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aeroplane

With thumb and little finger extended move hand from shoulder height across body and upwards.

ambulance

Move extended pointer and index fingers in a circle, while other hand lies flat in front of first.

arrow

Extend pointer fingers on both hands. Start with non dominant hand pointing upwards in front of side (palm facing opposite side), and other pointer finger horizontal, with pointer finger tips touching. Bring this hand backwards towards shoulder, spreading out all fingers.

athletics

Start with hands flat, palms towards your body, one hand pointing downwards at waist the other pointing forward at armpit height. Simultaneously move top hand and forearm downwards towards waist, and bottom arm upwards. Repeat the action two or three times.

badminton

With pointer finger hooked around extended thumb, blade of fist pointing forward, hand up near head; keep arm still and flick hand forward twice in short sharp movements.

ball

Move spread, cupped hands towards each other twice.

ball

WA
NT
QLD
TAS
ACT

Hold other hand slightly cupped sideways. Place fingertip of pointer finger in the centre of palm of other hand and twist pointer at wrist forward so palm ends pointing upwards.

balloon

Clench hands one in front of the other then open them out as if hands are a balloon being blown up.

baseball

With both hands in a fist, thumbs in and upwards; rest one fist on top of the other at shoulder height. Keeping hands together and arms still, swing hands forward twice in quick sharp arcs.

basket

Form a circle with pointer finger and thumb, face circle upwards. With pointer finger on other hand curved above fist; move hand forward in an arc so that pointer finger curves into circle of the other hand.

basketball

Hold hand flat with palm down and fingers slightly raised, keep arm still and bounce hand down twice.

bat

Swing straight arm from palm facing away from body, to facing chest, as though swinging bat.

beach

Cupped hands move forward in arch like waves crashing on beach.

beach

WA
NT
TAS
ACT

With thumb extended sideways from fist rub thumb tip backwards along cheek twice.

beach volleyball

First cupped hands move forward in arch like waves crashing on beach. Then, with hand flat, palms forward, fingertips pointing upwards; start with next to head and back arched slightly backwards. Bat both hands forward simultaneously.

bicycle

With pointer fingers of both hands curved downwards from fists, one further forward than the other, move hands in circles so front hand goes back while back one comes forward.

blackboard

Sign "Black" (Stroke fingers of fist forward along side of face) + "Board" (With hand flat in front of you, fingers pointing up, palm forward; start with hand in front of opposite side and move hand horizontally)

block

With hands cupped in a 'U' shape, fingers facing each other, bring hands together so that fingertips touch twice. May also be signed with fingers pointing forward, thumbs sideways, so only thumbs tap together.

blocks

With both hands flat, palms facing chest, one under the other. Move bottom hand above the other.

boat

Hold flat hands out in front of you, fingertips touching, but with palms apart, like the bow of a boat. Move forward. Often with up and down motion like boat going through waves.

book

Flat hands with sides together, as if the covers of a book, open and close

box

Hold both hands flat, pointing forward in front of your sides. Then move hands so that palms face body, one hand very close to tummy, the other a short distance away.

boxing

Form a fist with both hands, palms down and wrists bend. Jab hands forward in alternation twice.

canoe

With both hands in a fist, palms towards you; start with one fist at waist and the other diagonally above it at chest height. Move hand simultaneously diagonally downwards so that bottom hand ends past body. Lift hands back to start position and repeat.

car

WA
NT
TAS
ACT

With fists one above the other move top fist in a circle on the lower fist.

car

With both hands in fist, a little distance apart, move one down in an arc and the other one up in an arc simultaneously.

catch

Start with hands cupped, fingers spread, palms towards each other. Draw hands together and close fingers.

china

Start with pointer finger extended, tip touching chest near opposite shoulder. Use finger tip to draw a horizontal line across chest and then downwards at side of torso.

climb

With hands clawed, palms facing forward, move first hand up in an arc, then the other hand, then first hand again.

compass

Hold one hand flat in front of chest, palm up and fingers pointing sideways. With the pointer finger of your other hand pointing forwards and upwards slightly, palm down and knuckles resting in flat palm, rotate hand left and right (like the needle on a compass)

computer

With hand shaped into a C draw a circle in front of other, vertical, flat hand.

cook

Hold other arm in a large curve in front of you. With your other hand in a loose fist, thumb tilted downwards; move this hand in a circular motion (as though stirring a spoon).

crayon

Hold fingers and thumb in a forward pointing 'U' at eye level. Move hand from one side to the other in a wavy line.

dance

Wiggle downward pointing extended pointer and middle fingers, left and right, like legs.

dig

With both hands in a fist, with pointer fingers hooked around extended thumbs; have thumbs downwards and hands one behind the other slightly to your side. Move hands down together and then upwards.

dinosaur

With arm horizontal in front of you, touch thumb , pointer and middle fingertips together with other fingers pointing upwards. With pointer finger of other hand make three arcs on back of arm, like dinosaur plates.

dive

hold hands as through about to dive into water

doll

With elbow resting in opposite palm, rotate fist (palm facing you) back and forth, to represent dolls head.

draw

With pointer finger and thumb forming a circle move fingers in a wavy arc around your other, flat upwards pointing hand, with palm forward.

DVD

Fingerspell D (Extend thumb sideways and curved extended pointer finger above fist. Rest thumb on the thumb of your other fist and touch pointer fingertips together.) V (Form a V with pointer and middle fingers and place on other palm) D (again)

DVD

Form a C shape with pointer finger and thumb. Rest thumb on the thumb of your other hand (which has thumb extended sideways and pointer pointing forward. Arc C hand downwards so that pointer tips touch twice. Move hand left and right

fencing

Rest the fist of your non dominant hand at your waist. Extend main hand forward with pointer finger hooked over extended thumb from fist, thumb pointing forward at top of fist. Move this hand forward and flip hand over so that thumb ends at base of fist.

film

Hold one hand straight and horizontal with arm in front of body; palm facing body. With the fingers of other hand spread apart, palm forward and wrist resting against and behind other thumb, move this hand left and right, keeping wrist stationary.

flying fox

Form an O shape with pointer finger and thumb at shoulder height, move hand towards body in an arc. Then, with fingers bent towards nose and thumb extended downwards, move hand forward, closing fingers towards thumb.

flying fox

Form a loose fist (palm forward) with both hands above head height directly above shoulders. Simultaneously move hands forward in a large downwards sweeping arc so that the end in front of you at about chest height, with arms at full stretch.

football

With both hands in front of waist, very slightly cupped upwards; move hands simultaneously from side to side.

football

With pointer fingers both extended, point one downwards and kick the fingertip with the fingertip of your other pointer finger.

game

With thumbs pointing upwards from both fists, knuckles near each other, tilt one hand backwards at wrist, the other forward. Then back again.

goal

Form a circle with pointer finger and thumb, face circle upwards. With pointer finger on other hand curved above fist; move hand forward in an arc so that pointer finger curves into circle of the other hand.

goal

Raise your little and pointer fingers upwards from fist. Extend pointer finger on other hand and move pointer finger horizontally through the space between the fingers on the other hand.

gold

Make a fist with both hands, thumbs upwards. Swing main hand above other fist, then bounce off the lower fist and up off to the side .

hand ball

Form a fist with palm towards you and knuckles pointing slightly downwards. Move fist forward over the upward facing palm of your other hand (which may be slightly cupped), brushing palm with knuckles slightly.

hide seek

With both hands flat, start with one pointing upwards and blade of pointer against nose; the other pointing forward in front of body, palm sideways. Simultaneously move hands together so that they meet in front of you. The blade of the top hand ends resting on the pointer finger of the other hand.

hockey

Extend pointer finger from fist in a hook. With palm towards your body, form a small circle with hooked pointer finger on the upward facing palm of your other hand.

hop

Point your pointer finger downwards onto the palm of your other flat hand. Bounce pointer finger forward across palm.

hurdle

With pointer finger extended forward and middle finger pointing down from fist, jump hand over the extended pointer finger of your other hand, twice.

inside

Start with pointer finger pointing downwards in front of other, flat, horizontal hand. Move pointer hand in an arc upwards and behind flat hand.

javelin

Start with fist next to ear, palm towards head. Move fist forward and then open hand so that fingers end pointing upwards and thumb extended towards head.

jigsaw

Hold fingers straight and apart on both hands, palms down. Start with hands a small distance apart, fingers pointing to each other. Bring hands together so that fingers inter-thread slightly.

jigsaw

Interlock straight spread fingers of both hands. Draw hands out of interlock slightly, then re-interlock fingers.

jump

With pointer and middle fingers apart, resting on palm of other hand, pull hand upwards and curve fingers towards palm.

kick

Hold one hand flat, pointing forwards, palm to side. With other hand also flat brush fingertips across palm from back to tips.

kick

With pointer fingers both extended, point one downwards and kick the fingertip with the fingertip of your other pointer finger.

knit

Hold the pointer finger of other hand still, pointing forward, palm sideways. Starting with pointer fingertip of main hand just above other fingertip at right angles, move finger so that it twists palm down and slides it length along lower fingertip.

long jump

With pointer and middle fingers extended apart, slightly bent and pointing downwards; jump fingers over the extended pointer finger of your other hand, and bring down well past pointer finger.

magic

Start with fingers (bent in) and thumb extended on both hands, palms facing each other. First hand horizontal, other vertical. Bring hands outwards, twisting 90 degrees, and bring fingers to thumb. Repeat.

make

With both hands in a fist, thumbs at top of fists; tap one fist on top of the other twice.

medal

With pointer finger and thumb extended from fist in a 'C' shape, bring hand towards chest.

monkey bars

Cupped hands move up and down sides of body as if scratching (monkey). Then with thumb and curved pointer finger extended towards face, move hand forward as though outlining the bar (bar).

monkey bars

Form a loose fist (palm forward) with both hands above head height directly above shoulders. Move one hand forward in an arc so that hand opens slightly at the midpoint and then closes back to loose fist at end. The do the same with other hand.

motorbike

With fists as if holding handlebars, tilt fists forward and backwards as if operating the throttle.

music

With both pointer fingers extended from fists and pointing forward, rock hands in an arc; together, apart and then back together .

netball

With hand slightly cupped, up near ear, palm facing upwards, move hand upwards. May flick hand slightly forward at wrist at the end.

one hundred

Start by extending pointer finger from fist with palm backwards (sign for 1). Then arc hand over so pointer points sideways and slide back of hand sideways under chin till pointer emerges out opposite side.

outside

Start with pointer finger pointing downwards behind other, flat horizontal hand. Move pointer hand in an arc over and in front of flat hand.

paint

Hold both hands flat in front of you, fingers pointing forward, one on top of the other, palms facing, fingertips touching but palms apart. Draw top fingertips towards you, the length of other hand; two or three times.

paste

Hold other hand flat, palm up, fingers pointing forward; start with fingers of main hand bent, fingertips touching wrist of flat hand. Move bent fingers forward along palm to fingertips; ending with this hand flat on top of other hand, palms together. Repeat.

plasticine

Hold both hands flat in front of you, fingers pointing forward, one on top of the other, palms touching. Slide top hand forwards and backwards.

play

With both hands spread, palms facing upwards, at waist height, move each hand in outwards circles.

playground

With palms up move hands in upwards circles (play). Then, with hands flat, palms down, starting together, move hands outwards to sides (ground).

pole vault

With both hands in a fist, palm towards you; start with fists one a small distance above the other, in from of you. Move hands simultaneously upwards, then forwards and down in an arc.

puppet

With fingers straight and touching thumb, pointing forward, elbow resting on the back of your other hand; open and close fingers.

radio

With fingers spread and bent towards ear, bring hand towards ear.

read

Hold one hand flat in front of you, fingers horizontal, palm towards eyes. Slide pointer and middle finger fingertips left to right across hand twice. (May also be signed moving fingers up and down across palm)

ride

Rest the little finger of one fist on top of the thumb of your other hand, also in a fist. Then move both hands together in a forward circle.

robot

With both hands flat, elbows at sides and arms straight out in front of you; tilt arms at elbow so that hand go up and down alternately.

room

With both pointer fingers pointing forward and downwards slightly from fists, with finger tips touching, move fingers apart, then towards your waist, then back together again.

row

With both hands in a fist, in front of you and to your sides, move hands simultaneously upwards and backwards in a full circle.

rubbish

With both hands spread, backs facing and fingers pointing downwards, bring back of hands together.

rubbish bin

With both hands spread, backs facing and fingers pointing downwards, bring back of hands together. Then lift hands up and apart into a cup shape and bring downwards forming a cylinder.

run

With both hands in a fist at sides, one further forward than the other, move hands in circles so back fist comes forward and front one back and so on.

sand

Starting with thumb pointing upwards from fist, slide thumb down fingertips, opening fingers slightly as you do.

sand pit

Starting with thumb pointing upwards from fist, slide thumb down fingertips, opening fingers slightly as you do. Then draw a square with your extended pointer finger.

scissors

With forefinger and middle finger extended, pointer forward, bring them together and apart twice. Like the blades of scissors.

score

Start with fingers on both hands bent slightly, spread apart and pointing upwards at shoulder height. While wiggling fingers, bring both hands downwards to waist height.

sew

Form the B hand shape, move main hand in a circle, as though sewing with a needle.

share

Have one hand flat in front of you, fingers pointing forward, palm upwards. With other hand flat, thumb upwards, tap blade of little finger onto other palm first across palm and then on an angle across palm and fingers.

shoot

Extend pointer finger and thumb from fist, so that pointer finger points forward and thumb upwards. Drop hand down slightly at wrist, in an arc.

shotput

Start with hand in a fist, palm upwards, thumb facing forward and fist near neck. Flick fingers out and raise hand slightly.

silver

Extend little fingers on both hands. Swing main hand above the other, then bounce little finger off the other little finger and up off to the side.

sing

With pointer and middle finger extended together, start with fingertips at lips, palm towards you. Move hand forwards and upwards, forming a small circle in the air in front of face half way up.

skip

With hands in a loose fist at sides, palms upwards, move hands in small circles at wrists.

slide

Slide fingers of bent hand down the outside of your other, downwards bent hand.

soccer

With pointer fingers both extended, point one downwards and kick the fingertip with the fingertip of your other pointer finger. Sometimes also with a 'head butting' motion.

softball

With palm facing up and hand at hip, start with fingers and thumb apart and gently bring fingers towards thumb, but do not touch thumb (SOFT). Then, with both hands in a fist, thumbs in and upwards; rest one fist on top of the other at shoulder height. Keeping hands together and arms still, swing hands forward twice in quick sharp arcs (BASEBALL).

sport

With both hands in a fist, thumbs extended upwards, start with knuckles almost touching. Slide one hand backwards and the other forward.

sprint

Start with both hands flat, palms towards your body, one hand pointing downwards at waist the other pointing forward at armpit height. Simultaneously move top hand and forearm downwards towards waist, and bottom arm upwards. Repeat the action two or three times.

story

With right hand flat at chest height, palm facing you; slide other hand, palm facing you, down palm and forearm.

surf

Fingers are surfing on a surf board

swim

With both hands flat, palms down and thumbs tucked under palm, form small forward circles with hands

swing

With both hands in a fist at your sides, move hands, simultaneously, forwards and backwards twice.

table tennis

With hand horizontal, palm towards you, fingers together and thumb upwards; swing hand forward twice at waist, bending at wrist but keeping arm still.

teddybear

Point to head with both hands and draw ears

television

Finger spelt. Touch base of palm with pointer finger (T). Then form a V shape with pointer and middle fingers on palm (V).

tennis

Signed in two parts. First; start with hand cupped (as though around ball), palm upwards, at waist height. Raise arm to opposite shoulder, spreading out fingers (throw ball up). Then (hit with racket) with other hand in a fist, palm forward thumb at top of fist, flick hand forward and over so that fist ends palm backwards and thumb down.

thread

Form a circle with pointer finger and thumb on both hands, all other fingers remain spread. Start with circles against each other, palms forward. Move hands apart.

thread

Form a circle with pointer finger and thumb, palm forward, other fingers spread. Starting at shoulder height, move this hand down in an arc through your other hand, which has fingers in a sideways C Shape.

throw

Start with closed hand, palm out, in front of chest. Open hand while moving out and down as if throwing a ball of paper into a bin

toys

Start with hand in fist, palm facing away from you, thumb extended and pointer finger arched over thumb. Draw hand down, twisting palm towards you, and extending little finger and thumb.

train

With both hands in a fist at sides move one or both hands in large circles at sides.

train

At head height, with pointer and middle fingers slightly apart and curved towards head, move hand forward.

tram

With pointer finger of one hand hooked around back of other extended pointer finger move hands forward together.

trampoline

Hold one hand flat, palm down, in front of waist. Start with pointer and middle fingers extended apart, fingertips resting on the back of your other hand. Move this hand up and down so that finger tips bounce on and of the back of other hand.

tree

Stand arm up, resting elbow on back of other hand and wiggle your fingers, as though leaves on a tree. For Forest: move arm across body while performing sign.

truck

Start with both hands flat, palms together. Pull one hand backwards, bending fingers down as you do.

truck

With both fists next to each other, palms facing up, move hands together left, then right in an arc twice.

video

Hold one hand flat, fingers pointing upwards, palm facing sideways. Form a 'V' with pointer and middle fingers of other hand. Move this hand in a circle in front of your flat hand.

volleyball

With hand flat, palms forward, fingertips pointing upwards; start with next to head and back arched slightly backwards. Bat both hands forward simultaneously.

walk

Walk pointer and middle fingers across palm of other hand.

weightlift

With both hands in a fist, palms forward; start with fists at shoulders, simultaneously lift hands up to head height and back to shoulders.

win

Start with fingers spread apart, palm forward, in front of shoulder. Turn hand around and close into a fist with thumb up and palm backwards.

wrestle

Cup hands together, one over the other. Move hands together, away from body, as though top hand is pushing bottom one.

write

Hook pointer finger around extended thumb and use these fingers to draw a wiggly line across the palm of your other hand.

write

With fingertip of pointer finger touching thumb tip, all other fingers in a loose fist, draw a straight (or sometimes wavy) line across the palm of your other (flat and horizontal) hand, from wrist to fingertips.

yard

Extend little finger and thumb from forward facing fist. At shoulder height. Move hand in a small horizontal circle.

© 2023. Bilby Publishing & Consulting Pty. Ltd.

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