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Lesson plan · Grades K-12 · 35 minutes

Fingerspell Flash

I can form the ASL manual alphabet, fingerspell my name with a smooth rhythm, and read short fingerspelled words.

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Standard
ACTFL.Novice Low ACTFL
WRS.Communication World-Readiness
Shape
Teach, then practice
Grouping
Whole class, then pairs.
You need
The tool on the projector and on student devices. A list of students' names.
Tool
curioclass.org/tools/fingerspell-flash/
  1. Hook4 min
  2. Teach10 min
  3. Practice11 min
  4. Apply6 min
  5. Exit check4 min

Before class

  • Open Alphabet.
  • The drawings show a right-handed signer from the front. Left-handed flips every hand.
  • The drawings are not a signing model. Plan to show video of Deaf signers fingerspelling too.

Hook 4 min

  1. Fingerspell your own name slowly. "What do you think I just did?"
  2. "Signers use fingerspelling for names, places and words without a sign. Today you learn to spell your name in ASL."

Teach 10 min

  1. In Alphabet, tap A, read how to make it, and have everyone copy. Tap through the letters in small groups.
  2. Tap M and compare it with the look-alike letters outlined in orange: A, E, M, N, S and T are all fists.
  3. Show J and Z, which move. The drawings show the path.
  4. Teach good form: the hand stays in one place near the shoulder, the rhythm is even, and double letters slide or bounce once.

Practice 11 min

  1. Switch to Spell it, type a student's name, and press Fingerspell it. Everyone spells along at Slow, then Steady.
  2. Use the Letter buttons to step through one shape at a time for tricky names.
  3. Pairs type their own names, practice, then fingerspell to each other at Steady speed. "Can your partner read it?"
  4. Turn on Hide the letters and play a few classmates' names as a reading check.

Apply 6 min

  1. Switch to Read it and pick Short words. The class watches, then calls out what they saw.
  2. Each word read the first time speeds the next one up. Watch the speed climb.
  3. Talk: "Did you read each letter, or the shape of the whole word?"

Exit check 4 min

Each student fingerspells their name to you or a partner at Steady speed. Watch for a still hand, an even rhythm and clear fist letters.

Support and stretch

  • Support: practice the fist letters in Read it with One letter.
  • Support: spell only the first three letters of a name at Slow speed.
  • Stretch: try Names and Places in Read it and beat your best speed.
  • Stretch: "When would a signer fingerspell instead of using a sign?"

Short on time

  • Teach the alphabet in Alphabet (6 min).
  • Names in Spell it (6 min), then fingerspell your name (3 min).

How each button works is in the teacher notes. From Curio Class, free under CC BY 4.0: change it, print it, share it.