Create tactile books about a child’s discoveries of various plants, animals, and insects living in their backyard or local park using the tactile items and textures provided in Tactile Theme Pack: In My Yard. The items in this pack can also be used “right out of the box” for early learning activities fostering development of concepts, tactual discrimination, and exploratory skills.
Note: The quantity, color, and/or type of material may change due to unanticipated and unavoidable changes in material availability.
Tactile Theme Pack: In My Yard provides an assortment of exciting tactile items and textures that resemble things a child might find in their yard or at a local park. The contents of this kit consist of consumable and reusable pieces that can be used to create outdoor themed tactile books, representations, and learning activities. The insert included suggests various types of books and tactual activities that can be devised with the contents of the theme pack. Set up a wide range of activities and exercises for children with visual impairments including:
Sorting and matching based on texture, size, shape
Counting and sequencing
Letter naming and phonemic awareness (ask the child to find one or more items or textures that begin with a particular letter and/or sound)
Tactual exploration, search, and discrimination
Production of tactile artwork
Production of tactile activity sheets for students
Assists teachers in locating materials for assembling tactile books and tactile learning activities
Saves educators time and funds, particularly when used with APH’s Tactile Book Builder Kit
Prevents educators from having to buy large quantities of textured and tactile materials
Seasonal greenery
Leaf spray
Flower spray
Artificial turf mat
Bark textured wallpaper
Bumpy lizard textured wallpaper
Faux reptile textured wallpaper
Gray flocked suede paper
Bird feathers
Pack of artificial butterflies (small and large)
Plastic bugs
Flat-backed glass “pebbles”
Rubbery earthworms
Large silk leaves
Blue satin ribbon
Raffia
Large print and braille written insert
“There is a wonderful diversity of textures which simulate realistic tactual outdoor experiences, so I think this would be very easy to use to make experience/concept books.”
“It is a great combination of resources when creating tactile books/images about nature and outside.”
“It provides great materials for sorting/matching, counting, and beginning sounds. It also is great for art projects and tactile books!”
“It was very helpful in making a book about our nature walk and making the items come to life. The small animals [plastic bugs, earthworms, butterflies] were good to use for counting and sorting.”
