Make A Nature Experience Book with Kids Who Are Visually Impaired

Oct 16, 2015
3 min read

Going on a nature exploration outside on a crisp Fall day is a wonderful sensory experience for kids of all abilities and sight levels. Be sure to collect objects on your adventure to make an experience book to share and remember your trip. Experience books can be a great way for kids with visual impairments to learn to recall stories, sequences, and build a solid foundation for comprehension about the world around them.

Materials:

Nature objects collected on your outdoor adventure (Haven't been? Here's how!)
Cardstock
Tacky Glue
Braille Labeler, or other method for making braille stickers/labels
Stapler or Hole Punch & Ribbon for binding finished book
Braille Paper or Extra Cardstock for additional story sentences
Perkins Brailler or Computer & Embossing Printer for additional story sentences

Instructions:

Begin by reviewing each of the objects the child collected on the nature walk. Take each piece out and encourage the child to explore it with her hands, trying to remember what each one is called. You can do this one at a time for each page, or review them all, and then begin putting together your book. Glue each object to a separate piece of cardstock. Tip: Help the child find where to place the glue (if needed), encouraging her to keep track of where it is on the page with one hand while finding the object and placing it on the glue with the other hand. Repeat this step for each object. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

Using the braille labeler or Brailler, make labels for each object. Talk about how each word is spelled and discuss any UEB contractions that are involved. (Find a quick cheat sheet for new UEB contractions (PDF) from Duxbury Systems.) Then, place each label under the object on its page. Repeat this step for each object.

Next, have your child right a simple sentence about collecting the object for each page. Cut apart each sentence and adhere to the associated page of the book. This is optional- the object and label may be enough for your book! You and your child decide.

Make a cover page for the book. Include a title and be sure to add the author's name! Kids will enjoy reading their names on the book.

Finally, decide how you will bind the book. We chose to punch two holes along the left side of the pages and use ribbon to bind the pages together. You could also use a stapler or binding combs if you have access to these.

Page showing a leaf with a braille label and story sentence

Madilyn Explores Outside

By Madilyn Welch

I love exploreing in my back yard.

isn’t [it] fun

I clecite (collected) some

I like manature (nature)

Do you like nature?

look I pickt up a acorn

Then I pickt up a leaf

th (then) I pick up a tree

then I pickt a scick (stick)

then i pict up a mum

Then i pict a bark

then I pitck up some plants

After you're finished, be sure to read through the book together! Encourage your child to share their completed book with their siblings, grandparents and friends. It's a great way to share the journey of learning to read Braille (add print labels if you want, of course) with other members of the family. Your child will enjoy showing off her hard work and recalling the exploration adventure outside, too!

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