How to keep mermaids educational?

[Mermaid Talisa]

So next week I am working at a history fest. I know I need to keep it educational. Any ideas on how I can do that? I worked at this place last year too, I talked about conserving water. While I plan on doing that again this year, it got a little old repeating the same thing to hundreds of different kids all day. I go as a native american mermaid, but all I have found on that are some legends. I know I saw a video of Raina discussing different kinds of mermaids with pictures, I do think that could be cool. I guess I am just asking for any educational mermaidy ideas for me to talk about. Thanks a ton!

[Mermaid Kassandra]

You can talk about the different creatures in the sea!

I discovered that about this animals children always has wrong ideas coming from their imagination and when you explain to them how it really works they would just stay there without saying a word and with their mouth open (quite funny if you think XD ).

You can keep it educational on many different ways you don't even imagine!



Also I have a photo I show to children of how our trash in the sea looks like to all the sea creatures and why it kills animals, believe me after that no one of the kids will leave trash on the seaside anymore! (so if you can bring them things they can see and touch)

Or try to talk to them about what captivity does to animals, going to water parks like Sea World always come as an idea from children that are curios about what they don't know I don't know if you get what I mean, well existing to them what they do to that animals an how sad they are in tanks they will never ask to their parents to bring them there.

Children love to discover things and listen to who knows what they don't (much more if who is talking to them is a mermaid) so you have plenty of things to talk about.



If you want I can give you lots of other ideas you just need to ask

[Mer-Crazy]

You could maybe talk about the coral reefs, about how they are being threatened because of the coral bleaching caused by climate change.

I'd highly suggest a talk about sharks, since in Australia at the moment there is a lot of negative media surrounding them. Western Australia was even attempting a shark cull at one point and I find that many people have very uneducated views on these beautiful animals. Personally, I am a huge fan of sharks, I love them but I am also aware that I am much more likely to be killed by a car, lightning or even cows than by a shark and I feel like if people are properly educated they can learn to maybe not fear them as much as they do, but learn to respect them for the predators they are. Jaws was a really bad movie for sharks, the director even saying that had he known the true nature of them he NEVER would have made it.

[SeaMansa]

You could talk about pollution and how it effects the ocean and ways to prevent it. You could tell them all your mermaid buddies are getting sick :P

[Mermaid Galene]

All of our Mermaid Galene programs have an educational element. For sealife parties, we pick (or the client/birthday child picks) a specific aquatic ecosystem or animal to be the theme of the party. My costuming includes that animal, and I've written songs that teach something about the theme creature. Each program in our Watersong series of music/movement programs for toddlers also focuses on a sea creature/ecosystem. And, of course, our musical fish teach about fish cognition.

I think any mermaid event could be educational in a similar way. Add a few sea creatures to your costume, then just talk to the kids about those animals and the aquatic habitats where they live. Aquatic animal figurines can be bought very cheaply on Amazon, and I use many of these in my costumes: http://tinyurl.com/knd4x5p

[Rivertee]

If you're looking to educate them on the history of Mermaids in Native American culture I can share some family stories with you that are based of the Siminole tribes of FL and the Black Foot tribes of the Northern Lakes. I may not look it but the men in my family carry our native heratige well.

[Echidna]

very good suggestions from everyone, and I'd like to hear those stories very much, Kaguria!

[AniaR]

history fest- consider the history of mermaids and how oral story telling is important for preserving history

[Mermaid Talisa]

I would love to hear those stories. Thank you so much guys, keep the ideas coming, I really like the water pollution idea.

[AniaR]

feel free to borrow these topic wise:



these ones are years old from when I had my old tail:













I think talking about the environment and animals etc is all well and good but if you're at an event for history I think you should cater to that first, and then add in other information along the way like I did here. This was a multicultural event so their main attraction was culture. but I wove in the other things as I went. It's all beneficial, but usually when an event books you for something so specific they're hoping for specific materials. Otherwise people get confused and think "well why is a Mermaid here?"

[Rebekah.fish]

For history I'd just search mermaid legends on Google. There are myths about mermaids in almost any culture world wide! But I'd def do ocean conservation for sure!

[Rivertee]

Google is a great source but.if you have any natives in your area asking for tribal stories is always fun too

[Rebekah.fish]

I'd definitely do that!

[Mermaid Talisa]

Raina- you are to awesome! Thanks so much! And to all the rest of you thanks a ton. I didn't think about pollution.