ACTIVITY MAT FOR KINESTHETIC LEARNERS TO DEVELOP COGNITIVE SKILLS

Abstract

An activity mat for kinesthetic learners to develop cognitive skills through several movement patterns, that has a lateral line running in a lateral direction and a longitudinal line running in a longitudinal direction, thereby dividing the activity mat into four square segments. Each one of the respective square segments has an attachment means provided and four detachable indicia provided on the plurality of respective segments through the four respective attachments means.

Claims

1. An activity mat for the development of cognitive skills through several movement patterns, the activity mat comprising: a lateral line running in a lateral direction and a longitudinal line running in a longitudinal direction, thereby dividing the activity mat into four square segments; four attachment means provided on each one of the respective four square segments; and four detachable indicia provided on the plurality of respective segments through the four respective attachments means.

2. The activity mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein movement patterns include stepping, hopping, jumping, kneeling, planking, and bouncing a ball.

3. The activity mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activity mat is square in shape and the four segments, as a result, are also square in shape.

4. The activity mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the four attachment means are selected from a group consisting of loop and hook fasteners, adhesive attachments, and attachments through thumbnails.

5. The activity mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activity mat is configured to fold across the lateral line and the longitudinal line.

6. The activity mat as claimed in claim 1, further including a carrying folder adapted to carry the activity mat in the folded state.

7. The activity mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein material of the activity mat is selected from a group consisting of fabric materials, polymeric materials, and composite materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode for carrying out the invention as presently contemplated and set forth hereinafter. The present invention may be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate the corresponding parts in various figures in the accompanying drawings, and in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a child practicing kinesthetic learning on an activity mat, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a partially exploded view of the activity mat, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a carrying folder for the activity mat in an open state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates the activity mat being carried in a carrying folder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the figures, and in which example embodiments are shown.

[0022] The detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrate the specific exemplary embodiments by which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention illustrated in the disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention disclosure is defined by the appended claims. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0023] It is envisaged that an activity mat in form of a foldable mat is provided to enable kinesthetic learning. The activity mat is envisaged to be divided into several segments through lines running in longitudinal and lateral directions. Each segment may be provided with detachable attachment means, such as loop and hook fasteners, that allow several different kinds of indicia to be removably attached to the several segments. In that regard during learning, a child may move, hop, shift or jump between segments in response to the questions posed to them. After use, the activity mat may be folded along the longitudinal and/or lateral lines and stored in a smaller compartment. Referring to the drawings, the invention will now be explained in further detail.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a child 16 practicing kinesthetic learning on an activity mat 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The activity mat 1 has been divided into four segments 2. FIG. 2 illustrates a partially exploded view of the activity mat 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In several embodiments of the invention, the activity mat 1 is square in shape and the four segments 2 as a result are also square in shape.

[0025] Further, four attachment means 3, 4, 6, 7 have been provided on each one of the respective four segments 2. The activity mat 1 further includes four detachable indicia 5 provided on the plurality of respective segments through the four respective attachments means 3, 4, 6, 7. In several embodiments of the invention, the four attachment means 3, 4, 6, 7 are selected from a group consisting of loop and hook fasteners, adhesive attachments, and attachments through thumbnails. Child 16 may be learning kinesthetically through several movement patterns such as, but not limited to, stepping, hopping, shifting, or jumping between segments in response to the questions posed to them.

[0026] In several alternate embodiments, the plurality of detachable indicia 5 may represent the answer response to several different kinds of questions, in the form of, but not limited to “true” or “false,” “greater than,” “less than,” “equal to,” “yes,” “no”, without departing from the scope of the invention. The material of the activity mat 1 is selected from a group consisting of fabric materials, polymeric materials, and composite materials. The activity mat 1 is configured to fold across the lateral line and the longitudinal line.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a carrying folder 9 for the activity mat 1 in an open state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The carrying folder 9 has a segment 8. The segment 8 has been provided with the attachment means such as an adhesive layer or loop and hook fasteners. When not in use for learning, the detachable indicia 5 can be stored by attaching the detachable indicia 5 on the segment 8. The carrying folder 9 is closed using two elastic loops 10 and 11. When the folder is closed, the two elastic loops 10 and 11 will be pulled over/around the back of the folder (backside of the segment 8) to keep the folder closed. FIG. 4 illustrates the activity mat 1 being carried in the carrying folder 9, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The carrying folder 9 has an upper elastic band 10, and a lower elastic band 11. This activity mat 1 addresses the issues that arise in classrooms and homes with limited space such as those in overcrowded urban settings and smaller residences.

[0028] Various modifications to these embodiments are apparent to those skilled in the art, from the description and the accompanying drawings. The principles associated with the various embodiments described herein may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the description is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown along with the accompanying drawings but is to be providing the broadest scope consistent with the principles and the novel and inventive features disclosed or suggested herein. Accordingly, the invention is anticipated to hold on to all other such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the present invention and appended claims.