What do you know about Braille?

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Introducing Braille

"How does a blind person learn to drive?"  "Why aren't there any pictures in a Braille book?"  When students ask questions like these, you realize how important it is to learn about Braille and blindness.  Once students learn about Braille, they notice it everywhere - on signs in school and other public buildings.  Most exciting is learning about seeing eye dogs.  Of course, it's always best to start at the beginning by learning about the history of Braille and what it means.



Louis Braille ~ Brilliant Inventor

Braille is a system of touch reading that allows blind or vision-impaired people, to read with their fingers..  Braille was invented by a 12 year old blind boy, Louis Braille who born in France on January 4, 1809.  Here are some biographies you can read to learn more about this brilliant inventor:


https://www.amazon.com/Louis-Braille-Invented-Scholastic-Biography/dp/059044350X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483139671&sr=8-1&keywords=books+about+braille+for+kids
Click on the book cover to read more about this book on Amazon.



https://www.amazon.com/Who-Louis-Braille-Margaret-Frith/dp/0448479036/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=41BZNJAZFPPYJ925V7FC
Click on image to go to Amazon.


https://www.amazon.com/Six-Dots-Story-Young-Braille/dp/0449813371/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483312804&sr=8-1&keywords=Six+dots+%3A+a+story+of+young+Louis+Braille
Click on cover to read more about this book!




Braille In Real Life

Braille is a code that allows blind people to

study literacy (reading and writing).

Braille symbols are formed within units

called Braille cells. Each cell can contain

6 dots. There are 64 possible combinations

using one or more of these 6 dots.


 Here is what Braille would look like in a book.





 Here is a Braille watch:



To tell time, you lift the watch glass, and touch the Braille.  

Check out these popular Braille games:











Braille Books

When I'm teaching about Braille, I head to my public library and check out an assortment of Braille books.  Some of the books are for sighted and blind children while some are totally in Braille.  Here's one of the books in my local library, and it's also available at Amazon..




https://www.amazon.com/DK-Braille-Animals/dp/1465436111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483394198&sr=1-1&keywords=dk+braille+books


Many of the books have tactile features, and it's interesting to discuss this with the kids.




Seeing Eye Dogs

This book is in our basal, but it's also a great book to share because it's a first-hand account of a blind person getting a new seeing eye dog. 


https://www.amazon.com/Moms-Friend-Sally-Hobart-Alexander/dp/0027003930/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483393733&sr=8-2&keywords=mom%27s+best+friend

                                                      Click here to see this book on Amazon.

In this book, author Sally Hobart Alexander shares how she goes to get a new seeing eye dog while her family struggles to keep order back at the house.  Her children worry about if they'll like the new seeing eye dog, and whether the dog will like them back.  I really like how the book has pictures that show real life.  In addition, I made a Promethean flipchart to accompany this book.  You can download the flipchart for free here.
  
My student, Sierra, brought in another excellent book about a seeing eye dog.  An added bonus was that the author is from Massachusetts.

https://www.amazon.com/Looking-Out-Sarah-Glenna-Lang/dp/1570916071/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1482520115&sr=1-1&keywords=looking+out+for+sarah
Click on picture to check out more on Amazaon.
In this book, Sarah and her working dog, Perry, share a typical day in their lives.  They even visit a school! 



 Extension Activities

 *Check out this free TPT product (click here to check it out): 

This 72 page guide gives educators over one hundred activities in teaching sighted children how to read the Braille alphabet and words in Braille as well as numerous activities on appreciating differences.
Teachers can choose from any of the activities to teach children sensitivity, character, Braille, reading and math skills, as well as social skills.
Every lesson is followed by numerous independent and easy-to-follow activities. 


*Here's another free TPT product that includes a reading passage and assessment about Louis Braille.

*Braille Bug is an excellent web site for children that includes a great assortment of activities to help kids learn about Braille.

*PBS Kids has a You've Got Braille web page that includes Braille activities kids can explore on the computer.



 If you implement any of these activities or if you have suggestions for other Braille activities, I'd love to hear about them!

Thanks for checking in today, and I hope you've learned something new about Braille! 

Susan Krevat (Here's my name in Braille!)






























⠠⠎⠥⠎⠁⠝ ⠠⠅⠗⠑⠧⠁⠞






























 

by Susan K.

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