Sign Language - Animals and Zoos

When a deaf or hard-of-hearing child (or a hearing child using baby sign language) goes to the zoo, visits a farm or watches a nature program, parents can teach about the animals using sign language. These signs can be found online, in print and on DVD. Here are some sources of these animal signs:

bear

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

beaver

• ASL Browser
• ASL Pro

camel

• ASL Pro

cat

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor
• Signing Online *
• Basic Guide to ASL

chicken

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

crocodile

• ASL Pro

dog

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor
• Basic Guide to ASL

eagle

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

elephant

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• LessonTutor

fox

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• LessonTutor

goldfish

• ASL Pro

gorilla

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro

guinea pig

• Picture Plus Dictionary

hamster

• ASL Pro
• LessonTutor

hippopotamus

• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• LessonTutor

kangaroo

• ASL Browser
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor
• Basic Guide to ASL

koala

• Handspeak.com *

lion

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• LessonTutor

mouse

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

monkey

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

ostrich

• ASL Pro

owl

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

panda

• ASL Pro

parrot

• ASL Pro

peacock

• ASL Browser
• Handspeak.com *

penguin

• ASL Browser
• Handspeak.com *

pony

• ASL Browser
• ASL Pro

rabbit

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

raccoon

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• LessonTutor

rhinoceros

• ASL Browser
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *

snake

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• LessonTutor

swan

• Handspeak.com *

tiger

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *

turtle

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

vulture

• Picture Plus Dictionary

zebra

• ASL Browser
• ASL University
• ASL Pro
• Handspeak.com *
• LessonTutor

* = Paid site

Animal Sign Videos, Books and Flashcards

In addition, if you prefer to learn through books, videos or flashcards, instead of online, here are some animal sign–only resources:

• Video
  • We Sign has a DVD, We Sign Animals. This is actually a collection of signed songs about animals used to teach animal vocabulary. WeSign offers a preview clip on YouTube. There is also a follow-up DVD, We Sign More Animals, which also has a preview clip on YouTube.
• Books
  • Animal Signs: A First Book of Sign Language - a baby book with signs for animals
  • Baby Signs for Animals - another baby book with signs for animals
  • Handtalk Zoo - tells a story and includes signs for animals.
  • My ABC Signs of Animal Friends - a book for preschoolers, from DawnSignPress. Shows signs for 26 animals.
  • Pets, Animals & Creatures (Beginning Sign Language Series) - for older children
  • Signs for Pets and Animals is an early sign language book.
• Flashcards
  • Sign Babies offers a set of ASL flash cards with an animal theme.
  • Signing Smart: Animal Signs - a sturdy ring-bound set from Signing Smart.

Animal and Zoo Signs on YouTube

YouTube has some videos with animal and zoo signs. For example, Signing Time offers the song, "Walking Through the Zoo," a video with animation, live children signing and clips of live animals. Another one is Say it With a Sign - Animals, a video that shows a limited number of animal signs: horse, chicken, elephant and mouse.