Description

Participants will learn about braille and can complete one or more braille-related activities.

If possible, staff should set up display of braille books from the library or branch’s collection. Braille and printbraille materials can be ordered from the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA).

Note: This activity has several handouts to choose from. If you want to save paper, you can do the Decoding Braille Riddles and Around the World activities as a group using a screen instead of printing handouts for all participants.

Number of participants

For any number of participants

Space considerations

An indoor space with room for children to do a paper-and-pen activity

Competencies

Letter recognition
Logic and sequencing
Mathematics
Problem solving
Spatial relationships
Understanding shapes

Materials

Crayons, markers or pencil crayons
Any of the braille cell alphabet handouts
- Simulated Braille Alphabet with Numbers
- Simulated Braille Cell Alphabet
- Tactile Braille Cell Alphabet
Tactile elements that can fit in the braille cell circles, like stickers (e.g., jewel/bead stickers), playdough, clay or glue
Computer or laptop with access to a projector or computer-display screen
Microphone
Any of the braille-related activity worksheets (recommended order)
- Create Your Own Braille Alphabet
- Around the World Braille Activity
- Decoding Braille Riddles
- Create a Braille Message

Preparation

Set up screen and projector (optional).
Distribute writing utensils and worksheets.
- We recommend handing out the worksheets after explaining the alphabet braille cells.

Implementation

Start the World of Braille PowerPoint presentation.
Click on the “cnib-beyondprint” link on the second slide to explain what braille is and how it works.
Explain the following:
- Braille cells A to J provide the base for the rest of the alphabet.
- K to T are the same as A to J, but with the third dot added.
- U to Z are the same as K to O with the sixth dot added, except for W (which is J with an added sixth dot).
Follow the presentation and conduct any of the activities.

Option to adapt to a wider audience: Can do activities together as a group. Additionally, there will be a braille handout with empty cells available for kids to create their own messages, spell out their names, etc.

Accessibility considerations

Provide tactile stickers or tactile elements that can fit inside the braille cell circles
Consider braille slates/templates that can be 3D printed from the Internet
Use PowerPoint presentation (and project on screen if possible)
Optional: use microphone