Grades 2–5
Handshape Word Search
Each word is fingerspelled in the list. Read it, then find it in the letter grid.
ASL worksheet · Fingerspelling games
Fingerspelled Riddles
Each riddle’s answer is spelled in handshapes. Read the letters to solve it.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Topic
- Fingerspelling games
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Recognizing handshapes quickly, Spotting small differences, Reading fingerspelled words, Taking turns and following game rules
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Read the riddle. Name the handshapes to find the answer, then write it.
- 3. What gets wetter the more it dries?
- 6. What goes up but never comes down?
Teacher tip
Have kids guess the answer from the riddle first, then read the handshapes to check. Reading to confirm a guess is a real reading skill.
How to use it
- Keep the ASL Alphabet Chart out for checking.
- Print one game per pair or small group and go over the rules first.
- Make every handshape with your own hand as kids work. Your hand is the best model in the room.
Watch for
Calling letters too fast. Leave time to find each one.
Talk about it
- What trick helped you spot the odd one out?
- Why do you think ASL is its own language and not English on the hands?
Take it further
Make new riddles or word searches for the class with the alphabet chart.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More fingerspelling games
Grades K–3
Fingerspelling Bingo
Two different cards on one page. The caller says a letter: find its handshape and cover it. Four in a row wins.
Grades 1–3
Odd Handshape Out
Three handshapes in each row are the same letter. Circle the one that is different.
Grades K–3
Handshape Memory Cards
Cut out the cards, turn them face down and match each letter to its handshape.
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