It is our World – Louis Braille

31.03.2026
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Driving Question:

How can we «see» the world without using our eyes?

Topic: Louis Braille: A World of Touch
Time: 20 minutes
Class: Grade 7 (18 students)
Level: Pre-intermediate
Driving Question: How can we «see» the world without using our eyes?

Objectives

By the end of the 20-minute lesson, students will be able to:

Language & Knowledge: Identify at least 4 new vocabulary words (e.g., blind, tactile, raised dots, cell) and retell one key fact about Louis Braille’s life.
Skill (STEM/Literacy): Create their name or a simple word using a 6-dot Braille cell template and corn kernels.
Social-Emotional: Express one idea about how people who are blind use their sense of touch to «see» the world.

Core Vocabulary (Focus on these 5)

Word	Translation (Kyrgyz)	Definition (Simple English)
Blind	Азиз (көрбөй калган)	A person who cannot see.
Tactile	Сезүү (тактилдүү)	Something you can feel with your fingers.
Raised dots	Томпок чекиттер	Small bumps on paper that you can feel.
Cell	Клетка (бирдик)	A small unit (Braille has 6 dots in one cell).
Alphabet	Алфавит	A set of letters used for writing.

Materials & Equipment

Digital & Tech:
- Smart Board
- QR Codes (each linked to one of the 5 focus vocabulary words and its simple definition)
- Smartphones or tablets for scanning
- Game Link: https://wordwall.net/ru/resource/1945034 (Journeys 14 — Louis Braille)
Warm-up:
- «Secret Box» (a small box with a hole for a hand) containing objects with different textures: a pinecone, a soft cloth, a cold metal spoon, a bumpy ball.
STEM Activity:
- Pre-printed cards with a 6-dot Braille cell template (like a small 2×3 grid/domino) – one per student.
- Dried corn kernels (or beans/rice)
- Glue
- Braille alphabet chart (projected on screen or printed for each group)
Group Work & Empathy:
- Colored candles or colored cards (red, blue, green) for grouping.
- A printed portrait of Louis Braille.
- One real candle or a flashlight (for the «Light Ceremony»).

Lesson Procedure

Stage	Purpose	Procedure	Time
1. Warm-up & Hook	To create interest through a sensory experience and introduce the driving question.	Secret Box: Teacher shows the «Secret Box.» Students take turns putting a hand inside to feel an object without looking. They describe what they feel (e.g., «It’s cold and hard,» «It feels bumpy»). Lead-in Discussion: «How did you ‘see’ the object without your eyes?» (Using sense of touch). Introduce the driving question: «How can we ‘see’ the world without using our eyes?» Grouping: Students quickly pick a colored candle or card (red, blue, or green) to form 3 teams.	3 mins
2. Vocabulary Input	To introduce key vocabulary using ICT and link it to the lesson’s topic.	QR Code Scavenger Hunt: Each group scans one QR code placed around the room. The code reveals one vocabulary word and its simple definition (e.g., «Tactile: Something you can feel with your fingers»). Sharing: Each group quickly shares their word and definition with the class. Teacher writes the words on the board. Connection: «These words will help us learn about a boy named Louis Braille. He was blind, and he invented a tactile alphabet using raised dots.»	4 mins
3. Main Activity: Braille with Corn	To develop hands-on, STEM-based learning by applying the concept of a tactile alphabet.	Quick Demo (1 min): Teacher shows the Braille cell (a 2×3 grid of dots) on the board. «Each letter is a different code, or pattern, inside this cell.» Display the Braille alphabet chart. Hands-On Creation (4 mins): Each student gets a pre-printed card with the 6-dot cell template. Using the Braille chart, they «write» their name (or a short word like «HI» or «LOUIS») by gluing corn kernels onto the correct dots in the cell. They can write one or two letters.	5 mins
4. Share, Reflect & Empathy	To foster empathy and connect the activity to Louis Braille’s achievement.	«Read» Your Name (1.5 mins): In their groups, students close their eyes and gently feel the raised dots on a partner’s card. Can they guess the letter? Empathy Moment (1.5 mins): «Was it easy or hard to feel the letters? Imagine reading an entire book like this. This is the gift Louis Braille gave to the world.» The Light Ceremony: Teacher dims the lights, lights a real candle (or turns on a flashlight) near Louis Braille’s portrait, and says: «Louis brought the ‘light’ of reading and writing to people who are blind. Let’s have a quiet moment to think about that.» (15 seconds of silence).	3 mins
5. Wrap-up & Homework	To review learning through a game and assign a simple, engaging homework task.	Quick Review Game (2 mins): Open the Wordwall game «Journeys 14 — Louis Braille» on the Smart Board. Play as a fast-paced, whole-class competition. Groups can answer together. Homework (Assign in 1 min): «Your homework is to teach a family member how to make one Braille letter using things at home—like rice, buttons, or lentils. Show them how it feels to ‘read’ with their fingers!»	5 mins