The Gift of the Magi
Irony and sacrifice.
Classics Camp for Teens: Four Great Short Stories (Advanced)
A four-day camp for teens ages 13 to 17 who read well. Teens read one classic short story a day and discuss it seminar-style, focusing on irony, symbolism and endings.
Class Experience
Teens read each story before class, about 20 minutes of reading. The seminar opens with first reactions, then the teacher guides close reading of two key moments. Teens are expected to refer to the text and respond to each other. Stories include The Gift of the Magi, The Necklace, The Monkey's Paw and The Open Window.
How classes work
The camp meets 4 days in one week for 55 minutes a day, with up to 5 learners. Each day builds on the one before.
What we'll cover
Day 1: The Gift of the Magi – Irony and sacrifice.
Day 2: The Necklace – Pride and the twist ending.
Day 3: The Monkey's Paw – Suspense and what is left unsaid.
Day 4: The Open Window – Unreliable storytellers and humor.
Learning Outcomes
Identify and explain irony and symbolism
Analyze how an ending changes a story's meaning
Support interpretations with quotation
Take part in seminar discussion
Prerequisites
Ages 13-17. For confident readers willing to read a short story before each class. The text is in the public domain and is sent as a free PDF before class.
What You'll Need
- Supplies
- Free PDFs of the four stories
- Device and internet
- Computer or tablet with camera and microphonestable internet connection
The text is in the public domain and is sent as a free PDF before class.
Syllabus
4 LessonsA step-by-step plan of what your child learns, class by class. · 1 Week
The Necklace
Pride and the twist ending.
The Monkey's Paw
Suspense and what is left unsaid.
The Open Window
Unreliable storytellers and humor.
Available Times
Next 7 days, US Eastern Time
- Tue, Nov 17 · 1:00 PM
- Wed, Nov 18 · 11:00 AM
- Wed, Nov 18 · 5:00 PM
- Thu, Nov 19 · 6:30 PM
- Fri, Nov 20 · 10:00 AM
- Fri, Nov 20 · 4:00 PM
- Fri, Nov 20 · 7:30 PM
Parents Often Ask
Yes. One short story, about 20 minutes.
It is a suspense story with nothing graphic, suitable for 13 and up.
Yes. These stories and skills appear in many high school courses.
It meets 4 times in one week for 55 minutes each day, so it fits into a school break.
Each day builds on the one before, so attending every day is best.
Meet your Instructor
An experienced English educator who teaches this novel annually and uses creative assessments to deepen student engagement. Uses a unique Found Poem assessment that students repeatedly say is unlike traditional evaluations, offering creative freedom alongside rigorous analysis. Lessons connect literature and history, encouraging close reading, thematic discussion and personal response. Comfortable adapting the unit for different pacing and offers a flexible version to suit varied classroom needs.
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