Free Sign Language Week
Resources for Schools
Sign Language Week takes place every March and is a great opportunity for schools to introduce British Sign Language (BSL) in the classroom. Many teachers use Sign Language Week as a starting point for teaching inclusive communication and Deaf awareness. Here you’ll find free Sign Language Week resources for schools, including a complete BSL lesson designed to introduce Sign Language to KS1–KS4 pupils.
With ready-made lesson plans and accompanying resources, teachers can easily run Sign Language Week activities for schools or deliver a one-off BSL lesson that fits into KS1–KS4 timetables.
How can Schools teach BSL during Sign Language Week?
Signature have partnered with the British Deaf Association to create a special video lesson for schools to introduce the topic of Deaf Culture to KS1-4 pupils. It is an ideal activity for Sign Language Week and can be used whether your class has already learned some basic BSL or this is their first introduction.
The lesson includes a detailed lesson plan, an illustrated BSL vocabulary dictionary, homework quizzes and interactive features like this fingerspelling generator.
BSL Fingerspelling Generator
Type your name or a word below to see how it's spelled out in the BSL fingerspelling alphabet!
Preview:
Type a word to see the BSL alphabet preview...
Share your name on social media with the hashtag #SignLanguageWeek
What will pupils learn in this Sign Language Week BSL Lesson?
By the end of this one-hour Sign Language Week lesson:
- Learners will understand what Sign Language Week is and why it is celebrated.
- Learners will develop awareness of Deaf culture and identity.
- Learners will understand what a sign name is and why it is important in Deaf culture.
- Learners will practise simple BSL conversations about likes, dislikes and interests.
- Learners will watch Deaf children discuss what Deaf culture means to them.
All of this is delivered within a flexible one-hour lesson plan, making it easy to fit into your school timetable during Sign Language Week. Not only are the timings flexible, but so are the activities, allowing the lesson to be adapted to suit multiple difficulty and experience levels.
How do I access the free Sign Language Week lesson?
The lesson is delivered through Signature’s School of Signs platform and is completely free for schools and home educators. The video lesson is pre-recorded and will be released on the 16th March, the first day of Sign Language Week. However, the lesson plan is already available in advance so teachers can prepare their lesson.
Schools can access this special Sign Language Week Lesson for FREE by signing up to the School of Signs Platform.
If you are already signed up, log in here, where you will find 'Deaf Culture for Sign Language Week' in the Lessons Tab.
Once registered, schools can not only access this special episode, but also the wider BSL programme of study on the platform.
This fully-fledged programme of study aims to provide every teacher with everything they need to teach BSL for free. This includes 15 complete video lessons, led by expert BSL teachers at the Royal Association for Deaf People, as well as all the printable and online resources to support them.
Whether your school is already learning with The School of Signs or completely new to BSL, this lesson is a great way to celebrate Sign Language Week and learn about Deaf community.
The theme for Sign Language Week 2026 is: ‘United in Sign’, a celebration of unity, pride, and collective action around sign languages and Deaf culture.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage people of all ages across the UK to take up the challenge of learning BSL for themselves and finding out more about the language and culture of the Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing British people for whom BSL is their first or preferred language.
By raising Deaf awareness in schools, the campaign hopes to inspire the next generation to embrace BSL and inclusive communication. Increasing awareness of BSL can make a real difference to thousands of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people across the UK.
To support this aim, and make it easier for teachers to introduce BSL in schools, this year Signature are proud to partner with the British Deaf Association (BDA) to bring schools across the UK a special School of Signs lesson focusing on Deaf culture and community.
If your pupils enjoy learning BSL during Sign Language Week, there are many more free resources available throughout the year.
On the School of Signs platform you will find 15 additional lessons following the same structure and supported by both printable and interactive materials. Topics include Fingerspelling, Deaf Awareness, Jobs, School Subjects and more - everything a beginner would need for everyday conversation.
Explore the lessons available and make British Sign Language a regular part of your school curriculum.