Engaging short stories lesson plans for the holidays
It’s that time of year again…December. Such a hard month to engage students when they are so excited for the festive holidays and winter break. December and May are the hardest months to teach, but at least May offers an end in sight. Alas, we are in the midst of December yet again.
During the last two days before winter break, we like to teach two short stories. The first one is “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. This is a great holiday story with a plot twist that our students love year after year. It is a great short story for character analysis, plot, and point of view.
The other holiday text that we like to read is “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”. This one is a great non-fiction text that really captures the essence of the holiday spirit. We simply read this text and discuss lines that speak to us and how we want to see the world. It always lends itself to having wonderful classroom discussion.
What holiday stories do you like to read with your students during this time of year? DM us on Instagram @theteachingdistillery. We’d love to hear what stories you like to teach leading up to the winter break.