Hi! I am Studyfin, your ASL tutor. Today we will learn how to show our feelings and practice a cool way to calm down!
American Sign Language uses both hands and facial expressions to show feelings. When you sign, your face acts like a volume button. A big smile or a frown helps others know exactly how you feel.
Let us look at two main feelings: happy and angry. To sign 'happy', brush your flat hand upward against your chest with a smile. To sign 'angry', claw your hand near your face with a serious look.
✏️ Worked example
Imagine you are feeling very angry about a hard test. Explain how you can identify this feeling, sign it, and then practice a calming strategy.
First, identify your feeling by noticing your body. Your heart might beat fast, or your muscles might feel tight. This is the emotion of anger.
Second, express this feeling using ASL. Make a claw shape with your hand, move it toward your face, and use a tense facial expression.
Third, practice your self-management tool. Use 'star breathing' by taking a deep breath in as you trace up a star, and breathing out as you trace down.
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