Interactive magnetic game board educational system and method

Abstract

This invention is directed to an educational system for assisting in the instruction of an educational concept to at least one individual. The invention contains a game board adapted for attracting magnets, a game area carried by the game board with a plurality of piece-receiving zones associated with a defined educational concept. A set of two-sided magnetic pieces is included. The first side of each magnetic piece has an illustration thereon which corresponds in concept to the concept set forth by at least one of the piece-receiving zones. The board may be a foldable game board having at least one front and back cover, with the game area being opposite the front and back covers. A metal sheet insert may be embodied in the game board to attract magnets. Further, illustrations may be included in the receiving zone of the game board. The illustrations are associated with the educational concept.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to an interactive magnetic game board educational system and method. More specifically, it is directed to an interactive magnetic game board for the instruction of an educational concept.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many game boards exist and are used to play a variety of games. These games may be used in an educational setting to assist in teaching students. Some existing game boards use magnetic pieces in a limited manner. However, there is a need for a board that teaches educational concepts. Educational concepts can include basic concepts, articulation, sight words, parts of speech, phonics, time, money, spelling, sequencing, emotions, math, word association, shapes, and various other math, English, science, and other concepts.

Certain game boards provide games where magnetic pieces are moved across the game board from a starting position to an ending position indicating the winning of a game by a player. The magnetic pieces are moved according to the rolling of dice, the spinning of a wheel, or other means for randomly presenting moving instructions. While these games are fun for individuals, the amount of educational goals that may be achieved using this type of game board is extremely limited. Other game boards using magnetic playing pieces involve doll sets. A basic model is provided on the game board, and a variety of clothing options may be attached to the model in the form of magnetic clothing pieces. Again, while this activity may be very fun for individuals playing with the board, the educational benefits of this game board are limited.

None of these boards provide for the teaching of a variety of fundamental educational concepts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to an educational system for assisting in the instruction of an educational concept to at least one individual. The invention is directed to a game board adapted for attracting magnets, a game area carried by the game board with a plurality of piece-receiving zones associated with a defined educational concept for receiving magnets in the piece-receiving zones. A set of magnetic pieces is included; each of which has first and second sides. The first side of each magnetic piece has an illustration thereon which corresponds in concept to the concept set forth by at least one of the piece-receiving zones. The second side may or may not have a picture or text on it.

The game board may be a foldable game board having at least one front cover and at least one back cover, with the game area being opposite the front and back covers. An insert may be embodied in the game board attracts magnets. The insert may comprise a metal sheet for attracting magnets. Further, illustrations may be included in the receiving zone of the game board. The illustrations are associated with the educational concept.

The invention is further directed to an educational system for assisting in the instruction of a concept to at least one individual comprises a foldable game board having front and back covers. At least one insert for attracting magnets is included in the game board. A game area is carried by the game board opposite the front and back covers. A plurality of piece-receiving zones are included in the game area and are associated with a defined educational concept. The zones are for receiving magnets in the piece-receiving zones. A set of magnetic playing pieces is included herein, each of which has first and second sides. The first side of each magnetic piece has an illustration thereon which corresponds in concept to the concept set forth by at least one of the piece-receiving zones.

Further, this invention is also directed to a method of instructing an educational concept by providing a game display board having piece-receiving zones associated with a defined educational concept, providing a set of magnetic playing pieces each of which corresponds in concept to a piece-receiving zone, and then eliciting a response from the student placing the appropriate magnetic playing piece in the appropriate playing piece-receiving zone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the game board and associated magnetic pieces;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view illustrating a set of magnetic pieces according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating a further embodiment of the game board;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the game board of FIG. 3 with associated magnetic pieces;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the game board in a partially collapsed position; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation illustrating the game board in a partially opened position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.

An educational system for assisting in the instruction of concepts to students is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 illustrate a basic game board system. FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 illustrate a specific embodiment of the game board. The game boards illustrated are for example purposes only and do not limit the wide variety of concepts that may be taught using the game board.

The educational system contains a game board A having a game area 10. Game board A is adapted for receiving magnets. Board inserts 16a and 16b may be contained in the game board for attracting magnets. Inserts 16a and 16b may be metal sheets or any other material capable of attracting magnets. The game area 10 includes a plurality of piece-receiving zones associated with a defined educational concept. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, zone 12 and zone 14 are distinct zones for receiving magnetic pieces associated with the educational concept associated with that zone. The system further contains a set of magnetic pieces B having first and second sides. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, a set of magnetic pieces B comprising sheets 20 and 22 is included in the system. Each of the magnets contains an illustration associated with the educational concept that is taught with the system. The receiving zones of the game area are designed to receive at least one magnetic piece from the set of magnetic pieces corresponding in concept with the concept associated with the piece-receiving zones. In a further embodiment, game board A has front cover 10a and back cover 10b. The front and back cover open to display a game area 10 opposite the front and back covers.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 illustrate a further embodiment of the game board. This game board is associated with teaching the educational concept of words having the G sound. There are three types of words that contain the G sound. Words may begin with G, end with G, or have a G in the middle of them. A child learning spelling and other language arts concepts needs to understand the differences between these words. Receiving zones 30, 32 and 34 are associated with the educational concept of the G sound. A set of magnetic playing pieces partially shown in FIG. 4 is associated with G sounds as well. Receiving zone 30 contains an illustration of a goose. Receiving zone 30 is for receiving playing pieces having illustrations that represent items that begin with the letter G. The set of magnetic playing pieces should include a variety of magnetic playing pieces having illustrations representing items beginning with the letter G. As can best be seen in FIG. 4, the student is placing the magnetic playing piece 40a in piece-receiving zone 30. Magnetic playing piece 40a contains an illustration of a gift. As this word begins with a G, the student is correctly placing the playing piece corresponding in concept with the piece-receiving zone. The student could have alternatively selected piece 40c or 40d having a ghost and a guitar, respectively, for placement in piece-receiving zone 30 as these pieces correspond in concept with the piece-receiving zone. The student may place these pieces in piece-receiving zone 30 at any point in the future.

FIG. 4 also illustrates playing piece 40g. Playing piece 40g contains an illustration of a mug. As playing piece 40g illustrates a mug which ends in the letter G, it should be placed in piece-receiving zone 32. Piece-receiving zone 32 contains an illustration of a pig which indicates to a student that all magnetic playing pieces containing illustrations ending in the G should be placed in piece-receiving zone 32. Similarly, a wagon is illustrated on playing piece 40f. It should be placed in piece-receiving zone 34, as playing piece 40f illustrates an item with a G in the middle of the word. Students should find magnetic playing pieces containing illustrations of other words that begin with the G and place them in piece-receiving area 30.

Piece-receiving zone 32 contains an illustration of a pig. Students should find magnetic playing pieces having illustrations ending with the letter G and place them in piece-receiving zone 32. Piece-receiving zone 34 contains an illustration of an alligator. Students should find magnetic playing pieces having illustrations that have the letter G in the middle of the word and place them in piece-receiving zone 34.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures. These embodiments illustrate the concepts of shapes and lines and words having the G sound in them. Further embodiments may be used to teach any educational concept. For example, an interactive magnetic game board could be directed to the educational concept of feelings. Piece-receiving zones may be designed to receive magnetic playing pieces associated with an event that has occurred. The student should then find the magnetic playing piece representing the type of emotion that would be felt upon the occurrence of the event and place that playing piece in the proper piece-receiving zone. Further, a sequencing concept may be taught by a magnetic game board. The magnetic game board may provide a series of piece-receiving zones for the placement of a variety of magnetic playing pieces in sequential order. Further, an interactive magnetic game board may be used to provide motivation for students. This magnetic game board may provide four piece-receiving zones, each associated with a segment of a class. Upon achieving a desired result, each segment of the class would be allowed to select the magnetic playing piece associated with their piece-receiving zone and place it in their piece-receiving zone as a reward. These and many other educational concepts may be taught using the interactive magnetic game board disclosed herein.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An educational system for assisting in the instruction of an educational concept to an individual comprising: a game board adapted for attracting magnets; a plurality of piece-receiving zones carried by said game board associated with a defined educational concept and for receiving magnets in said piece-receiving zones; a set of magnetic pieces each of which has a first and second side; and an illustration carried on said first side of at least one of said set of magnetic pieces which corresponds to said educational concept of a piece-receiving zone; thereby providing: a game board having piece-receiving zones associated with an educational concept and magnetic pieces having illustrations associated with the educational concept.

2. The educational system of claim 1 wherein a fold is incorporated into said game board so that said game board has a front cover and a back cover and said piece receiving zones are opposite said front and back covers.

3. The educational system of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic insert carried by said game board for attracting magnets.

4. The educational system of claim 3 wherein said insert comprises a metal sheet.

5. The educational system of claim 1 further comprising zone illustrations in said piece-receiving zones of said game board wherein said zone illustrations correspond with the educational concept associated with said piece-receiving zones.

6. An educational system for assisting in the instruction of an educational concept to an individual comprising: a foldable game board having a front cover and a back cover and a magnetic insert for attracting magnets; a plurality of piece-receiving zones carried by said game board opposite said front and back covers, associated with a defined educational concept and for receiving magnets in said piece-receiving zones; a set of magnetic pieces each of which having a first and a second side; and a piece illustration carried by the first side of at least one of said set of magnetic pieces corresponding to said educational concept of said piece-receiving zones.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said insert is carried by at least one of said front cover and back cover.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said insert comprises a metal sheet for attracting magnets.

9. The system of claim 6 including a zone illustration that corresponds to said educational concept.

10. A method of instructing an educational concept to an individual comprising the steps of: providing a game display board having piece-receiving zones associated with a defined educational concept; providing a set of magnetic playing pieces each of which corresponds in concept to a piece-receiving zone; and eliciting a response from the individual placing the appropriate magnetic playing piece in the appropriate playing piece-receiving zone.