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
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