June 27, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Times (17-19)

Today's post continues with a series of enrichment activities to incorporate alphabet signs into story time:

17. Word Power

Shuffle the playing cards created in Activity #14 and deal five cards to each player. Place the remaining cards facedown in a pile. The object of the game is to spell words with the cards in your hand. The first player begins by drawing one card and then determining if he can create a word using one or more of the cards in hand. Words can be created with any combination of letter cards and handshape cards. If one or more of the cards in hand can be put together to make a word, the player must fingerspell the word and then place the cards face up on the table. If the player cannot make a word, he draws three cards from the pile and his turn ends. Play continues until all of the cards in the pile are gone. The person with the least cards in their hand when play ends wins.

NOTE: For more than two players it can be helpful to use more than one deck of cards (or to have several extra cards for each vowel). 

18. Word Power Race

This game is a variation on game #17 above. Get a timer and then one full deck of cards from Activity #14 for each player. Each player shuffles his or her deck of cards before play begins. The object is for each player to to use his or her deck of cards to make as many words as possible in the time allowed. The timekeeper sets the timer for five minutes and says, “Go!” Each player arranges their cards to make words. For example, the cards for the letters or handshapes C-A and T could be arranged to make the word, “Cat.” Letter or handshape cards can be arranged horizontally or vertically, and each letter can be used more than once. For example, the cards for the letters or handshapes, I-M and E could be positioned vertically below the “T” in “Cat," to form a new word, “Time.” The player with the least cards in their hand when the timer rings, wins. The winning player must fingerspell each word they created to complete their win.

NOTE: It can be helpful for each player’s deck of cards to have several extra cards for each vowel. 

19. Word Game

This is a variation of Activity #12. Shuffle the playing cards created in Activity #14 and put them facedown in a pile. The first player turns over the first card in the pile and then 1) says the letter shown on the card, 2) signs the letter shown on the card, and 3) fingerspells a word that begins with the letter on the card.  For example, if player one draws a “P,” she would say and sign “P,” and she would say and fingerspell a word that begins with “P,” such as P-I-G. If player one cannot complete all three steps, she does not keep the card and her turn ends. If player one completes all three steps, she keeps the card and her turn ends. Play continues until all the cards in the pile have been turned over.


To increase the level of challenge, players can be invited to research and demonstrate the sign for the words they fingerspelled for each card they drew.   

Helpful Resources:


ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)


The sign for Alphabet

A to Z Sign with Me

Abdo Publishing Group
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