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The ASL Alphabet — Fingerspelling

Third graders learn the ASL manual alphabet — 26 handshapes, one for each letter — starting with A, B, C, D, E. Fingerspelling lets you spell names and words with your hand!

Grade 3Manual Alphabet40 minutes1 class periodACTFL / Visual LanguageExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Make handshapes.
  • ✓Fingerspell A to E.
  • ✓Learn about name signs.
  • ✓Spell your name.
Essential Question

Every letter has its own handshape in ASL! This is called fingerspelling. Can you make the letters A to E?

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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 Fingerspelling Explorer

Project this and tap each letter. Have students form each ASL handshape.

✋ Explore the alphabet — tap each letterTry it

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

40 minutes, five moves

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

1

Warm-Up — Letters with Your Hand

4 min

Every letter has its own handshape in ASL — can you make A to E?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show the letter A.
  • Ask them to copy.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Copy.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Fingerspelling

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Fingerspelling Explorer.
  • Form each handshape.
  • Practice A to E.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Copy.
  • Try.
3

Practice — Practice

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Fingerspell a short word.
  • Spell A-B-C.
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Spell it.
  • Sign.
  • Try.
4

Sign — Sign

10 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Fingerspell the first letter of your name.
  • Spell a friend’s letter.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Spell it.
  • Spell it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a letter.
  • Say which one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Make 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 (Novice).

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: read handshapes.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare alphabets.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to spelling.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: fingerspell.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Handshape photo cards.
  • Model each letter.
  • Use a mirror.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with A, B, C.
  • Form one at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Fingerspell your whole name.
  • Spell 3 short words.
  • Learn about name signs.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ✋Handshape cards
  • 💻The Fingerspelling Explorer
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

fingerspellingspelling words with handshapesmanual alphabet26 handshapes for lettershandshapethe shape your hand makesAa fist, thumb along the sideBflat hand, thumb across palmCa curved “C” handname signa special sign for your nameletterone symbol of the alphabet
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 fingerspelling?
Spelling words using a handshape for each letter.
QUESTION 2
How do you make the letter C?
Curve your whole hand into a “C” shape.
QUESTION 3
How do you make the letter A?
Make a fist with your thumb along the side.

Reflect: fingerspelling.

Have students fingerspell the first letter of their name in ASL. A printable ASL alphabet 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.

🃏 The ASL Alphabet (Fingerspelling)Flip
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.

📝 The ASL Alphabet (Fingerspelling)Quiz
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.

🖨️ The ASL Alphabet (Fingerspelling)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: A, B, C, fingerspelling, handshape, letter, manual alphabet, name sign
  1. 26 handshapes for letters
  2. spelling words with handshapes
  3. the shape your hand makes
  4. a curved “C” hand
  5. a special sign for your name
  6. flat hand, thumb across palm
  7. a fist, thumb along the side
  8. one symbol of the alphabet

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is fingerspelling?
  2. How do you make the letter C?
  3. How do you make the letter A?
Answer key — Part A: 1) manual alphabet · 2) fingerspelling · 3) handshape · 4) C · 5) name sign · 6) B · 7) A · 8) letter
Part B: 1) Spelling words using a handshape for each letter. 2) Curve your whole hand into a “C” shape. 3) Make a fist with your thumb along the side.