An improved educational equipment to teach the first principles of the science of arithmetic to young children

摘要

165,225. Russell, S. March 25, 1920. Teaching arithmetic; models.-Means for teaching numbers and arithmetic comprises a series of models of common objects distinctively coloured and methodically and progressively numbered. In one device for teaching addition and subtraction, a clock-face H, numbered from 1 to 9 in a clockwise direction on the upper half and in an anticlockwise direction on the lower half, the numbers 1 and 9 being common to each half, is provided with a pointer H' and the base number 10 in a prominent position, so that, to whatever number one end of the pointer is directed, the opposite end indicates the complement. Other devices for teaching addition and subtraction include progressively-numbered cubes, the complementary numbers being united by arches of progressively diminishing diameters coloured as a rainbow; a series of ladders provided with 1 to 10 rungs, square in cross-section and adapted to be turned in their bearings, each face of the rungs and the side members being distinctively coloured; coloured models of semaphore signals, with the two arms carrying numbers which add up to a prominently-disposed base number; sets of fans numbered and coloured distinctively on the opposite sides; and a board divided into three compartments and adapted to contain a number of battens provided with discs distinctively coloured on their opposite sides. Multiplication and division are taught by means of model telegraph posts, the multiplier being carried at the top of the post, the multiplicands on the post opposite the arms, and the results in sockets on the ends of the arms. Numbers are taught by the provision in compartments on the bottom of a box of coloured and raised or roughened pips, with the Arabic numerals printed in the corresponding position on the underside of the box lid; each box or compartment is provided with a card having perforations corresponding in number and shape with the pips, so that pencil marks may be made on a sheet of paper through the perforations for comparison with the pips. The faculty of location is trained and addition is taught by the use of coloured and numbered pegs, adapted to be inserted in correct position in holes in a board, the vertical columns of holes being numbered by units from 1 to 10 in the top margin of the board, and the horizontal columns by tens from 0 to 90 in one of the side margins.