Try these two activities with your afterschool group this week.
Start a discussion about people who cannot see, but can still learn how to read. The human body can adapt to all types of disabilities. A blind person can learn to read bumps. The Braille alphabet is made up of a combination of bumps. It all starts with 6 bumps called the Braille cell:
By removing certain bumps and leaving others, it makes different letters. These sites will show you all the letters in the Braille alphabet:
- National Braille Press - alphabet card
- Louis Braille School - Braille alphabet
- American Foundation for the Blind - "Deciphering the Code"
Activity #1: Blindfold your buddy
- One child is blindfolded by his/her buddy. The buddy leads the friend around the room and the “blind” child engages in the same activities that the children would normally do during the day. The buddies can then switch off.
- Come together in a circle and discuss how this felt: What was difficult? What was easy? When did you need more help? How did you feel?
Activity #2: Braille name Plaques
Using the Braille sites above, explain and show examples of how the Braille alphabet allows a blind person to read with his/her fingers. Then walk the children through this activity:
- Choose "bumps" to use: paper clips, beans, thumb tacks
- Choose your background: cardboard, construction paper, wood
- Have the children create their names or a “secret message” using the Braille alphabet and their materials
- For the secret messages, one child at a time can come to the front of the room and the other children must figure out the message!
- The name plaques can be hung around the room or brought home as gifts
Find out more!
American Foundation for the Blind
1-800-AFB-LINE (232-5463)
afbinfo@afb.net
www.afb.org
