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Mandarin Storytelling — 故事

Eleventh graders learn to tell a story in Mandarin using connectors — 首先 (first), 然后 (then), 接着 (next), 后来 (later), 最后 (finally) — and order a short tale from beginning to end.

Grade 11Gùshi55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / CommunicativeExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Use story connectors.
  • ✓Sequence events.
  • ✓Order a story.
  • ✓Tell a tale.
Essential Question

A good story flows in order. Mandarin uses connectors like 首先, 然后, 最后. Can you order the tale?

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

Order the Story

Project this and have students put the Mandarin story in order using the connectors.

📖 Put the story in order!Try it
Tap “First” (首先)!
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 — A Story Flows

6 min

Mandarin uses connectors like 首先, 然后, 最后 — can you order the tale?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Tell a mini story.
  • Show 首先 = first.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Notice.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Gùshi

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present the connectors.
  • Say the pinyin.
  • Note the order.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Repeat.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Order It

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

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

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
4

Speak — Speak

15 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Retell the story.
  • Add a connector.
  • Ask a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Retell.
  • Add it.
  • Ask.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a connector.
  • Say what it means.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Explain 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-High).

ACTFL
Communication 1.3

Presentational: tell a story.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: follow a narrative.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare connectors.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to narrative structure.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Connector cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___,___.”
  • Use a story strip.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with 首先 and 最后.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Repeat aloud.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Write a 5-part story.
  • Add 因为 (because).
  • Retell a fairy tale.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 📖A story strip
  • 💻Order the Story
  • 🗣️Audio
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

故事 (gùshi)story首先 (shǒuxiān)first然后 (ránhòu)then接着 (jiēzhe)next后来 (hòulái)later最后 (zuìhòu)finally从前 (cóngqián)once upon a time男孩 (nánhái)boy
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 does “首先 (shǒuxiān)” mean?
First.
QUESTION 2
What does “然后 (ránhòu)” mean?
Then.
QUESTION 3
What does “最后 (zuìhòu)” mean?
Finally.

Reflect: 故事.

Have students tell a two-step story in Mandarin using 首先 and 然后. A printable storytelling 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.

🃏 Mandarin Storytelling (Gùshi)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 Mandarin Storytelling (Gùshi)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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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.

🖨️ Mandarin Storytelling (Gùshi)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: 从前 (cóngqián), 后来 (hòulái), 接着 (jiēzhe), 故事 (gùshi), 最后 (zuìhòu), 然后 (ránhòu), 男孩 (nánhái), 首先 (shǒuxiān)
  1. then
  2. first
  3. later
  4. finally
  5. story
  6. once upon a time
  7. boy
  8. next

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does “首先 (shǒuxiān)” mean?
  2. What does “然后 (ránhòu)” mean?
  3. What does “最后 (zuìhòu)” mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) 然后 (ránhòu) · 2) 首先 (shǒuxiān) · 3) 后来 (hòulái) · 4) 最后 (zuìhòu) · 5) 故事 (gùshi) · 6) 从前 (cóngqián) · 7) 男孩 (nánhái) · 8) 接着 (jiēzhe)
Part B: 1) First. 2) Then. 3) Finally.