Auslan Group Games

Overview

A short, engaging 10-minute session designed for Year 2 students to reinforce familiar Auslan signs through fun, cooperative group games before the class ends. Activities align with the Australian Curriculum v9 Languages strand for Auslan in Years 1 and 2.

---

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Locate, with support, key information in familiar Auslan texts and respond using gestures, images, words and formulaic phrases (AC9L2AU2C03).
• Participate in interactive Auslan group games that utilise signs related to family, school, animals and colours (AC9L2AU2C03_E1, E2).
• Recognise and use non-manual features (such as facial expressions) to support communication in Auslan (AC9L2AU2C03_E7).
• Develop confidence in signing familiar signs in a social, playful context to foster communication and cultural understanding (AC9L1AU2C04).

---

Curriculum Connections

Australian Curriculum v9 — Auslan Year 2:

• Content Descriptor: AC9L2AU2C03 - Locate, with support, key information in familiar texts, and respond using gestures, images, words and formulaic phrases.
• Elaborations:
  • AC9L2AU2C03_E1: Information gap activities about familiar topics like family, favourite foods, toys.
  • AC9L2AU2C03_E2: Gathering and reporting information about familiar topics.
  • AC9L2AU2C03_E7: Shadowing and using non-manual features in short Auslan poems or stories.
• Related Cultural Learning: AC9L1AU2C04 - Recognise language that carries cultural meaning, including fingerspelling and iconic signs【14:AC9L2AU2C03.md】【18:AC9L1AU2C04.md】.

---

Materials Needed

• Picture cards with key vocabulary (animals, colours, family members, simple verbs like eat, run)
• Visual aids/posters with Auslan signs for reference
• Small space for movement and group interaction

---

Lesson Sequence (10 minutes)

1. Warm-up (2 minutes) — "Speed Sign Show"

• Students stand in a circle.
• Teacher shows a picture card (e.g., cat, apple, red) and models the Auslan sign.
• Students quickly take turns signing the word back to teacher or to the person next to them.
• Focus: Reinforce familiar vocabulary and non-manual features (expressive facial cues).

Purpose: Energise students and review known signs.

---

2. Main Activity (6 minutes) — "Auslan Bingo Relay"

• Students break into 5 groups (5 per group) standing in lines.
• Each group gets a bingo-style card featuring pictures of familiar Auslan signs (from family, animals, colours, actions).
• Teacher calls out or signs clues related to the bingo cards (e.g., "Who likes dogs?" or "Find the sign for yellow").
• The first student in each line races to the teacher to receive a picture card and returns to their team.
• The team collectively signs together the word depicted on the picture card and marks it on their bingo card.
• The first group to complete a row wins!

Purpose: Foster teamwork, reinforce comprehension and production of familiar Auslan signs, listening and responding skills.

---

3. Cool down (2 minutes) — "Feelings Charades"

• In pairs, one student thinks of a simple feeling (happy, tired, sad) using familiar Auslan signs and non-manual features.
• The other student guesses the feeling.
• Switch roles after one round.

Purpose: Practice expressive signing, linking signs to emotions, supporting cultural communication understanding.

---

Assessment

Teachers will:

• Observe students' participation and ability to recognise and produce Auslan signs in games.
• Note use of facial expressions and gestures as part of accurate Auslan communication.
• Encourage peer feedback, supporting language use in a fun, non-threatening manner.
• Use informal questioning throughout to check understanding and engagement.

---

Teaching Tips for WOW Factor

• Use dynamic, colourful flashcards tailored to students’ interests (e.g., favourite animals or food).
• Introduce simple props for the final game to create immersive interaction (e.g., plush toys to "sign" about feelings).
• Record students' group signing moments (with permission) for fun playback as a class reflection.
• Celebrate every sign attempt with vibrant praise and incorporate brief repetition to embed learning.
• Link Auslan signs to real-world actions or objects in the classroom to deepen meaning.

---

This plan harnesses the Australian Curriculum’s emphasis on sign recognition, interaction and cultural meaning in Auslan for young learners, using playful group work to build confidence and fluency in a short, impactful session【14:AC9L2AU2C03.md】【18:AC9L1AU2C04.md】.