   Expenses   had   been   greater  
than  she  had  expected.  They  always  are.  Many  a  happy  hour  she  had  spent  planning  to  
buy  something  nice  for  him.  Something  fine  and  rare  -­‐-­‐  something  close  to  being  worthy  
of  the  honor  of  belonging  to  Jim.  

There   was   a   tall   glass   mirror   between   the  

windows   of   the   room.   Suddenly   Della   turned  
from   the   window   and   stood   before   the   glass  
mirror   and   looked   at   herself.   Her   eyes   were  
shining,   but   her   face   had   lost   its   color   within  
twenty  seconds.  Quickly  she  pulled  down  her  hair  

Their  two  most  valuable  possessions    

and  let  it  fall  to  its  full  length.  

Now,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Dillingham  Young  had  two  possessions  which  they  valued.  One  
was   Jim's   gold   time   piece,   the   watch   that   had   been   his   father's   and   his   grandfather's.  
The  other  was  Della's  hair.  

1  
 
The  Gift  of  the  Magi  by  O.  Henry  |  VOA  Learning  English  |  American  Stories  
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/  
Had  the  Queen  of  Sheba  lived  in  their  building,  Della  would  have  let  her  hair  hang  out  
the  window  to  dry  just  to  reduce  the  value  of  the  queen's  jewels.  

So   now   Della's   beautiful   hair   fell   about   her,   shining   like   a   brown   waterfall.   It   reached  
below  her  knees  and  made  itself  almost  like  a  covering  for  her.  And  then  quickly  she  put  
it  up  again.  She  stood  still  while  a  few  tears  fell  on  the  floor.  

She  put  on  her  coat  and  her  old  brown  hat.  With  a  quick  motion  and  brightness  still  in  
her  eyes,  she  danced  out  the  door  and  down  the  street.  

Where   she   stopped   the   sign   read:   "Madame   Sofronie.   Hair  

Goods  of  All  Kinds."  Della  ran  up  the  steps  to  the  shop,  out  
of  breath.  

"Will  you  buy  my  hair?"  asked  Della.  

"I   buy   hair,"   said   Madame.   "Take   your   hat   off   and   let   us  
have  a  look  at  it."   Della  at  Madame  Sofroni's  shop    

Down  came  the  beautiful  brown  waterfall  of  hair.  

"Twenty  dollars,"  said  Madame,  lifting  the  hair  with  an  experienced  hand.  

"Give  it  to  me  quick,"  said  Della.  

The  next  two  hours  went  by  as  if  they  had  wings.  Della  looked  in  all  the  stores  to  choose  
a  gift  for  Jim.  

She  found  it  at  last.  It  surely  had  been  made  for  Jim  and  no  one  else.  It  was  a  chain  -­‐-­‐  
simple  round  rings  of  silver.  It  was  perfect  for  Jim's  gold  watch.  As  soon  as  she  saw  it  
she  knew  that  it  must  be  for  him.  It  was  like  him.  Quiet  and  with  great  value.  She  gave  
the   shopkeeper   twenty-­‐one   dollars   and   she   hurried   home   with   the   eighty-­‐seven   cents  
that  was  left.  

  2  
The  Gift  of  the  Magi  by  O.  Henry  |  VOA  Learning  English  |  American  Stories  
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/  
When   Della   arrived   home   she   began   to   repair   what   was   left   of   her   hair.   The   hair   had  
been  ruined  by  her  love  and  her  desire  to  give  a  special  gift.  Repairing  the  damage  was  a  
very  big  job.  

Within  forty  minutes  her  head  was  covered  with  tiny  round  curls  of  hair  that  made  her  
look   wonderfully   like   a   schoolboy.   She   looked   at   herself   in   the   glass   mirror   long   and  
carefully.  

"If  Jim  does  not  kill  me  before  he  takes  a  second  look  
at  me,"  she  said  to  herself,  "he'll  say  I  look  like  a  song  
girl.   But   what   could   I   do-­‐-­‐oh!   what   could   I   do   with   a  
dollar  and  eighty-­‐seven  cents?"  

At   seven   o'clock   that   night   the   coffee   was   made   and  

the   pan   on   the   back   of   the   stove   was   hot   and   ready   to  
Della  looking  at  her  short  hair     cook  the  meat.  

Jim   was   never   late   coming   home   from   work.   Della   held   the   silver   chain   in   her   hand   and  
sat  near  the  door.  Then  she  heard  his  step  and  she  turned  white  for  just  a  minute.  She  
had  a  way  of  saying  a  little  silent  prayer  about  the  simplest  everyday  things,  and  now  
she  whispered:  "Please  God,  make  him  think  I  am  still  pretty."  

The  door  opened  and  Jim  stepped  in.  He  looked  thin  and  very  serious.  Poor  man,  he  was  
only  twenty-­‐two  and  he  had  to  care  for  a  wife.  He  needed  a  new  coat  and  gloves  to  keep  
his  hands  warm.  

Jim  stopped  inside  the  door,  as  immovable  as  a  dog  smelling  a  bird.  His  eyes  were  fixed  
upon   Della.   There   was   an  expression  in   them   that   she   could   not   read,   and   it   frightened  
her.  It  was  not  anger,  nor  surprise,  nor  fear,  nor  any  of  the  feelings  that  she  had  been  
prepared  for.  He  simply  looked  at  her  with  a  strange  expression  on  his  face.  Della  went  
to  him.  

"Jim,  my  love,"  she  cried,  "do  not  look  at  me  that  way.  I  had  my  hair  cut  and  sold  because  
I  could  not  have  lived  through  Christmas  without  giving  you  a  gift.  My  hair  will  grow  out  

  3  
The  Gift  of  the  Magi  by  O.  Henry  |  VOA  Learning  English  |  American  Stories  
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/  
again.  I  just  had  to  do  it.  My  hair  grows  very  fast.  Say  'Merry  Christmas!'  Jim,  and  let  us  
be  happy.  You  do  not  know  what  a  nice-­‐-­‐  what  a  beautiful,  nice  gift  I  have  for  you."  

"You  have  cut  off  your  hair?"  asked  Jim,  slowly,  as  if  he  had  not  accepted  the  information  
even  after  his  mind  worked  very  hard.  

"Cut  it  off  and  sold  it,"  said  Della.  "Do  you  not  like  me  just  as  well?  I  am  the  same  person  
without  my  hair,  right?  

Jim  looked  about  the  room  as  if  he  were  looking  for  something.  

"You  say  your  hair  is  gone?"  he  asked.  

"You   need   not   look   for   it,"   said   Della.   "It   is   sold,   I   tell   you-­‐-­‐sold   and   gone,   too.   It   is  
Christmas  Eve,  boy.  Be  good  to  me,  for  it  was  cut  for  you.  Maybe  the  hairs  of  my  head  
were  numbered,"  she  went  on  with  sudden  serious  sweetness,  "but  nobody  could  ever  
count  my  love  for  you.  Shall  I  put  the  meat  on,  Jim?"  

Jim  seemed  to  awaken  quickly  and  put  his  arms  around  Della.  Then  he  took  a  package  
from  his  coat  and  threw  it  on  the  table.  

"Do  not  make  any  mistake  about  me,  Dell,"  he  said.  "I  do  not  think  there  is  any  haircut  
that   could   make   me   like   my   girl   any   less.   But   if   you   will   open   that   package   you   may   see  
why  you  had  me  frightened  at  first."  

White   fingers   quickly   tore   at   the  

string   and   paper.   There   was   a  
scream   of   joy;   and   then,   alas!   a  
change  to  tears  and  cries,  requiring  
the   man   of   the   house   to   use   all   his  
skill  to  calm  his  wife.  

Jim  looking  at  the  chain  Della  gave  him    

For   there   were   the   combs   -­‐-­‐   the  
special  set  of  objects  to  hold  her  hair  that  Della  had  wanted  ever  since  she  saw  them  in  a  
shop  window.  Beautiful  combs,  made  of  shells,  with  jewels  at  the  edge  -­‐-­‐just  the  color  to  
wear  in  the  beautiful  hair  that  was  no  longer  hers.  They  cost  a  lot  of  money,  she  knew,  

  4  
The  Gift  of  the  Magi  by  O.  Henry  |  VOA  Learning  English  |  American  Stories  
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/  
and   her   heart   had   wanted   them   without   ever   hoping   to   have   them.   And   now,   the  
beautiful  combs  were  hers,  but  the  hair  that  should  have  touched  them  was  gone.  

But   she   held   the   combs   to   herself,   and   soon   she   was   able   to   look   up   with   a   smile   and  
say,  "My  hair  grows  so  fast,  Jim!"  

Then  Della  jumped  up  like  a  little  burned  cat  and  cried,  "Oh,  oh!"  

Jim   had   not   yet   seen   his   beautiful   gift.   She   happily   held   it   out   to   him   in   her   open   hands.  
The  silver  chain  seemed  so  bright.  

"Isn't  it  wonderful,  Jim?  I  looked  all  over  town  to  find  it.  You  will  have  to  look  at  the  time  
a  hundred  times  a  day  now.  Give  me  your  watch.  I  want  to  see  how  it  looks  on  it."  

Instead  of  obeying,  Jim  fell  on  the  couch  and  put  his  hands  under  the  back  of  his  head  
and  smiled.  

"Dell,"  said  he,  "let  us  put  our  Christmas  gifts  away  and  keep  them  a  while.  They  are  too  
nice  to  use  just  right  now.  I  sold  my  gold  watch  to  get  the  money  to  buy  the  set  of  combs  
for  your  hair.  And  now,  why  not  put  the  meat  on."  

The  magi  were  wise  men-­‐-­‐wonderfully  wise  men-­‐-­‐who  brought  gifts  to  the  Baby  Jesus.  
They  invented  the  art  of  giving  Christmas  gifts.  Being  wise,  their  gifts  were  wise  ones.  
And   here   I   have   told   you   the   story   of   two   young   people   who   most   unwisely   gave   for  
each  other  the  greatest  treasures  of  their  house.  But  in  a  last  word  to  the  wise  of  these  
days,  let  it  be  said  that  of  all  who  give  gifts,  these  two  were  the  wisest.  Everywhere  they  
are  wisest.  They  are  the  magi.  

Karen   Leggett   wrote   this   story   for   VOA   Learning   English.   Your   storyteller   was   Shep  
O'Neal.  The  producer  was  Lawan  Davis.  

   

  5  
The  Gift  of  the  Magi  by  O.  Henry  |  VOA  Learning  English  |  American  Stories  
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/  
Words  in  This  Story  

negotiate  -­‐  v.  to  discuss  something  formally  in  order  to  make  an  agreement  

immovable  -­‐  adj.  not  able  to  be  moved  :  firmly  fixed  in  place  

expression  -­‐  n.    the  way  someone's  face  looks  that  shows  emotions  and  feelings  

magi  -­‐  n.  the  wise  men,  generally  assumed  to  be  three  in  number,  who  paid  homage  to  
the  infant  Jesus.  Matt.  2:1–12.  

Now   it's   your   turn.   Write   to   us   in   the   comments   section   about   a   very   special   gift   you  
received.  

  6  
 About  the  CALLA  Approach  
The  Cogni?ve  Academic  Language  Learning  Approach  (CALLA)is  an  instruc?onal  model  for  second  and  
foreign  language  learners  based  on  cogni?ve  theory  and  research.  
CALLA  integrates  instruc?on  in  priority  topics  from  the  content  curriculum,  development  of  the  
language  skills  needed  for  learning  in  school,  and  explicit  instruc?on  in  using  learning  strategies  for  
academic  tasks.    
 
The  goals  of  CALLA  are  for  students  to  learn  essen?al  academic  content  and  language  and  to  become  
independent  and  self-­‐regulated  learners  through  their  increasing  command  over  a  variety  of  strategies  
for  learning  in  school.  CALLA  can  be  used  in  ESL,  EFL,  bilingual,  foreign  language,  and  general  educa?on  
classrooms.  
 
CALLA  was  developed  by  Anna  Uhl  Chamot  and  J.  Michael  O'Malley,  and  is  being  implemented  in  
approximately  30  school  districts  in  the  United  States  as  well  as  in  several  other  countries.  
 
See  a  list  of  language  learning  strategies  below.  
Metacogni5ve  Strategies  
Task-­‐Based  Strategies  
Task-­‐Based  Strategies  
Task-­‐Based  Strategies  
Task-­‐Based  Strategies  
Task-­‐Based  Strategies