Home›Lesson Plans›World Languages›American Sign Language · Grade 3

ASL Numbers — 1 to 5

Third graders learn to sign the numbers ONE through FIVE in ASL — shown with the fingers, palm facing themselves — and put them in order. Numbers are the start of telling age, counting, and more.

Grade 3Numbers 1-540 minutes1 class periodACTFL / Visual LanguageExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
Start the Lesson
Assign or share this lesson
Share to Google Classroom Share to Microsoft Teams

Copy link works with Canvas, Schoology, Moodle and any other LMS — paste it in as a resource or assignment.

Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Sign 1 to 5.
  • ✓Make each number.
  • ✓Order the numbers.
  • ✓Count in ASL.
Essential Question

You can count on your hands — and in ASL, that’s exactly how numbers work! Can you sign 1 to 5 in order?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Numbers

Project this and have students put the ASL numbers in order, ONE to FIVE.

🔢 Put the numbers in order — 1 to 5!Try it
Tap ONE first!
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 — Count on Your Hands

4 min

In ASL, numbers are shown with your fingers — can you sign 1 to 5?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Hold up one finger.
  • Ask how to sign 2.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Show.
  • Copy.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Numbers

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Model ONE to FIVE.
  • Note the palm faces you.
  • Have students copy.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Note it.
  • Copy.
3

Practice — Order Them

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Numbers.
  • Put them in order.
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Sign.
  • Explain.
4

Sign — Sign

10 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign your age.
  • Count 1 to 5.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Count.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign a number.
  • Say which one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign 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 number signs.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: count in ASL.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to math.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.2

Compare number systems.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Number handshape cards.
  • Model each number.
  • Count together.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with 1, 2, 3.
  • Form one at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Count to 10.
  • Sign your age.
  • Do a number game.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔢Number cards
  • 💻Order the Numbers
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

numbera sign for countingONEindex finger upTWOindex + middle upTHREEthumb + index + middle upFOURfour fingers up, thumb tuckedFIVEall fingers spreadcountsay numbers in orderpalmfaces you for 1-5
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 ONE in ASL?
Hold your index finger up.
QUESTION 2
How do you sign FIVE?
Spread all five fingers open.
QUESTION 3
Which way does your palm face for numbers 1-5?
Toward yourself.

Reflect: numbers 1-5.

Have students sign the numbers 1 to 5 in order, and sign their age. A printable ASL numbers 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 Numbers 1-5Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 ASL Numbers 1-5Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

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 Numbers 1-5Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: count, FIVE, FOUR, number, ONE, palm, THREE, TWO
  1. index + middle up
  2. a sign for counting
  3. four fingers up, thumb tucked
  4. index finger up
  5. say numbers in order
  6. faces you for 1-5
  7. thumb + index + middle up
  8. all fingers spread

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How do you sign ONE in ASL?
  2. How do you sign FIVE?
  3. Which way does your palm face for numbers 1-5?
Answer key — Part A: 1) TWO · 2) number · 3) FOUR · 4) ONE · 5) count · 6) palm · 7) THREE · 8) FIVE
Part B: 1) Hold your index finger up. 2) Spread all five fingers open. 3) Toward yourself.