Pick a Popsicle! Braille Learning Activities

Summer is still a few months away, but I wanted to share this activity that could be adapted for about any holiday or theme. Popsicle sticks have an assortment of uses I've found out! And you don't have to eat a box of popsicles to get them either. I found a package of "Woodsies" at Michaels Craft Store for about $4. Here are a few ways to use them:

Letters: Print and/or Braille letters or words onto strips of paper, then glue to one side of the popsicle stick.Use Glitter Glue to make large Braille letters, words or numbers directly on the stick if standard size braille is too small for the child. (Note: For many of the games listed below, you'll need two of each letter, shape or color.)
Different game ideas include: Make a popsicle stick with the lower case letter, as well as a stick with the capital letter to match. Match the letter popsicle sticks to the word sticks that start with that letter. Put the sticks in ABC alphabetical order. Categorize word sticks by animals, foods, and toys. Or just pick a popsicle stick from the jar and identify. Play a game of memory by turning all the sticks upside down in a grid or line pattern, then turn over two at a time until you find all the matches. For sighted children learning braille, make a set of sticks with only print and a set with only braille, then let them match the letters! This is also a great way for parents to learn!

Close up of popsicle stick!

Colors: Paint or dip one end of the stick in paint, then add the color word to the other side. This can be useful for sighted, low vision and blind children, as even blind children need to learn the names of colors. You could also match the color words to other words that are that color. For instance, match a "yellow" popsicle stick with a "sun" popsicle stick; a "green" stick to a "grass" stick, and so on...

Shapes: Adhere foam or glitter sticker shapes to one end of the popsicle stick, then add the shape word to the other side. You can also follow the same idea as with the colors for a fun matching game.

You can also combine a variety of games on one stick. Here we used shapes, colors and braille (regular and large dots) all on the same stick, then just chose different games to play rather than making a different set of sticks for each game above. Enjoy!

Foam shapes can be matched by color and shape.
Braille letters are given in standard size and large dots for learning! 

DIY Raised Line Pictures, Images & Graphics

Sometimes you just have to be creative! Without high-priced embossing printers or paying over $15 for a simple coloring book, you can still create great raised line pictures for children to trace tactually, color, and 'read' for story time activities! All it takes is a little time - which can often be much easier to come by than money!

I find scrapbook and hobby stores to be the best places to find materials for creating and adapting for sensory learning. I never leave without textured paper, embellishments, and some type of dimensional media like paint or flocking powder. After making a few raised line coloring pages of your own, be sure to check out our post for more ideas for making coloring fun!

Suggested Shopping List:
Textured paper (glitter, embossed designs, and more!)
Dimensional/puffy paints
Flocking powder & glue pen
Non-toxic glue (look for assorted bottles/tips for dispensing to achieve a variety of effects)
Hot Glue Gun and glue sticks
Yarn and string
Wikki Stix
Embossing powder, embossing ink, and hot air gun
Dimensional stickers
Scrapbook embossing machines (like Cuttlebug or Sizzix) *however, these are generally more expensive and have more detailed designs when sometimes simpler is better!
Foam sheets and shapes (varieties include smooth or glittered surfaces, and scented!)

***These materials are great to always have on hand; you'll find numerous uses- I promise!***

Click to view the full Activity Plan (pdf)

Raised line triangle using Wikki Stix.

Try using glitter glue (Stickles from Ranger Inks pictured here) to add dimension and texture!

Click to view the full Activity Plan (pdf)

Inspired by Pinterest - Sensory Christmas Cards for Kids!

So if you haven't been introduced to 'pinning' on Pinterest, then I'm here to make that connection for you. At first you will love me for it, then you will curse me for showing you a way to use up so much of your free time. Then you'll thank me again...

Pinterest is your personal virtual corkboard. You can pin and repin pictures from anywhere on the web, or even from your phone. It is the world of pictures at your fingertips, with shots of everything from DIY crafts to good to pass up recipes to places you may only see in pictures. Check it out yourself, but be willing to be captivated... and by that I mean spend a couple hours or more on there! www.pinterest.com

Since the idea themes are approaching infinity in the Pinterest world, I have decided to narrow down this post to Sensory Christmas Cards for Kids! I 'repin' and 'like' numerous pins I think Madilyn would enjoy AND unlike some people, I actually do a few of these projects! So here I want to share a few with you. Enjoy!

Since this one is my favorite, I'll show it first! We made these cards and used a different finger for each color, with the exception of "Finger 6". It was a great way to relate the numbers of the dots with each numbered finger. Finger 1 makes Dot 1, Finger 2 makes Dot 2, etc... I pretended to be Mr. Elf, the cardmaking elf, while we finished the craft. We used green, red and white string from the scrapbook store for the string and Stickles glitter glue for the metal parts of the lights. Madilyn really enjoyed my funny "Mr. Elf voice" as well as making the cards for her to send out to our family!

Fingerprint Holiday Lights http://pinterest.com/pin/684729801/

Footprint Christmas Tree http://pinterest.com/pin/684729437/

Thumbprint Reindeer Love http://pinterest.com/pin/695766045/