Auslan

This week, our Year 5/6 students participated in a powerful learning experience exploring what it might be like to be deaf and blind. Students used black eye masks, earplugs, and headphones to simulate being deaf and blind. This activity provided a unique opportunity for them to understand the challenges faced by individuals with sensory disabilities.

Wednesday’s activity involved painting small plaster animals. On Thursday, students engaged in a game where they alternated roles between being a guide and being deaf and blind. This collaborative exercise further enhanced their empathy and understanding of communication and trust.

Some feedback from our students: 

• I was able to trust my friend in being my ‘guide’
• I found it hard to trust my friend guiding me. It was weird! I felt I didn’t have control 
• It was fun but I know this is temporary. I couldn’t do this permanently.
• It was frustrating and funny at the same time as I spilled water on the table when trying to clean my paintbrush.
• I was confused. I didn’t know what I was doing and waited a bit before my guide helped me.
• I could still hear through the earplugs and headphones, so we had to stop talking.