Grade Level: 5

Goals: For students to gain an understanding of sign language, learn a few beginning signs, and be able to demonstrate their knowledge to others.

Objectives:

1. Students will learn to sign the alphabet.
2. Students will cooperatively work in groups to create a power point tutorial for learning the alphabet in sign language, each letter having its own page.
3. As part of the power point project, students will need to use a digital camera to take pictures of each letter and insert these photos into their presentation.
4. Students will share their knowledge and work with other classes by showing their slides in front of a different grade’s classroom and demonstrating how to sign the alphabet.

Materials: Earplugs, digital camera, computers, PowerPoint

Procedure:

1. Introduce lesson by requiring a group of students (selected ahead of time) to wear earplugs and go about class for five to ten minutes without speaking, communicating only by gestures.
2. Discuss what it felt like for both the "deaf" students and the rest of the classroom. Did any problems occur? Did anyone feel frustrated? Was it difficult to communicate? Does anyone know anyone who has this experience? Lead this into a discussion on how deaf people communicate.
3. Students will learn alphabet by repetition. Each day for one week, fifteen minutes of class time will be spent learning five to six letters and reviewing previous letters. Teacher will randomly use sign language throughout day and in teaching of other subjects.
4. At the end of this week, assign students to groups of four, five, or six. Introduce expectations for PowerPoint that are as follows: title page with group members names and pictures, one slide for each letter of the alphabet, each with visual demonstration of letter and explanation if necessary (for letters that require movement), two additional slides that demonstrate other words in sign language that students have learned (must look for this information).
5. Take students through process of using digital camera and inserting pictures into PowerPoint. (This is assuming children are familiar with PowerPoint software).
6. Give children adequate time to work on presentations as a group, budgeting a one hour time period per group to use digital camera.
7. Set up times for students to travel to other grades to share their presentations, at which time they will all demonstrate their ability to sign the alphabet.

Assessment: Assessment will be based upon the final presentations given by the students. All requirements for the PowerPoint must be present to receive full credit and each group member must be able to sign entire alphabet at presentation time.

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