Friendly Hands Slides ASL: Visual Voices
Lesson 1
Friendly Hands
Step into a silent world of visual connection. Learn greeting etiquette, fingerspelling fundamentals, and basic ASL grammar.
ASL Introductory Sequence • Interactive Slide Deck
Keep your eyes on the hands!
Visual Culture
Etiquette & Ethics
Eyes are the
New Ears
In ASL culture, breaking eye contact is considered equivalent to turning away or blocking your ears during a verbal conversation.
Key Cultural Rule
Always establish and maintain direct eye contact before and during signing.
How to Get Attention
1 A gentle wave in their line of sight
2 Light tap on the shoulder (1-2 times)
3 Flickering the overhead lights (groups)
Slide 2 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Greetings
First Connections
Saying Hello and Goodbye
HELLO
Bring flat hand to forehead (like a military salute) and move outward slightly. Keep a friendly, open facial expression.
MORNING
Place dominant hand inside crook of non-dominant arm, bending upward like the sun rising over the horizon.
NICE TO MEET YOU
NICE: Slide dominant flat palm over non-dominant palm.MEET: Two index fingers face each other and touch.
Slide 3 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Fingerspelling
The Building Blocks
What is
Fingerspelling?
Using 26 unique handshapes to spell out English words, specifically:
People's names
Specific locations / brands
Words you don't know the sign for yet
Fingerspelling Mechanics
Dominant Hand
Always use your dominant hand to fingerspell. Keep your non-dominant hand at your side.
The "Sight Box"
Keep your elbow near your ribs. Hold your hand near your shoulder level, without blocking your face.
No Bouncing
Keep your hand steady. Bouncing your wrist makes letters incredibly hard to read.
Mouth the Word
Mouth the whole word or syllable, not the individual letters, to help your partner track along.
Slide 4 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Accuracy Over Speed
The Gold Standard
Speed is the Enemy of Understanding
Beginning signers often try to spell too quickly, blending shapes. ASL native signers prioritize crisp, readable handshapes over raw speed.
A, E, I, O, U
The vowels require tucking fingers precisely. Don't let your hand slide or slouch.
K & P
Identical handshape, but oriented differently. K points straight up, P points downward.
M vs. N
M tucks thumb under three fingers; N tucks under two. Precision matters!
Double Letters
Slide the hand outward slightly or make a small bounce to indicate a double letter (e.g., L-L in Hello).
Slide 5 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
ASL Grammar
Syntax Secrets
How to Say
"What's your name?"
ASL sentence structure differs from English. We put the question word at the very end.
ASL Word Order
YOUR NAME WHAT?
Facial Expressions (WH-Questions)
When signing a question starting with W-H words (What, Who, Where, Why):
! Furrow your eyebrows (bring them down and together)
! Lean forward slightly toward the receiver
! Hold the final sign (WHAT) until they answer
Slide 6 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Active Practice
Exit Mission
The Silent handshake
Stand up, find three peers, and complete the dialogue entirely in sign language! No whispering allowed.
Step 1
Wave / Hello
Step 2
YOUR NAME WHAT?
Step 3
NICE TO MEET YOU
Now, open your ASL Adapted Workbook and head to Page 1!
Happy Signing!
Friendly Hands Workbook ASL Student Workbook
Friendly Hands Practice
Lesson 1 Handout
Student Name:
Date:
Activity 1: Fingerspelling Warm-Up
Follow your teacher's visual model. ASL letter handshapes are grouped below by structural type. Practice signing each letter, focusing on crisp transitions rather than speed. Put a checkmark in the box once you can confidently sign it without hesitation!
Upward Extension
B
D
F
H
Tucked/Fist Shape
A
E
O
S
Tricky Twisters
K
P
M
N
Activity 2: My Name in Handshapes
Fingerspell your first name in front of a mirror or with a peer. Then, break down each letter in your name below, listing the handshape style (e.g., "tall letters," "fist style," "double-bounce required").
Letter 1
Letter 2
Letter 3
Letter 4
Letter 5
Letter 6
*Write one letter of your name in each bottom slot. Use the empty space above to sketch the fingerspelling shape or list structural cues.
Unit: Visual Voices • ASL Basics Workbook Page 1
ASL Student Workbook
Greetings & Culture
Lesson 1 Handout
Activity 3: ASL Dialogue Construction
ASL follows a distinct grammar framework. Rewrite the English conversation prompts below into glossed ASL word order (all caps, question words at the end).
Dialogue Prompt A: "What is your name?" Example
ASL GLOSS Order: YOUR NAME WHAT?
Dialogue Prompt B: "Nice to meet you." Rewrite in ASL Gloss
Dialogue Prompt C: "My name is Logan." Rewrite in ASL Gloss (Substitute your own name)
Activity 4: Cultural Case Study
The Scenario:
"During a conversational practice circle, Maya is fingerspelling her name to Tyler. Halfway through Maya's spelling, Tyler's phone buzzes. He looks down at his pocket, reads a text, and then looks back up to Maya saying, 'Can you spell that again? I missed the last part.'"
Based on Deaf culture and ASL communication etiquette, explain two distinct rules Tyler broke, and how Maya might feel about this action.
Unit: Visual Voices • ASL Basics Workbook Page 2
Heart to Hands Slides ASL: Visual Voices
Lesson 2
Heart to Hands
Discover the powerhouse of ASL grammar: facial expressions. Learn to ask "How are you?", sign basic emotions, and express your personal state.
ASL Introductory Sequence • Interactive Slide Deck
Facial expressions are NOT optional!
Grammar Rules
Non-Manual Markers
Your Face is
Your Voice
In English, tone of voice conveys attitude and meaning. In ASL, this is done through Non-Manual Markers (NMMs) —facial expressions, head tilts, and shoulder movements.
NMM Rule
Signing "HAPPY" with a blank or sad face is grammatically incorrect and confusing to native users.
Three Crucial Elements
1 Eyebrows: Up for Yes/No, Down for WH-Questions
2 Mouth Morphemes: Shapes like "cha," "oo," or "puh" modify size/intensity
3 Head Tilt: Signifies conditional phrases and active listening
Slide 2 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Vocabulary
Core Feelings
Expressing Internal States
HAPPY
Flat hand(s) brush upward on your chest in quick circles. Smile with eyes lit!
SAD
Bring loose palms downward in front of face. Eyes downcast, mouth corners droop.
ANGRY
Claw-shaped hand pulls outward near face. Furrow brows deeply and tense your jaw.
TIRED
Bent hands rest on chest, then slump downward. Let shoulders roll forward with a sigh.
Slide 3 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Vocabulary
States of Being
Expressing Physical States
SICK
Middle finger of dominant hand touches forehead; non-dominant touches stomach. Wince.
FINE
Touch thumb of open "5" hand shape to center of chest. Keep head neutral and nod slightly.
CONFUSED
Point index finger to forehead, then make visual claw motion over other palm. Squint eyes.
EXCITED
Alternating middle fingers brush upward on chest. Big smile, high physical energy!
Slide 4 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Conversation Flow
Checking In
The Question Blueprint
How to Ask
"How are you?"
ASL structures this check-in using a two-sign sentence.
Feelings Faceoff Workbook ASL Student Workbook
Feelings & Faces
Lesson 2 Handout
Student Name:
Date:
Activity 1: Physical Parameters of Emotion
Write the name of the correct ASL vocabulary word (HAPPY, SAD, ANGRY, TIRED, SICK, CONFUSED ) next to its physical parameters and facial requirements.
Parameters: Middle fingers touch forehead & stomach simultaneously. Nose and eyes scrunched up in discomfort.
Parameters: Both flat hands sweep upward repeatedly on the chest. Broad smile, cheeks lifted, and wide eyes.
Parameters: Single or double claw-hands pull down or tensed near face. Brows furrowed deep, lips pressed thin.
Parameters: Palms rest flat on chest, dropping downward as chest slumps. Shoulders fall forward, mouth exhaling.
Activity 2: Eyebrow Position Classification
ASL eyebrows are grammatical operators. Read each English question below. Decide if it is a Yes/No Question (Eyebrows UP) or a WH-Question (Eyebrows DOWN) . Write "UP" or "DOWN" in the space provided.
1. "Are you fine?" Yes/No Type
UP
2. "Who is she?" WH-Type
3. "How are you?" WH-Type
4. "Is she sick?" Yes/No Type
Unit: Visual Voices • ASL Basics Workbook Page 3
ASL Student Workbook
Inflecting Emotions
Lesson 2 Handout
Activity 3: Inflecting Emotional Intensity
ASL adjusts the "volume" of a sign by altering its hand motion size, speed, and adding facial expressions. Fill in the missing parameters below to demonstrate how to amplify these feelings.
1. HAPPY → EXTREMELY HAPPY
Hand Motion Adjustment
Faster, larger circles brushing up chest, bouncing body slightly.
Facial Expression (NMM)
2. SAD → EXTREMELY DEVASTATED
Hand Motion Adjustment
Facial Expression (NMM)
Deep frown, head dropped, eyes fully squinted shut, shaking head.
Activity 4: Expressive Check-In Blueprint
Design a 3-turn ASL conversation check-in with a peer. Write out the signs in ASL GLOSS order and sketch or describe the required facial expression for each.
Signer A: Ask "How are you?"
ASL GLOSS: YOU FEEL HOW?
Facial expression description...
Signer B: Reply with an inflected feeling (e.g. VERY-TIRED)
Signer A: Respond with empathy (e.g. "Oh, no!") or validation
Conversational Sparks Slides ASL: Visual Voices
Lesson 3
Conversational Sparks
Connect everything you've learned. Combine greetings, name spelling, and emotion signs into rich, fluent introductory dialogues.
ASL Introductory Sequence • Interactive Slide Deck
Ready to turn off your voice?
Dialogue Blueprint
Putting It Together
The ASL
Intro Sequence
When meeting another ASL user for the first time, dialogues follow a beautiful, standard visual rhythm.
Cultural Tip
Nod and maintain smiling eye contact to confirm you are successfully tracking their spelling!
The Flow of Visual Talk
A HELLO! YOUR NAME WHAT?
B MY NAME F-R-E-D. YOURS WHAT?
A MY NAME M-A-R-Y. YOU FEEL HOW?
B I FEEL FINE. YOU HOW?
A I FEEL HAPPY. NICE MEET YOU!
Slide 2 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Active Listening
Visual Channels
The Art of
Visual Nodding
In spoken language, we say "mhm" or "yeah" to show we are listening. In ASL, we use visual feedback channels to keep the dialogue fluid.
Active Visual Feedback Signals
The "Active Nod"
Gently nod your head while your partner spells their name. It means: "I am tracking your letters."
The "Oh-I-See" Sign
Form a "Y" hand shape with your dominant hand and move it up and down. Translates to: "Aha, I understand."
Expressive Echo
Mirror your partner's emotion face. If they sign SICK, let your face register sympathy instantly.
No Blank Staring
A completely blank face can signal that you are confused, angry, or bored. Show active life!
Slide 3 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Self-Correction
Fixing Mistakes
What If
I Mess Up?
Don't panic! Making spelling mistakes or signing the wrong emotion is part of learning. ASL has quick, visual ways to reset.
How to Reset the Conversation:
The "Oops" Hand-Wave
Open your flat palm, shake it gently side-to-side in front of you once or twice, smile, and start that word again.
The "WRONG" Sign
Form a "Y" hand shape with your palm facing inward, tap it quickly to your chin once, shaking your head, then re-sign.
Slide 4 of 7 • Visual Voices Series
Classroom Setup
Silent Mixer Station Instructions
Silent Mixer Task Cards ASL Conversational Station Rotations
Silent Mixer Task Cards (Page 1)
Cutout Resource
*Teacher Instructions: Print this page on heavy cardstock. Cut along the dashed gray lines to create 4 durable, double-sided conversational task cards for physical station rotations.
Station 1
The Friendly Handshake
Goal: Complete a basic greeting sequence from scratch.
Partner A signs HELLO and asks: YOUR NAME WHAT? (eyebrows down!)
Partner B signs MY NAME, fingerspells their name, and asks back: YOURS WHAT?
Both conclude with: NICE TO MEET YOU .
Verification Check
Did Partner A furrow eyebrows during the WH-Question? If yes, initial their log.
Station 2
The Secret Code
Goal: Master receptive tracking of fingerspelled words.
Partner A secretly chooses a word: DOG, CAT, BIRD, FAMILY, SCHOOL .
Partner A spells the word with standard, calm, non-bouncing fingerspelling.
Partner B must translate and sign or whisper the final word. Swap roles.
Verification Check
Did the speller bounce their wrist, or did they keep their hand stable in the "sight box"?
Station 3
The Expression Mirror
Goal: Read Non-Manual Markers accurately.
Partner A makes an intense facial expression representing a feeling (no hand signs!).
Partner B must identify the emotion and sign it: SICK, SICK, HAPPY, ANGRY, CONFUSED .
Once verified, swap roles and repeat with 2 new emotions.
Verification Check
No hands allowed in Step 1! The face must speak the message entirely alone.
Station 4
The Heart Check
Goal: Query personal feelings and respond empathetically.
Partner A signs: YOU FEEL HOW? with deep furrowed eyebrows.
Partner B signs: I FEEL... [SAD, TIRED, EXCITED, FINE] .
Partner A must mirror the emotion or sign validation: OH-I-SEE .
Verification Check
Did the listener offer visual feedback (nodding or "Oh-I-See" sign) to show empathy?
Unit: Visual Voices • ASL Station Task Cards Page 1
ASL Conversational Station Rotations
Visual Voices Teacher Guide ASL Teacher-Facing Resource
Visual Voices Unit Guide
Teacher Overview
Unit Goal
This unit prepares high school beginners to initiate, sustain, and exit standard introductory ASL conversations in full silence, utilizing the three parameters of sign: handshape, eye contact, and non-manual facial grammar.
Unit Pacing & Pacing Blueprint
Lesson / Day Core Content & Objectives Deliverables 1: Friendly Hands Greetings (HELLO, MORNING, NICE MEET YOU), eyes-on etiquette, and steady manual fingerspelling mechanics. Workbook Pages 1-2 2: Heart to Hands NMM facial grammar, basic emotions vocabulary, "YOU FEEL HOW?" question structure, and sign volume inflection. Workbook Pages 3-4 3: Conversational Sparks Full dialogue sequence, "oops/wrong" self-corrections, and active peer signature validation in full silent rotations. 8 Station Task Cards
Day 3 Silent Mixer Station Setup
The Silent Mixer is a active peer-led learning system. Prepare your classroom with the following physical blueprint to optimize conversational focus:
Classroom Layout
Arrange desks into 4 distinct clusters around the room. Group 2 task cards at each cluster (Cluster A: Cards 1 & 2; Cluster B: Cards 3 & 4, etc.). Place an active visual sign in the middle indicating: "Voice Box Status: OFF".
Rotation Flow
Pairs of students spend exactly 4 minutes per cluster . In that time, they complete both prompts on the local card deck. Once verified by their peer, they swap card challenges, and initial each other's signature sheets.
Unit: Visual Voices • ASL Teacher Guide Page 1
ASL Teacher-Facing Resource
Assessment & Feedback
Rubric & Rubrics
ASL Conversational Performance Rubric
Criterion Exceeds Standards (4 pts) Developing (2 pts) 1. Fingerspelling Accuracy Hand shapes remain crisp and readable, oriented flat in the shoulder sight box. No bouncing, drifting, or letter dropping. Fingerspelling is sloppy or too fast, leading to blurred transitions. Wrist bounces up and down. 2. Eyebrow Grammar (NMM) Eyebrows shift dynamically based on syntax (UP for Yes/No, DOWN firmly for WH-questions). Expression mirrors tone.
