Hello With My Name Sign

Each child invents a name sign, a gesture that stands for their name, and the group uses it to greet them while moving around the room. It builds body-based communication, getting to know classmates, and a gentle warm-up.

How to play

1. In a circle, sitting or standing, the teacher shows their name sign: a gesture that means their name, like stroking a beard (1 min).
2. Each child invents one with help: something they love or something about them, like pigtails or a lion (2 min).
3. Sign round: one child shows their sign and everyone copies it while waving hello (1 min).
4. Walk around the space; the teacher makes a sign and everyone goes to greet that child, who waits in place (1 min).
5. Everyone makes their sign at once and "puts it in their pocket" until next time (1 min).

Rules

• My sign belongs to me and nobody laughs at it.
• I greet my friend face to face so they can see me.
• I walk over and say hi without pushing.
• If I can't think of a sign, the teacher helps.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard of hearing: if a child uses sign language, use their real name sign and ask the family to teach the class two or three greeting signs.
• Blind or low vision: teach the sign by guiding their hands while saying the name out loud; classmates say the child's name when they arrive to greet.
• Autism: the sign can be drawn on a card with the child's photo; greeting without eye contact or touch is fine.

Learning goals

• Recognize each classmate by name and name sign.
• Use gesture as a way to communicate.
• Warm up with calm movement around the room.

Teacher tip

Write the signs on a class list with each child's photo, because the next day almost nobody remembers theirs. Steer away from signs about features a child may be sensitive about, like weight or glasses.

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