How to sign the alphabet in American Sign Language

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• How to sign the alphabet in American Sign Language

6th Grade English class Cultural Unit
By Kristen Goracy
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American Sign Language

• American sign language is a visual spatial
  language that uses hand gestures and hand shapes
  to communicate in the deaf community
• In this lesson you will learn the ASL alphabet!

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Navigation

• Select this button at any time to
  move to the next slide
• Select this button a any time to
  move back to the main menu
• Select this button at any time to
  move to the previous slide

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Main Menu

A-L
M-Z
Learn Letters A-L
Learn Letters M-Z

Quiz
Practice
Test your new skills
Practice your new skills
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Letters A-L

• The next slides will show a picture of each
  letter and a brief explanation.
• Each slide contains two letters
• Look at the picture and read the explanation.
• Make the sign with your own hand
• When you feel comfortable with the two letters on
  the slide you may click the forward button to the
  next two letters

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A closed fist, all fingers folded against the
palm, thumb is straight, alongside the index
finger
B
All fingers are straight. Thumb is folded across
palm
A
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Hand is turned slightly to the left so viewer can
see backward "C" shape formed by thumb and index
finger.
Hand is turned slightly so viewer can see "d"
shape formed by thumb, middle and index fingers
C
D
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All fingers are partially folded with the tips of
index, middle and ring fingers touching the thumb
between the knuckle and the tip.
E
Tip of index finger is touching tip of thumb.
Middle, ring and little fingers are straight and
slightly spread
F
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Index finger and thumb make a pinching shape.
Palm faces towards you.
Ring and pinky finger fold against your palm with
your thumb over it. Index and middle point
straight out.
H
G
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Index, middle and ring fingers are folded against
palm. Thumb is folded across index middle and
ring fingers. Pinky finger is straight.
Hand shape is the same as letter I, but pinky
moves to draw the letter J
I
J
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Ring and Middle finger make a peace sign. Thumb
sticks between the ring and middle finger
Thumb and index finger form a 90 degree angle in
an L position. All other fingers are down
K
L
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Great Job!

• You have completed the lessons on letters A-L of
  the American Sign language Alphabet
• If you feel ready to move on to letters M-Z click
  to the next slide
• If you are uncomfortable with any of the letters
  A-L click back to the previous slides

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Letters M-Z

• The next slides will show a picture of each
  letter and a brief explanation.
• Each slide contains two letters
• Look at the picture and read the explanation.
• Make the sign with your own hand
• When you feel comfortable with the two letters on
  the slide you may click the forward button to the
  next two letters

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Make a fist with your thumb underneath your
index, middle, and pinky finger
Make a fist with your thumb underneath only your
middle and pinky finger
M
N
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Index and middle finger create a 90 degree angle
facing down. Thumb touches middle finger
All fingers come together and touch at finger
tips, forming an O shape
O
P
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Make the same hand shape as letter G and then
tilt it so your pointer and thumb are facing the
floor
Cross your pointer and middle finger, the others
bend against palm
Q
R

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Make a fist shape with your thumb in between your
pointer and middle finger facing up
Make a fist with your thumb in front resting on
your other fingers
S
T

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Pointer and middle finger point up the rest stay
against palm
Same handshape as letter U, but pointr and middle
finger spread apart and form a v shape
U
V

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All fingers stay in a fist shape except the
pointer finger which makes an arch shape.
Index, middle, and ring finger point straight up.
Pinky and thumb stay against palm
W
X

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Point with your index finger and draw a z in
the air.
Pointer, middle, and ring finger fold on palm.
Thumb and pinky stick straight out.
Y
Z

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Great Job!
You have completed the lessons on the
alphabetical letters of the American Sign
Language!
Now you can spell your name, your parents names,
and your friends names!
Now you should practice your new skills by
clicking to the next slide

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Practice makes perfect!

• Click on the button that says alphabet video
• This button will bring you to a website that has
  a video of someone signing the alphabet
• Watch once, and play it a second time and try to
  sign along

Alphabet Video
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Practice!

• Sign your name four times using the ASL alphabet
• Sign your best friends name four times

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More Practice

• Click the practice website button

Practice Website
When the website opens, click slow speed and
maximum of 3 letters On the website someone will
sign a word and you are to type in what they
spelled Do ten words
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Great Job Practicing!

• You now have completed the practice section of
  the ASL alphabet lesson
• If you feel you are not comfortable with the
  whole alphabet return to the previous practice
  slides
• If you are comfortable with the alphabet click to
  the next slide for a 3 question quiz

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QUIZ Question 1
What letter is being shown?
S
L
M
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Quiz Question 2
What name does this spell?
Bob
Rob
Bill
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Question 3

• What two letters in the American Sign Language
  Alphabet have movement to them?

J and Z
L and B
K and P
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Sorry that is the wrong answer

• Click the Try Again button

Try Again
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Correct!
This is letter M!
Click the Question2 button to return to the quiz
Question 2
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Sorry that is the wrong answer

• Click the try again button

Try Again
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Correct!
The letters are B-O-B This spells Bob!
Click the Question 3 button to go back to the
quiz
Question 3
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Sorry that is the wrong answer

• Click the try again button

Try Again
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Correct!

• J and Z both have movement to them!

Click the forward arrow to see what is next
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Congratulations!

• You have completed the lessons, practice, and
  quiz on the American Sign Language alphabet!
• Now you know the ASL alphabet and can sign
  numerous words!
• Click the arrow button to return to the beginning
  of the lesson