Visit my blog

Sign Language 
for our school song

I can't promise there's nothing wrong with these motions, but I use them in my homeschool and thought you may be interested.

Mother, Father, Sister, Brother / Highland Dove will help us see /
Love of learning, hearts are yearning / To be part of God’s family.

MOTHER - The thumb of the right '5' hand rests on the right cheek or the right chin.
FATHER (FORMAL) - The thumb and extended fingers of the right hand are brought to grasp an imaginary cap rim, representing the tipping of caps by men in olden days. Both hands are then held open with palms facing up, as if holding a baby.
SISTER - The thumb of the right 'A' hand moves down along the right jawbone, almost to the chin. The outstretched fingers are brought together either once or several times.
BROTHER - The thumb and extended fingers of the right hand are brought up to grasp an imaginary cap bring, representing the tipping of caps by men in olden days. The outstretched index fingers are brought together, either once or several times.
SCOTLAND - The 4 handshape forms a cross on the upper arm to indicate the crossing pattern (or plaids) of a Scottish kilt.
WILL - The open hand with the fingers together moves forward from the side of the head and in a downward movement. The forward movement indicates that something will occur in the future.
HELP (ASSIST, AID) - The left 'S' hand, thumb up, rests in the open right palm. Both hands are then pushed up a slight distance.
US - The right 'U' hand, palm facing the body, swings from right shoulder to left shoulder.
SEE - The right 'V' hand, palm facing the body, is placed so that the fingertips are just under the eyes. The hand swings straight out.
LOVE - Cross either the closed or flat hands over the heart with palms facing in.
LEARN(ING) - The downturned fingers of the right hand are placed on the upturned left palm. They close, and then the hand rises and the right fingertips are placed on the forehead.
HEART - The middle finger taps the chest over the area of the heart.
IS - Place the right 'I' hand on the lips and move the right hand straight forward.
YEARN - The hands move down the chest to indicate a desire for food to flow into one's stomach.
TO - The extended right index finger moves forward slowly and comes to rest on the tip of the extended, upturned left index finger. This sign should never be used for an infinitive; it is simply omitted in that case.
BE - The tip of the right index finger, held in the 'D' position, palm facing left, is held at the lips, and the hand moves straight out and away from the lips.
PART (A PORTION OF) - The little finger edge of the open right hand moves straight down the middle of the upturned left palm.
GOD - The hand is raised to the heavens and then downward in a sign of respect.
FAMILY - The thumb and index fingers of both 'F' hands are in contact, palms facing. The hands swing open and around, coming together again at their little finger edges, palms now facing the body.

Mighty, God, we pray now to you
In our weakness, you are strong.
Teach us truth and perseverance
till all doubt and fear are gone.

MIGHT - The S handshapes are pulled firmly away from the chest in a manner to show that a person is strong.

GOD - The hand is raised to the heavens and then downward in a sign of respect.

WE - The right index finger points down as it swings over from the right shoulder to the left shoulder.

PRAY - The hands are held in a gesture of prayer.

NOW - The hands move straight down to indicate the present (now). In ASL, the body represents the present tense, the front of the body represents the future and the back of the body represents the past.

TO - The extended right index finger moves forward slowly and comes to rest on the tip of the extended, upturned left index finger. This sign should never be used for an infinitive; it is simply omitted in that case.

YOU - The index finger points straight ahead. This is a natural gesture for indicating a person.

IN - One hand moves into the other to show the concept of in.

OUR - The sign WE is made with the handshape associated with possession.

WEAK - The fingers of one hand bend on the palm to represent the knees of a weak person buckling.

STRONG - The S handshapes are pulled firmly away from the chest in a manner to show that a person is strong.

TEACH - The flattened O handshapes move in and out by the forehead to show that a person is taking what he or she knows and is passing it on to others.

US - The sign WE is made with a U handshape.

TRUE - The forefinger is upright and moves straight forward from the mouth.
AND - The fingers come together.

PERSEVERE - One thumb pushes the other thumb ahead in a motion that suggests something is not stopping (that something is continuous).

UNTIL - One index finger makes a small arc as it moves to touch the other index finger.

ALL - The hand moves in a circle and then ends up in the palm of the other hand to show that everything (all) is included.

DOUBT - The V handshape is bent as it is pulled back from the eyes. This conveys the natural reaction of closing one's eyes when expressing doubts about something.

FEAR - The hands and body move back as if frightened by something.
GONE - One hand falls through the other hand's grasp to show that there is nothing there.

Serving Jesus is our purpose.
Lord, our friend, we welcome you.
Teach us service, trust, and virtue
To care for others as you do.

SERVE - Both hands are held in front of the body with the palms facing up; they are then alternatingly moved back and forth.

JESUS - The middle finger of one hand touches the middle of the palm of the other hand then this action is repeated with the middle finger of the other hand. This action indicates the wounds in Jesus' hands after he was nailed to the cross.

PURPOSE - The signs THINK and MEAN are combined. THINK - The index finger touches the forehead which is the location of the mind. MEAN - The V handshape presses down on the palm, moves up and twists, then presses down again.

LORD - The sign KING is made with a L handshape. KING - The K handshape moves from the chest to the waist while crossing the body. The movement indicates the location of the royal sash worn by kings.

FRIEND - The movement and linking of the index fingers suggest two people who are close to one another

WELCOME - The hand brings something in towards the body to show that someone is being invited to come forth.

TRUST - The hands close tightly around something to show that a person has a good hold on it.

VIRTUE : SAINT - The hands indicate the outline of a halo which is associated with the holiness of a saint.

CARE - The sign KEEP is moved in a small circle. KEEP - One of the signs for hold is made with K hand shapes.

FOR - The forefinger moves forward from the side of the forehead

OTHER - The A handshape points to one thing and then to another.

AS - The two forefingers come together.

DO - The bent 5 handshapes move back and forth to the sides of the body.

Holy Spirit, breathe upon us.
Teach us gentleness and peace,
Patience, kindness, love for others,
Till all bitterness does cease.

HOLY - The sign CLEAN made with an upturned H handshape. CLEAN - One hand wipes dirt off the other one.

BREATH - The hands show the heaving motion of the chest when breathing.

UP - The forefinger points straight up.

ON - One hand moves on top of the other hand.

GENTLE - With the palms upward the hands are opened and closed gently.

PEACE - The signs BECOME and SETTLE are combined.  BECOME - The hands reverse position to represent the notion of one thing becoming another thing. The hands can be horizontal or vertical.  SETTLE - The 5 handshapes move straight down and then are held for a moment to show that someone is not moving.

PATIENCE -

KIND - The K handshapes circle one another.

LOVE - The hands hug something over the heart to indicate the concept of love.

BITTER - The index finger twists at the side of the mouth to show the twisting of the mouth when a person tastes something bitter.

CEASE - The edge of one hand comes down on the palm to represent something coming to a quick stop.

Abba Father, Jesus, Brother
Gentle Spirit, show your love
We dedicate our learning to you
And offer up our Highland Dove.
 Amen.

DAD - The thumb of the open hand taps the side of the forehead. Male signs are typically made by the forehead.

SHOW - The tip of the index finger is placed against the palm and both are moved outward. The fingertip is pointing to something in the palm which is extended for others to see.

YOUR - The sign YOU is made with an open hand with the fingers together. This handshape is associated with the concept of possession.

NAME - The U handshapes form an X. An X is sometimes placed on a form or letter to show where signature is to be placed.

LEARN - The movement of the hand shows knowledge being taken from a book and place in the brain.

OFFER - The hands are holding something (a suggestion) and offering it forth to others.

AMEN - The kids fold their hands in prayer, close their eyes & bow their heads.