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ASL Greetings — Hello & Thank You

Third graders take their first steps in American Sign Language (ASL) — a beautiful visual language used by the Deaf community — learning to sign HELLO, THANK YOU, GOODBYE, ME, and YOU with their hands.

Grade 3Greetings40 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…

  • ✓Sign hello & goodbye.
  • ✓Sign thank you.
  • ✓Match signs to meanings.
  • ✓Greet in ASL.
Essential Question

In ASL, we “speak” with our hands, face, and body! How do you sign HELLO and THANK YOU?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Sign

Project this and match each ASL sign description to its meaning — tap the description, then tap the meaning.

👋 Match each sign to its meaningTry it
The Sign
Meaning
Now tap the meaning!
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 — Speaking with Hands

4 min

In ASL we speak with our hands and face — how do you sign HELLO?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Wave hello.
  • Ask how to sign it.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Wave.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — The Signs

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Model each sign.
  • Have students copy.
  • Watch the movement.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Copy.
  • Try.
3

Practice — Match Them

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Sign.
  • Match each one.
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Sign.
  • Explain.
4

Sign — Sign

10 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign HELLO to a partner.
  • Sign THANK YOU.
  • Sign GOODBYE.

🎒 Student Actions

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

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign a greeting.
  • Say what it means.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign one.
  • Explain 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 1.1

Interpersonal: greet in ASL.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: understand signs.

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore Deaf greetings.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare signed and spoken greetings.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Sign photo cards.
  • Model slowly.
  • Practice in a mirror.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with HELLO and THANK YOU.
  • Model one at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add PLEASE and SORRY.
  • Have a signed greeting.
  • Teach a friend.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 👋Sign photo cards
  • 💻Match the Sign
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

HELLOflat hand at forehead, move outTHANK-YOUflat hand at chin, move forwardGOODBYEopen-close fingers, a wavePLEASEflat hand, circle on chestSORRYfist, circle on chestMEpoint to yourselfYOUpoint to the personFRIENDhook index fingers together
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
How do you sign HELLO?
Flat hand at your forehead, move it outward.
QUESTION 2
How do you sign THANK YOU?
Flat hand at your chin, move it forward and down.
QUESTION 3
How do you sign ME?
Point your index finger to yourself.

Reflect: greetings in ASL.

Have students sign HELLO and THANK YOU to a family member. A printable ASL greetings 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 Greetings (Hello & Thank You)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 ASL Greetings (Hello & Thank You)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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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 Greetings (Hello & Thank You)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: FRIEND, GOODBYE, HELLO, ME, PLEASE, SORRY, THANK-YOU, YOU
  1. open-close fingers, a wave
  2. hook index fingers together
  3. point to yourself
  4. fist, circle on chest
  5. point to the person
  6. flat hand at chin, move forward
  7. flat hand at forehead, move out
  8. flat hand, circle on chest

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How do you sign HELLO?
  2. How do you sign THANK YOU?
  3. How do you sign ME?
Answer key — Part A: 1) GOODBYE · 2) FRIEND · 3) ME · 4) SORRY · 5) YOU · 6) THANK-YOU · 7) HELLO · 8) PLEASE
Part B: 1) Flat hand at your forehead, move it outward. 2) Flat hand at your chin, move it forward and down. 3) Point your index finger to yourself.