Sign Language Animals: Learn ASL Animals with this Free Printable

This past year, my son went through a full Assistive Technology evaluation. One of the two modalities that we are going to focus on is signing. I had gotten away from it as his health declined. But, now that he’s on the rebound, he seems to be using it more.

He is very successful with PECS at school, but now we’re working on transferring that skill to home. But, he loves animals and many of the outings we do relate to animals (visiting local farms) so I want to expand his ASL vocabulary.

ASL Animals Free Printable

As with everything I do with Kevin, I try to make it a whole sensory experience. Sight, sound, motor skills…the whole thing. That’s why I like this booklet.

So, here you go–enjoy!

Learning animals in sign language is a fun and rewarding way to expand your vocabulary in American Sign Language (ASL). As with any new language, it takes time and practice to master the signs for different animals, but once you have them down, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

When learning the signs for animals in ASL, it’s important to focus on both the hand shape and movement used for each sign. The hand shape is the position of the fingers, and the movement is how the hand moves to make the sign.

To master the hand shapes, it can be helpful to practice forming the hand shapes in front of a mirror or to use a tool such as a hand puppet to help you visualize the shapes.

Common Animals in Sign Language

In addition to hand shape and movement, it’s also important to understand the facial expressions and body language used in ASL.

This is because ASL is a visual language, and the facial expressions and body language used in the signs can change the meaning of the sign. For example, signing “cat” using a facial expression that suggests the cat is playful will convey a different meaning than signing “cat” with a serious facial expression.

Once you have a good understanding of the hand shape, movement, and facial expressions used in the signs for different animals, it’s time to start practicing. This can involve watching videos of people signing animals and trying to imitate the signs, or practicing with a partner who is proficient in ASL.

To help you retain the signs, it can also be helpful to write them down and to practice them regularly.