Mark Twain once said that the two most interesting characters of the nineteenth century were Napoleon and Helen Keller. I agree with Mr. Twain, Miss Keller is someone worth learning more about. Having lived during both World Wars and the Depression, she traveled the world, wrote several books, graduated from college and was friends with not only Mark Twain but Alexander Graham Bell.
Miss Keller wrote several books about her life and her political views. Of course several have been written by others, one I enjoyed was Helen Keller-Rebellious Spirit by Laurie Lawlor.
You can find books for all ages and reading levels.
Her life was diverse and learning about her will open up many doors for you to investigate.
Activities:
Warning be careful with these activities and some may be messy!
Spend an hour with no talking, television, radio, computers etc...
Learn the American Sign Language Albhabet and simple words, for a day communicate only using
sign language
Blind-folded brush your teeth, dress yourself or any other simple tasks, no talking
Prepare a meal of spaghetti and meatballs, use paper plates, plastic forks and plastic cups of water, eat Blind-Folded with no talking (you may want to do this one outside)
Contact a school for the blind or the deaf and see if you can do some type of community service
Have one child describe a never before seen painting to other children
Watch The Miracle Worker with Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft, both actresses won an Academy Award for the film, Miss Duke got to meet Miss Keller and described her as a "jolly grandma"
Miss Keller and her "Teacher" Anne Sullivan's remains are located in the National Cathedral in
Washington, D.C., her name plate is in Braille and has had to be replaced several times from so many visitors reading it, try to visit if ever in the area
Visit
Miss Keller's birthplace and her home in Tuscumbia, Alabama, you can view the water pump and attend the play of
The Miracle Worker
I will post this to these blog parties:
