Moments - Class IX
Reprint 2025-26
Welcome to this interactive lesson based on "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry. This touching story explores themes of hope, sacrifice, and the will to live through the experiences of two young artists and their elderly neighbor.
In this interactive lesson, we'll explore how hope and determination can influence physical health, and how small acts of kindness can have profound impacts on the lives of others.
The story we shall read is about the power of hope and will to live. It raises questions about how our mental state can affect our physical health.
Think about a time when you felt hopeful or hopeless. How did it affect your mood, energy levels, and overall well-being?
In pairs, discuss the following questions:
1. Can a positive attitude help someone recover from an illness? Why or why not?
2. Have you ever felt depressed or rejected? How did you overcome such feelings?
3. Would you make a sacrifice for a friend? What kind of sacrifices would you be willing to make?
Choose the correct word from the story to complete each sentence below:
1. Johnsy spoke in a voice as she was very ill.
2. "You won't die," said Sue , trying to encourage her friend.
3. Sue and Johnsy lived on the third of an old house.
4. Johnsy suffered from , which made her very weak.
5. Behrman's lifelong dream was to paint a , and he finally did so with the painted leaf.
In "The Last Leaf", Johnsy says: "When the last leaf falls, I will die."
This is an example of a conditional sentence, where one event depends on another. The structure is: "When/If [condition], [result]."
1. If I don't visit my friend in the hospital,
2. If the doctor doesn't come soon,
3. Unless you fight against your illness, I
4. If she doesn't take her medicine,
5. Unless that leaf holds on tightly, the wind