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ASL WH-Questions

Fifth graders learn to ask questions in ASL — WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY — and the key rule: for WH-questions you lower your eyebrows. In ASL, your face is part of the grammar of a question.

Grade 5WH-Questions45 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…

  • ✓Sign WH-questions.
  • ✓Lower eyebrows for WH.
  • ✓Use facial grammar.
  • ✓Ask in ASL.
Essential Question

How do you ask a question in ASL? The signs matter — but so does your face! What do your eyebrows do?

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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

WH-Questions Check

Project each item and have students answer about asking WH-questions in ASL.

❓ Understand WH-questions & facial grammarTry it
Answer each question about WH-questions in ASL.
The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

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

1

Warm-Up — Your Face Asks Too

5 min

In ASL, your face helps ask a question — what do your eyebrows do?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask a question aloud.
  • Ask how ASL shows it.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Ask.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — WH-Questions

11 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to WH-Questions Check.
  • Note lowered eyebrows.
  • Model WHO, WHAT, WHERE.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Copy.
3

Practice — Practice

12 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign WHERE with lowered brows.
  • Sign WHO.
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Sign it.
  • Try.
4

Sign — Sign

11 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask a partner “WHERE?”
  • Ask “WHAT?”
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Ask it.
  • Ask it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign a WH-question.
  • Show the eyebrows.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign one.
  • Show 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-Mid).

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: ask questions.

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore ASL grammar (facial expression).

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare question-marking.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: understand questions.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • WH-sign photo cards.
  • Model face + sign.
  • Use a mirror.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with WHERE and WHAT.
  • Model one at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add WHEN and HOW.
  • Interview a partner.
  • Compare to yes/no questions.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ❓WH-sign cards
  • 💻WH-Questions Check
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

questionsomething you askWHOthumb or “L” at the chinWHATindex draws across the palmWHEREindex finger shakes side to sideWHYtouch forehead, then “Y”eyebrowslowered for WH-questionsyes/no questioneyebrows raisedfacial grammarthe face carries meaning
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 should your eyebrows do for a WH-question?
Lower (furrow) them.
QUESTION 2
How do you sign WHERE?
Hold up your index finger and shake it side to side.
QUESTION 3
In ASL, what part of your body helps ask a question, besides your hands?
Your face — especially your eyebrows.

Reflect: WH-questions.

Have students sign WHERE with lowered eyebrows. A printable ASL questions 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 WH-QuestionsFlip
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 WH-QuestionsQuiz
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 WH-QuestionsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: eyebrows, facial grammar, question, WHAT, WHERE, WHO, WHY, yes/no question
  1. thumb or “L” at the chin
  2. touch forehead, then “Y”
  3. index finger shakes side to side
  4. lowered for WH-questions
  5. the face carries meaning
  6. index draws across the palm
  7. eyebrows raised
  8. something you ask

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What should your eyebrows do for a WH-question?
  2. How do you sign WHERE?
  3. In ASL, what part of your body helps ask a question, besides your hands?
Answer key — Part A: 1) WHO · 2) WHY · 3) WHERE · 4) eyebrows · 5) facial grammar · 6) WHAT · 7) yes/no question · 8) question
Part B: 1) Lower (furrow) them. 2) Hold up your index finger and shake it side to side. 3) Your face — especially your eyebrows.