Braille in space activity - Staff site

Description

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

Note: This activity has several handouts to choose from. If you want to save paper, you can do the Decoding Braille Riddles and To the Stars Braille Activity as a group using the 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, 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
- To the Stars 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 Braille in Space 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.