Here’s a basic ASL grocery shopping lesson plan that includes vocabulary, objectives, activities, and descriptions for each sign language word related to grocery shopping.
Students will learn key American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary related to grocery shopping, understand how to ask and respond to basic grocery-related questions, and practice using signs in sentences.
Lesson Vocabulary
1. Apple – Make a fist with your dominant hand and twist it near your cheek as if turning an apple in your hand.
2. Banana – Hold up the index finger of your non-dominant hand and pretend to peel it with the fingers of your dominant hand.
3. Bread – Hold your non-dominant hand in front of you, palm facing in, and use the dominant hand to make slicing motions across it.
4. Milk – Open and close your hand like you're milking a cow (a squeezing gesture).
5. Eggs – Place your two "H" hand shapes (index and middle fingers extended) together, then bring them down and apart as if cracking an egg.
6. Cheese – Press both palms together and twist back and forth as if squishing something soft, like cheese.
7. Meat– With your non-dominant hand held in front, pinch the skin between your thumb and index finger with your dominant hand.
8. Chicken – Make a bird’s beak shape by placing your thumb and index finger near your mouth, opening and closing them.
9. Fish – Extend your dominant hand, palm facing sideways, and move it forward in a wave-like motion like a swimming fish.
10. Vegetables– Make a "V" hand shape with your dominant hand and tap it to your cheek, rotating it once.
11. Fruit – Use your dominant hand in the "F" hand shape and twist it near your cheek.
12. Carrot – Hold your fist near your mouth and twist as if you’re biting into a carrot.
13. Potato – Make a fist with your non-dominant hand, then use the index and middle fingers of your dominant hand to tap the top of the fist like a fork poking a potato.
14. lettuce – Tap your open hand on the side of your head.
15. Cereal – Use your index finger in front of your mouth and bend it repeatedly as you move it across from one side to the other, mimicking the motion of eating cereal.
16. Juice– Use the letter "J" with your dominant hand, making the motion from your mouth outward.
17. Water – Tap a "W" hand shape to your chin.
18. Cart – Push your hands forward as if pushing a shopping cart.
19. Cashier – Use both hands to mimic the motion of a cashier entering items in a register.
20. Money – Tap the fingertips of your dominant hand to your palm as if holding money.
21. Pay– Hold out your non-dominant hand palm up, and use your dominant hand index finger to swipe across it as if showing payment.
2. Guided Practice (15 minutes):
- Students will practice the signs for grocery items in small groups.
- Use props (fake food items) and pass them around. Students must identify and sign the name of the item before passing it to the next person.
3. Question Practice (10 minutes)
- Teach students how to ask common grocery shopping questions.
- For example, **"Where is the milk?"** (MILK WHERE) and **"How much does this cost?"** (THIS COST HOW-MUCH).
- Have students pair up and role-play a grocery shopping conversation using the learned vocabulary and questions.
4. Role-play Activity (10-15 minutes):
- Divide students into two groups: cashiers and shoppers.
- The cashiers will sit at a “register” while the shoppers use their vocabulary to "shop" for items, ask questions, and complete transactions.
- Each student should play both roles during the activity.
5. Wrap-Up & Review
- Review all signs covered in class.
- Play a quick game where the teacher signs a grocery word, and students must point to or hold up the correct item or picture.
Challenge:
Students will be assigned to go to a grocery store and practice identifying items in their heads while signing them, or practice signing while shopping at home.
This lesson plan ensures that students get a hands-on learning experience and become comfortable using ASL in practical, real-world scenarios like grocery shopping.
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Getting a Cashier's Attention and Asking a Question
Getting Attention:
To get a cashier’s attention, you can use a simple sign to alert them respectfully:
1. Excuse Me – Extend your dominant hand with the fingers slightly curved. Brush the fingertips on your non-dominant palm in a quick motion toward the cashier. This is a polite way to signal that you want their attention.
2. Hello/Hi – Wave your hand gently as a gesture to get the person’s attention, or you can simply sign “HELLO” (extend your hand forward, moving it slightly away from your forehead, palm facing out).
Questions:
Once you've got their attention, here are examples of how to ask questions in ASL:
Simple Explanation:
Topic first: What you are talking about.
Comment or action next: What you are saying about the topic.
Example:
English: "I am eating an apple."
ASL: "APPLE I EAT." (Topic: Apple; Comment: I eat)
subject-object-verb (SOV) structure
1. Where is the bread? (BREAD WHERE)
- Sign "BREAD" (slicing motion across your non-dominant hand) followed by the sign for "WHERE" (raise your index finger and move it side to side).
2. How much does this cost? (THIS COST HOW-MUCH)
- Point to the item or hold it up while signing "COST" (use your dominant hand in the shape of an "X" and swipe it down on your non-dominant palm). Then sign "HOW-MUCH" (raise both hands and wiggle your fingers, as if counting).
3. Can I pay with a card? (I PAY CARD CAN)
- Sign "I" (point to yourself), then "PAY" (swipe your index finger across your non-dominant palm), "CARD" (use both hands to show a rectangle shape), and "CAN" (make two fists and move them down slightly as if affirming).
4. Do you have milk? (MILK YOU HAVE)
- Sign "MILK" (open and close your hand as if squeezing a cow’s udder), then sign "YOU HAVE" (bring both open hands toward your chest, palms up, as if pulling something toward you).
These scenarios help students practice everyday interactions in grocery settings, especially when asking for help or making a request at the cashier.