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Helen's Big World: The Life Of Helen Keller

18 minutes 2 seconds

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When Helen Keller was 19 months old, an illness took away her sight and speech. Even though, she was surrounded by silence and darkness, she tried to make up signs to communicate with her parents. But her failure to make them understand turned into outbursts, and Annie Sullivan came to work with Helen when she was seven years old. Helen learned sign language and Braille. She also learned to write with a pencil, read lips, speak, and to experience the world with enthusiasm. Based on the children's book by Doreen Rappaport.

Media Details

Runtime: 18 minutes 2 seconds

Still image from: 10 Busy Brooms
10 minutes 31 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 3
Woman signs in front of a storybook cover of lots of turkeys looking up at a big turkey. Text on book cover reads, "10 Fat Turkeys."
5 minutes 12 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Storybook cover displays a giant turkey wearing aviator goggles flying toward nine smaller turkeys. Text reads, “10 Fat Turkeys; by Tony Johnston; Illustrated by Rich Deas.”
5 minutes 20 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 5
Woman signs in front of a color illustration of haunted house with 4 white ghosts peeking out of different places. A witch on a broomstick flies by.
4 minutes 53 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
ASL
The bank of a river, lake, or stream with driftwood and bright green ferns.
9 minutes 56 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Woman signs in front of a 2-page view of a storybook showing a person and dog sleeping in a green camper trailer behind a yellow car. Story text appears on screen.
6 minutes 43 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Woman signs in front of a 2-page view of a storybook illustration of a green chameleon on a green leaf and a yellow chameleon on a yellow leaf. Story text appears on screen.
4 minutes 38 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 3
Man in glasses purses lips and holds up a fist with a thumb pointed towards himself. Color illustration of a boy in pajamas with a worried expression fills the background. Caption. 1 creature was stirring, that creature was me!
Sign Language Storytelling
Episode 5
13 minutes 11 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 5
ASL
Color illustration. Flying owl, wings outstretched.
4 minutes 13 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Woman smiles and holds up her right hand with her left hand in a fist, thumb pointing towards her. Background photo of firefighter and Dalmatian standing by fire engine.
5 minutes 26 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 3

Viewer Comments

  • Tiny deaf intrep
    Anonymous (Hamlin, WV)
    May 3rd, 2023 at 10:08 AM

    Gives interpreters the insight on how things started, and how to adjust to the Deaf/HH individuals.

  • Tiny default profile photo
    Dorothy M H. (Baltimore, MD)
    March 5th, 2020 at 11:48 AM

    The "Big Words" series by Doreen Rapport is an excellent elementary level introduction to biographies and producing the titles in an accessible visual media improves student comprehension. Please continue to add more of these high-quality elementary level biographies to the DCMP collections.

  • Tiny default profile photo
    Anonymous (Northampton, MA)
    October 27th, 2016 at 01:34 PM

    Lovely story and illustrations. Very much enjoyed.

  • Tiny default profile photo
    Anonymous (Jersey City, NJ)
    October 11th, 2016 at 03:16 PM

    We were very pleased and happy to have this type of media available to the blind population. Thank you for all your work!