Grades 2–5
Fingerspelled Riddles
Each riddle’s answer is spelled in handshapes. Read the letters to solve it.
ASL worksheet · Fingerspelling games
Handshape Memory Cards
Cut out the cards, turn them face down and match each letter to its handshape.
- Grade level
- Grades K–3
- Time
- About 25 minutes
- Topic
- Fingerspelling games
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Recognizing handshapes quickly, Spotting small differences, Reading fingerspelled words, Taking turns and following game rules
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Cut on the dashed lines. Mix the cards and lay them face down. Take turns flipping two cards.
- Keep them if the handshape matches the letter!
Teacher tip
Print on card stock so the handshapes do not show through. Kids sign each card they flip before checking for a match.
How to use it
- Print one game per pair or small group and go over the rules first.
- Sign the letters as you call them, so kids read your hand, not your voice.
- Make every handshape with your own hand as kids work. Your hand is the best model in the room.
Watch for
Guessing from the shape of the picture box. Ask kids to make each handshape before they answer.
Talk about it
- Which handshape was hardest to find?
- How is your hand different from the picture? What would you change?
Take it further
Let kids be the caller once they know the letters.
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 2–5
Handshape Word Search
Each word is fingerspelled in the list. Read it, then find it in the letter grid.
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.
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