Grade 6
Grade 6
Unit 3: With Flying Colors
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A Boy of Unusual Vision
by Alice Steinbach
 
Cross Curricular  
Organizations for the Blind  
Cross Curricular
From the Student Web Page
National Federation of the Blind
Connect to this link:
http://www.nfb.org/kids.htm


  1. Scroll down to read the questions and answers.
  2. What questions would you ask a person who is blind?
About the Site

The National Federation of the Blind, the largest organization for the blind, seeks to correct the public's misunderstanding of blindness as well as to provide various services. This Web site is one way of educating the general public. The site has numerous links to sources of information, but direct students to the page that answers some frequently asked questions about blindness.

What to Do

  1. Help students find the desired question-and-answer section.

  2. Discuss questions that students may have. If they are not answered at the site, have them consider ways they can learn more, such as writing to a local branch of the organization.

  3. Students may wish to learn about guide dogs, about aids and appliances for the blind, or about Braille. To do so, go back to the home page and click the appropriate categories.
From the Student Web Page
Guide Horses for the Blind
Connect to this link:
http://www.guidehorse.org/


  1. Did you know that miniature horses are used to assist blind people? Scroll down on the main page and read "Who is the Ideal Guide Horse Owner" and "Why Use a Mini Horse?"
  2. If you were blind would you rather have a guide dog or a guide horse? Why?
  3. Click on Photographs on the left navigational bar to see pictures of guide horses in action!
  4. Use what you learned to make a Venn diagram comparing guide dogs and guide horses. Include at least two similarities and two differences.
About the Site

The Guide Horse Foundation is dedicated to helping blind people acquire miniature horses for free to assist them in everyday life. The site includes articles, photos, training information, and resources to apply for a horse.

Lesson Objectives

  • Students will use the Internet to learn about guide horses for the blind.

  • Students will discover why miniature horses are good animals for helping blind people.

  • Students will compare guide dogs to guide horses using a Venn diagram.

Suggested Additional Activities

  • Have students click Frequently Asked Questions on the left navigational bar at the top of the main page then choose Miniature Horse Guide Training Questions to read more about guide horses.

  • Have students brainstorm what other animals could be used to assist blind people. Students should consider why the animals would be useful, how easy they are to train, and how the animals would behave in a new environment.

  • Have students write proposals on the animals that they think would help the blind. Have them present these to the class. Hold a class vote to determine which animal would be most helpful.