the embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the non - limiting embodiments and examples that are described and / or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description . it should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale , and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes , even if not explicitly stated herein . descriptions of well - known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention . the examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention . accordingly , the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention , which is defined by the appended claims . moreover , it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings . now referring to fig1 a - 1e , a first embodiment of the invention is a podium 1 having vertical support 17 formed in the shape of a writing instrument such as a pencil . the podium 1 includes a sloped top 2 that comprises an underside 6 that is decorated to resemble a sheet of notebook paper . the underside 6 includes an enlarged dark circle 7 , a plurality of blue lines 8 which are parallel to the top and bottom edges of the sloped top 2 , and a perpendicular red line 9 that intersects the blue lines 8 . these elements are arranged as shown to resemble a portion of a sheet of notebook paper . the sloped top 2 further comprises edge protectors 3 that a arranged along a top and side edges of thereof . an enlarged edge protector is arranged along a bottom edge of the sloped top 2 to create a ledge 31 , as better shown in fig1 a . the ledge 31 prevents materials that have been deposited on a top side 4 of the sloped top 2 from sliding off of it . threaded fasteners 4 are passed through the edge protectors to secure them to their respective edge of the sloped top . in a preferred embodiment , an apple 10 is fastened to a top side of the sloped top and fastened thereto via a fastener 11 that is preferably longer than the fasteners 4 . an opening 12 is provided for passing the fastener 11 there through . the apple 10 is preferably formed from plastic , acrylic or the like . a fastening plate 13 is arranged between the underside 6 and a sloped upper end 28 of the vertical supports 17 . the fastening plate 13 includes a plurality of interior openings 15 and a plurality of exterior openings 16 . the interior openings 15 are closer to the center of the plate 13 than the exterior openings 16 . fasteners 14 are passed through the interior openings 15 and into the upper sloped end 28 of the vertical support 17 to secure the plate 13 thereto . other fasteners 14 are passed through the exterior openings 16 to secure the plate 13 and vertical support 17 to the underside 6 of the sloped top 2 . all the fasteners used in the present invention are preferably steel and may include wood screws . the vertical support 17 comprises metal or wood that is formed in the shape of a writing instrument . in this embodiment , the vertical support 17 is hexagon in shape when taken in cross section between the upper and lower ends . in fig1 a - 1e , the writing instrument is a pencil . in this embodiment , piping with a crimped end 18 is fastened to an exterior of the vertical upright 17 above a strip of sandpaper 19 . the pipe 18 is preferably shiny and has the appearance of an eraser holder . the sandpaper 19 has the appearance of an eraser . the vertical support 17 comprises a lower end 29 that is flattened for accepting fasteners that secure the base 32 to the vertical support 17 . as shown in the exploded view of fig1 c , fasteners 24 pass through washers 25 and through openings 23 of the lower notched half 21 of the base 32 and through openings 22 of the upper notched half 20 and into the lower end 29 of the vertical support 17 . adjustable feet 26 are secured to the ends of the notched halves 20 , 21 for leveling the base 32 . graduated marks 27 and personalizing indicia 30 are preferably included as shown . for simplicity and ease in understanding the invention , exploded views of fig2 - 4 are not shown . in fig2 , the vertical support is formed in the shape of a crayon 60 and includes an upper end 61 that comprises a sharpened end that is sloped and fastens to the underside of the sloped top via a fastening plate . paper 65 may be incorporated around the vertical support to provide a more realistic appearance that it is a crayon . the paper extends towards the bottom of the crayon 60 but stops short of covering it as shown . the height of the vertical support may vary . in fig3 , the vertical support is formed in the shape of a highlighter 50 and includes a formed region 51 that has the appearance of a highlighter cap 51 . the cap 51 includes a sloped upper end that attaches to the underside of the sloped top . a lower end of the vertical support is larger in diameter than the upper end . the cap end includes a flared diameter that increases in diameter and thereafter decreases . this end may be formed from wood using a router . otherwise , the end may merely include a plastic collar that fastens to the vertical upright . as in all embodiments , various paints may be utilized to achieve an appearance of a particular writing instrument . in fig4 , the vertical support is formed in the shape of a pen that includes a clasp 43 . the pen 40 may include an upper end 41 that includes a metal or plastic collar . a center ring 42 may be provided along with a tapered end 44 that attaches to the base . the various parts may comprise metal , plastic and wood . it should be noted that in all embodiments , the writing instruments may be configured such that the writing end is arranged against the base . it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above , but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims . while the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments , it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense . from the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description , those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible . therefore , the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof . materials for use in practicing the invention may include wood , metal , plastics including , but not limited to , polyethylene , polypropylene , polystyrene , polyurethanes , and polyvinyl chloride , or any other thermoset materials , as well as paint .
a podium for use in teaching environments includes a sloped top , a vertical support and a base . the sloped top includes a ledge for holding notes , speeches , books and the like . an underside of the sloped top is configured to resemble a sheet of notebook paper . the vertical support is formed in the shape of a writing instrument and extends between the sloped top and the base . the base is fixed to a lower region of the vertical support and includes adjustable legs . graduated marks may be provided on a top side of the base .