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ASL Literature & Storytelling

Tenth graders explore ASL literature — a rich, living art form. From ABC stories and handshape stories to ASL poetry and the cinematic Visual Vernacular, Deaf artists tell stories in ways only a visual language can.

Grade 10ASL Literature55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / Visual LanguageExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explore ASL literature.
  • ✓Know the forms.
  • ✓Appreciate Deaf art.
  • ✓Try a story form.
Essential Question

ASL has its own literature — poetry, stories, and performance art. What are the great forms of ASL storytelling?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The ASL Literature Explorer

Project this and tap each. Have students learn the great forms of ASL storytelling.

🎭 Explore ASL literature — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — A Living Art Form

6 min

ASL has its own literature — what are the great forms of storytelling?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show an ABC story clip idea.
  • Ask what makes it art.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — ASL Literature

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the ASL Literature Explorer.
  • Present each form.
  • Note the artistry.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note it.
  • Reflect.
3

Practice — Practice

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Try a short handshape story.
  • Match forms to descriptions.
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Try it.
  • Match.
  • Sign.
4

Sign — Sign

15 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign a mini ABC story (A-B-C).
  • Add rhythm.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Add it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a form.
  • Say what makes it special.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-Mid).

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore ASL literature.

ACTFL
Cultures 2.2

Explore cultural products (art forms).

ACTFL
Connections 3.2

Connect to literature & performance.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: understand ASL art.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Story-form cards.
  • Show example clips.
  • Model a short form.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with ABC stories.
  • Use one form.
  • Try 3 handshapes.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Create an ABC story.
  • Watch a VV performance.
  • Write about an ASL poem.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🎭ASL story examples
  • 💻The ASL Literature Explorer
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

ASL literaturethe art forms of ASLABC storya story using A-Z handshapeshandshape storya story in one handshapeASL poetryrhythm & movement, not rhymeclassifier storya scene “filmed” with classifiersVisual Vernacularcinematic ASL storytelling (VV)rhythmthe beat of the signingart forma kind of creative work
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is an ABC story?
A story told using the handshapes of A, B, C… in order.
QUESTION 2
What is a handshape story?
A story told using just one handshape throughout.
QUESTION 3
What is Visual Vernacular (VV)?
A dramatic, cinematic ASL storytelling style.

Reflect: ASL literature.

Have students try a mini ABC story using the handshapes A, B, and C. A printable ASL literature sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 ASL Literature & StorytellingFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 ASL Literature & StorytellingQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ ASL Literature & StorytellingPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: ABC story, art form, ASL literature, ASL poetry, classifier story, handshape story, rhythm, Visual Vernacular
  1. a story using A-Z handshapes
  2. the art forms of ASL
  3. the beat of the signing
  4. cinematic ASL storytelling (VV)
  5. a scene “filmed” with classifiers
  6. rhythm & movement, not rhyme
  7. a kind of creative work
  8. a story in one handshape

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is an ABC story?
  2. What is a handshape story?
  3. What is Visual Vernacular (VV)?
Answer key — Part A: 1) ABC story · 2) ASL literature · 3) rhythm · 4) Visual Vernacular · 5) classifier story · 6) ASL poetry · 7) art form · 8) handshape story
Part B: 1) A story told using the handshapes of A, B, C… in order. 2) A story told using just one handshape throughout. 3) A dramatic, cinematic ASL storytelling style.