Engaging, Low-Prep Activities for Creative ASL Expression

Bring ASL poetry to life in your classroom with this ready-to-use Poetry Stations Lesson Kit! Designed for flexibility and engagement, this resource guides students through both signed and written poetry activities while building their understanding of visual language, storytelling, and Deaf culture.

Perfect for middle school, high school, and introductory ASL courses, these stations require minimal prep and can be used in a variety of classroom settings.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

6 Poetry Stations (2 written, 4 signed)

• Blackout Poetry
• Roll-the-Dice Poetry
• Describe a Nature Scene
• Limited Handshape Story (with video integration)
• Emotion Transformation Poetry (NEW!)
• Picture to Poetry / Visual Story (NEW!)

✔ Teacher Guide (Quick Start + Lesson Planning Options)
✔ Station Set-Up Directions (simple + organized)
✔ Alternative Implementation Ideas (rotation, sub plans, choice board, virtual)
✔ Student Direction Sheet for Each Station
✔ Built-In Differentiation Ideas
✔ Sample Ideas to Model for Students (where applicable)
✔ 4-Point Rubric for Easy Grading
✔ Student Reflection Sheet
✔ Links to Videos & Resources for Support

✔ Poetry Station Markers/Tents

WHY TEACHERS LOVE THIS RESOURCE

Low Prep, High Engagement – Just print (or assign digitally) and go
Flexible Use – Stations, independent work, sub plans, or full lesson
Supports All Levels – Includes scaffolding + extension ideas

Builds Real ASL Skills – Focus on classifiers, expression, and visual storytelling
Creative & Meaningful – Students explore language in new ways

Digital or Print-Ready - Assign digitally or use the documents hard copy

HOW TO USE

✔ Rotate through stations in one class period
✔ Extend across multiple days for deeper learning
✔ Assign as a choice board or independent project
✔ Use as a performance-based assessment

✔ Use as a sub day lesson plan

SKILLS PRACTICED

• Visual storytelling
• Use of classifiers and space
• Facial expressions (NMS)
• Creativity and originality
• Connecting ASL to personal and cultural themes
• Language creation and expression

PERFECT FOR:

✔ Best for ASL 3 - 4 classes
✔ Deaf Culture units
✔ Poetry units
✔ Sub plans or emergency lessons
✔ End-of-unit projects

✔ Deaf/HH classrooms

FORMAT

This resource downloads as a PDF and includes access to a digital, editable version for easy customization.