Preschool ASL Curriculum: Weekly Plan for Daycare, Pre-K, and Classrooms
Build a preschool ASL curriculum around real routines
A preschool ASL curriculum works best when signs are short, visual, playful, and used during moments children already understand: arrival, circle time, snack, stories, feelings, cleanup, bathroom, and play.
Affiliate disclosure: This page includes course affiliate links and Amazon affiliate links. If you enroll or buy through these links, ASL Kids may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We also link to free ASL Kids resources because preschoolers usually need playful routine practice before anything more formal.
Print the ASL curriculum planner
Use the 12-week planner as your teacher or parent binder page, then adapt the weekly themes below for preschool, daycare, Pre-K, therapy, or early homeschool routines.
Quick answer: what should preschoolers learn first?
Start with signs preschoolers can use the same day: hello, friend, sit, look, help, more, eat, drink, all done, bathroom, wait, stop, book, play, happy, sad, tired, and clean up. Use the ASL Kids app or dictionary before activities so children see signs in motion, not only as printed pictures.
One routine at a time
Preschoolers learn faster when signs belong to a predictable classroom or family moment.
Three to five signs a week
Short, repeated practice beats a crowded list of signs that nobody uses after circle time.
Video plus visible prompts
Use app videos for movement, then print cards, posters, or a sign-of-the-week area for review.
Important: ASL is a real visual language with movement, facial expression, handshape, location, palm orientation, and Deaf cultural context. If a child is deaf or hard of hearing, connect with Deaf educators, early-intervention providers, ASL-fluent teachers, and the child’s family support team.
8-week preschool ASL curriculum plan
Use this as a simple starting point. Repeat a week when a group needs more time, or swap signs to match your classroom, daycare, or home routine.
Arrival and greetings
Practice hello, goodbye, friend, name, sit, look, and teacher. Use signs at the door and during circle time.
Snack and mealtime
Practice eat, drink, more, all done, please, thank you, hungry, and water during snack or lunch.
Feelings and help
Practice happy, sad, angry, scared, tired, hurt, help, and break during check-ins and story characters.
Story time and books
Practice book, read, look, again, stop, go, finished, and favorite while reading predictable books.
Colors and counting
Practice red, blue, yellow, green, black, white, one, two, three, and ten with objects in the room.
Animals and play
Practice dog, cat, bird, fish, ball, game, play, outside, again, and stop with movement games.
Cleanup and transitions
Practice clean up, wait, line up, bathroom, wash, help, finished, quiet, and ready.
Review and family share
Let children choose favorite signs, teach a family member, play a review game, and send home a printable prompt.
Daily preschool ASL routine
Show the sign
Open the app or dictionary and watch the sign model before the routine begins.
Copy together
Let children copy the sign, say the word, and match it to a real object or picture.
Use it naturally
Use the sign during snack, story time, cleanup, a feelings check-in, or play.
Repeat tomorrow
Review the same signs before adding new ones. Preschool learning loves repetition.
Preschool ASL signs by classroom moment
| Moment | First signs | Activity idea | ASL Kids resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle time | Hello, friend, sit, look, listen, name | Sign hello to each child and practice one sign-of-the-day. | Classroom signs |
| Snack | Eat, drink, more, all done, please, thank you | Model signs while passing cups, plates, napkins, and food. | Mealtime signs |
| Feelings | Happy, sad, angry, scared, tired, help, break | Use a feelings chart, story characters, or a calm check-in. | Feelings signs |
| Stories | Book, read, look, again, stop, go, finished | Pick one repeated sign from the book and use it every time the moment appears. | ASL dictionary |
| Transitions | Wait, line up, bathroom, wash, clean up, finished | Pair signs with visual schedules, songs, or a visual timer. | Classroom routine printable |
Materials that can help preschool teachers
You can start with no supplies beyond your hands, a reliable sign model, and real routines. Add physical tools only when they help children see, repeat, or remember the signs during the day.
| Material | Why it helps | Best fit | Amazon starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL flash cards | Good for warm-ups, matching games, choice-making, and review. | Small groups, centers, and family send-home practice. | Browse ASL flash cards |
| Classroom ASL poster | Keeps a few signs visible without pulling out a full card set. | Circle time, classroom walls, and sign-of-the-week areas. | Browse ASL posters |
| Visual timer | Pairs naturally with wait, finished, clean up, and transition signs. | Daycare, preschool, autism-friendly routines, and homeschool. | Browse visual timers |
| Pocket chart or card display | Lets teachers rotate only the signs for the current week. | Classroom centers, wall displays, and sign review areas. | Browse pocket charts |
| Tablet stand | Keeps app videos visible while children and teachers copy with both hands. | Teacher desk, practice station, or small-group center. | Browse tablet stands |
When should a teacher or parent add a course?
Most preschoolers do not need a formal course. They need short routine signs, play, repetition, and adults who model consistently. A course can help the adult when the teacher, aide, parent, or homeschool guide wants a more complete ASL sequence and more confidence with grammar, fingerspelling, facial expression, and receptive practice.
Adult beginner course
Use this when the adult is the main learner and wants a structured path beyond classroom vocabulary.
Kids course path
Use this for older children who are ready to follow structured online lessons. Keep preschool practice playful.
Connect this curriculum to ASL Kids resources
Sign Language Activities for Preschoolers
Use circle time, snack, stories, feelings, cleanup, and color games for playful review.
ASL Lesson Plans
Turn the weekly plan into printable lessons, home practice, or classroom centers.
ASL Practice Station
Set up the app, cards, timer, and routine prompts in one easy-to-reset place.
Free ASL Printables
Use the planner, classroom routine signs, alphabet poster, and checklists.
ASL Kids App
Let children see signs in motion before practicing during the real routine.
ASL Curriculum for Kids
Use the broader 12-week curriculum when your child or class is ready for the next path.
Best next step
Choose one preschool routine for tomorrow. Open the app, practice three signs, print the planner, and use those signs during the real classroom or home moment.
Sources and further learning
- Head Start: Benefits of Using American Sign Language in Early Childhood
- Head Start: Using American Sign Language for Early Learning
- Gallaudet Clerc Center K-12 ASL Content Standards
- K-12 ASL Content Standards
- American Society for Deaf Children: Learning ASL
FAQ
What is a good preschool ASL curriculum?
A good preschool ASL curriculum teaches a small set of useful signs through real routines: arrival, circle time, snack, feelings, story time, cleanup, bathroom, and play. It should use video models, short practice, repetition, and respectful ASL guidance.
How many ASL signs should preschoolers learn each week?
Most preschool groups do well with three to five signs per week. Review the same signs during real routines before adding more.
Can daycare teachers use ASL if they are beginners?
Yes, if they start with a small set of accurate signs, use reliable video models, and keep learning. It is better to model a few useful signs consistently than to teach too many signs poorly.
Should preschoolers learn the ASL alphabet first?
Usually no. Start with routine signs children can use right away, then add the ASL alphabet when the group is ready for handshape practice, names, and fingerspelling games.
Do preschoolers need an online ASL course?
Most preschoolers do not need a formal online course. Adults may benefit from a course if they want a stronger ASL foundation, while preschool children usually need short app videos, play, printables, and daily routine practice.
Can ASL help children with speech delays or communication needs?
ASL can give children a visual way to express needs and participate in routines. For children with speech delays, autism, hearing differences, AAC, or complex communication needs, coordinate signs with the child’s family, teachers, SLP, audiologist, or care team.
Add playful review to this plan
After each weekly sign set, use ASL Games for Kids for scavenger hunts, matching games, sign bingo, storybook signs, snack requests, feelings check-ins, and quick family review.
Choosing your first ASL course?
Use the ASL Course for Beginners guide to decide between a free start, a kids course, an adult beginner course, app practice, and a homeschool-friendly routine.
Need printable ASL practice sheets?
Download the free ASL Kids Starter Pack for first signs, weekly lesson plans, baby-sign routines, classroom signs, family practice, and a 12-week planner.
Comparing ASL apps?
Use the Best ASL Apps for Kids and Beginners guide to choose between ASL Kids, dictionary apps, structured lesson apps, baby-sign video libraries, and course paths.
Need a simple ASL lesson sequence?
The ASL Lessons for Kids hub turns app videos, first signs, printables, games, and course paths into a practical beginner lesson order for families, teachers, homeschoolers, and children.
Planning ASL for homeschool?
Use the Homeschool ASL Course guide to choose between app-first practice, a kids course, a parent course, credit planning, printables, and a weekly curriculum plan.
Teaching ASL to an elementary student?
The ASL Course for Elementary Students guide helps families choose between app-first practice, weekly lessons, printables, curriculum, a kids course, and parent support.
Teaching ASL to preschoolers?
The ASL Course for Preschoolers guide helps parents and teachers choose an app-first routine path, preschool curriculum, adult course support, printables, and classroom materials without pushing a formal child course too early.