I Can Sign a Rainbow - Activity Instructions

Tune In

Revisit Archie’s page in ‘Come Over To My House’ and pose the following questions:

Why do you think the doorbell flashes?
Why do they use messages and write things down?
Why do they use sign language?

Discuss that Archie’s mum is deaf, meaning she cannot hear things and needs to be able to see the flashing doorbell, the written words and the use of sign language instead of hearing them.

Encourage children to have a go at the signs in the book; ‘hello’, ‘thank you’ and ‘I love you’

Discuss with the children who might use sign language. “Deaf people often use sign language, but their friends, family, teachers, teammates can also use sign language so they can talk together. Just as different countries have different languages, there are also different forms of sign language across the world. In Australia, Auslan is our sign language.”

You could extend this exploration by asking the children about gestures they can do with their hands that people understand without words. This might include things like thumbs up or thumbs down, waving, holding your hand out for a fist bump or a high five, or making a heart shape with your hands. Children from other cultures may have different gestures they can share.

Find Out

Use the Auslan Colour Resource to introduce colours to the children. As you perform each sign while saying the colour, ask them to repeat the colour and sign back to you.

Then get the children up and moving. Sign a colour and ask them to find something in the room that matches that colour.

/icon If the children are getting the hang of the signs, ask them to find an object and sign the colour to you.

Show the children the following clip:

Sing a Rainbow - with all your Auslan signs | hey dee ho (youtube.com/watch?v=g5m3TLBmeuc)

Children can practice their Auslan colour signs and see if they can sign along with the song.

Take Action

Invite children to revisit the colour signs independently, using a colour sorting activity. Have a sorting tray, or a number of bowls/jars set up on a small table, each compartment label with the colour and sign. Children then sort objects into the corresponding colours. Initiate a conversation, encouraging the use of Auslan as well as the spoken word..

What colour is this (point to an object)? Can you tell me using Auslan?
Can you show me something that is (insert colour using Auslan)?
What is your favourite colour?

I Can Sign a Rainbow

Activity Summary

Activity Type

Target Age

Activity Guides and Printables

Activity Details

Skills

Curriculum Mapping

Resources Required