Method and articles for providing education related to human diversity and aquatic wildlife preservation

Abstract

A mermaid doll is uniquely designed, so that a collection of dolls may be acquired, which individually come from the different seas of the world. The collection provides playmates for young children and serves as an educational tool. Each mermaid doll may have an accessory attached to it, such as an informative storybook that describes the mermaid and her environment. A method and articles are described which provide a child with an interactive mixture of information content, physical objects such as books, necklaces, and dolls, all of which are directed to instilling in the child an appreciation for endangered aquatic wildlife and human cultures. This invention therefore allows appreciation of humans and wildlife generally.

1 . A doll comprising an improved body, wherein the entirety of said body is shaped to resemble a mermaid, a head rotatably coupled to a torso, a pair of arms rotatably supported by said torso, a lower body section hingedly coupled to said torso, and a fin hingedly connected to said lower body section, so that said doll is able to be configured into a sitting position.  
   
   
       2 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein said doll has at least one accessory attached thereto.  
   
   
       3 . The doll of  claim 2 , wherein said accessory is a toy animal.  
   
   
       4 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory is a necklace.  
   
   
       5 . The doll of  claim 3 , wherein said animal is shaped to depict an endangered animal.  
   
   
       6 . The doll of  claim 2 , wherein said accessory is a booklet having information about the doll.  
   
   
       7 . The doll of  claim 1 , wherein said doll is about 18 inches in length.  
   
   
       8 . A method for promotion of and education regarding human diversity and endangered wildlife which comprises: 
 providing a clothed mermaid doll;    identifying an endangered aquatic animal;    compiling a database comprising a first body of information regarding said animal and a second body of information regarding humans;    providing a doll toy necklace having a first charm representation of said aquatic animal, said charm including indicia recognizably related to said aquatic animal;    providing a human necklace having a second charm representation of said aquatic animal, said representation including indicia recognizably related to said aquatic animal;    providing access and an opportunity to purchase said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces, to a person;    requiring a first monetary payment by said person for access to at least a portion of said database and for purchase of said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces; and    apportioning a part of said first monetary payment to maintenance of aquatic wildlife.    
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 8  further comprising providing merchandise related to said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces and providing means through a global computer network system for said person to purchase said merchandise for a second monetary payment, and apportioning a part of said second monetary payment to maintenance and support of aquatic wildlife generally.  
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 8  further comprising said access to said database comprising an interactive exchange between said person and said database through said electronic media or through a computer link to a global computer network system.  
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 8  further comprising collection of a plurality of individual mermaid dolls, databases, and necklaces, each of which is of a different variety or species.  
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 8  further comprising said person being a child of any age.