Sign Land Animals
Learn and practice American Sign Language signs for common land animals using picture cards, step by step gestures, and fun memory activities.
Step-by-step guide to Sign Land Animals
Step 1
Clear a small space on a table or the floor and lay out your materials.
Step 2
Draw or glue a picture of one land animal on each index card.
Step 3
Write the animal’s name on the back of each card with your marker.
Step 4
Shuffle all the cards and place them face-down in a neat pile.
Step 5
Turn over the top card and say the animal’s name out loud.
Step 6
Ask an adult to show you the correct ASL sign for that animal using a trusted ASL video or book.
Step 7
Watch the demonstration and copy the handshape and movement slowly one time.
Step 8
Practice that sign three times while saying the animal name each time.
Step 9
Put the card into a ‘learned’ pile if you can do the sign or into a ‘practice’ pile if you need more tries.
Step 10
Spread all the cards face-down in a grid on your mat to set up a memory game.
Step 11
Flip two cards and perform the ASL sign for each card you flipped.
Step 12
If the two cards match keep them face-up, and if they do not match flip them back face-down.
Step 13
Repeat taking turns flipping two cards and practicing signs until all pairs are kept face-up or you want extra practice.
Step 14
Share your finished creation and what you learned on DIY.org
Help!?
What can we use instead of index cards or a marker if we don't have them?
If you don't have index cards or a marker, use cut-up cereal box pieces or sturdy printer paper for the cards and a pencil or crayon to draw/glue pictures and write the animal names on the back.
What should we do if my child can't copy the ASL sign from the video?
If your child can't copy a sign, pause the trusted ASL video and ask an adult to re-demonstrate the handshape and movement, then follow the step to 'watch the demonstration and copy the handshape and movement slowly one time' and 'practice that sign three times' before placing the card in the 'practice' pile.
How can I adapt the activity for different age groups?
For toddlers use fewer cards and a small face-down grid with simple animals and adult help for each sign, while older children can use more cards, time their memory-game rounds, and write one animal fact on the back before sharing on DIY.org.
How can we extend or personalize the Sign Land Animals activity?
To extend the activity, personalize cards with colored borders and habitat stickers, create matching pairs of picture and name cards for the memory grid, and record short sign videos to upload to DIY.org or turn the 'learned' pile into a mini flashcard deck.
Watch videos on how to Sign Land Animals
Learn to Makaton Sign: Animal Words | Something Special | CBeebies
4 Videos
Learn to Makaton Sign: Animal Words | Something Special | CBeebies
Wild Animals | ESL Vocabulary Games for Kids
Let's Learn Animal Sounds | EYFS | Kindergarten Lessons
Animal Sounds for Kindergarten | EYFS
Facts about American Sign Language for kids
🤟 American Sign Language (ASL) is a full language with its own grammar — it isn't just English on the hands!
🐻 Many animal signs are iconic: the sign for "bear" looks like a big hug and "bird" mimics a beak with the fingers.
🧠 Learning signs can boost memory, attention, and early language skills in kids — it's a brainy way to play!
🖼️ Picture cards help kids connect an animal image to the handshape and motion, making signs easier to remember.
🔤 When a specific animal sign isn't known or for names, fingerspelling spells each letter — great practice for spelling!
How do I teach my child to sign land animals using picture cards and gestures?
What materials do I need to do the Sign Land Animals activity?
What ages is the Sign Land Animals activity suitable for?
What are the benefits of practicing ASL signs for land animals with kids?
