Watch The Very Hungry Caterpillar presented as a visual British Sign Language story for children, families and BSL learners.
Follow the Deaf signer, notice facial expression and movement, and pause or replay the video to practise unfamiliar signs.
Signed stories make British Sign Language learning engaging while helping viewers develop vocabulary and receptive skills.
Watch the complete story once to understand its flow. On a second viewing, pause after each sentence and identify familiar signs, characters and repeated actions.
Pay attention to facial expression, eye gaze and body movement as well as handshape. These visual features carry important grammatical and emotional information in British Sign Language.
Children and new learners can retell a favourite part using the signs they remember. Families and classes can also discuss how the signed version communicates ideas visually.
Before pressing play, choose something to look for together: a repeated sign, a change in expression or the way a character is introduced. Watch a short section, pause the video and discuss what you noticed. Replay the same section to check your observations rather than trying to remember every sign at once.
After watching, choose a moment from the story and describe what happens using the signs you remember. Learners can take turns watching and signing, while a teacher or more experienced signer offers feedback. Keep the activity manageable by working with one short passage before attempting a longer retelling.
If an unfamiliar sign needs more practice, explore the BSL video dictionary. For a different activity after the story, try the BSL games or browse our education resources for your next session.