Songs to Celebrate Braille Literacy

Let’s make some noise for braille literacy with sing-a-longs that raise awareness about braille! Family members make great band members so get together and jam to these fun tunes!

All About That Braille

We’re all about that braille and so are the BELL students of the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Join in singing along to this clever braille-centric parody of a well-known pop song!

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Six Bumpy Dots That I Once Knew

[Sung to the tune of Five Little Ducks That I Once Knew- Author: Suzette Wright, Emergent Literacy Project Leader at APH]

Six Bumpy Dots that I once knew–

best of friends they say it’s true.

Each Bumpy Dot has a job to do.

Come and meet the Braille Dots! You will love them, too!

 

Here’s Dot 1. He’s up on top.

Over on the left’s his special spot.

Dot number 2 is just below.

Come and meet the Braille Dots! Don’t you love them so!

 

There at the bottom is Dot number 3.

What an important place to be!

Up top right meet Dot number 4.

Come and meet the Braille Dots, and let’s sing some more!

 

Dear Dot 5 is in middle—

barely space to give a wiggle.

Dot number 6 is under all the rest.

Now you’ve met the Braille Dots! Aren’t they ALL the BEST?!

Dotty Dots

[This can be set to music or done as a poem; plays off the double meaning of the word “dotty”= amiably eccentric- Author: Suzette Wright, Emergent Literacy Project Leader at APH]]

Dotty dots dots dots–

there are lots lots lots–

pages of a lotta dotty dotty dots.

But they’re not so “dotty” for the lot of you

who can read the lotta dots

called braille.

 

Because braille, braille, braille

leaves a trail trail trail

for fingers to follow ‘cross the page.

fingers to follow ‘cross a lotta dotty dots,

telling you a fascinating

tale.

 

A tale tale tale

that regales gales gales

as your fingers fly faster ‘cross the page,

faster than the wind ‘cross the dotty dotty dots–

the not so “dotty” dots we love,

called braille.

The Braille Rap Song

Check out the throwback stylings of this hip-hoppin rap about braille written by teachers at the Alabama School for the Blind and performed by Kentucky School for the Blind students.

Read the Transcript

Well, hello everybody,
And everybody say hello.
Today we’ll learn the alphabet
And rap along. Let’s go!

Dot 1 is an “a”. Are you ready to play?
An “a” is dot 1. Reach for the sun.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 2 is a “b”. Braille is fun to me.
A “b” is dot 1, 2. On the floor tap your shoe.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 4 is a “c”. Oh me, oh me.
A “c” is dot 1, 4. Let’s stomp the floor.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

A dot 1, 4, 5 is a “d”. Now listen carefully.
A dot 1, 4, 5 is a “d”. Buzz like a bee.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

And that’s the way we do it, the Braille Rap Song.
The way we do it, we all rap along.

Dot 1, 5 is an “e”. I guarantee.
Dot 1, 5 is an “e”. Touch your knee.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 2, 4 is an “f”. You did it yourself.
“F” is dot 1, 2, 4. Knock on the door.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 2, 4, 5 is “g”. Braille is easy to me.
Dot 1, 2, 4, 5 is “g”. Hit your chin, touch your knee.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

“H” is dot 1, 2, 5. Four and one is five.
“H” is dot 1, 2, 5. Count from one to five.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

And that’s the way we do it, the Braille Rap Song.
The way we do it, we all rap along.

Dot 2, 4 is an “i”. Oh my, oh my.
Dot 2, 4 is an “i”. Find your eye.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 2, 4, 5 is a “j”. Hey, hey, what do you say?
Dot 2, 4, 5 is a “j”. Touch your ankle today.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 3 is a “k”. This is the same every day.
Dot 1, 3 is a “k”. Touch your wrist, it’s okay.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 2, 3 is an “l”. Now isn’t this swell?
An “l” is dot 1, 2, 3. You’re as silly as a monkey.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

And that’s the way we do it, the Braille Rap Song.
The way we do it, we all rap along.

Dot 1, 3, 4 is an “m”. AM or PM.
Dot 1, 3, 4 is an “m”. Give your hair a trim.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 3, 4, 5 is an “n”. Let’s do it again.
Dot 1, 3, 4, 5 is an “n”. Count your fingers on your chin.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 3, 5 is an “o”. Ready to go.
Dot 1, 3, 5 is an “o”. Wiggle your toe.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 2, 3, 4 is a “p”. I see, I see.
Dot 1, 2, 3, 4 is a “p”. Count to three.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

And that’s the way we do it, the Braille Rap Song.
The way we do it, we all rap along.

Dot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is a “q”. Yes, it’s true.
Dot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is a “q”. Wash your hair with shampoo.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 2, 3, 5 is an “r”. You’re a superstar.
Dot 1, 2, 3, 5 is an “r”. Wave your hands near and far.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 2, 3, 4 is an “s”. I must confess.
Dot 2, 3, 4 is an “s”. You’re making progress.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 2, 3, 4, 5 is a “t”. Oh me, oh me.
Dot 2, 3, 4, 5 is a “t”. Two plus one is three.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

And that’s the way we do it, the Braille Rap Song.
The way we do it, we all rap along.

Dot 1, 3, 6 is a “u”. Whoop de do.
Dot 1, 3, 6 is a “u”. One plus one is two.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 2, 3, 6 is a “v”. Listen carefully.
Dot 1, 2, 3, 6 is a “v”. Look and smile at me.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 2, 4, 5, 6 is a “w”. Could you? Would you?
Dot 2, 4, 5, 6 is a “w”. Tell a friend I love you.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 3, 4, 6 is an “x”. Lickety tick, lickety teck.
Dot 1, 3, 4, 6 is an “x”. Stretch your neck.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

And that’s the way we do it, the Braille Rap Song.
The way we do it, we all rap along.

Dot 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 is “y”. Can you answer why?
Dot 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 is “y”. Put your hands down to your thigh.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

Dot 1, 3, 5, 6 is a “z”. You must agree.
Dot 1, 3, 5, 6 is a “z”. Now you’re worry free.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

And that’s the way we do it, the Braille Rap Song.
The way we do it, we all rap along.

Rap, tap, tap. Rap, tap, tap.

*Originally posted in January 2020 for Braille Literacy Month

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