Young World 2, Unit 1: Five Senses
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This unit is about human senses and comparing them to animal senses. Here are some suggestions for native English speakers to delve deeper into this theme:**
Non-Fiction
Animal Senses: How Animals See, Hear, Taste, Smell and Feel by, Pamela Hickman
Learn more about how various animals see, hear and smell and how it compares to our human senses. Has ideas for experiments to better understand the differences. (Lexile 930L) what is a lexile level?
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Painting in the Dark, by Rachelle Burke
A poor Turkish boy was born totally blind, yet learned how to paint, including using perspective and shadow. (Lexile 920L) what is this?
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The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses, by Joanna Cole
Quirky Ms. Frizzle takes her class on a trip on the Magic School Bus through an eye, a dog’s nose, an ear a tongue. Presented in a fun story while learning more about both human and animal senses. Also available as an animated show on Netflix. (Lexile AD690L) what is this?
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Black Book of Colors, by Menena Cottin
This book is shows how it would to be blind. It is entirely black, with raised drawings, and written both in text and braille (though not deep enough to be easily read by a blind person). It uses other senses to explain how to perceive colors. “Red is sour like unripe strawberries and as sweet as watermelon.” It’s a great starting point to talk about color. (This book is also in the list for YW 2, Unit 3, A World of Colour.) (Lexile 520L) what is this?
Included here are multiple books about Louis Braille at a variety of reading levels. The true story about boy who overcomes adversity by creating a simple but incredibly useful invention is compelling and inspirational.
Six Dots, A Story of Young Louis Braille, by Jen Bryant
The story of the life of Louis Braille and how he lost his eye sight and how his frustration at being unable to read ultimately motivated him to develop a raised alphabet. Suitable for reluctant readers. (Lexile 590L) what is this?
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Louis Braille, The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind, by Margaret Davidson
Explains why and how Louis Braille invented the system of printing for the blind. Easy chapter book. 80 pages. (Lexile 580L) what is this?
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Out of Darkness, the Story of Louis Braille, by Russell Friedman
A biography on the life of Louis Braille, how he became blind, and his incredible development of the alphabet. Appropriate for grades 5-7. (Lexile 1000L) what is this?
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Fiction
Song for a Whale, by Lynne Kelly
A deaf girl named Iris learns about a whale who cannot communicate with other whales and develops a way to try to help it. .(Lexile 800L) what is this?
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The Guard Dog, by Dick King-Smith
A very little dog with an awful ear-splitting bark has ambitions to be a guard dog and is ridiculed by his pedigree peers. Ultimately, he gets his comeuppance thanks to the poor hearing of the man who adopts him. (Lexile NC810L) what is this?
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Supplemental Activities
Make a reservation at the Blinde Kuh restaurant in Zurich or Basel. Dedicated to help and raise awareness of blind and partially-sighted people, their restaurants offer amazing food, served unseen, in the dark. A fantastic experience. Blinde Kuh Restaurant
Donate an audio book or make an appointment to visit the SBS Schweizerische Bibliothek für Blinde, Seh- und Lesebehinderte (Swiss library for the blind, visually impaired and print disabled) It has provided books, music and games to the blind and visually impaired for over 100 years.
SBS Library