Learning and earning educational game

A game apparatus including a game board having a plurality of playing zones defining a circumferential path of travel around the board, each zone containing a respective designation of a discipline of learning. A roulette-type spinning wheel is positioned in the center of the gameboard and includes individual sections containing both numeric designations for providing the direction and magnitude of movement along the playing zones, as well as providing game instructions including references to various income opportunities. A plurality of playing pieces are included for use by the participants in moving around the path of travel. Groups of cards are included, wherein each group is associated with either a respective one of the disciplines of learning or a respective one of the income opportunities. Each card includes a statement or a question and answer with a corresponding dollar amount of income or expense. Financial instruments are also included such as play money, bonds and checks. Recesses on the game board provide storage room for the card after being used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to game apparatus, and more particularly to a game 
providing learning instruction in various disciplines of learning as well 
as instruction in financial management of funds. 
There are presently known numerous types of games providing instruction, 
skill, chance, or intrigue. However, most of these games are limited to 
providing only one of these types of benefits. For example, a game which 
includes learning instruction, such as questions and answers on various 
subject matters, has very little opportunity for chance, skill, or other 
enjoyment of the game. On the other hand, games which provide skill and/or 
chance provide little direct learning capabilities in any specific 
learning discipline. As a result, games which are purchased because of 
their teaching ability in a discipline of learning, are not enjoyed by the 
participants and are therefore not widely played. On the other hand, games 
which are purchased because of their chance, skill, or intrigue are widely 
played and are popular. However, there is little direct learning from such 
games. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a game 
apparaus which avoids the aforementioned problems of prior art games. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a game which 
provides educational benefits as well as chance and skill. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a game 
apparatus which provides direct instruction by means of questions and 
answers concerning various disciplies of learning. 
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a game 
apparatus providing instruction both in financial administration as well 
as specifically designated disciples of learning. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus 
which provides education in areas of learning and earning. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus 
providing experience in using financial instruments, including paper 
money, bonds, and checks. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a game 
apparatus using direct questions and answers as a method of learning 
various disciples of study. 
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in 
part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious 
from the following more detailed description of the invention taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form an integral part 
thereof. 
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may 
be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are 
illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific 
construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended 
claims. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly, the invention includes a game apparatus having a game board with a 
sequence of playing zones provided thereon and defining a path of travel 
on the gameboard. Designations of disciplines of learning are provided on 
the board in random association with respectives ones of the playing 
zones. A plurality of playing pieces are provided for use by the 
participants in the game. A roulette-type spinning wheel is supported on 
the game board and includes a dial face, ribs dividing the dial face into 
a plurality of sections, a spinner for rotating the dial face relative to 
the game board, and a ball which can bounce between the various sections 
during its rotation and ultimately reaches a rest position in one of the 
sections. Numeric designation are provided on the dial face in association 
with each section indicating a direction and magnitude of movement of the 
playing pieces along the path of travel. Game instructions are also 
designated on the dial face in association with each of the sections. 
Groups of cards are provided, wherein each group is associated with a 
respective one of the disciplines of learning. Each card has a question 
and answer associated with its respective disciples. Play money is also 
included for distribution among the game participants. 
In an embodiment of the invention, the game board is of circular shape and 
forms the top surface of a cylindrical member. The dial face of the 
spinning wheel is also circular in shape and positioned centrally on the 
circular game board. The playing zones are also circular in shape and 
positioned as satellites to the spinning wheel and define a 
circumferential path of travel adjacent the perimeter of the game board. 
In an embodiment of the invention the game instructions includes references 
to income opportunities. There are also included additional groups of 
cards; each of the additional groups being associated with a respective 
one of the income opportunities and each of the cards of these groups 
containing financial instructions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 through 4, the 
present game apparatus includes a game board, shown generally at 10, 
having an upper face 12 of substantially circular shape which forms the 
top of a cylinder having an upright sidewall 14. The game board is 
typically about 11/2 inches high and represents a large silver dollar by 
including ribbed indentations on the wall. 
Adjacent the outer periphery of the game board are a plurality of smaller 
satelite circles 18 forming playing zones. These are also found to 
represent smaller silver dollars and are slightly recessed beneath the 
upper face 12 of the game board and include side walls 20 forming the 
recessed portions. The recess is typically about 1/8 inch below the game 
board surface. Each of the playing zones 18 include a designation of a 
discipline of learning. In the embodiment shown, 14 individual playing 
zones 18 are shown, including designations of the disciplines of learning: 
"social studies," "spelling," "math," and "geography." It is understood 
that additional playing zones could be utilized and other learning 
disciplines could be substituted. Interspaced between each two playing 
zones is a smaller circle 22, representing a smaller coin. 
Positioned at the center of the game board is a roulette-type spinning 
wheel, shown generally at 24, and including a dial face 26 separated into 
a plurality of sections 30 by radially positioned ribs 28. A transparent 
dome shaped cover 32 covers the dial face. The dial face is positioned 
within a recess 34 formed into the game board. The dome shaped transparent 
cover 32 fits within this recess to tightly maintain the spinning wheel in 
place. A spinner includes a rod 36 which is connected to the dial face at 
38 and extends upwardly through the transparent dome 32. Washers 40 can be 
positioned on either side of the junction of the rod 36 with the dome 32 
to facilitate rotation of the rod through the dome. A dollar sign handle 
42 is connected to the top of the rod 36 and permits rotation thereof. A 
round shaped object 44, such as a ball or marble is placed within the dome 
on top of the dial face. As the dollar sign handle 42 is turned (as shown 
in FIG. 4) it causes the dial face to rotate relative to the game board. 
Forming the end 38 of the rod 36 in to recess 46 in the game board, 
facilitates the pivotal rotation with the board. As the dial face rotates, 
it causes the ball 44 to bounce around within the dome, from section to 
section over the various ribs. As the spinner comes to a halt, the ball 
will find a resting position in one of the sections, designating that 
section as the one selected. 
Each section is divided into three portions by circumferential lines. The 
inner most portion 48 of the sections contain designations of forward or 
backward movement. The middle sections 50, contain numeric designations, 
shown as being any of the numbers 1, 2, or 3. The outermost portion 52 
contains designation of game instructions. These game instructions include 
references to a various income opportunities. For example, some 
designations indicate reference to the purchase or redemption of bonds, 
others indicate an employment opportunity, yet others refer to court 
cases, some mention the purchase of a lottery ticket and others, the 
payment of an insurance premium. In addition, some sections contain 
general game instructions concerning payment or receipt of money and 
include a statement of double or nothing, and the designation of a star. 
Recessed compartments 54 are positioned in circumferentially spaced 
relationship on the game board. The recesses 54 are positioned between the 
inner roulete-type spinning wheel and the outer playing zones. These 
compartments include an inner rectangular opening 56 and tapered side 
grooves 58 permitting the insertion of a participants finger into the 
recess. The recesses can be used for storing various of the cards, to be 
hereinafter described. 
As shown in FIG. 1 a plurality of playing pieces are included for use by 
the participants in moving from playing zone to playing zone along the 
path of travel. The playing pieces include replicas of educational objects 
such as a school bell 60, a typewriter 62, a book 64, a pen and inkwell 
66, a diploma 68, and a desk 70. 
Also included in the game apparatus are financial instruments such as 
currency, lottery tickets, bonds, and checks. The currency shown include a 
$2.00 bill 72, a $5.00 bill 74, and a $10.00 bill 76. Aso shown are the 
silver dollar coin currency 78. The bonds 80 are shown to include $25.00 
denominations, $50,00 denominations, and $100.00 denominations. Also shown 
are checks 106. 
Additionally included in the game apparatus are groups of cards, each group 
associated with one of the disciplines of learning or with one of the 
income opportunities. For example, in FIG. 1 there is shown a group of 
math cards 82. There would similarly be a group of social study cards, a 
group of geography cards, and a group of spelling cards. There would also 
be provided a group of cards associated with employment opportunities and 
a group of cards associated with court cases. 
Each of the cards associated with the disciplines of learning would contain 
questions and answers. The questions would be placed on one portion of the 
card and the answers at a hidden, second portion. The cards relating to 
the dsciplines of learning could further be arranged in subgroups with 
each subgroup associated with a particular financial reward. The card 
associated with the income opportunities would contain a specific 
statement of opportunity with a particular financial reward or punishment. 
More specifically, there is shown in FIG. 5, a social studies card 84 
folded over to include a front panel 86 and a rear panel 88. The 
particular social studies card shown indicates a reward of $25.00. The 
question is contained on the top face of the front panel 86 and the answer 
is contained on the top face of the rear panel 88. When in its folded 
form, shown in phantom, the front and back panels will lie flat. The 
particular name of the card, specifically the designation as a social 
studies card, is shown on the back face 89 of the rear panel 88. 
Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown a geography card having the 
designated title on the back face 93 of the rear panel 92. The top face of 
the front panel 90 contains the question and the top face of the rear 
panel 92 contains the answer. In this case, the proper response provides a 
financial reward of $15.00 
Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown a math card. In this case the 
designated title of the card is written on the top of the front panel 94 
and both the question and the financial reward are written on the top side 
of the rear panel 96. The answer is written on the back side 97 of the 
rear panel 96. 
It will therefore be seen that in each of these three examples a sheet had 
been folded over to form a front and rear panel, and the various topside 
and backside portions of these panels are utilized for the title, 
question, answer, and financial reward. It will be understood, that a 
single card could be utilized without any folding over and its front and 
rear sides could provide all the information needed. 
Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown a typical card of the employment 
opportunity group. In this specific case, there is again shown a front 98 
and rear panel 100 with the top face of the front panel 98 bearing the 
title of the card, and the top face of the rear panel 100 bearing the 
particular financial instruction, as well as the financial reward. A 
financial punishment could similarly be indicated. 
FIG. 9 shows a typical spelling card containing a front panel 102 and a 
rear panel 104. On the top face of the front panel 102 is written the 
designated title of the card as well as the financial remuneration. The 
particular word to be spelled is contained on the top face of the rear 
panel 104. In each of these cases a single card could be utilized with the 
front and rear of the card containing all of the information thereby 
avoiding the necessity of folding over the cards. 
In addition to the cards shown, there would also be cards indicating court 
cases. There would also be the checks shown in FIG. 1 and lottery tickets. 
The game is played in the following manner. To start, each player chooses 
one of the playing pieces for movement around the path of travel formed by 
the individual playing zones 18 around the outer periphery of the game 
board. The playing pieces are initially placed on one of the playing zones 
identified as the starting zone, shown in FIG. 1 as the zone 108. Each 
player then spins the roulette-type wheel by turning the dollar sign 42 on 
top of the dome 32. During the spin, the ball 44 will bounce from section 
to section but will be prevented from bouncing out of the spinner by means 
of the dome 32. The ball will finally come to rest in one section defined 
between two adjacent ribs. The section on which it rests will include a 
number indicating the number of playing zones along the playing path to be 
moved. Also, the direction of forward or backward movement will be given 
in each section. Additionally, the sections will contain specific game 
instructions relating to various financial opportunities. 
The various instructions included on the section of the spinning wheel 
include the following: an employment opportunity; the permission to 
purchase bonds; a court case; instruction to pay taxes of a certain 
amount; and instruction to collect insurance; instructions concerning the 
purchase of a lottery ticket, and an indication of paying double or 
nothing. Furthermore, some sections contain the mark of a star. 
In order to move the playing piece from the initial start playing zone 108, 
the player must have the ball 44 land on a section containing a star. 
After the initial move, each time the player lands on a section with a 
star, he may collect wages, as determined by the employment opportunities, 
or may collect dividends on his savings bonds. There are shown two 
sections having stars for these two respective purposes. 
Wherever the ball lands, the player must move accordingly forward or 
backward the spaces indicated. Upon landing on a particular playing zone, 
he must then answer a question relating to the specific discipline of 
learning designated by the playing zone on which he lands. The questions 
are contained on the cards from the group associated with the particular 
discipline of learning. Within each group there are subgroups for 
particular financial amounts. For example, within the spelling group there 
are spelling questions worth $10.00, $15.00, and $25.00. The higher the 
monetary value of rewards, the harder the question. Similarly, for each of 
the other disciplines, social studies, geography and math, there are 
groups of cards and within each group there are subgroups for different 
financial remunerations. 
If the player lands on the spelling card, he may choose whichever dollar 
value question he believes he is able to answer. He must then put up that 
amount of money. For example, if the player should choose a $25.00 
spelling question, he must put up $25.00 of his own play money. If he 
answers the question incorrectly, he loses his $25.00 and must remain on 
that designated playing zone until he finally answers a question 
correctly. In other words he does not get a turn at the spinning wheel but 
each time his turn comes around he continues to select a dollar value 
question from the cards and continues to put up his own money until he is 
finally able to answer a question. When he answers a question correctly, 
he wins back his own money which he put up for that question, plus the 
additional amount indicated on the card. For example, if he were to answer 
the $25.00 spelling question correctly, he receives his own $25.00 plus an 
additional $25.00. 
If the player chooses a particular dollar question and the ball of the 
spinning wheel has landed on a section indicating "double or nothing," the 
player must put up his dollar amount in accordance with the question. If 
he is incorrect he loses his money. If he is correct, he wins back twice 
the money, in addition to his own. For example, if he selects a $25.00 
question, he must put up his own $25.00. If he is correct in answering the 
question, he wins back $50.00 plus his own original $25.00. If he is 
incorrect, he loses his $25.00. 
If a player lands on an occupied space, he must pay the first occupant 
$10.00. The first occupant, however, must ask for the payment. As a 
result, the players must be alert at all times. Should the original player 
fail to request the $10.000 the second player does not pay it. 
When the ball of the spinning wheel lands on a section marked by the 
designation "court cases," the player selects a particular card from the 
group of cards associated with court cases and must follow the 
instructions thereon. On these court case cards there will be included 
typical grievances relating to a class room situation and also providing a 
financial fine or reward. For example, the card may contain the statement 
"you have been found guilty of disobeying the classroom monitor, pay 
$15.00 fine." Or it may have the statement "you have been awarded $25.00 
in damages for a personal injury suit against a fellow student." 
When the ball of the spinning wheel lands on a section associated with 
savings bonds, the player can then purchase such bonds. The $25.00 bond 
can be purchased for $20.00 and will mature at the $25.00 value. 
Similarly, the $50.00 maturity bond can be purchased for $40.00, and the 
$100.00 maturity bond will be purchased for $80.00. The bond is purchased 
when the ball lands on the section marked "may purchase savings bonds." 
The bonds mature when the ball lands on a section marked with a star. 
The lottery tickets may be purchased when the ball of the spinning wheel 
lands on a section indicating permissability to purchase them. Each 
lottery ticket contains an instruction concerning the winning or losing of 
a dollar amount. For example, the lottery ticket can contain the statment 
"you are a winner -- collect ten times the number of the inner circle." 
Additionally, the lottery ticket contains statements on losing, or simply 
the statement "our lose." 
A checking account may be opened when it is the player's turn and before 
the next player begins his turn. The advantage of a checking account is 
that cancelled checks may be used as tax deductions. Taxes are paid when 
the ball of the spinning wheel lands on the section indicating the payment 
of taxes. The check may be used to pay a fine or may be used to put up the 
money against answering the questions on the particular disciplines of 
learning. The checks are of a type which can be reused. Each time the 
check is used, the amount as well as other financial information, such as 
the payee and the payor, is written on the check. However, the check is 
made of a material which can permit its reuse. For example, it can be made 
of a slick surface permitting the use of crayons which will wipe off the 
slick surface for reuse. Additionally, a slate with a cellophane type 
cover can be utilized so that it can be reused. 
Banking may be done only when it is the players turn and before the next 
player begins his turn. During banking, the player may want to deposit 
money in his checking account or cash in bonds. When a bond matures, the 
player is given a gold clip to attach to the bond showing that it has 
matured. 
In order to play the game, there should be at least two players, plus an 
additional teacher-banker. The two players oppose each other and the third 
player serves to distribute money and control of cards. There can be as 
many as seven players, with six actually playing and one serving as the 
teacher-banker. The teacher-banker must initially give each player $100.00 
in play money to start the game. He must ask all questions from the top 
card of the particular category the player requests. He then tells the 
players whether they are correct or incorrect. If the player is incorrect, 
the banker-teacher then collects the money and places it into the bank. If 
the player is correct, the banker-teacher pays the appropriate amount. He 
then places the question and answer card face up in one of the storage 
compartments provided on the game board so that all of the other players 
can verify the correct answer. A number of these compartments are 
sufficient to accommodate the various cards associated with the 
disciplines of learning, as well as the cards associated with the economic 
opportunity such as the court cases, lottery tickets and employment 
opportunities. The banker-teacher also pays dividends for bonds, reads the 
court cases, and pays and receives all appropriate money. He also reads 
the job opportunities and pays the wages. 
The ball landing on the section indicating "employment opportunities" 
causes the selection of a particular card from the group associated with 
the employment opportunities. These cards contain financial reward or 
financial payments associated with class room employment opportunities. 
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the card contains the statement "you may 
have been hired to help a fellow student with his math-wages $20.00." 
In order to facilitate the banker-teacher holding the various funds, a bank 
can be provided which consists of a row of plastic compartments for each 
subject according to the dollar value of each question. Also, a row of 
compartments with different sections can be provided in accordance with 
the different denominations of the play money. The bank can also have 
special compartments for the lottery tickets, employment opportunities, 
savings bonds and court cases. 
The game design is such that supplements may be available to modify the 
questions. For example, different sets of questions can be provided so 
that after a player learns the subject matter presented in the original 
game, he can purchase additional sets to continue learning. Furthermore, 
the questions and answers can be made for different grade levels so that 
children and adults of all ages can find the game attractive and 
educational. 
Since the game is both an educational and financial game, the game design 
can be in accordance with monetary colors and designations. For example, 
the game box can be shaped like a dollar bill and be made out of the 
colors green and white to resemble paper currency. Additionally, the 
various shapes are that of coins and silver dollars. 
It will therefore be appreciated, that the present game is both educational 
as well as challenging. It provides an opportunity for learning questions 
associated with various disciplines of learning. At the same time, it 
contains enjoyment because of the chance provided by the spinning wheel 
and the various cards. Also, it provides educational instruction 
concerning financial matters since it includes various financial 
instruments such as bonds, lottery tickets, checks, and currency. 
There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention 
presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various 
changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the 
spirit of the invention.