 HELEN KELLERBorn in 1880 - Died in 1968
|
Helen Keller at the age of 19 months,(not quite 2 years old) was a happy, healthy child. She was already saying a few words.
Then she had a high fever which caused her to become deaf and blind. No longer could she see nor hear. She felt lost. She would hang on to her mother's skirt to get around. She would feel of people's hands to try to find out what they were doing. She learned to do many things this way. She learned to milk a cow and knead the bread dough.
She could recognize people by feeling of their faces or their clothes.
She made up signs with her hands so she could "talk" to her family. She had 60 different signs. If she wanted bread, she pretended to be cutting a loaf. If she wanted ice cream, she would hug her shoulders and shiver.
Helen was a very bright child. She became very frustrated * because she couldn't talk. She became very angry and began to throw temper tantrums * . The family knew they had to do something to help her.
They found a teacher named Anne Sullivan. Miss Sullivan herself had been blind, but had an operation and regained her sight. She understood what Helen was feeling.
She taught Helen the signs for the letters of the alphabet. Then she would "spell" the words in Helen's hand to communicate * with her.One day Anne led Helen to the water pump and pumped water on her hand. She spelled the letters W-A-T-E-R as the water ran over Helen's hand. She did this over and over again. At last it dawned on Helen that the word "water" meant the water which she felt pouring over her hand. This opened up a whole new world for her. She ran everywhere asking Anne the name of different things and Anne would spell the words in her hand. This was the key which unlocked the world for her.
She eventually stopped having the tantrums. Anne taught her for years. Helen learned to read Braille * . This was a system of raised dots representing letters. A blind person could read by feeling of the dots.
When she went to college, her teacher Anne went with her and tapped out the words of the instructors into her student's hand.
Helen had an amazing memory, and she also had skills very few people have ever been able to develop. She could put her fingers to a person's lips and understand the words which were being spoken.
While she was in college she wrote her book called "The Story of My Life". With the money she earned from the book she was able to buy a house.
She became famous and traveled around the world speaking to groups of people. She met many important and well-known people as she traveled.
Helen Keller was successful because of her determination. However, many people helped her. The most important person in her life was Anne Sullivan who stayed with her for 50 years.
A frequent question: "Who wrote this biography and when was it written?" Look on this Reference Citations Chart.
Helen Keller Archival Collection
American Foundation for the Blind
My Own Books
personalize an online story about Helen Keller
by inserting your name in the story
Braille Bug
children can learn about Braille at AFB
The Life of Helen Keller
from RNIB
Helen Keller Birthplace
The Story of My Life
by Helen Keller
A Poem by Helen Keller
Biography of Helen Keller
from World of Biography
Helen Keller
printable study page
English Lesson Plan on Helen Keller
Helen Keller Sculpture
by Daniel Atshuler.
See it at the Montague Gallery of Fine Art Sculpture
"Midstream My Later Life
online book by Helen Keller
Helen Keller, the Achiever
from the New York Times
At biography.com search for Helen Keller.
Scroll the panel for the "Video & Audio Results".
Helen Keller
By January Productions
This is the story of Helen Keller, the blind and deaf girl who overcame great obstacles and became one of the most admired women in the world.The cassette tape contains a paced, word-for-word narration of the story. The student can read the text while listening to the cassette for comprehension. A beeped tone tells the reader when to turn the page. The other side contains a non-beeped word-for-word version of the story. For ages 9-12.
Helen Keller
By Scholastic Trade
How does a blind boy or girl read a book? Helen Keller first learned to read by feeling raised letters with her finger tips. Later she learned the special raised dot alphabet called brailleFeaturing pictures of Helen Keller, and in the back cover, the Braille alphabet. Softcover, 95 pages. Scholastic Inc.
Inspiring Animated Heroes: Helen Keller, DVD
By Nest Family Entertainment
A childhood fever leaves the very bright Helen Keller deaf and blind, cutting her off from human communication. She becomes an angry, untamed child who often explodes into fist of savage fury. But he spirited Anne Sullivan breaks into Helen's dark and silent world and ends her awful isolation. Every child will be inspired by this story of how Helen is successful in overcoming obstacles of deafness and blindness and learns to communicate with the help of a patient teacher. A terrific way to teach a child about how to triumph over obstacles. Recommended for ages 4 to 8. Running Time: Approximately 45 minutes, Dolby Digital Stereo. Directed by Richard Rich, former Walt Disney Productions director.
Bonus Features:
- Chapter Access
- Sing-A-Long Activity
Excellence awards: The Dove Seal of Approval Award; Early Childhood Years Award, 11th Annual; Approved by Kids First: A Coalition for Quality Children's Media; Practical Homeschooling's highest rating; The Film Advisory Board "Award of Excellence."
Helen Keller Biography FunBook
By Carole Marsh & Sherry Moss(Editor) / Gallopade International
Everyone's favorite way to learn about America's bravest citizens! Easy-to-read information, facts, trivia, humor and activities are all included in Biography Funbooks! Ages 7-12. paperback.
Some cities use tactile paving to warn the visually impaired of hazardous conditions.
These detectable warnings are installed in the walkways.
From Word Central's Student Dictionary
by Merriam - Webster
(Pronunciation note: the schwa sound is shown by ə)
frustrated, frustrate
Pronunciation: 'frəs-"trAt
...to prevent from achieving a goal...
tantrum
Pronunciation: 'tan-trəm
Function: noun
: a fit of bad temper
communicate
Pronunciation: kə-'myoo-nə-"kAt
Function: verb
... : to transmit information, thought, or feeling so that it is satisfactorily received or understood ...
braille
Pronunciation: 'brA(ə)l
Function: noun
Usage: often capitalized
: a system of writing for the blind in which letters are represented by raised dots [named for Louis Braille who developed the system]
Page Comments
Most Recent Comments ( See more comments on this page ) 2010-02-06
I am now doing a report about Helen Keller, any tips?
Webmaster note: Do a lot of research before you start writing. Two of her books are listed in the links and can be read online; The Story of My Life and Midstream, My Later Life. Don't copy word for word, but put the thoughts in your own words.
Gabby2010-02-05
Sarah u in 7th grade?
2010-02-03
I'm doing a project about Helen in my class. We have to make awards, hers is going to be 'Most courageous and Inspiring'.
jenna
Leave a Comment View all Comments
Biographies in this Series
Reference citations information for these biographies
Home
Back to Famous Leaders
Work a Jigsaw Puzzle
Online Crossword Puzzle 
Online Word Search
Online Word Scramble
Color Picture Online
Take the Test Online
Online Jeopardy 
