Teaching Auslan In Early Childhood Services

Below are three sample lesson plans designed to introduce and immerse young children in Auslan. These plans target early childhood (typically ages 3–6) and weave Auslan naturally into everyday interactions, games, and storytelling. They can be adapted based on your specific group size and the children’s familiarity with any sign language basics.

Lesson Plan 1: "Hello and Goodbye"

Objective

• Language Skills: Introduce basic Auslan greetings—“Hello” and “Goodbye.”

• Social Skills: Build confidence in communicating non-verbally.

• Emotional/Social: Create an inclusive routine that welcomes all children, including Deaf or hard-of-hearing kids.

Materials

• Large visual aids or posters displaying the Auslan signs for “Hello” and “Goodbye.”

• Flashcards with both images and simple cues.

• A “Hello” song or chant where the signs are incorporated.

Lesson Breakdown

1. Warm-Up (5 Minutes):

   • Begin with a simple welcome song that uses a basic greeting tune.

   • Encourage children to stand in a circle so they can see each other clearly.

2. Introduction & Modeling (10 Minutes):

   • Teacher Demonstration: Clearly demonstrate the Auslan sign for “Hello,” explaining that you use your hand to reach out as if greeting a friend.

   • Practice as a Group: Have all children repeat the sign together. Move slowly, emphasizing key hand shapes and movements.

   • Introduce “Goodbye” in the same way and relate it to leaving a friend’s company courteously.

3. Interactive Activity (10 Minutes):

   • Pair Practice: Pair children up for a “greeting exchange” where one child signs “Hello,” and the partner responds with “Hello” or “Goodbye” as if they were meeting and parting.

   • Sign Simon Says: Integrate the signs with a game. For example, “Simon says, sign hello!” children practice the sign and listen for follow-up cues.

4. Wrap-Up (5 Minutes):

   • Review by asking a few volunteers to demonstrate both signs.

   • Provide verbal and visual reinforcement by clapping or cheering at each repetition.

   • Conclude with a short goodbye circle where children sign “Goodbye” to one another.

Assessment

• Observe each child’s ability to reproduce the signs during the pair activity.

• Note if children initiate greetings with one another over time.

Lesson Plan 2: "Family Fingers"

Objective

• Language Skills: Introduce key family member vocabulary using Auslan—signs for “Mom,” “Dad,” “Brother,” and “Sister.”

• Social Skills: Encourage children to share about their family using signs.

• Cultural Awareness: Build respect for how families are celebrated in Deaf culture.

Materials

• Flashcards with drawings or photographs of family members.

• Visual charts showing Auslan signs for each family member.

• A simple family-themed storybook (or a visual storyboard).

• A memory match game with cards showing both the image and the Auslan sign.

Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (5 Minutes):

   • Gather the children and show the visual chart.

   • Explain that just as we speak different languages at home, we can also speak with our hands!

2. Direct Instruction (10 Minutes):

   • For each family member (for example, “Mom”), show the flashcard, then present the Auslan sign.

   • Ask children to mimic the sign. Demonstrate slowly and repeat several times.

   • Tell a short story or anecdote about families, interspersed with each new sign.

3. Interactive Activity (10 Minutes):

   • Memory Match Game: Spread cards memory-style on a table or the floor. Children take turns matching pictures with the correct sign card (you may do a simplified version by having them produce the sign when they flip a card).

   • Encourage positive feedback when a match is made correctly.

4. Group Sharing & Review (5 Minutes):

   • Circle time: Invite children to share who is in their family by signing one or two words.

   • Reinforce and celebrate using verbal praise and enthusiastic clapping.

Assessment

• During the memory game and sharing, observe if each child can correctly demonstrate the sign in context.

• Ask simple questions like “Can you show me how you sign Mom?” to gauge understanding.

Lesson Plan 3: "Story Time with Signs"

Objective

• Language Skills: Integrate Auslan vocabulary naturally into a story, reinforcing comprehension and recall.

• Cognitive Skills: Enhance memory through repetition linked to imagery and narrative.

• Creativity: Encourage imaginative play by reenacting the story using Auslan.

Materials

• A picture book or a storyboard with clear images (preferably with repetitive vocabulary—examples could be animals, actions, or everyday objects).

• Flashcards that display the Auslan signs for key vocabulary words featured in the story.

• Simple props (e.g., puppets or thematic objects related to the story).

Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (5 Minutes):

   • Gather in a semicircle and introduce the story, explaining that every key word you learn will have a special sign.

   • Preview the vocabulary words with flashcards and signs (for example: “cat”, “run”, “happy”).

2. Interactive Story Time (12 Minutes):

   • Read the story aloud while clearly pausing at each keyword.

   • At each keyword, demonstrate the Auslan sign and encourage the children to join in.

      

      

   • Use props (like a puppet cat) to further illustrate the sign and keep the children engaged.

3. Reenactment Activity (8 Minutes):

   • Divide children into small groups. Assign each group a section of the story.

   • Ask them to practice the Auslan vocabulary from that section.

   • Invite the groups to perform a mini reenactment, using the learned signs, for the class.

4. Wrap-Up (5 Minutes):

   • Recap the story by having a “call and response” where the teacher holds up a flashcard and the children sign the word.

   • Provide positive, specific feedback on their participation and express excitement about future stories.

Assessment

• Observe active participation and correct sign production during the reenactment.

• Use follow-up questions like “What sign did we learn for ‘happy’?” to reinforce learning.

Additional Considerations & Extensions

• Differentiation: Some children may learn faster than others. For those who grasp the signs quickly, extend the activity by asking them to teach a peer or add additional vocabulary. For children who need more repetition, provide one-on-one support using visual reinforcements.

• Home Engagement: Send simple sign charts home so families can practice together. Consider hosting a parent workshop to demonstrate basic Auslan signs, promoting consistency between the classroom and home.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Introduce elements of Deaf culture as part of your discussion. Explain that Auslan is not just a tool for communication—it’s a vibrant language with history and tradition.

• Follow-Up Topics: After mastering these initial lessons, consider exploring themes such as “Colors and Emotions” or “Nature and Objects” using the same interactive, story-based approaches.

These lesson plans are designed to be flexible and engaging, allowing you to adjust based on your classroom dynamics and the children’s comfort with new language skills.