Sentence Structure Focus

Year Level

Year 7

Subject

Languages — Auslan

Unit

Deaf Gain in Auslan Culture
Lesson 5 of 20: Sentence Structure in Auslan

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Lesson Duration

70 minutes

Class Size

25 students

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand and identify simple Auslan sentence structures, focusing on the topic-comment format.
• Construct basic Auslan sentences using topic-comment structure to communicate clear and coherent messages.
• Recognise the flexibility of Auslan sentence order and apply non-manual features (NMFs) to support sentence meaning.
• Appreciate how topic-comment structure differs from English sentence structure, developing cross-linguistic awareness.

Australian Curriculum Alignment

Content Description:
AC9L1AU8EU02 – Develop knowledge, and use structures and features of, the Auslan grammatical system to understand and create signed, visual and multimodal texts【5:AC9L1AU8EU02】

Elaborations relevant to lesson:

• Recognising flexibility in sign order, understanding the time-topic-comment structure often followed in Auslan.
• Distinguishing between types of clauses and their components—topic, comment, and the use of space and NMFs to convey meaning.
• Identifying and applying topic-comment format in sentence construction.
• Using metalanguage to discuss structures of signed texts, supporting comprehension and production【5:AC9L1AU8EU02】.

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Resources Required

• Visual aids illustrating Auslan sentence structure (topic-comment examples).
• Video clips of native Auslan users signing simple topic-comment sentences.
• Whiteboard or digital display for modelling signs and sentences.
• Printed handouts with glossed Auslan sentences breaking down topic and comment.
• Interactive signing space (clear classroom area) for practice.
• Smartboard or projector for showing examples and videos.

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Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Description	Rationale
0–5 mins	Warm-up and Recap	Greet class in Auslan; briefly revisit previous lesson content on Auslan foundational signs. Ask students what they noticed about how Auslan sentences might be different from English sentences.	Activates prior learning; sets context for structured sentence learning.
5–15 mins	Introduction to Topic-Comment Structure	Teacher explains the concept of topic-comment sentence structure in Auslan. Show clear video examples of signs arranged in topic-comment order, highlighting the topic first, then comment. Elicit ideas from students about what “topic” and “comment” mean in their own words.	Builds foundational understanding of sentence structure in Auslan, distinct from English syntax.
15–30 mins	Decomposition of Simple Sentences	Using visual aids, teacher breaks down simple Auslan sentences into topic and comment. For example, a sentence to describe a weather condition or a school activity. Include non-manual features demonstrating questions or emphasis. Students repeat and practise signing these.	Reinforces conceptual and practical understanding; supports motor skills with immediate modelling.
30–50 mins	Guided Practice: Forming Topic-Comment Sentences	Students work in pairs. Each pair is given a set of simple scenarios (e.g., describing a pet, a family member, their favourite food or sport) and prepare an Auslan sentence using topic-comment order. Teacher circulates, providing support and feedback.	Collaborative learning enhances confidence and practising sentence formulation.
50–60 mins	Interactive Signing Game	Group game: “Topic-Comment Relay” — One student signs a topic to their partner, who then signs a comment to complete the sentence. After their turn, pairs “pass on” new topics. Rounds continue rapidly to build fluency and application.	Engages students physically and socially; applies sentence structure knowledge in a dynamic way.
60–68 mins	Reflection and Discussion	As a class, discuss how Auslan sentence structure compares with English. Highlight the natural topic-comment flow and where NMFs fit in. Encourage students to share experiences or challenges from the activity.	Encourages metalanguage use and critical thinking about bilingual language structures.
68–70 mins	Exit Slip Assessment	Each student signs one simple topic-comment sentence to the teacher or records a short video. Teacher notes accuracy of structure and use of NMFs for informal formative assessment.	Provides immediate feedback and documents student understanding for the unit.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment: Observation and feedback during pair activities and the Relay game focusing on correct topic-comment sentence formation.
• Exit slip: Each student produces a simple Auslan sentence using topic-comment structure. Teacher assesses the coherence and correctness of sentence structure and appropriate use of signing space and NMFs.
• Curriculum standard addressed: AC9L1AU8EU02 – using Auslan grammatical system and features to create texts【5:AC9L1AU8EU02】.

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Differentiation

• For students needing additional support: Provide exemplar videos slowed down, simplified sentence frames, and one-on-one guidance. Use gesture-rich modelling.
• For advanced students: Encourage creating more complex sentences including time comments and extended descriptors, exploring simultaneous signing (e.g., using adjectives and verbs concurrently).
• Provide visual prompts and sentence starters on handouts to scaffold learning.

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Cross-Curricular Priorities & General Capabilities

• Literacy: Enhances bilingual literacy by comparing key language structures between Auslan and English.
• Critical and Creative Thinking: Encourages analysis of language structure differences and creative sentence formation.
• Personal and Social Capability: Builds communication skills and cooperative learning through pair and group activities.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures: Connect through discussions about First Nations Deaf perspectives and culture embedded in Auslan signed texts in later lessons within the unit【16:AC9L2AU8EC03】【8:AC9L2AU8U03】.

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This detailed plan explicitly aligns with the Australian Curriculum content code AC9L1AU8EU02, focusing on Auslan grammatical structures, especially the topic-comment sentence structure, fitting the Year 7 level. The activities are paced and student-centred, providing practice, reflection, and assessment within a 70-minute session designed for a class of 25. The use of pair work and games engages students kinesthetically and socially, suitable for their age and language learning stage.

If you require, I can also provide suggestions for accompanying resources such as video scripts and glossed sentences to supplement this lesson plan.