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ASL Adverbs & Facial Modifiers

Tenth graders learn how ASL shows adverbs — not with separate words, but with the face and the size or speed of a sign. A “th” mouth means “carelessly”; puffed cheeks and a bigger sign mean “very big.”

Grade 10Adverbs55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / Visual LanguageExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain ASL adverbs.
  • ✓Use facial modifiers.
  • ✓Change size & speed.
  • ✓Sign expressively.
Essential Question

How do you sign “very” or “carelessly” in ASL? Not with a separate word — with your face and the way you sign! How?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

Adverbs & Modifiers Check

Project each item and have students answer about ASL adverbs and facial modifiers.

😮 Understand adverbs & facial modifiersTry it
Answer each question about ASL adverbs and facial modifiers.
The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Adverbs in the Face

6 min

You show “very” or “carelessly” with your face and signing — how?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign BIG, then VERY BIG.
  • Ask what changed.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Notice.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Adverbs & Modifiers

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Adverbs & Modifiers Check.
  • Note “th” and puffed cheeks.
  • Model size/speed.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Copy.
3

Practice — Practice

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sign VERY BIG with cheeks.
  • Sign “carelessly” with “th.”
  • Sign along.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Sign it.
  • Try.
4

Sign — Sign

15 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Modify a sign for intensity.
  • Add a facial adverb.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sign it.
  • Add it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say how ASL shows adverbs.
  • Give an example.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Give one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-Mid).

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore ASL grammar.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare adverbs.

ACTFL
Communication 1.3

Presentational: sign expressively.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: read facial modifiers.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Modifier face cards.
  • Model face + sign.
  • Use a mirror.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with VERY BIG.
  • Model one modifier at a time.
  • Copy together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add “mm” (regular) mouth.
  • Sign a sentence with adverbs.
  • Compare intensities.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 😮Modifier cards
  • 💻Adverbs & Modifiers Check
  • 🪩A mirror (optional)
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

adverbtells how an action is donefacial modifierthe face changes meaning“th” mouthcareless / sloppy“mm” mouthnormal / regular“cs” mouthvery close / recentintensityhow strong (bigger/faster sign)speedhow fast the sign is madeexpressionhow the face shows meaning
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
How do you show “carelessly” in ASL?
Add a relaxed “th” mouth (sloppy facial expression).
QUESTION 2
How do you show “very big”?
Make the sign larger and add puffed cheeks.
QUESTION 3
Where do ASL adverbs usually live?
In the face and in the size/speed of the sign.

Reflect: adverbs.

Have students sign VERY BIG with puffed cheeks to add the adverb. A printable ASL adverbs sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 ASL Adverbs & Facial ModifiersFlip
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Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 ASL Adverbs & Facial ModifiersQuiz
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ ASL Adverbs & Facial ModifiersPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: adverb, expression, facial modifier, intensity, speed, “cs” mouth, “mm” mouth, “th” mouth
  1. how fast the sign is made
  2. tells how an action is done
  3. normal / regular
  4. careless / sloppy
  5. very close / recent
  6. the face changes meaning
  7. how the face shows meaning
  8. how strong (bigger/faster sign)

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How do you show “carelessly” in ASL?
  2. How do you show “very big”?
  3. Where do ASL adverbs usually live?
Answer key — Part A: 1) speed · 2) adverb · 3) “mm” mouth · 4) “th” mouth · 5) “cs” mouth · 6) facial modifier · 7) expression · 8) intensity
Part B: 1) Add a relaxed “th” mouth (sloppy facial expression). 2) Make the sign larger and add puffed cheeks. 3) In the face and in the size/speed of the sign.