Improvements in Wooden Blocks for Use in Teaching Children.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wooden Blocks for Use in Teaching Children.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DRINKWATER, of 3 Sydney Place, Morden Hill,
Lewisham, S.E. Schoolmaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
(1) A number of wooden cubes, bearing on each face two or more letters,
characters, or symbols.
(2) Similar cubes, cut in halves, having on their narrow faces one letter,
character, or symbol, and on their other faces two or more letters, characters, or
symbols.
(3) Instructions shewing how the cubes are to be used.
The objects of the invention are:
way
I. To place before children an easy, interesting, systematic, and scientific of
learning to spell.
For this purpose, a cube bears at least two letters on each face, so that by
prefixing to the letters on the various faces, a block or blocks having one or more
letters on their faces, or by affixing them, or by prefixing and affixing such block
or blocks, almost any word can be constructed.
This is facilitated by―
(1) The small number of blocks required, inasmuch as each cube has twelve or
more letters on its several faces.
(2) The arrangement of the blocks which enables the teacher or learner to
easily select the ones required.
(3) The instructions accompanying them.
11. To enable children to read.
Having been accustomed to building words by prefixing or affixing a letter
or letters to a stem, the next step is to build a word with the blocks,―and
afterwards remove the letter or letters prefixed or affixed.
For instance take the block bearing an.

page_text: (6) Multiplication of numbers to 12 × 12 ;ˆ
(c) Division of numbers to 144 12.
The blocks also bear on their various faces, farthings, pence, shillings and other
tables; the ordinary signs used in arithmetic; and, further, can be applied to
extend the above rules.
Dated this 10th day of December 1894.
WILLIAM HENRY DRINKWATER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wooden Blocks for Use in Teaching Children.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DRINKWATER, of 3 Sydney Place, Morden Hill,
Lewisham, S.E. Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to produce an easy, interesting and scientific
means and method of teaching children to spell and to read, and also for teaching
the rudiments of arithmetic.
In accordance with my improvements I employ a number of blocks preferably of
wood, bearing on each face two or more letters, characters or symbols. These
said blocks would be in the form of cubes. I also employ another set of blocks,
which would each be equal to one of the cubes aforesaid cut in half. This second
set of blocks would bear on their narrow faces one letter, character or symbol, and
on their other faces two or more letters, characters or symbols. Thus each cube
having at least two or more letters on each face then by prefixing to the letters on
the various faces a block or blocks having one or more letters on their faces, or by
affixing them, or by prefixing and affixing such block or blocks, any word can be
constructed.
This mode of construction is facilitated by the small number of blocks required
under this system inasmuch as each cube bears 12 or more letters on its several
faces. The learner also can readily select the blocks required.
"
In teaching children to read, the learner having been already accustomed to the
manipulation of my improved blocks by prefixing or affixing a letter or letters to
one of the cubes, the next step will be to enable the learner to build or construct a
word and afterwards remove the letter or letters 'prefixed or affixed as the case
may be. For instance assuming a block being placed bearing upon its top "an
by prefixing the letter "b" it becomes." ban ; then, affixing the letters " ter " it
becomes "banter"; further, adding to the last placed block the letters "ing" we
have "bantering" and lastly; by adding block bearing the letters "ly" we have
"banteringly" proceedling 'further under my improved mode of construction on
"ly"
removing block"
banteringly " becomes bantering," on removing block
"ing bantering becomes "banter," on removing block " ter "banter
becomes "ban." The learner'now reads from "ban" upwards and so completes
the word "banteringly:"
وو
"
6%
66
"
"
In using the blocks for teaching the rudiments of arithmetic, they would bear
numerals on their faces, instead of letters. Two "key" blocks having red
figures on their faces, z. -1 to 6 and 7 to 12. The object being to enable the
learner after having been taught to add and substract by means of the blocks
without counting on the fingers to proceed with multiplication of numbers. to
12 x 12; and, division of numbers to 14412 without waiting to learn or refer
to the tables. The blocks used for arithmetical instruction might also bear upon
their faces the value in shillings, pence and farthings of the number on the block,
thus, 84 pence equals 7 shillings, or 28 lbs. equals 1 quarter, 2 pints equals 1 quart
and so ou as well as the ordinary arithmetical signs and their meaning.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
For use in teaching children the improved educational blocks as herein set
forth.
Dated this 15th day of July 1895.
V. LAZARUS,
1 Furnival Street, Holborn, E.C., Agent for Applicant.