What’s That Sign?
Discuss and learn several signs in American Sign Language (ASL) and play a related word guessing game.

Introduction
In the Maya & Miguel episode, “Give Me a Little Sign,” Tito befriends a new boy, Marco, who is deaf. Marco starts to teach Tito some American Sign Language and they decide to do a project together for the school’s “Contraption Convention.” But when Tito who is learning English makes some pronunciation mistakes in school, he decides he doesn’t want to do the project anymore (since it involves public speaking). Only when he sees how Marco persists in getting across what he wants to say – even when people misunderstand him at first – does he realize the value of practice and determination, and decides to go ahead with the project.

In this game, your child will be exposed to ASL, and learn signs for 6 different words. Signing (ASL) and physical gestures as well as your native language may be used to communicate the signs.

Materials:

• 1 empty shoe box
• colored paper, markers or crayons
• scissors
• glue
• printable ASL signs
• related resources (listed below)

Directions:
This word guessing game involves creativity and self-expression while learning to communicate new language skills in ASL.

• Decorate and personalize a shoe box using paper, material scraps, or other fun appropriate items found in your house.
• Cut a slot in the top of the shoe box big enough to fit your hand (adults, help your child with this).
• Print out the ASL signs. Then, color each card and cut apart the signs on the perforated edges.
• Practice and discuss the signs together a few times. Then, place each card into the shoe box.
• This game can be played with two or more players. Each person takes a turn pulling out one of the cards. The person pulling out the card keeps it facing him/her (or places it face-down) and does not show the sign on the card to other players.
• Without talking, use sign or body language and physical gestures to describe the sign for the other players who will try to guess the meaning. For an easier version, the player may provide oral clues while describing the sign without saying what the actual sign means.
• When a person guesses the sign correctly, that player may then pull out a new card and the game may continue until all of the cards have been played and interpreted.

Ask your child if it was difficult to communicate without talking. Has your child ever met a person that is deaf or hard of hearing? Discuss and answer any questions that your child may have.

Take It Further: For extended play, create your own cards with different signs on them, and place them in the shoe box. Learn more about ASL by reading the following books, or visiting these sites:

• My First Book of Sign Language by Scholastic and illustrated by Joan Holub (Ages 4-8)
• You Can Learn Sign Language by Jackie Kramer & Tali Ovadia (Ages 8-12)
• MySignLink (http://www.aasdweb.com/mysignlink/): An internet-based sign language tool and video dictionary.
• American Sign Language Browser (http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm): A sign language browser and dictionary from Michigan State University's Communication Technology Laboratory.

With a Group:
Encourage children to learn additional signs in ASL by playing
Pet Shop Match-Up, a concentration card game. The goal of the game is to find matching signs and continue playing until all of the card sets are matched and picked up.