AU2009100768A4

AU2009100768A4 - Fun Learning Mat

Info

Publication number: AU2009100768A4
Application number: AU2009100768A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shane Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-06
Filing date: 2009-08-06
Publication date: 2009-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2017-08-06

Description

1 Description This invention is a plastic mat that relates to educational activities for helping children to learn. It is an educational device that allows sheet material in the form of a worksheet reusable by protecting it in a transparent pocket and copy and record on the surface using a marker pen over and over. It is comprised of a four sided firm white plastic mat with transparent plastic pockets attached to the surface that accepts sheets of paper and can be written on by markers such as white-board markers. The sheets in the form of worksheets are placed inside the pockets and the user is able to write on the clear surface copying and answering the exercises on the sheet beneath using marker pens and thereafter wipe off the markings for repeated use. The sheets beneath are protected and can be used again. The sheet can then be removed and used once mastery has been achieved or stored away for repeated use. One pocket accepts larger sized sheets for the main activity and the other pockets accept strips of paper that correspond and relate to the main learning activity sheet. This allows for the sheet in the main pocket to be a template while the strips of paper in the other pockets supply the data. The larger pocket can be designed to accept A4 or A3 sized sheets of paper. The mat is easy for children to use and sits easily on a flat surface such as a desk where it can be used to record on conveniently at any time and used to lean on when doing activities. There is a clear chance of continual practise of any particular page. The user is able to write on the surface and wipe off the marker for repeated use and change the sheets as required. It is particularly suitable for young children and children with learning disabilities for fine motor skills and repeated practise to master skills. Children don???t have to worry about making errors as they can easily wipe the surface clean and try again. This is a convenient and cost effective time saving tool that allows educators to use the same worksheet activity many times over with the same student or with many different students. It is also environmentally friendly as it will greatly reduce the use of paper by students and directly help our environment.

Claims

1. A reusable teaching aid comprising of a firm white mat with four edges and with transparent pockets attached to the surface. The pockets being of a clear transparent material able to accept sheets of paper and able to be written on with a marker pen such as a whiteboard marker and easily wiped clean with a cloth. The transparent pockets being of varying size and each able to support the one activity.

2. This device is a white mat with transparent pockets on the surface that accept sheets of paper in the form of worksheets and allows children to write on the surface copying and following the instructions on the sheet underneath. The children can view their work through a transparent pocket and copy and record on the surface using a marker pen such as a white-board marker. When completed answers easily wipe off using a cloth allowing for repeated use over and over for practice and mastery of skills. The worksheets are protected in the pockets and can be stored away to use at another time.

3. This device would be most suitable for young children and children with learning difficulties who need to complete activities repeatedly to master the skills. The same activity sheets would become familiar and could be used over and over. It would be easy for them to use the mat and quick to repeat the activity by cleaning the surface straight away and starting again. The mat would also build confidence and allow children to have a go without fear of making a mistake as it could be cleaned and fixed straight away. The mat would also be useful for improving fine motor skills by using different pen thicknesses and allow repeated practice by quickly wiping the mat clean.

4. This is ideal for educators to consolidate skills in all learning areas. They can save time and energy by repeatedly using the same worksheet over and over for 3 practice and mastery. Educators can design specific worksheets or use pages from existing activity books and place them in the pockets. The worksheets can be used over and over until mastered and may then be taken out and completed with a pen or pencil and filed away for recording. Templates can be designed for the main large pocket that follows the same routine and the other pockets supply the data to use. So teachers can use a daily or weekly exercise for the whole class such as Spelling and change the data in the other pockets to alter the words used each time. The mat could be used for drawings, note-taking and working outs at any time to support any lessons and easily cleaned. Educators can also save time and effort by not having to continually photocopy worksheets and simply file away the worksheets for next time.

5. This device would save paper by allowing the same worksheet to be used over and over again inside the protective pockets. All worksheets could be done inside the protected transparent pockets and filed away to be used again next time. Drawings, practicing and working outs could also be done on the surface of the mat like a white-board once again saving the use of paper. This device would be useful for many activities written on paper that do not need to be kept or saved such as dot to dots, cloze exercises, word sleuths and cross words. This device protects sheets and allows them to be used repeatedly greatly reducing the use and waste of paper.