Read with your fingers: braille
Many people who cannot see read by touching tiny bumps on paper. This is called braille.
Braille was made about 200 years ago by Louis Braille, a boy from France who could not see. He was only 15 years old when he made it!
Each letter fits in a little box called a cell. It has room for six dots. Some dots stick up, and some are flat. Your fingers feel the bumps and read the letter. People read braille in many languages, even Malayalam and Hindi.
The braille alphabet
Black dots stick up. Small gray dots are flat.
Crack the code
Use the alphabet to read these two words from this week’s paper.
Write your name
Color in the dots to write your name in braille. Use one cell for each letter.
Make it touchable: put a small drop of glue on each dot, or stick on grains of dal. When it dries, close your eyes and feel it!
Did you know?Braille is also on many lift buttons and medicine boxes. Look for little bumps next time you are out!
Try itClose your eyes and ask a grown-up to guide you slowly across the room using only words. How did it feel?