I have also written a script in English, and a simpler one in Chinese, along with wearing animal hats, for my students to tell or act out the story themselves. 2 years ago, my 4th graders performed the story for the Pre-K - 1st grade students.
This year, I had planned to give a puppet show to my younger students to tell the story of the zodiac animals. Somehow, though, I managed to leave home without my puppets and stuffies... So I had to regroup and figure out how to tell the story in a different way, but still be engaging and fun.
Thank goodness for a great iPad storytelling app! StoryChimes has many stories on their website, but the one I have used many times now is their story of the Chines Zodiac animals. There is the option for you to read along while the story is narrated, or to have you read it yourself. I decided to have the story read to the PK-4 students, while the 2nd and 3rd grade students took turns reading the lines of the story. There is a picture at the end of the story showing pictures of all of the animals in in the zodiac cycle. Using that picture as a reference, I taught the students the names of the animals in Chinese.
I will still bring the puppets next week, but that story app on the iPad sure saved me today!
Website:
http://storychimes.com/race-of-the-zodiac/
iTunes Store:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/race-zodiac-storychimes-free/id424228517?mt=8