Home›Lesson Plans›World Languages›American Sign Language · Grade 7

ASL Non-Manual Markers

Seventh graders learn that ASL is more than the hands — non-manual markers (NMM) like facial expressions, head nods, and mouth shapes carry grammar and meaning. A head nod adds “yes”; puffed cheeks show “big.”

Grade 7Non-Manual Markers50 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…

  • ✓Explain NMM.
  • ✓Use head & mouth cues.
  • ✓Add meaning with expression.
  • ✓Sign more fully.
Essential Question

In ASL, your hands are only part of the message — your face and body matter too! What are non-manual markers?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

Non-Manual Markers Check

Project each item and have students answer about non-manual markers in ASL.

🙂 Understand non-manual markersTry it
Answer each question about non-manual markers (NMM) in ASL.
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 — More Than Hands

5 min

In ASL, your face and body carry meaning too — what are non-manual markers?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Nod while signing YES.
  • Ask what the nod adds.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Nod.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Non-Manual Markers

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to NMM Check.
  • Note head nod = yes.
  • Note mouth shapes.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Nod while signing YES.
  • Puff cheeks for BIG.
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Nod.
  • Puff.
  • Try.
4

Sign — Sign

12 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign BIG with puffed cheeks.
  • Sign yes/no with a nod/shake.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Sign it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say what NMM are.
  • Give an example.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Give one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Novice-High).

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore ASL grammar.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare grammar tools.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: read NMM.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: use NMM.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • NMM face/body cards.
  • Model face + sign.
  • Use a mirror.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with the head nod.
  • Model one at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add the “oo” and “mm” mouth shapes.
  • Sign a sentence with NMM.
  • Compare with a partner.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🙂NMM cards
  • 💻Non-Manual Markers Check
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

non-manual markerface & body grammar (NMM)head nodadds “yes”head shakeadds “no”mouth morphememouth shapes that add meaningeyebrowsraise or lower thembody shiftturn to show different peoplegrammarthe rules of the languageexpressionhow your face shows 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 are non-manual markers (NMM)?
Facial expressions and body movements that add meaning in ASL.
QUESTION 2
What does a slight head nod usually add?
“Yes” or affirmation.
QUESTION 3
What can puffed cheeks or a “cha” mouth show?
That something is very big.

Reflect: non-manual markers.

Have students sign BIG with puffed cheeks to add meaning. A printable ASL NMM 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 Non-Manual MarkersFlip
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 Non-Manual MarkersQuiz
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 Non-Manual MarkersPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: body shift, expression, eyebrows, grammar, head nod, head shake, mouth morpheme, non-manual marker
  1. adds “yes”
  2. how your face shows meaning
  3. raise or lower them
  4. the rules of the language
  5. face & body grammar (NMM)
  6. turn to show different people
  7. adds “no”
  8. mouth shapes that add meaning

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What are non-manual markers (NMM)?
  2. What does a slight head nod usually add?
  3. What can puffed cheeks or a “cha” mouth show?
Answer key — Part A: 1) head nod · 2) expression · 3) eyebrows · 4) grammar · 5) non-manual marker · 6) body shift · 7) head shake · 8) mouth morpheme
Part B: 1) Facial expressions and body movements that add meaning in ASL. 2) “Yes” or affirmation. 3) That something is very big.