Puff paint works great for many tactile activities for students who are blind or vision impaired. It can be purchased from craft stores or there are many recipes online to make it to reduce the cost. There is even a Puff Paint recipe here on Paths to Literacy. Specific colors can be used for students with vision impairments or color preferences. Fill some squeeze bottles and you’re ready to create loads of tactile activities! Here are a few activity ideas.
Materials
- puff paint (store bought or homemade)
- index cards or cardstock
- squeeze bottles
- art/craft supplies
Activity Ideas
- Line tracking – make lines on paper or index cards for students to track with their fingers: curved, wavy, spiral, straight, zig-zag, dotted, broken, etc.).
- Line matching – make various lines on index cards, cut the cards in half and play a matching game
- Matching activities – match numbers, shapes, braille and print letters
- Sorting activities – use puff paint to differentiate objects other students are sorting, so students can work use the same materials.
- Name writing
- Spelling practice – use paint to write print or braille words on cards, cut apart so student can spell the word
- Braille flashcards – great for young readers or those needing larger symbols as they learn!
- Tactile graphics
- Tactile painting – give your students a turn; they can make shapes, copy a model, or create their own art.
- Craft projects – this can include sticking small objects to the paint for fine motor skill development
Variations
The possibilities are endless and can be tailored to meet the individual student’s vision and learning needs. Activities can be adapted to students with multiple disabilities or English language learners. Activities can be developed for other subject areas including science, social studies, math, and music.
