In this set of activities adaptable for grades K-3, parents and educators will find ideas for teaching about Helen Keller. These activities are designed to complement the BrainPOP Jr. Helen Keller topic page, which includes a movie, quizzes, online games, printable activities, and more.
Classroom Activities for Teaching About Helen Keller
Inspirations
Helen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart.” What do you think she meant? Discuss with students. Then have students find other inspiring quotes and share them with the class. They may wish to find quotes by Helen Keller, or research quotes from other inspiring historical figures. Be sure that students explain what the quote means to them.
Manual Alphabet
Together with the class, learn the manual (sign language) alphabet. There are many resources online, including posters and videos, that can assist you and your students. Have students fingerspell words and challenge classmates to write them down. Later, students can use the signs for A, B, C, and D when they answer questions from the Easy Quiz or Hard Quiz.
Family and Homeschool Activities for Teaching About Helen Keller
Role Model
Who does your child look up to? Encourage your child to find someone who inspires him or her. This person may be a family member, a historical figure, a community leader, or even a fictional character. Have your child write a letter to the role model or write a short biography of that person. Why is she or he important to your child?
State Quarter
Remind your child that Helen Keller is on Alabama’s state quarter. Have your child create his or her own quarter that honors an inspirational person. You may want to study different state quarters first to gather different ideas. Your child can draw different quarters and then use the money to “buy” various items in a family-created store. This can be a good opportunity to learn how to count coins or make change.
