Applications of The Mechanics of Arithmetic / Application of Measures of Weight

This large, colorful, two sided classroom poster or teaching chart was designed to teach children practical applications of math and measurements. Created in 1894 by Diamond Lith Publishing Co., of Minneapolis, this is one of a series of chromolithographic prints produced in the "The New Education" series. One side is titled "Applications of The Mechanics of Arithmetic. A circle is depicted in the center of the upper part portraying money and fractions. Around the chart are images of different types of food. The lower center has "Suggestions to the Teacher" which indicates that objects depicted or perhaps supplemental paper pieces representing the groceries could be used while teaching children practical applications of math, such paying for groceries in a store. The lower third depicts a meat market and a grocery store. The other side of the chart is dedicated to "Application of Measures of Weight". It contains instructions for calculating weights and prices for coal, livestock, and grains in the upper part; and "Buying and Selling by the Ton" using hay bales as an example in the lower part.It also contains instructions on use of the chart for teachers.

The "New Education" was advertised to present classes through "five thousand colored lithographs" for arithemetic, bookkeeping, business forms, common correspondence, government, house building, and surveying. The colorful posters were designed to instruct in an Object method that was "simple, practical, and scientific and as such it is commended to every progressive teacher." These were beautifully illustrated, with each poster containing a paragraph or two of suggestions for even novice teachers on how to most effectively instruct using each poster. The set was produced at a time when about half U.S. schools were one or two room country schools with multi-age classrooms.

The museum owns three other double sided charts from the same series which also include grammer instruction: Practical Measurements/ The Potential Mode Illustrated; Weights and Measures/The Participle Illustrated and The Subjunctive Mode Illustrated/Fractions Illustrated.

Diamond Publishing was a school Supply Company based in Minneapolis and known to be active 1890's-1910. They advertised tas being the largest company for educational books and supplies though that is debatable.

Currently not on view