Book 1 - Zip and the Journey to Earth Theme: Greetings

Suggested lesson timings: 4 x 30 minute lessons

Teachers may wish to take longer with younger pupils or work more quickly with older

pupils.

End of story - AimBy the end of this unit pupils will be able to create signs for their own names and show

these to the rest of the class.

Story signing notes It is recommended that classes follow the introductory lesson before Story 1

(online - find Introductory Lesson on Teachers’ Notes section on Bookshelf tab)

Once greeting signs are confidently known they can be used in other contexts during

the school week

Teachers may decide not to concentrate on fingerspelling until Story 4

(online - find Fingerspelling Lesson on Teachers’ Notes section on Bookshelf tab)

Learning outcomes Pupils recognise and begin to recall BSL signs for ‘greetings’ words

Pupils participate with enthusiasm, actively playing and taking risks with signing

Pupils use the new signs to communicate with each other

Pupils show an increasing understanding of when BSL is used and by whom  

Pupils create a sign for their own name

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 1

Classroom resources Story signs Online resources Online: extra signed vocabulary

Set of story books

Interactive White Board (IWB) story

Name HelloPleaseThank youMeetSorryFriendsBad Good Goodbye

Interactive activities for Story 1

Printed or purchased:Book 1 Flashcards

YouMe Goober Pella StatzZipPlanet ZeePlanet Earth Welcome Spaceship

What is your name?My name is Zip.

What is your friend’s name?My friend’s name is Pella.

Who’s that? PellaWelcome to planet Earth.

Hello Zip. Nice to meet you.

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 2

Lesson 1: Teaching activities Resources Notes

Interacting with the story, recognising and repeating the first signsA: Discussion: whole class Discuss the story title: what do pupils think may happen when three

little aliens arrive on ‘earth’? (PSHE links)

IWB story: Title page As this is probably the first SignSpell story to be used, it will take longer for pupils to become used to the expectations for games and group signing

B: Whole class Pages 4- 11 have three signs for name, please and thank-you Pupils can study the 2 dimensional Zip pictures: but teachers should

quickly offer to show film of people using the signs

IWB story Story pages 4-11

As this is Book 1: limit lesson 1 to three signs

C: Interactive activity: meeting the first three signs: whole class Reveal the first 3 signing words using the Signs and Phrases

interactive activity Look at each sign separately… can pupils work out what the sign is? Click on the sign to trigger a human signer: pupils copy the signer

OnlineSigns and Phrases

D: Pair work: Name Signing Sequence! Pupils practise a signing sequence with their partner1. Pupil A signs name and please2. Pupil B WHISPERS their name3. Pupil A signs thank you Change places

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 3

Lesson 1: Teaching activities Resources NotesE: Whole class: Musical Name Signing Pupils walk silently around the class to a music track When the music stops, pupils become partners with the nearest pupil

and take turns using name signing sequence (above) When music starts again all pupils walk on to find another partner

Teacher to provide appropriate music

The teacher can also take part in this activity, especially if there is an odd number of pupils in the class

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 4

Lesson 2: Teaching activities Resources Notes

Reading the rest of the story. Recognising and repeating all ‘greetings’ signsA: Recap so far Discuss and practise the three signs learnt so far Did pupils enjoy signing? What other signs may come into this story?

IWB Story Story pages 12-30

B: Interactive activity: meeting all 10 signs: whole class Reveal all the signing words using the Signs and Phrases interactive

activity Look at each sign separately… can pupils work out what the sign is? Click on the sign to trigger a human signer: pupils copy the signer or

try out the Signs and Phrases tab

Online

Signs and Phrases

Some colours may prove more difficult than others… do whole class practice

C: Reading the rest of the story Read the rest of the story: stopping to practise each word as it occurs

IWB Story Story pages 12-end

Use the Space School activity on page 16 for sign recognition but not fingerspelling in story 1 as pupils may find learning the first 10 signs a sufficient challenge!

D: Interactive activities: whole class Find Goober: recognition Pupils discuss in pairs what each sign means: click to check Space School Pupils sign: click to check. Practise most difficult

Interactive activities Find GooberSpace School

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 5

Lesson 2: Teaching activities Resources NotesE: Plenary: whole class discussion Ask pupils to choose 3 signs to teach to someone at home: discuss

these signs with their partner: a few pupils share their 3 signs with the class

End the class by signing ‘goodbye friends’

It is excellent practice to share these signing activities with parents

Lesson 3: Teaching activities Resources Notes

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 6

Increasing confidence with more independent signingA: Home signing: whole class discussion Begin the class by signing ‘hello’ How did the home signing go? Did some family members already

know some signs?

B: Interactive activity: story signs recap: whole class Use the interactive activities: Find Goober to recognise and practise

the 10+ signs Whilst a pupil comes to the board: all pupils practise the answer in

pairs

Interactive activityFind Goober

Encourage pair work, for whole class engagement

C: Interactive activity: team challenge: whole class in 2 teams A/B One pupil chosen to come to front from each team ‘Launch’ the interactive Take Off activity Team wins a point if first to match the sign

Interactive activityTake Off

This game could be made available to play on class computers throughout the week

D: Signs for Zip, Pella, Statz, Goober: whole class Use the Signs and Phrases tab online to practise the names signs

for the story characters

OnlineSigns and Phrases

Lesson 4: Teaching activities Resources Notes

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 7

Revisiting the story and signs through the books. Signing their own nameA: Whole class discussion Did all pupils have a chance to think of a sign for their name? Ask pupils to share their name sign with their group/table

Use the Signs and Phrases online to learn:What is your name?My name is…

B: Story sharing: pairs / small groups Depending on the age and ability of the class, pupils share the story

and signs again in pairs or small groups

Story books

C: Teacher asks each child their name Whilst pupils are sharing the small books: teacher / TA go around the

class and ask each child to sign their name in turn: encourage a short hello/goodbye sequence

Use the Signs and Phrases online to practise:HelloGoodbye

D: Plenary: musical name signing Return to the musical sequence game from lesson 1 This time pupils can sign their name rather than whispering it!

Encourage pupils to share what they have learned so far at home and to use these signs throughout the week!

Zip and the Journey to Earth – Lesson Plans 8