Describe a Place in Sign Language
Learn to describe a favorite place using basic sign language signs, gestures, facial expressions, and spatial cues while practicing clear, complete signed sentences.
Step-by-step guide to describe a place in sign language
150 Essential ASL Signs | Part 1 | Common and Descriptive Signs
Step 1
Find a quiet spot and sit with your mirror paper pencil and the photo or toy of your favorite place.
Step 2
Shake out your hands wiggle your fingers and smile to warm up your hands and face.
Step 3
Look closely at your photo or toy and pick one favorite place to describe.
Step 4
Write three short words on your paper that describe that place (for example calm fun sunny).
Step 5
Use a sign language chart book or short video to find the signs for I like and favorite.
Step 6
Practice each of those basic signs one at a time in the mirror until your hand shapes look the same.
Step 7
Find the signs for two words from your list that describe the place (for example beach park home).
Step 8
Practice those place signs one at a time in front of the mirror until they are clear.
Step 9
Pick a spot in front of you to be the place (left right or straight ahead) to use as your spatial cue.
Step 10
Practice the facial expression that matches how you feel about the place (happy peaceful excited) in the mirror.
Step 11
Write a short signed sentence on your paper like I like the beach or My favorite place is the park.
Step 12
Sign your written sentence slowly in front of the mirror using the signs spatial cue and matching facial expression.
Step 13
Repeat your signed sentence three times to make it smooth and clear.
Step 14
Draw a small cue card with tiny pictures or words for each sign to help you remember the sentence.
Step 15
Share a photo or video of your finished signed description and your cue card on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a mirror, a photo/toy, or a sign language chart?
Use your phone or tablet front camera as a mirror, draw your favorite place on paper instead of a photo or toy, and play a short online sign-language video in place of a chart book while using your pencil or crayon to take notes.
My child's hand shapes or facial expressions don't match the video—how can we fix that?
Have them slow down and practice each basic sign one at a time in the mirror while comparing to the video, trace the hand shapes on paper to feel the shape, and use the small cue card as a visual reminder of the correct handshape and facial expression.
How can I adapt the steps for different ages or abilities?
For younger children simplify by choosing one descriptive word, using a favorite toy and parent modeling in the mirror with big cue-card pictures, while older kids can write a full signed sentence, pick two place signs from their list, and record themselves repeating it three times for clarity.
How can we extend or personalize the activity after we finish the basic sentence?
Turn it into a mini performance by making a set of tiny picture cue cards for several favorite places, assigning each place a different spatial spot (left, right, straight ahead), and recording a short video of the signed descriptions to share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to describe a place in sign language
Learn How to Sign Places Around the Town in ASL
4 Videos
Learn How to Sign Places Around the Town in ASL
30 Basic ASL Signs For Beginners | American Sign Language
Basic ASL Signs for Kids | American Sign Language Day | Twinkl USA
Sign Language for Beginners | An Essential Guide
Facts about sign language for kids
🌍 American Sign Language (ASL) is a full natural language used by hundreds of thousands in the US and Canada.
👀 Facial expressions and eye gaze are grammar in sign language: they can turn a sentence into a question or show intensity.
😊 Gestures and body movement (called constructed action) let signers act out being inside or moving through a place.
🗺️ Sign languages use the space around the signer like a map—pointing in different spots shows where things are located.
🤟 There are hundreds of distinct sign languages worldwide—each community develops its own way to sign.
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