Home›Lesson Plans›World Languages›German · Grade 10

German Instructions — Der Imperativ

Tenth graders learn the German imperative to give directions and instructions — Geh geradeaus, Bieg links ab — and put a set of directions in order auf Deutsch.

Grade 10Der Imperativ55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / CommunicativeExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Use the imperative.
  • ✓Give directions.
  • ✓Order the steps.
  • ✓Guide someone.
Essential Question

“Go straight, then turn left.” The imperative gives commands and directions. How do you use it in German?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Directions

Project this and have students put the German directions in order to reach the destination.

🗺️ Put the directions in order!Try it
Tap “Go straight” first!
The Lesson · Communicative Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Go Straight, Turn Left

6 min

The imperative gives commands and directions — how in German?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a direction in English.
  • Ask how to say it.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Point.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Der Imperativ

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present imperative directions.
  • Say them aloud.
  • Note the command form.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Repeat.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Order Them

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Directions.
  • Put them in order.
  • Say them aloud.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
4

Speak — Speak

15 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give directions to a place.
  • Use the imperative.
  • Ask a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Direct.
  • Use it.
  • Ask.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name the first step.
  • Say a direction.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-Mid).

ACTFL
Communication 1.3

Presentational: give instructions.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: give directions.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to navigation.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare imperatives.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Direction cards.
  • Sentence frame: “Geh ___.”
  • Use a map.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with straight and turn.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Use a simple map.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Give directions to a real place.
  • Write a recipe in commands.
  • Add “bitte.”
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🗺️A simple map
  • 💻Order the Directions
  • 🗣️Audio
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

der Imperativcommand formgeradeausstraightlinksleftrechtsrightabbiegento turnüberover/acrossdas Zieldestinationdie Richtungdirection
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a good FIRST direction to give?
Geh geradeaus (Go straight).
QUESTION 2
What does “Bieg links ab” mean?
Turn left.
QUESTION 3
What does “das Ziel” mean?
The destination.

Reflect: der Imperativ.

Have students give two directions in German using the imperative (like “Geh geradeaus. Bieg links ab.”). A printable instructions sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 German Instructions (Der Imperativ)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 German Instructions (Der Imperativ)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ German Instructions (Der Imperativ)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: abbiegen, das Ziel, der Imperativ, die Richtung, geradeaus, links, rechts, über
  1. left
  2. straight
  3. command form
  4. direction
  5. to turn
  6. destination
  7. right
  8. over/across

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a good FIRST direction to give?
  2. What does “Bieg links ab” mean?
  3. What does “das Ziel” mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) links · 2) geradeaus · 3) der Imperativ · 4) die Richtung · 5) abbiegen · 6) das Ziel · 7) rechts · 8) über
Part B: 1) Geh geradeaus (Go straight). 2) Turn left. 3) The destination.