US357889A - James b - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. B. BADGER.

KINDERGARTEN APPARATUS FOR TEAGHING ARITHMETIU.

Patented Feb. 15, 1,887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. BADGER, OF ONEIDA, NEW YORK.

KINDERGARTEN APPARATUS FOR TEACHING ARITHMETIC.

EaPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,889, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed April 19, 1886. Serial No. 199,376. N0 mime.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J AMES B. BADGER, of Oneida, in the county of Madison, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Instructing Primary Scholars, ot'which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and eXact description.

This invention consistsin a novel construe tion of an apparatus designed to facilitate the teaching of the rudiments of arithmetic to primary scholars, as hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aplan view of the arithmetical table; and Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections taken, respectively, on lines X X and Y Y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the top ofa table, which is provided with a series of stationary receptacles or pockets, B B, preferably formed by recesses cut in the top of the table, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and in order to prevent the noiseincident to the manipulation of thearithmetical objects in said recesses I line the latter with cloth or other suitable material. These receptacles or recesses are distributed in rows, and between each pair of said receptacles the top of the table is provided with a groove, 0, which is undercut at its sides to guide and retain in said groove a card, N, whichis inserted endwise into the same. The apparatus is supplied with a number of such cards, N N, containing different arithmetical signs or words, one set of cards being provided with signs of addition, another set with signs of subtraction, and another set with signs of division, and so on, and these are used according to the lesson to be given to the scholar, as hereinafter explained.

The marginal portion of the table is formed with stationary receptacles or compartments E E, into which are placed the objects employed in the instruction of the scholars, said objects being thus convenient of access to the teacher and scholars in the process of instruction. These objects may consist either of buttons, or of marbles, or of shoe-pegs, or of any other suitable articles which are easily manipulated. The table is also provided in its top with sockets D D, into which are set removably vertical rods F F, of uniform size and shape throughout, and in connection with these rods are used spools adapted to be slipped successively onto said rods and each succeeding spool becomes supported upon the end of the preceding spool,as illustrated in Fig.2 ofthe drawings, thereby placing the spools in a position which permits of readilycounting them.

At the head of the table is arranged a clockdial, I, provided with a post, L, by which it is stepped removably in one of the sockets D, and another similar dial may be arranged at the foot or other suitable portion of the top of the table, said dials being provided with movable hands or indicators.

In operating the described apparatus the teacher proceeds as follows: Each row of pockets B B is designed for one pupil before the time of calling the pupils to the table. The teacher prepares the table by setting up the dials I in their respective positions on thetable, and sets the hands of one dial to mark the time at which the lessons are to begin and the hands of the other dial to indicate the time at which the pupils are to leave the table, and places the manipulative objects in the different compartments or receptacles E E, and insorts in the grooves O O the cards N N, containing the arithmetical signs required in the expressions of the examples to be given to the pupils, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. The pupils are instructed how to observe the time on the dials and to approach the table at the time when the hands of the regular clock point to the time indicated on the dial I at the head of the table, and to leave the table at the time when the position of the hands of the clock corresponds to the position of the hands of the dial at the foot of the table.

The lessons to be taught are written on a blackboard or silicate cards; but the results of the examples are omitted. In teaching the pupils to count by units the pupil is required to take one of the'objects out of one of the re ceptacles E and place it in the upper left-hand pocket,B,or on the upper left-hand standard, F, then another object in the next pocket or on the next standard to the right,and add one more objectto it. Then place the same number of objects in the next pocket, or on the next standard to the right, and add one more object thereto, and so on until the entire row of pockets or standards have been used. Then commence at the left-hand pocket or standard of the second row and proceed in the manner before described, and this process may be continued through all the rows of cups or standards.

To count by twos, the pupil puts either one or two objects in the first cup, or on the first standard, then the same number of objects in the next cup,or on the next standard, and adds two more objects thereto, then places in the next cup, or on the next standard, the same number of objects as that contained in the second cup,or on the second standard. and adds two more objects to the third cup or standard, and so on, and this process is carried on in counting by threes and other numbers.

In making different combinations of numbers the pupil puts the number of objects expressed in the example successively in the cups or on the wires, always beginning at the left of the row, and insertsin the grooves O 0 cards N N, containing the necessary words or arithmetical signs.

In givinglessons in dividing numbers small silicate cards (preferably circular in form) are to be used to write thereon the part of a number to be taken. This card is placed in the first cup, a card containing the word of is inserted in the adjacent groove 0, the objects representing the number of which the part to be taken are placed in the next cup to the right, the card containingtheword is is inserted in the next groove 0, and the objects representing the amount taken are placed in the third cup.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s- 1. An apparatus for instructing primary scholars, comprising a table, a series of sta-" tionary receptacles distributed in rows in the top of the table, and arithmetical signs between said receptacles, substantially asdescribed and shown.

2. The combination of an arithmetical table having a series of recesses or pockets distributed in rows in the top of the table, arithmetical sign-cards secured removably between the said pockets, and receptacles secured stationary on the marginal portion of the table for the collection of the arithmetical objects, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto signed my name and afiixed my seal, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State ofNew York, this 17th day of April, 1886.

JAMES B. BADGER. [L. s] lVitnesses:

FREDERICK I-I. GIBBS, E. (3. CANNON.

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