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ASL Action Verbs

Sixth graders learn common ASL action verbs — GO, WANT, HAVE, LIKE, PLAY — the words that let them build real sentences and say what they do, want, and enjoy.

Grade 6Action Verbs50 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 common verbs.
  • ✓Build simple sentences.
  • ✓Match signs to meanings.
  • ✓Say what you do.
Essential Question

Verbs are the action of every sentence! How do you sign GO, WANT, and LIKE in ASL?

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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 Verb

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

⚡ Match each sign to its verbTry it
The Sign
Verb
Now tap the verb!
The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

50 minutes, five moves

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

1

Warm-Up — Action Words

5 min

How do you sign GO, WANT, and LIKE in ASL?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Act out “go.”
  • Ask how to sign it.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Act.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Action Verbs

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Model each verb.
  • Have students copy.
  • Note the movement.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Copy.
  • Try.
3

Practice — Match Them

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Verb.
  • Match each one.
  • Use in a sentence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Use it.
  • Explain.
4

Sign — Sign

12 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign “ME WANT…”
  • Sign “ME LIKE…”
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Sign it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign a verb.
  • 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-Mid).

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: understand verbs.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: use verbs.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare verbs across languages.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to sentence-building.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Verb sign photo cards.
  • Model each verb.
  • Use a mirror.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with GO and WANT.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add NEED and HELP.
  • Sign a short sentence.
  • Act out verbs.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ⚡Verb sign cards
  • 💻Match the Verb
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

verban action wordGOindex fingers point forwardWANTpull open hands inHAVEbent hands to the chestLIKEthumb + middle from chestPLAY“Y” hands shakeDOopen hands sweep side to sideactionsomething you do
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 WANT?
Pull open hands toward yourself, palms up.
QUESTION 2
How do you sign LIKE?
Pull thumb and middle finger out from your chest.
QUESTION 3
How do you sign GO?
Point both index fingers forward, away from your body.

Reflect: action verbs.

Have students sign a short sentence like “ME LIKE PLAY.” A printable ASL verbs 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 Action VerbsFlip
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 Action VerbsQuiz
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 Action VerbsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: action, DO, GO, HAVE, LIKE, PLAY, verb, WANT
  1. pull open hands in
  2. something you do
  3. “Y” hands shake
  4. bent hands to the chest
  5. index fingers point forward
  6. thumb + middle from chest
  7. an action word
  8. open hands sweep side to side

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How do you sign WANT?
  2. How do you sign LIKE?
  3. How do you sign GO?
Answer key — Part A: 1) WANT · 2) action · 3) PLAY · 4) HAVE · 5) GO · 6) LIKE · 7) verb · 8) DO
Part B: 1) Pull open hands toward yourself, palms up. 2) Pull thumb and middle finger out from your chest. 3) Point both index fingers forward, away from your body.