Year Level

Year 1

Duration

45 minutes

Class Size

6 students

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Learning Area

Languages – Auslan

Unit

Exploring Auslan and Deaf Culture

Lesson

1 of 30

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Lesson Title

Introduction to Auslan

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Lesson Description

Students will be introduced to Auslan (Australian Sign Language), learning basic signs and gaining an understanding of the cultural importance of Auslan within the Deaf community.

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

We Are Learning To:

• Understand the role and importance of Auslan as a language of the Deaf community.
• Learn and use basic Auslan signs for greetings and simple concepts.
• Recognise how Auslan relates to Deaf culture and identity.

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Success Criteria

Students will:

• Identify Auslan as a language used by Deaf Australians.
• Perform basic Auslan signs such as hello, goodbye, thank you, and yes/no.
• Explain why Auslan is important for Deaf culture and communication.

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Victorian Curriculum Links

Languages > Auslan > Years 1 and 2

• AC9L1AU2C03: Locate, with support, key information in familiar texts, and respond using gestures, images, words, and modelled phrases.
• AC9L1AU2C04: Recognise language that carries cultural meaning in everyday social interactions (e.g., differences between signs and fingerspelling, embedded Deaf culture).
• AC9L1AU2U04: Explore the positive effects of learning Auslan and belonging to the Deaf community (introduction to Deaf identity and culture).

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Resources Needed

• Picture cards/charts with Auslan signs (hello, goodbye, thank you, yes, no, please).
• Video clips showing Deaf people signing simple greetings.
• Large open classroom space for signing practice.
• Puppets or props to role-play conversations.
• Visual aids about Deaf culture and community.
• Dyslexia-friendly printed signs and images in high contrast colours and clear fonts.

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Lesson Activities

1. Introduction & Engagement (10 minutes)

• WALT: Understand what Auslan is and why it is important.
• Teacher shows a brief video clip of Deaf Australians signing greetings.
• Ask students: What do you notice about how people are communicating? Highlight it is Auslan, the language used by Deaf people in Australia.
• Explain simple facts about Deaf culture – e.g., how Auslan helps people communicate with their hands and faces, and that it’s a real language with its own rules.
• Use picture/chart to introduce signs for hello, goodbye, thank you, yes, and no.

2. Guided Practice (15 minutes)

• WALT: Learn and practise basic Auslan signs.
• Model each sign slowly with clear facial expression and body language.
• Use choral repetition: Students repeat each sign together several times.
• Play a simple game: “Signing Simon Says” – teacher calls out a sign and students respond by performing it.
• Use puppets or role play greetings with a partner using the signs learned.

3. Cultural Significance Discussion (10 minutes)

• WALT: Recognise cultural meaning behind Auslan.
• Discuss why sign language is important to Deaf people (helps them communicate, feel included, share their stories).
• Introduce the idea of "Deaf culture" — not just about deafness but shared customs and stories.
• Show photos or pictures of Deaf community activities such as Auslan festivals or National Week of Deaf People.
• Encourage students to share how learning Auslan might make people feel included and respected.

4. Consolidation & Assessment (7 minutes)

• Invite students to demonstrate 3 signs they have learned.
• Ask simple questions like “How do we say ‘thank you’ in Auslan?” or “Why do we need to learn Auslan?”
• Provide verbal and written positive feedback according to success criteria.

5. Extension & Differentiation (3 minutes)

• Extension: For advanced learners, introduce fingerspelling their own names or simple words.
• Differentiation: Use visual schedules and hands-on props for students needing additional support in processing instructions.
• Provide printed visual aids in dyslexia-friendly font and clear layout for easy reference.
• Offer peer support and encourage modeling by more confident signers.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Use visual aids, repetition, and multi-sensory learning (videos, games, role-play).
• Adjust pace for learners who need more time to process and respond.
• Provide one-on-one signing support or partner work.
• Incorporate movement and breaks to support attention.

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Extension Activities

• Learners can practice signing simple fruit names or classroom objects at home or with family.
• Introduce simple Auslan songs or rhymes for practice in future lessons.
• Create a class "Auslan Wall" with new signs as they are learned throughout the unit.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Observe student engagement with visual and kinesthetic activities.
• Note students who might require extra support or enrichment for future lessons.
• Reflect on cultural sensitivity and ensuring Deaf culture is represented respectfully.

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This lesson sets a foundation by embedding language learning within cultural understanding aligned with the Victorian Curriculum Auslan framework for Years 1 and 2 (content codes AC9L1AU2C03, AC9L1AU2C04, AC9L1AU2U04)【1:AC9L1AU2C03.md†AC9L1AU2C03】【15:AC9L1AU2C04.md†AC9L1AU2C04】【19:AC9L1AU4U04.md†AC9L1AU4U04】. It respects students’ developmental needs through short activities, repetition, and multi-sensory input, attending also to diverse learners with differentiation and dyslexia-friendly resources.