In this braille activity for sighted students, we’ll make a sample braille cards using bumps that can be purchased on Amazon or through a braille supplier.
Braille is a way for visually impaired people to read. This system uses raised dots on paper to form letters and words. These raised dots are read by the visually impaired with their fingertips, typically, the index fingers are used.
Braille is read from left to right across the page. Braille can be written with a braille writing machine (much like a typewriter).
The basic braille “cell” consists of two columns of three dots. The dots are numbered 1-2-3 from top to bottom on the left side of the cell and 4-5-6 from top to bottom on the right side of the cell. Each letter, number, and punctuation mark is made up of dots in a particular order. There are 64 possible combinations, and these dot combinations can be used to represent a letter, number, punctuation mark, or a word.
The History of Braille
Before using the braille worksheets for sighted students, let’s understand how braille was developed.
Charles Barbier was born in France and lived from 1767–1841. He served in the French artillery from 1784 to 1792.
Like most inventors, Mr. Barbier identified a problem while he served in the army that needed to be fixed.
At that time, soldiers would send and receive written messages at night.. To read these notes, soldiers needed a lantern. The light from the lantern would give away the soldier’s position to enemy soldiers.
Charles Barbier invented a system of writing that he called “night writing.” Mr. Barbier’s system was based on a “cell” that was 2 dots across and 6 dots down.
His combinations of raised dots represented either letters or combinations of letters like de, ch, ment.
The military did not adopt this Barbier’s code because they thought it was too complicated. However, Charles Barbier believed it could help blind people to read.
He went to Paris in 1821 to visit the National Institute for the Blind. He met Louis Braille while on that trip.
Louis Braille believed the 6-row cell was too difficult to read because one finger could not cover the entire cell at one time. The system created by Braille is 2 dots across and 3 dots down.
Braille Activity for Sighted Students – Making Braille Cards
With a few simple materials, let’s make some sample braille cards.
First, you will need to request the printable cards below.
There are two ways to make the bumps on the cards. You can purchase round-top bumps on a braille site, on Amazon, or at your local home improvement store.
Here are the ones we purchased. Here they are on braillebookstore.com. We used the equivalent of the 11.1 mm size (large). We purchased ours on Amazon. You can find them in home improvement stores wherever furniture and wall protectors are found. (near picture hanging supplies)
Braille Card Activity for Kids
Instructions
Make Braille Alphabet Cards
Make Braille Alphabet Cards
Equipment
Instructions
Braille Activity Discussion Questions
Close your eyes or use a blindfold. Next, mix up the cards, pick one, and try to read it.
How difficult was it to read the braille pattern with your fingers?
What are some other tools visually impaired people use to increase accessibility to reading, writing, and performing every day tasks?
Check out these sites and resources. There are just a few, there are many more you can research.
Download the Braille Activity Printable Pack
Download the braille activity pack by entering your name and email below. You will be added to our email community.
Braille alphabet chart
Braille “cell” template
Braille word cards and template
History of braille and how the system is organized
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Check out our full human eye activity pack here.
American Foundation for the Blind
American Printing House for the Blind
Apps like GoodMaps help visually impaired people navigate in unfamiliar areas.