School: Minister Destiny Testimony Schools Track: Youth Class: Topic Library — Year 1 (Foundations) Founded and presented by: Minister Destiny Marie Morgan, Muslim Ordained Minister
This lesson is educational information, Massachusetts-first, and is not legal advice. Laws vary by state. If you are in danger right now, call 911.
Before you start
- This space is private. Nobody sees what you read or answer. Your progress stays on your device.
- We never ask your name. Not here, not on the test, not on the certificate; you write your own name on it after downloading.
- Pass the test at 80% or higher to earn this unit's certificate. Retakes allowed; answers are not shown — re-read and retry.
- If you are in danger right now: call 911. If you cannot talk out loud, text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line) or call or text 988 any time, day or night.
- Signing is a real language — American Sign Language (ASL). This unit teaches first signs and safety signs; the book and app videos show them moving. Each sign carries an illustration brief (sign diagram, single or two-panel, with movement arrow).
The lesson
Part 1. Why sign with friends
A Deaf classmate is a classmate — a friend for jokes, games, and lunch, not just lessons. Signing includes them in all of it.
Two things make signing work. Eye contact is polite — look at your friend's face, not their hands. And faces talk too: expressions are part of ASL grammar; raised eyebrows, a worried face change meaning.
One honest rule: name signs are special. A name sign is given by a Deaf person — never invented, for yourself or anyone. Until then, fingerspell your name.
Part 2. The alphabet game
Fingerspelling spells words letter by letter, one hand — your writing hand, palm mostly forward, slow and smooth:
A fist, thumb side, B fingers up, thumb across palm, C curved like C, D index up, fingertips-to-thumb, E fingers curled tight, F index-thumb circle, G index sideways, H index-middle sideways, I pinky up, J pinky traces J, K index-middle up, thumb between, L thumb-index L, M thumb under three, N thumb under two, O fingers-thumb O, P like K, down, Q like G, down, R index-middle crossed, S fist, thumb front, T thumb between index-middle, U index-middle together, V index-middle apart, W three fingers apart, X index bent hook, Y thumb, pinky out, Z index traces Z.
Illustration brief SL-1: (b) 26-panel handshape chart; (d) alt "ASL fingerspelling chart, A to Z"; (e) caption "Manual alphabet — J and Z move."
The game: fingerspell your name, a friend's name, a pet's name.
Part 3. First signs for friends
SIGN — HELLO — Flat hand at forehead, near ear; move out and away. Smile. Brief SL-2: (b) hand leaving forehead; (d) alt "Signing hello"; (e) caption "HELLO — forehead wave."
SIGN — MY NAME — Point to yourself; sign NAME — two-finger hands tapped crosswise — then fingerspell your name. Brief SL-3: (b) point, fingers tap; (d) alt "Signing my name"; (e) caption "MY NAME — point, spell."
SIGN — HOW ARE YOU — Bent hands, knuckles touching; roll to palms-up, point at friend. Eyebrows up. Brief SL-4: (b) knuckles rolling open; (d) alt "Asking how are you"; (e) caption "HOW ARE YOU — roll, point."
SIGN — FINE — Open hand, thumb touches chest: "I'm fine." Brief SL-5: (b) thumb on chest; (d) alt "Signing fine"; (e) caption "FINE — thumb to chest."
SIGN — THANK YOU — Flat hand at lips; move forward and down toward the person thanked. Brief SL-6: (b) hand moving from lips; (d) alt "Signing thank you"; (e) caption "THANK YOU — forward."
SIGN — PLEASE — Flat hand on chest; rub a small circle. Brief SL-7: (b) hand circling chest; (d) alt "Signing please"; (e) caption "PLEASE — circle over heart."
SIGN — SORRY — A fist rubbed in a circle on your chest, sorry face showing — PLEASE's spot, but a fist. Brief SL-8: (b) fist circling chest; (d) alt "Signing sorry"; (e) caption "SORRY — fist over heart."
SIGN — YES — A fist nodding up and down, like a nodding head. Brief SL-9: (b) fist bobbing; (d) alt "Signing yes"; (e) caption "YES — fist nods."
SIGN — NO — Index and middle fingers snap down onto thumb, like a mouth shutting. Brief SL-10: (b) fingers closing onto thumb; (d) alt "Signing no"; (e) caption "NO — fingers snap."
SIGN — FRIEND — Hook two index fingers together; switch tops, hook again. Brief SL-11: (b) hooked fingers linking twice; (d) alt "Signing friend"; (e) caption "FRIEND — linked twice."
SIGN — PLAY — Both hands Y-shaped (thumb, pinky out); twist from wrists. Brief SL-12: (b) Y hands twisting; (d) alt "Signing play"; (e) caption "PLAY — Y hands twist."
SIGN — SCHOOL — One hand flat, palm up; clap the other onto it twice. Brief SL-13: (b) hand clapping onto palm; (d) alt "Signing school"; (e) caption "SCHOOL — double clap."
SIGN — GOOD — Flat hand at chin; bring down onto other palm-up hand. Brief SL-14: (b) hand moving chin to palm; (d) alt "Signing good"; (e) caption "GOOD — chin to palm."
Part 4. Safety signs
These matter most on a playground or a bus.
SIGN — HELP — A fist, thumb up, on your other open palm; lift both. Brief SL-15: (b) fist rising on palm; (d) alt "Signing help"; (e) caption "HELP — lift together."
SIGN — STOP — One hand flat, palm up; chop your other hand's edge onto it once, firmly. Brief SL-16: (b) hand chopping onto palm; (d) alt "Signing stop"; (e) caption "STOP — firm chop."
SIGN — HURT — Index fingers point at each other; jab together near the sore spot. Brief SL-17: (b) fingers jabbing near knee; (d) alt "Signing hurt"; (e) caption "HURT — jab sore spot."
SIGN — SICK — Bend both middle fingers; touch forehead and stomach. Brief SL-18: (b) fingers at forehead, stomach; (d) alt "Signing sick"; (e) caption "SICK — forehead, stomach."
SIGN — DANGER — One hand flat, palm down; strike its edge twice with your other fist's thumb side, arcing. Signs vary — follow your friend. Brief SL-19: (b) fist striking hand's edge; (d) alt "Signing danger"; (e) caption "DANGER — strike twice."
SIGN — TEACHER — Flattened O hands at head's sides move forward; flat hands drop at sides: "person." Brief SL-20: (b) hands forward, dropping; (d) alt "Signing teacher"; (e) caption "TEACHER — teach plus person."
SIGN — BATHROOM — Make a T; shake side to side twice. (Politer: R, bounced twice.) Brief SL-21: (b) T handshape shaking; (d) alt "Signing bathroom"; (e) caption "BATHROOM — shake T."
One word is missing on purpose: SAFE could not be checked well enough — not taught, rather than taught wrong. The videos or a Deaf teacher can add it.
Part 5. Being a good signing friend
- Get attention kindly. Wave, tap a shoulder gently, flick the lights. Never grab hands. Never shout.
- Face your friend. Hands visible. Don't cover your mouth or turn away.
- Forgot a sign? Fingerspell it — or write or type it.
- Include, don't take over. Sign with your friend; don't interpret uninvited or answer for them.
- "Never mind" is banned. Miss something? Repeat it — every time. Leaving someone out is the one real failure.
Words to know — Learning to Sign
- Sign language — a full language of hands, face, body; ASL is used in the U.S. and much of Canada.
- Fingerspelling — spelling a word letter by letter with handshapes.
- Alphabet (manual) — the 26 handshapes for fingerspelling letters.
- Deaf — capital D: Deaf community and culture; a word many use with pride.
- Interpreter — a trained adult translating between signing and speech.
- Eye contact — looking at your partner's face; how you listen.
- Name sign — a special sign for one person, given by a Deaf person.
- Expression (facial grammar) — facial expressions that are ASL grammar, not just feelings.
- Include / inclusion — making sure everyone can take part.
- Attention — in signing, gotten visually: wave, tap, lights.
Myths vs facts — Learning to Sign
- Myth: Sign language is the same everywhere. Fact: Every country has its own sign languages; ASL is one of many.
- Myth: Deaf kids can't join games and jokes. Fact: Deaf kids do everything friends do; signing shares it.
- Myth: Shouting helps a Deaf friend understand. Fact: Signing is seen, not heard. Face your friend and sign.
- Myth: You must sign perfectly or not try. Fact: Trying beats perfect. Fingerspell, write, or type.
- Myth: Lip-reading always works. Fact: Much of speech can't be seen on lips; signing, writing, typing are surer.
Think it through — Learning to Sign
Maya, who is Deaf, joins your class. At lunch she sits with her tray while your table laughs at a story she cannot see. On the bus, a boy falls and scrapes his knee near her seat. What can you do this week?
Walk it through: (1) Part 3 first: HELLO, MY NAME (fingerspell yours), HOW ARE YOU. (2) Part 2 is your backup: fingerspell anything you lack a sign for. (3) At lunch, Part 5: face Maya, include her, repeat what she misses, never say "never mind." (4) On the bus, Part 4: HURT and HELP by the scraped knee — faster than shouting. (5) Name sign: hers to be given — fingerspell M-A-Y-A until then.
Try this — Learning to Sign
- ☐ Fingerspell three names a day
- ☐ Teach a family member HELLO and THANK YOU
- ☐ Learn your school-day five: HELLO, FRIEND, PLAY, TEACHER, BATHROOM
- ☐ Practice HELP, STOP, HURT, SICK until automatic
- ☐ Sign one whole lunch conversation, hands and faces only
Resources to keep — Learning to Sign
- Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — free ASL lessons and sign dictionary, by Dr. William Vicars.
- Hands & Voices (handsandvoices.org) — support for families of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
- Gallaudet University (gallaudet.edu) — the world's Deaf university.
- Your school counselor — a safe first stop if a friend needs an adult.
- 911 — in danger now. 988 (call or text) · Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) — support any time.
What you earned / what's next — Learning to Sign
✅ Learning to Sign — Signing With Friends complete (quiz score 80% or higher): You can fingerspell names, sign greeting and friendship words, use safety signs, and include a Deaf friend.
Your certificate
Minister Destiny Testimony Schools Certificate of Completion — Learning to Sign — Signing With Friends
This certificate is presented by Minister Destiny Marie Morgan, Muslim Ordained Minister
Awarded to: ______________________________ (write your name here after you download — your name is never collected or stored by this school)
Date completed: ______________
You learned a language with your hands and your face, for the best reason — friendship. Keep signing, keep including, never say "never mind." — Minister Destiny Marie Morgan
This is a certificate of educational completion from Minister Destiny Testimony Schools. It is not a state license, a government certification, or legal training for representing anyone.
What's next: Return to the Topic Library for your next Year 1 Foundations unit.
Sources
- ASL University / Lifeprint — Dr. William Vicars (lifeprint.com) — fingerspelling; PLEASE, NAME, HOW, FINE, SORRY, HELP, STOP, HURT, SICK, FRIEND, SCHOOL, TEACHER, BATHROOM; checked Oct 21, 2026.
- HandSpeak — handspeak.com — dictionary entry for DANGER (U.S. version; a Canadian regional version also shown), checked Oct 21, 2026.
- American Sign Language For Dummies — dummies.com — STOP, HURT, HELP descriptions, second check, Oct 21, 2026.
- Hands & Voices — handsandvoices.org — family and school inclusion framing.
- Gallaudet University — gallaudet.edu — Deaf community framing; capital-D Deaf usage.
Your Progress — On Your Device Only
- Learning outcomes: On completing this unit, the student can:
- fingerspell any name with the 26-letter manual alphabet;
- sign and recognize the Part 3 signs — HELLO, MY NAME, HOW ARE YOU, FINE, THANK YOU, PLEASE, SORRY, YES, NO, FRIEND, PLAY, SCHOOL, GOOD — from a written description;
- sign and recognize the Part 4 safety signs — HELP, STOP, HURT, SICK, DANGER, TEACHER, BATHROOM;
- explain why a name sign is given, never invented;
- get a Deaf friend's attention kindly and include them without saying "never mind."
- Study time: Approximately 1 hour — reading, activities, and the test. Students move at their own pace.
- Assessment: A 10-question test drawn only from this unit's lesson. 80% or higher passes and earns the unit certificate. Answers are not shown; your score is saved only in your own browser on this device, and retakes are allowed.
- Level: Topic Library — Year 1 (Foundations) · Youth school · working rank on completion path: Freshman → Sophomore.
- Version: Version 1.0 — October 2026.
Minister Destiny Garden of Faith District. Educational information only, not legal advice. Help lines: 911 · 988 (call or text) · Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) · Childhelp 1-800-422-4453.