July 12, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Times (23-25)

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

23. Crack the Code

Create two or three sets of playing cards described in Activity #14 (it can be helpful to have several extra cards for each vowel). Separate the cards into two piles (a pile of letter cards and a pile of alphabet handshape cards). Set the letter cards aside (they won’t be used for this activity). Player one uses the handshape cards to create a word or phrase (for example, “T-H-I-S  G-A-M-E  I-S  F-U-N”). Player two signs each handshape, translates the handshapes into letters, and says the word or phrase aloud. Switch roles and continue play.

Note:  The activity packets for younger (and older) children available on my publisher’s website includes several ready-made codes to crack!  


24. Create An Alphabet Book for Your Name

Give each participant enough sheets of paper for a cover page and one page for every letter in their name. Provide art supplies such as crayons, markers, stickers, old magazines, scissors and glue along with copies of the alphabet glossary (available on page 3 of the Story Time Activity Packet -Younger Children available at this link). Instruct participants to illustrate the cover of their book and each page with an alphabet-themed illustration that corresponds to each letter in their name. Encourage participants to read and sign their book with a partner. 


25. Read and Sign Along with an Alphabet Book

Use an easel to make a vertical list of the words from an alphabet book such as “Sign Language ABC” or the words from an alphabet themed story such as "A to Z Sign with Me." For example, page 8 of “A to Z Sign with Me” would be written as follows:

Eat
frankfurters while they're
good and
hot.
 
Now read each page of the book, taking pause to sign the letters featured on each page. Try this out with a variety of alphabet books including personal favorites such as Alligator Alphabet and classics such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

You can extend this learning activity by fingerspelling the key words featured in each alphabet book, so instead of just signing A is for Apple, you could fingerspell, A-P-P-L-E.


To extend the learning further, encourage participants to look up the ASL signs for one or more words in the alphabet book.   


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
Please contact Dawn using the form to the left if you'd like to receive reduced pricing on books in the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series. This offer is available to workshop participants, consulting clients, and subscribers to this blog or Dawn's social media accounts.  

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information. 

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time.  Happy Signing!

July 5, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Times (20-22)

Image Credit: ParentSociety.com
Today's post continues with a series of enrichment activities to incorporate alphabet signs into your story time:

20. Alphabet Icebreaker

Separate the playing cards made in Activity #14 into two piles: A pile of letter cards and a pile of alphabet handshapes. Alphabetize both piles from A to Z and take an equal number of cards from each pile to allow one card per participant (i.e. If there are 14 participants, select letters A-G and handshapes A-G for a total of 14 cards). The leader shuffles the cards and deals one card to each participant [NOTE: If there is an odd number of players, the leader should keep a card and participate with the other players]. When the leader says, “Go!” all players begin moving about the room while making the handshape for the letter (or handshape) represented on their card. The object is to find the other player with the matching card (i.e. the player with the letter “A” is looking for the player with the “A” handshape). Players sit down when they have found their partner. Play continues until all players are sitting down.

To extend the learning while players are waiting for everyone to find their match, partners can introduce themselves and practice fingerspelling their own name and their partner’s name.


21. Alphabet Name Challenge

Sit in a circle and choose someone to go first. The first person says, “My name is (Matt), and I know the sign for the letter (“M”) (and the participant makes the sign for that letter). The second person says, “My name is (Sara), and I know the sign for the letters (“M”) and (“S”) (and the participant makes the signs for those two letters). The third person continues, “My name is (Jose) and I know the signs for the letters (“M”), (“S”), and (“J”) (and the participant makes the signs for those three letters). Play continues until all participants have been introduced. 


22. Fingerspelling Name Challenge

This activity is a more challenging variation of Activity #21 above. Sit in a circle and choose someone to go first. The first person says, “My name is (Dawn, D-A-W-N). I’m going to a party. How about you?” as they point to/select the next participant. The second participant says, “My name is (Alex, A-L-E-X). I’m going to a party with (Dawn, D-A-W-N). How about you? as they point to/select the next participant. The third participant says, “My name is (Sam/S-A-M). I’m going to a party with (Dawn, D-A-W-N and Alex, A-L-E-X). How about you? as they point to/select the next participant. Play continues until all participants have been invited to the party and all participants names have been said and fingerspelled at least once. 


The sign for “Name” is a good enrichment for the activities in this post.  

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
Please contact Dawn using the form to the left if you'd like to receive reduced pricing on books in the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series. This offer is available to workshop participants, consulting clients, and subscribers to this blog or Dawn's social media accounts.  

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information. 

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time.  Happy Signing!