Reading with Your Hands

Before the meeting: 

1. Print copies of the Braille Alphabet and Write Your Name in Braille worksheets, enough for one for each Cub Scouts. 
2. Become familiar with the braille alphabet.  Write your name in braille to use as an example. 
3. Set up the meeting space for Cub Scouts and adult partners to complete the activity together.  

During the meeting: 

1. Gather Cub Scouts and adult partners and share with them that art can speak to us in many ways but for those who are blind, they must rely on other senses such as touch.  Some art is designed to be touched.  Today we will explore a written language that was designed to be touched, not seen.  Braille is a type of writing that is created by making bumps or holes in paper to represent the alphabet.  Each letter in braille has two columns of three spots.  A letter in the alphabet is represented by which spots have a bump.  To read braille you take your finger to feel the bumps to identify each letter. 
2. Have Cub Scouts and adult partners work together to spell their name in braille by coloring in the dots on the activity sheet. 
3. When finished, have each Cub Scout and adult partner share their name in braille.