American Sign Language Worksheets

American Sign Language worksheets can be a helpful resource for students attempting to master this unique form of communication.

Why Should I Learn American Sign Language?

American Sign Language, commonly referred to as ASL or Ameslan, is a system of non-verbal communication used by the deaf and hearing impaired community in the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico. In ASL, people must use palm orientations, handshapes, body language, and facial expressions to communicate thoughts and ideas. However, American Sign Language should not be considered merely an adapted form of English. Since ASL has its own form of syntax and grammar, linguists consider it a uniquely separate language.

Some of the many reasons to study American Sign Language include:

• ASL is the third most common language in the United States, surpassed only by English and Spanish. In fact, studies have indicated between 500,000 and 2,000,000 people in the U.S. alone use American Sign Language as their primary form of communication.
• Learning ASL can enhance your understanding of the deaf culture.
• ASL helps you learn to express yourself using your face, eyes, head movements, and body movements.
• Parents can teach simple ASL signs to their babies as an aid to early communication.
• ASL is useful in communicating with special needs children who have limited verbal skills.
• Many employers in the service industry encourage their workers to learn ASL.

Finding American Sign Language Worksheets Online

Since American Sign Language is not commonly taught in most public schools, there are a limited number of websites offering free printable worksheets for students interested in learning ASL. However, if you use online worksheets in conjunction with an ASL textbook or a website offering free video clips, learning the basics of this fascinating language can be a relatively simple task.

If you are teaching sign language to a child, check out these helpful links:

• Lesson Tutor has a number of lesson plans for K-12 students interested in learning American Sign Language. Topics covered include common questions, past tense, negative phrases, and general daily vocabulary.
• DLTK Teach has a set of downloadable coloring book pages for young children interested in learning basic sign language vocabulary.
• PBS Kids has an assortment of free sign language printables featuring the popular Arthur character.
• Med Center One offers a free worksheet that teaches children the alphabet and the signs for "I love you."

Adults who are interested in learning American Sign Language will find the following links useful:

• ASL University offers free online instruction for people interested in learning American Sign Language. The site also includes downloadable workbooks and fingerspelling quizzes to test your knowledge.
• ABC Teach has free printable flashcards that you can use as an instructional aid for mastering fingerspelling techniques.
• Enchanted Learning offers flashcards for learning ASL numbers.

Making Your Own Sign Language Worksheets

The Gallaudet font features number and alphabet keys that contain the corresponding American Sign Language images. If you can't find a free printable worksheet that fits your lesson plan, try using this font to create your own instructional aid.

Additional ASL Resources

To learn more about American Sign Language, visit the following links:

• The National Association for the Deaf website offers general information about sign language and deaf culture.
• The Michigan State University ASL Browser is an online dictionary that features short video clips and written descriptions of basic American Sign Language vocabulary words.
• ASL Pro is a comprehensive resource for classroom teachers with a number of sign language video clips and interactive games. For example, you can view short videos that show how to sign The Pledge of Allegiance, The Star Spangled Banner, and The Lord's Prayer.
• ASL Activities, Books, & Teaching Materials for Students of All Ages provides a large collection of links to online resources for ASL teachers.
• Ye Olde Log lets you take a short interactive quiz testing your knowledge of the ASL alphabet.