Tactile Chemistry

Tactile strategies for teaching chemistry to students who are blind and visually impaired have been developed by Dr. Lillian A. Rankel, Hopewell Valley Central High School, and Marilyn Winograd, Teacher of the Visually Impaired.

View video descriptions of the products developed for tactile adaptation of the science classroom.
          Tactile Adaptation Kit
          Multi-Sensory Lab Gear Kit

For ordering information about the Tactile Adaptation Kit and Multi-Sensory Lab Gear Kit, email MDWEducationalServices@gmail.com or info@independencescience.com.

Tactile Laboratory & Science Solutions

Supplies for Tactile Chemistry

Teaching Formulas and Manipulation of Formulas

Use a Chemistry Stencil to Make Magnetic Lab Equipment

Lewis Dot Structures and Valence Electrons

The Lewis dot structures can be done in several ways. The Playskool letters can be used with dots made from foam and magnetic sheets or hot glue can be used to make a raised, tactile symbol for the element that needs a dot structure:

  Li       Cl

These symbols could be written in Braille instead of text. Magnetic foam arrows can be used to symbolize electrons for the Lewis structures.

Figure 2. Lewis Dot Structure of Ammonia


Ionic Bonding

Structures for Organic Compounds

Showing 3-D Organic Structures

Aufbau Diagrams

Tactile Equipment Models

Some of the materials presented here are based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants HRD-0435656 and HRD-0726417. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.