The Braille Alphabet
Objective
To allow children to experience the writing and reading of the Braille alphabet.
Materials
A copy of the Braille alphabet
Paper and pencil for each child
Motor tasks and short sentences written on small pieces of paper
Procedure
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1. Give each child a copy of the Braille alphabet.
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2. Discuss how the Braille alphabet is formed, i.e., combining the six dots which form the Braille cell.
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3. Have the children find the initial of the first names and write their initial in Braille on the worksheet provided.
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4. Divide children into groups of four children each.
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5. Provide each group with two printed tasks. Ask them to work together to punch out the task in Braille.
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6. When all the groups have completed the Braille message, have them exchange Braille task cards with another group.
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7. When each group has deciphered their tasks, have them demonstrate their messages to each other.
Discussion
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1. Ask the children how they felt writing and reading the messages in Braille. What was easy about it? What was difficult? What would make it easier to write in Braille? Can they think of any special materials that would make the job easier?
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2. Explain that blind people often carry a pocket stylus and template. The template is a metal stencil that helps them to make the Braille impressions. The stylus is a snub-nosed pen. Special heavy paper is included in the pocket so that the Braille impressions will come out raised and firm.
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3. Many blind people use Talking Books rather than Braille books. Why do you think they prefer Talking Books?
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4. Western Union is a company that delivers messages, called telegrams, to people. Someone who wants to send a very important message might send a telegram because it gets there much faster than the mail. Western Union has just begun to deliver Braille telegrams for blind people. Why would a person want to send a telegram? A blind person said that he was very pleased to hear about the Braille telegrams because now he could read his message privately. What did he mean by that?
(figure available in print form)
The Braille Alphabet
Blind people use Braille to read with their fingers. Each letter is a special combination of 6 possible dots.
