Facial Features Teacher Guide Face to Face Characters
Lesson 1: Facial Features (Eye, Ear, Mouth)
Teacher Guide
Grade 1 Mandarin
Learning Objectives
Identify and pronounce 目 (Mù) , 耳 (Ěr) , and 口 (Kǒu) .
Recognize the pictographic evolution from ancient drawings to modern characters.
Correctly label anatomical features on a drawing.
Materials Needed
• Handheld mirrors (1 per student/pair)
• "Face Sketch Worksheet"
• Red markers or crayons (for characters)
• Chart paper for ancient scripts
Instructional Steps
1
The Mirror Hook (5 mins)
"Look in the mirror! Can you see the shapes of these words on your own face?"
Ask students to look at their eyes, ears, and mouth. Have them try to "draw" the shape of their mouth in the air. Introduce the idea that long ago, people drew pictures to write.
2
Pictographic Reveal (15 mins)
Key Vocabulary:
目 Mù (Eye)
耳 Ěr (Ear)
口 Kǒu (Mouth)
Show the evolution: Draw a horizontal eye with a pupil. Rotate it 90 degrees. Add lines. Boom! It's 目 . Do the same for the curly ear (耳 ) and the open mouth (口 ).
3
Self-Portrait Labeling (20 mins)
Students use the "Face Sketch Worksheet". They draw their own face and then use red crayon to write the three characters next to the matching body part. Encourage "Big, Bold Characters!"
Pronunciation Guide
目 (Mù)
Falling tone. Like "Moo" but sharp and short.
耳 (Ěr)
Rising-falling tone. Sounds like "Arr" (pirate) but starts low.
口 (Kǒu)
Rising-falling tone. Sounds like "K-oh".
Face Sketch Worksheet Face to Face Sketch
Draw your face and label your features in Mandarin!
Name:
Date:
目
Mù (Eye)
耳
Ěr (Ear)
口
Kǒu (Mouth)
Draw Yourself Here
目 Mù
耳 Ěr
口 Kǒu
Can you see how the characters look like your face? Trace the box with your finger first!
Hands and Feet Teacher Guide Hands and Feet Marks
Lesson 2: Hands and Feet (Shǒu and Zú)
Teacher Guide
Grade 1 Mandarin
Learning Objectives
Identify and pronounce 手 (Shǒu) and 足 (Zú) .
Connect the 'hook' strokes in 手 and 足 to anatomical joints (wrist/ankle).
Participate in kinesthetic character creation.
Materials Needed
• "Hand and Foot Printing Cards"
• Finger paint or large ink pads (optional)
• Large markers (Green/Earth tones)
• Scissors and tape for "Body Labeling"
Instructional Steps
1
High-Five the Character (5 mins)
"Let's high-five the paper and leave a mark that says 'hand'!"
Have students high-five a partner, then look at their palms. Trace the lines in their palm with their finger. Introduce 手 (Shǒu) as a drawing of these lines and the fingers.
2
The "Joint Hook" Discovery (15 mins)
Examine the vertical stroke in 手 and the bottom of 足 .
手
Hand (Shǒu)
The middle line is the arm, the horizontal lines are fingers!
足
Foot (Zú)
The top is the knee, the bottom is the foot stepping!
Ask: "Can you bend your wrist like the hook in 手 ? Can you bend your ankle like the bottom of 足 ?"
3
Printing & Labeling (20 mins)
Students use the Printing Cards. If using paint, they make a physical print in the box. If dry, they trace their hand/foot. They then write the character multiple times in the practice boxes provided.
Physical Check-In
Total Physical Response (TPR) prompt: Call out "Shǒu!" and students must raise their hands high. Call out "Zú!" and they must stomp their feet once. Increase speed as they get comfortable.
手 (Shǒu) - 3rd Tone
Low-Falling-Rising. Like a scoop.
足 (Zú) - 2nd Tone
Rising. Like asking a question: "Zú?"
Extremity Marks Worksheet Extremity Marks
Make your mark and write the character!
Name:
Date:
Place Hand Here
手
Shǒu (Hand)
Write 4 Times
Place Foot Here
足
Zú (Foot)
Write 4 Times
Feel the "hook" at the bottom of the characters—just like your wrist and ankle!
Look and Listen Teacher Guide Eyes Watch Ears Listen
Lesson 3: Action Verbs (Look and Listen)
Teacher Guide
Grade 1 Mandarin
Learning Objectives
Identify and pronounce 看 (Kàn) and 听 (Tīng) .
Analyze character composition (Hand + Eye = Look).
Use "Wǒ kàn..." (I look/see) in a game context.
Materials Needed
• Character cards for 看 and 听
• Classroom objects for "I Spy"
• "Action Vision Worksheet"
• Colored highlighters (Blue and Yellow)
Instructional Steps
1
The Sun Visor Hook (5 mins)
"Why do you think the word for 'look' has a hand over an eye?"
Ask students to pretend they are looking at something far away in the sun. What do they do? (They put their hand over their eyes). Introduce 看 (Kàn) .
2
Character Chemistry (15 mins)
看 (Kàn)
Composition: 手 (Hand) + 目 (Eye).
听 (Tīng)
Composition: 口 (Mouth) + 斤 (Axe/Weight - phonetic here, but often taught with 'ear' logic for beginners).
3
Mandarin "I Spy" (20 mins)
Teach the phrase: "Wǒ kàn..." (I see...).
Students take turns picking an object in the room. They must hold up the 看 card and say "Wǒ kàn [Object]". The class responds by pointing and saying "Tīng!" if they are listening to the clues.
Sound Lab
看 (Kàn)
Falling tone. Short and sharp like a "Con" but with a K.
听 (Tīng)
High-Level tone. Flat and steady like a long musical note.
Action Vision Worksheet Action Vision
Can you see the hidden body parts inside these actions?
Name:
Date:
看
Kàn (to Look)
Hand + Eye = Look
手
Hand
目
Eye
=
看
Trace & Say "Kàn"
听
Tīng (to Listen)
Find the Mouth radical!
In the character 听 , we use a Mouth radical (口 ) on the left. Long ago, people also used an Ear!
口 Mouth
? Listen
听
Trace & Say "Tīng"
Draw a circle around the Hand radical in 'Look' and the Mouth radical in 'Listen'!
Eat and Drink Teacher Guide The Hungry Mouth Activity
Lesson 4: Actions (Eat and Drink)
Teacher Guide
Grade 1 Mandarin
Learning Objectives
Identify and pronounce 吃 (Chī) and 喝 (Hē) .
Locate the 口 (Kǒu) radical in both characters.
Perform actions based on character card prompts.
Materials Needed
• Empty tea cups or play food
• "Hungry Mouth Menu"
• Character cards for 吃 and 喝
• Small stickers (for the menu activity)
Instructional Steps
1
Tea Party Invite (5 mins)
"We are having a tea party, but we need to know the words for what we are doing!"
Set the scene. Today we are learning how to talk about snacks and drinks. Ask: "What part of your body do you use to eat and drink?" (The Mouth / 口).
2
The Left-Side Rule (15 mins)
Introduce 吃 and 喝 . Draw them large on the board and circle the left side.
口 + 乞 = 吃
Eat (Chī)
口 + 曷 = 喝
Drink (Hē)
"The Mouth radical on the left tells us this action happens with our mouth!"
3
The Command Party (20 mins)
Divide students into pairs. Student A holds up a card (吃 or 喝). Student B must perform the action with a play prop and say the word. Switch after 5 rounds. Then use the "Hungry Mouth Menu" to match food items to the correct verb.
Menu Pronunciation
吃 (Chī) - 1st Tone
High and flat. Like "Cheee-se" but stop early.
喝 (Hē) - 1st Tone
High and flat. Sounds like "Her" but with a long 'uh' sound.
Hungry Mouth Worksheet Hungry Mouth Menu
Circle 吃 if you eat it. Circle 喝 if you drink it!
Name:
Date:
吃 | Eat (Chī)
喝 | Drink (Hē)
🍎
Apple
吃
喝
🍵
Green Tea
吃
喝
🍚
Rice
吃
喝
🥛
Milk
吃
喝
🥦
Broccoli
吃
喝
🧃
Juice Box
吃
喝
Secret Skill Practice
Can you find and circle the 口 (Mouth) radical inside these actions?
吃
喝
Say the word out loud as you circle!
Simon Says Teacher Guide Body Character Simon Says
Lesson 5: Mastery Review & Physical Game
Teacher Guide
Sequence Culmination
Mastery Goals
Rapidly recognize and respond to all 9 characters.
Connect written characters to physical movements without translation.
Demonstrate understanding of radicals (Mouth, Eye, Hand).
Culmination Kit
• "Master Command Cards" (All 9 characters)
• "Body Reader Certificates"
• Large classroom space for movement
• Gold stars or stickers
"Can Your Body Read?" Game Flow
1
Warm-Up: Voice + Card
Teacher holds up a card and says the word. Students point to the body part or perform the action. "Shǒu!" (Raise Hand). "Kàn!" (Sun Visor Look).
2
Silent Simon (The True Test)
"Can your body read faster than your mouth can speak?"
Teacher holds up cards in silence. Students must perform the action instantly. No talking allowed! If they do the wrong action, they sit down for one round.
3
Radical Rhythms
Teacher says: "Show me a Mouth (口) action!" Students can choose 吃 or 喝 . "Show me an Eye (目) part!" They point to eyes. This tests their understanding of the building blocks.
Vocabulary Checklist
目 (Mù) - Eye
耳 (Ěr) - Ear
口 (Kǒu) - Mouth
手 (Shǒu) - Hand
足 (Zú) - Foot
看 (Kàn) - Look
听 (Tīng) - Listen
吃 (Chī) - Eat
喝 (Hē) - Drink
Simon Says Command Cards Teacher Instructions:
Cut along the dotted lines to create 9 game cards. Use these for the "Simon Says" mastery game. Show only the Hanzi side to students for advanced play.
目
Mù
Eye
耳
Ěr
Ear
口
Kǒu
Mouth
手
Shǒu
Hand
足
Zú
Foot
看
Kàn
Look
听
Tīng
Listen
吃
Chī
Eat
喝
Hē
Drink
Body Reader Certificate 体
Mandarin Character Mastery
Body Reader Award
This certificate is proudly presented to
For demonstrating incredible speed and skill in reading characters for Body Parts and Actions. Your body and your brain are speaking Mandarin!
Teacher Signature
体 Body Character Master
Date
目 耳 口 手 足 看 听 吃 喝
