Signing Time Dictionary

Over 400 common signs, including the top starter sings for your baby!

Each sign includes a video, teaching notes, and downloadable flashcards to make learning easy.

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Surprise in Sign Language

Learn how to sign surprise. Do you like it when things are a surprise?

1. Bring both hands up in front of your face and near your eyes. The pointer finger touches the tip of the thumb on both hands, and the remaining fingers tuck into each palm.
2. Pop the pointer finger and thumb apart and at the same time open your eyes wide and make a face that looks surprised.
3. This sign uses facial expression to convey the meaning behind the sign (something very important in ASL!) Your eyes pop open when the fingers pop and surprise them, and your whole face looks surprised too. Use this cue to help you remember the sign.

Teaching Tips:

  • Can you come up with a nice surprise for someone in your home? Plan a project or a party and shout and sign SURPISE when you present it!
  • You can create fun and educational games without a single supply! For instance, play a “feelings” game. Act out a feeling and have your child sign back to you what the feeling is – such as surprised. Then switch roles and let your child act out a feeling and you sign back.

Transcript:
Surprise. You show the surprise in your eyes!

Download the Flashcard (click on the image. The file contains a few color and black-and-white options. Print according to your needs.)

Want to improve your family’s signing? Learn more with our fun lessons.

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