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Find your WAY around the city

Orientation & Mobility2 min read

This activity helps develop and understand notions of space and distance, and promotes autonomous orientation.

Written by Gorete Barros

May. 24. 2023

Build a city to help children with visual disabilities understand concepts of space and distance.

It is very important that students develop and understand concepts of space and distance, and know how and when to use them in the right context, as these will be essential for their autonomous navigation. Gorete Barros, a specialist teacher for visual and motor cognitive development in Portugal, has developed this activity using LEGO and LEGO Braille bricks.

Let's build a city, with its streets, intersections and pedestrian crossings.

Together with our students, we have built a small town with regular LEGO. Each location has a LEGO Braille Bricks label: Joanna's House, Grandma's House, The Park, The Shop... It is really important to involve the students in the preparation of the activity as it keeps them engaged.

The students will then choose a character and use it to walk around the town, following the instructions we give them and answering some of the questions we make.

To get around the city, follow the instructions

Here are some examples of questions we could ask:

  • How many pedestrian crossings do you have to cross to get from Joana's house to the shop?

  • Is the park closer to the shop or is it closer to Joana's house?

  • What is in front of Auntie's house?

  • Which building is between the windmill and the park?

  • Which building is to the right of the park?

  • What is in the car?

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