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Lumpy Bumpy Name Game
Raise awareness with the Lumpy Bumpy Name Game!
Explore the world of Braille with the 'Lumpy Bumpy Name Game'! Scouts will use air-drying clay to create their names in Braille, learning how the writing system helps blind and partially sighted people read. It’s a hands-on way to build respect, awareness, and communication skills.
What you will need
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A4 paper
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Air-drying clay
Running the game
- The Leader should explain that some blind and partially sighted people may use braille to read.
- Braille is a writing system where letters and numbers are read by fingers instead of eyes.
- People run their fingers gently over bumps on paper (or other materials, such as signs) – The way the bumps are arranged tells them which letter they represent.
- By putting letters together, people can read words and sentences.
- Give everyone a piece of paper, a copy of the braille alphabet, and some air drying clay. (It doesn’t matter exactly what you use for this – even sticky tack is okay)
- Stick small pieces of clay on top of the black dots on their braille alphabet. They should gently run their fingers over the raised bumps – this is a bit like what braille feels like.
- Try spelling your names out on a piece of card. Create one letter at a time, copying the dot patterns from the braille alphabet sheet.
- Once everyone’s finished their names, they should put them in the middle. The Leader should jumble them up, so it’s not clear whose is whose.
- Everyone should try to tell which name is which by reading the braille. (Everyone can go at once, or you could hand everyone someone else’s name to read.)
Change the challenge level
You could create grids with dots to make it easier to form the words.
If people are feeling ambitious, they could make and read longer words and phrases. People can experiment with different materials to make their dots. What works well?
People can make their braille as big or small as they like. If people find it tricky to use fiddly bits of clay, they can use big balls of clay instead.
Reflection
This activity helped you to respect others. It’s important to value others, regardless of their background.
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Do you think making sure signs and important information (such as information on medicine boxes) is also in braille is a way of showing respect?
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How do you think it feels when places do and don’t have braille?
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This activity also helped you to develop skills. Is reading braille a skill?
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Why is it important to know about braille and other ways of communicating?
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When do people read braille (to enjoy books, but also to stay safe and navigate the world independently)?
