ASL Adventures: Learning Space Signs – Moon, Star, Rocket, and Astronaut

ASL Adventures: Learning Space Signs – Moon, Star, Rocket, and Astronaut

Alright, fellow chaos wranglers and tiny human explorers, it’s time to blast off into sign language in outer space! Yes, your hands can become rockets, stars, and moons—and no, it won’t be neat, but it will definitely be memorable.

*Some of the signs don't exactly match the GIF. What I posted is just a simpler version you can do with your kids, or you can use the GIF's provided*

Moon 🌙

How to sign it:

Make a “C” shape with your dominant hand (like you’re holding a crescent moon).

Place it sideways in front of your face or slightly off to the side, as if cradling a tiny moon.

Optional motion: gently rock your hand back and forth to show the moon orbiting.

Fun twist: Pretend your hand-moon is orbiting your head or floating in space. Toddlers love it when you make it “glow” with your other hand wiggling like starlight.

Why it’s fun: It’s tactile, visual, and perfect for talking about moon phases, astronauts, or moon cheese conspiracies. 🧀✨

Star ⭐

How to sign it:

Point your dominant index finger straight up.

Wiggle your finger side to side or in little circles to make it “twinkle.”

Optional: use your other hand in the background to mimic other twinkling stars for extra cosmic drama.

Fun twist: Count stars while signing, or create imaginary constellations. Encourage your kids to make up their own, like Glitterpants, because chaos = creativity.

Why it’s fun: Fingers get wiggly, kids get to imagine sparkling stars, and you sneak in counting and fine motor skills.

Rocket 🚀

How to sign it:

Put your hands together, palms touching, fingers straight and together—like a pencil or a rocket shape.

Point the rocket shape forward, and move it quickly upward in a “launch” motion.

Optional: add “whoosh!” sound effects, or wiggle your fingers like flames shooting out of the rocket boosters.

Fun twist: Have the kids sign the rocket while actually “launching” toys, balloons, or even your cat’s favorite laser pointer across the room.

Why it’s fun: It teaches motion visually, adds drama and sound, and connects ASL with STEM in a playful way.

Astronaut 👩‍🚀

How to sign it:

Make a fist with your dominant hand and tap it lightly to your forehead—this represents the astronaut’s helmet.

Extend your other hand outward, palm down, like you’re floating in zero gravity.

Optional motion: slowly “float” around the room while keeping the helmet hand in place, as if drifting through space.

*I could not for the life of me find a GIF for this one*

Fun twist: Pretend your rug is the moon’s surface and your toys are alien life. Bonus: have a mini space mission story while signing to combine ASL and imagination.

Why it’s fun: Kids love roleplay, it’s memorable, and it’s a perfect excuse to move around while practicing language.

Pro Tips for Cosmic Chaos:

Repeat signs while narrating a tiny space story: “The astronaut zooms past the moon and winks at a twinkling star before blasting into a rocket!”

Mix in sensory experiences—point to glow-in-the-dark stars, hold a small planet, or pretend to float in zero gravity.

Encourage little explorers to invent their own space signs. Chaos = learning.

Final Thoughts:

Learning ASL doesn’t have to be stiff or formal—it can be messy, magical, and totally cosmic. Your hands can tell the story of the universe: the moon, the stars, rockets, and brave little astronauts. And the best part? Kids will remember the signs forever because they acted it, felt it, and laughed through it.

So, ready for lift-off? 🤟🚀🌌✨