GB2304594A

GB2304594A - Educational game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2304594A
Application number: GB9517549A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Hantman
Original assignee: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Current assignee: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date: 1995-08-26
Filing date: 1995-08-26
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-26
Also published as: GB2304594B; GB9517549D0

Abstract

Apparatus for playing an educational game takes the form of a play surface bearing markings by which one or more play routes over the surface may be defined, at least one card defining such a play route, at least one mobile toy for following the route, and remote control means to drive and steer the toy along the route. By means of this apparatus, a child may be required to follow simple instructions determined by the play card in order to follow the specified play route and thereby practises acting in accordance with those instructions and/or learns to recognise information displayed on the play surface.

Description

Educational Game Apparatus The invention comprises apparatus for playing an educational game. The game is devised with the aim of teaching children simple skills like identifying numbers and directional sense but may be used for teaching more advanced skills or purely for entertainment.

The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a play surface bearing markings by which one or more play routes over the surface may be defined, at least one card defining a said play route1 at least one mobile toy for following said route, and remote control means adapted to drive and steersaid toy along said route. By means of this apparatus, a child is required to follow simple instructions determined by the play card in order to follow the specified play route and thereby practises acting in accordance with those instructions and/or learns to recognise information displayed on the play surface. By way of example, the child may learn to distinguish spatial directions, e.g. "go left" or "go forwards", or to recognise numbers in or out of sequence.

The play surface may be of the size of a game board but preferably takes the form of a mat. Thus it may typically measure of the order of 1.0 to 2.5m in each direction and is preferably generally rectangular (including square), although it may be of other shapes, for example circular or oval. The board or mat may be foldable or sufficiently flexible to be capable of being rolled up when not in use.

In a particularly preferred form, the play surface may be a mat of a flexible plastics material, for example of polyvinyl chloride.

The markings upon the play surface are such that it is possible to define a play route over the surface, to be followed by the mobile toy. Thus the markings may comprise a number of different shapes, which may be of different colours, or identical shapes of different colours, or numbers, symbols or pictures, each of which markings identifies a position on the play surface and by means of which a play route over the surface may be defined.

At least one card is provided which defines a play route over the play surface by reference to the markings on the latter. For example, the card may carry one or more sequences of symbols appearing on the play surface and it is intended that the mobile toy should move in sequence from each marked position to the next. As one alternative, the card may bear a sequence of numbers, for example of the numbers from 1 to 10, or a sequence of letters or of pictures.

The mobile toy may take any desired form but in one preferred form it is a wheeled or tracked vehicle, for example a car or commercial vehicle.

In one alternative preferred form, the toy may be a wheel-mounted model of an animal or of a person.

The movements of the mobile toy are controlled by remote control means operated by the player or players of the game. The necessary link between the control means and the mobile toy may be via a flexible electrical line but it is much preferred that the toy be radio-controlled.

While simple operating instructions for use of the game apparatus may be provided alone, preferably one or more sets of rules by which the educational game may be played are provided. Thus, for example, the game may be played by a single player1 testing only his ability to complete the defined route or measuring the length of time required to do so.

However, the rules, and optionally the markings on the play surface, may provide for the game to be played by two or more players competing against each other. Two or more play cards may be provided, representing different forms of the game to be played.

The invention will now be further described and illustrated, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig.l illustrates a first form of play mat; Fig.2 illustrates a play card for use with the play mat of Fig.l; Fig.3 illustrates an alternative play card for use with the play mat of Fig.l; Fig.4 illustrates a second form of play mat; and Fig.5 illustrates a play card for use with the play mat of Fig.4.

The play mat illustrated in Fig.l measures approximately 1.20m by 2.0m and is produced by printing the illustrated markings upon a flexible vinyl material. It is devised to enable young players to become familiar with directional instruct ions and/or with the names of a few simple polygonal shapes. Fig.2 illustrates a game card which may be used to instruct players in playing two different types of game using the play mat of Fig.l.

The games using the card of Fig.2 may be played by a single player accompanied by a partner to instruct him or may be played competitively by two or more players. The first type of game is defined by the sequences, numbered 1, 2 or 3, of coloured shapes, each of which sequences represents one game.

A player playing one of games 1 to 3 is provided with a toy, radio-controlled dumper truck which he places on his rectangular start area on the play mat.

The object of the game is for the player to manoeuvre the truck from one marked area to another in the sequence indicated on the card. However he is not allowed to see the card. His partner instructs him by means of such instructions as "Go to the red triangle" or "Go to the black hexagon". In this way, the player learns to recognise such polygonal shapes by name.

For the purposes of games 4 to 6 on the card of Fig.2, the player is blindfolded and his partner instructs him to "Go forwards", "Go right" or in another direction. The player and his partner thus practise their understanding of directional language.

The play card shown in Fig.3 carries a play route marked on it as a continuous, arrowed line.

Again the intention is that the player controlling the car should be guided, without seeing the card, by oral instructions given to him by his "navigating" partner.

A second form of play mat is illustrated, by way of further example, in Fig.4. The mat is marked, as shown, with two sets of the numbers 1 to 10, one set in triangles and the other in circles. A play card for use in playing an educational game with the help of the play mat is shown in Fig.5. The card defines four different numerical sequences, each of which the player must follow, moving the mobile toy from one numbered triangle to another as indicated. In this way, a child can learn to recognise numbers as such and also various regular or random sequences of numbers. An alternative card may have sequences of numbered circles, which may be followed by a second player, optionally competing with the first player.

As will be recognised, the illustrated mats and cards, used with the remote-controlled mobile toys, make possible various simple learning tasks of progressive complexity in the course of play. The apparatus according to the present invention leads itself to a very wide variety of such educational games, including games for learning simple words and even a very simple foreign language vocabulary. The particular games may be adapted to the age of the intended players.

For example, players may be given the opportunity to mark their own play cards with a play route of their own devising and then to follow that route on the play surface. In this way, simple mapping skills may be learned or developed. In any of the games played using the apparatus according to the invention, representations or models of buildings or other structures, for example bridges, may be placed upon the play surface or constructed thereon, for example from blocks or the like, in order to add a third dimension to the play area.

Claims

1. Educational game apparatus comprising a play surface bearing markings by which one or more play routes over the surface may be defined, at least one card defining a said play route, at least one mobile toy for following said route, and remote control means adapted to drive and steer said toy along said route.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the play surface is a mat.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either of the preceding claims, wherein the play surface is of a flexible plastics material.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the flexible plastics material is polyvinyl chloride.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the markings on the play surface comprise a number of different shapes, or a number of identical shapes of different colours, or numbers, symbols or pictures.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the card carries one or more sequences of symbols appearing on the play surface.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the card bears a sequence of numbers, of letters or of pictures.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile toy is a wheeled or tracked vehicle.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the mobile toy is a wheel-mounted model of an animal or of a person.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile toy is linked to the remote control means by a flexible electrical line or by radio-control.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including one or more sets of rules for playing the educational game.

12. Educational game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one or more of the figures of the accompanying drawings.