"The Gift of the Magi" Vocabulary

As students read, chances are they'll encounter vocabulary they don't know. Sometimes they can guess what it means from the context, and other times they may not. Engage your students in vocabulary as they read by creating visual vocabulary boards for vocabulary from "The Gift of the Magi". Below are a few vocabulary words commonly taught with the short story.

Example "The Gift of the Magi" Vocabulary

• magi
• meretricious
• truant
• instigate
• prosperity
• parsimony
• depreciate
• envy
• prudence
• patent
• sentiment
• scrutiny
• vanish
• privilege
• ardent
• adorn
• sacrifice

In the vocabulary board, students can choose between coming up with their use of the vocabulary word, finding the specific example from the text, or depicting the definition without words.

Student Instructions

Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in "The Gift of the Magi" by creating visualizations.

1. Choose three vocabulary words from the story and type them in the title boxes.
2. Find the definition in a print or online dictionary.
3. Write a sentence that uses the vocabulary word.
4. Illustrate the meaning of the word in the cell using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.
• Alternatively, use Photos for Class to show the meaning of the words with the search bar.
5. Save and submit your storyboard.