1997-98 Instant Activity Archives

Week 9: Oct. 13-17, 1997

IA Name: Sign Language Tag

Grade Level: 3-5

Equipment: Yarn balls to tag with, cones for boundaries

Directions:

NOTE: This idea will work after you have taught your students some of the hand gestures that represent the sign language alphabet. Five examples of letters to teach your students are presented below.

Have the class spread out in a space identified by cones. Identify 2 or 3 students as chasers by giving them a ball or a pinnie to wear. On the teachers signal the chasers are to try and tag their classmates via walking. When tagged those students must freeze and make a letter with their hand using sign language that they have previously learned (see five examples below).

To get unfrozen one of their untagged classmates must come around and guess the letter that the students have made with their hand. They only get one guess so tell them to look carefully at the hand signal.

Variations:

Have students walk for this tag game instead of running. Then add other types of locomotor movements like skipping, galloping, hopping, etc.

Students can't be frozen while guessing the letter

As students get more proficient with letters, then have them spell short words for students to guess to get unfrozen

Have unlimited time for the unfreezers to guess the letter

The vowels in sign language

A

E

I

O

U

To see more the entire alphabet go to Deaf Resources on the Web Meta-Index at:

http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~carrie/deaf/sign.html

This site was created on 5/1/96 by Carrie Griffin. PE Central extends it's sincerest thanks to Carrie for taking the time to share this information.

Submitted by Joselle Edwards who teaches PE at Harding Ave. Elementary in Blacksburg, VA. Sign language letters provided by Carrie Griffin. Thanks for contributing to PE Central!

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