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ASL Classifiers II

Ninth graders deepen their work with classifiers — handshapes that represent objects. Some show how a thing MOVES (a “3” hand as a car driving); others describe how it LOOKS (a “C” hand as a round cup). They sort classifiers by their job.

Grade 9Classifiers II55 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…

  • ✓Deepen classifier use.
  • ✓Tell move from shape.
  • ✓Sort the classifiers.
  • ✓Describe vividly.
Essential Question

Classifiers can show movement OR shape. Can you sort those that show how something moves from those that show how it looks?

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

Movement or Shape?

Project this and sort each classifier into Movement (shows how it moves) or Shape (shows how it looks).

✋ Sort each — shows movement or shape?Try it
➡️ Movement
📐 Shape / Size
Tap a classifier, then tap a box.
The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

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

1

Warm-Up — Two Kinds of Classifiers

6 min

Classifiers can show movement OR shape — can you sort them?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a “3” hand driving.
  • Show a “C” hand as a cup.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Watch.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Classifiers II

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present movement vs shape.
  • Note the different jobs.
  • Have students copy.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Note it.
  • Copy.
3

Practice — Sort Them

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Movement or Shape?
  • Sort each one.
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Sign.
  • Explain.
4

Sign — Sign

15 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a car turning (movement).
  • Show a round ball (shape).
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Show it.
  • Show it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say the two classifier jobs.
  • 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 (Intermediate-Low).

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare descriptive tools.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: read classifiers.

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore ASL grammar.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to visual description.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Classifier photo cards.
  • Model with objects.
  • Use a mirror.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with car and cup.
  • Sort one at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Describe a whole scene.
  • Combine two classifiers.
  • Add movement paths.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ✋Classifier cards
  • 💻Movement or Shape?
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

classifiera handshape for an objectwhole-entity classifiershows movementdescriptive classifiershows shape & size (SASS)movementhow an object movesshapehow an object lookssizehow big or smalldescribeto picture somethinghandshapethe shape your hand makes
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 does a whole-entity classifier show?
How an object moves (like a “3” hand as a car driving).
QUESTION 2
What does a descriptive classifier show?
How an object looks — its shape and size.
QUESTION 3
Which classifier would show a round cup?
A descriptive classifier — a “C” hand.

Reflect: classifiers II.

Have students use one movement classifier and one shape classifier (like a car driving and a round ball). A printable ASL classifiers 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 Classifiers IIFlip
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 Classifiers IIQuiz
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 Classifiers IIPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: classifier, describe, descriptive classifier, handshape, movement, shape, size, whole-entity classifier
  1. shows movement
  2. how an object looks
  3. shows shape & size (SASS)
  4. to picture something
  5. how big or small
  6. the shape your hand makes
  7. a handshape for an object
  8. how an object moves

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does a whole-entity classifier show?
  2. What does a descriptive classifier show?
  3. Which classifier would show a round cup?
Answer key — Part A: 1) whole-entity classifier · 2) shape · 3) descriptive classifier · 4) describe · 5) size · 6) handshape · 7) classifier · 8) movement
Part B: 1) How an object moves (like a “3” hand as a car driving). 2) How an object looks — its shape and size. 3) A descriptive classifier — a “C” hand.