Numbers, Cooking Measurement, Mathematic Functions

Tactile symbol for measurement of one drop is a single bead on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for measurement of one drop is a single bead on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.

Tactile symbols representing numbers and mathematic functions  are made with trapezoid-shaped poster board of foam sheet. The shape representing cooking measurements is a half-oval shape. Various backgrounds could be used, although none are used in these examples. The shape is the most important; the backing can vary depending on what materials you have and what the child can tactually discriminate. 

Most students at this level of communication are beginning to experience only basic measurement concepts generally tied to a cooking activity or routine.

Note: These symbols are the ones utilized at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, so they reflect that social environment. You may need to create symbols or adapt symbols specific to the environment of the student.

If you are starting from scratch with a symbol, try to pick something that will make sense to the student. As you look at the symbols you will see that some are based on visual information and some on possible tactile information.  It is important to consider the individual’s perspective when creating the symbol. These symbols are highly abstract so it is important to note his/her visual and tactile access when designing the symbol. A part or a piece of an object often works. By necessity, however,  some symbols have to be arbitrary, because there is no obvious item to place on the symbol. When that’s the case, the student will learn the meaning through repeated association.

Shape: trapezoid-shaped (numbers and functions) or half-oval shaped (measurements)

Background: poster board or foal sheet

Numbers

Tactile symbol for zero is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for zero is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for the number one is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with a matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued longwise in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number one is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with a matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued longwise in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number two is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued longwise in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number two is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued longwise in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number three is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued longwise in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number three is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued longwise in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number four is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 4 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a square in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number four is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 4 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a square in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number five is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 4 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a X in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number five is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 4 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a X-shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number six is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a H in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number six is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a H-shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number seven is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 4 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a diamond shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number seven is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 4 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a diamond shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number eight is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in an I-shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number eight is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in an I-shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number nine is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a z-shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for the number nine is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 matchstick sized piece of craft stick glued in a z-shape in the center.

Fractions (Cooking Measurement)

Tactile symbol for the fraction 1/4 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 4 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 1/4 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 4 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 1/3 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 3 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 1/3 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 3 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 1/2 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 2 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 1/2 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 2 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 2/3 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 3 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 2/3 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 3 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 3/4 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 4 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for the fraction 3/4 is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 3 puff paint dot above a matchstick sized piece of craft stick and 4 puff paint dots below.
Tactile symbol for measurement of one drop is a single bead on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for measurement of one drop is a single bead on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for measurement of one teaspoon is the scoop of a plastic spoon on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for measurement of one teaspoon is the scoop of a plastic spoon with a star-shaped bead glued inside it  on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for measurement of one tablespoon is the scoop of a plastic spoon on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.
Tactile symbol for measurement of one tablespoon is the scoop of a plastic spoon on a half-oval shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet.

Mathematic Functions

Tactile symbol for equals is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 matchstick sized piece of craft stick parallel to each other horizontally.
Tactile symbol for equals is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 matchstick sized piece of craft stick parallel to each other horizontally.
Tactile symbol for minus is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 matchstick sized piece of craft stick placed horizontally in the center.
Tactile symbol for minus is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 1 matchstick sized piece of craft stick placed horizontally in the center.
Tactile symbol for plus is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 matchstick sized piece of craft stick placed in a t-shape in the center.
Tactile symbol for plus is a trapezoid-shaped piece of poster board or foam sheet with 2 matchstick sized piece of craft stick placed in a t-shape in the center.