Abstract:
A game and a method of playing the same are provided. The game includes a figurine and a set of a plurality of messages which messages together teach a story or topic. The method includes providing a figurine and a plurality of messages. The method further requires hiding the figurine at a first location and then finding the figurine and a first of the plurality of messages. The method also includes hiding the figurine at a second location different from the first location, and finding the figurine and a second of the plurality of messages.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/652,392 filed on Feb. 11, 2005, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Teaching relating to the meaning of various holidays and events, or to a topic related to such holidays or events, or to a topic in general to people, especially to children of young ages, may be difficult as they have a short attention span. As such, a game is desired that will provide people with bits of information relating to such holiday or event or topic.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In one exemplary embodiment a method of playing a game is provided. The method includes providing a figurine and a plurality of messages. The method further requires hiding the figurine at a first location and then finding the figurine and a first of the plurality of messages. The method also includes hiding the figurine at a second location different from the first location, and finding the figurine and a second of the plurality of messages. In another exemplary embodiment, each message is provided on a message card and hiding the figurine at a first location includes hiding the figurine at the first location and placing a message card displaying the first message on the figurine such that the first message is displayed. In another exemplary embodiment, hiding the figurine at a second location includes hiding the figurine at the second location and placing a message card displaying the second message on the figurine such that the second message is displayed. The plurality of messages together may teach a topic or a story.  
         [0004]     In another exemplary embodiment, providing a plurality of messages includes pre-recording the messages on a recorder and finding the figurine and a first of the plurality of messages includes finding the figurine and listening to the first of the plurality of messages. In a further exemplary embodiment, finding the figurine and a second of the plurality of messages includes finding the figurine and listening to a second of the plurality of messages. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the method includes hiding the figurine at a third location different from the second location and finding the figurine and a third of the plurality of messages.  
         [0005]     In another exemplary embodiment, providing a plurality of messages includes recording a plurality of messages on device coupled to the figurine. In a further exemplary embodiment, providing a plurality of messages includes providing a plurality of messages which together recite a story.  
         [0006]     The plurality of messages may form a first set of messages which together recite the story and the method may further include providing a second set of a plurality of messages which recite second story different from the story told by the first set of messages. In any of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments, the figurine may be associated with the story being recited by the plurality of messages.  
         [0007]     In another exemplary embodiment each message is a math problem. In a further exemplary embodiment, after finding the figurine and a first of the plurality of messages, the method includes solving a first math problem, and after finding the figurine and a second of the plurality of messages, the method includes solving a second math problem.  
         [0008]     In yet another exemplary embodiment, each message recites the spelling of a word. In yet a further exemplary embodiment, after finding the figurine and a first of the plurality of messages, the method includes learning the spelling recited by the first message, and after finding the figurine and a second of the plurality of messages, the method includes learning the spelling recited in the second message.  
         [0009]     In yet a further exemplary embodiment, a method of playing a game is provided including selecting a holiday or event, selecting a person for being taught a subject matter related to holiday or event, providing a plurality of messages teaching the subject matter of the holiday or event, and providing a figurine. The method also includes hiding the figurine and having the person find the figurine and a message of the plurality of messages. Moreover, the method includes repeating the hiding of the figurine and having the person find the figurine with a different message of the plurality of messages until all of the messages have been found. The messages may be found in a pre-selected order or in a random order. In an exemplary embodiment when the person finds the figurine and message, the person reads the message or has the message read to him or her. In another exemplary embodiment, the person searches and finds the figurine once a day. In another exemplary embodiment, providing includes providing a predetermined number of messages and the person searches and finds the figurine for the first time a number of day before the holiday or event such that the number of days is equal to the number of messages.  
         [0010]     In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes recording the messages on a device and the person when he/she finds the figurine, he/she listens to the pre-selected message. The device may be mounted on the figurine or may be separate from the figurine. Moreover, the figurine may be associated with holiday or event.  
         [0011]     In another exemplary embodiment a game is provided including a figurine and a set of a plurality of messages which messages together teach a story or a topic. The game may also include a second set of a plurality of messages, which second set of messages together teach a second story or topic different from the story or topic taught by the first set of messages. Each of the plurality of messages may be printed on a separate card or may be recorded on device coupled to the figurine or separate from the figurine.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary figurine of an exemplary game of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 2-26  are front view of an exemplary embodiment set of cards used with an exemplary embodiment game of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 27  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment instruction card and used with an exemplary embodiment game of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 28  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment card with hints incorporated in an exemplary embodiment game of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 29  is a back view of another exemplary embodiment figurine of an exemplary game of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     An educational game is provided for teaching people and, more specifically children, about the meaning of different holidays or events and or to provide a message or a story about the event or holiday or to teach them a topic or subject. For illustrative purposes, the invention is described herein by way of exemplary embodiments for teaching about the meaning of a holiday or event. In an exemplary embodiment, the game consists of a figurine  10  ( FIG. 1 ) and a plurality of cards  12 , as for example shown in  FIGS. 1-26 . It should be understood that the word “figurine” as used herein refers to actual three dimensional figurines as well as to graphically depicted figurines. For example, a “figurine” may be a card or a box waving a picture of a figurine depicted thereon. In a further exemplary embodiment, each of the cards is sized such that it can be retained by the figurine. For example, the card may be sized such that it would fit between the hands  3  of the figurine or it would fit in a pocket lap of the figurine (not shown).  
         [0018]     In an exemplary embodiment, the figurine  10  is placed in a spot in the house as for example, a mantel, or other safe spot a given number of days before a desired holiday or event. The game is provided with the same number of cards as the number of days. Each card recites a message  14  relating to the meaning of the holiday or event. The message may be signed by the figurine, as for example shown in  FIGS. 2-26 . A first card or a card assigned to the first day, as for example the card shown in  FIG. 2 , is placed on the figurine, as for example between the figurine hands, as shown in  FIG. 3 , or the in the figurine pocket. In the morning or another time of the day, a person, persons, a child or children (collectively referred to herein as “children”) are asked to look for the figurine. When they find the figurine, they read the message on the card. At nighttime, the figurine is placed or hidden in another spot in the house and the first card is replaced with a second card as for example the card shown in  FIG. 3  having a different message about the holiday or event. The next day the children again will look for the figurine and once they find it in the morning will retrieve and read the message. The process is continued until the day of the holiday or event. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, instead of the children touching the figurine and reading the message, the children may just point to the figurine once they find it and the parent or other adult may read the message for them. In an exemplary embodiment, each card is assigned to a specific day as for example shown in  FIGS. 2-26  wherein the first card is assigned to December 1, the second card is assigned to December 2, as so forth, or each card is numbered such that the cards are placed on the figurine in a specific order so as to recite the desired messages in a specific order.  
         [0019]     An exemplary embodiment figurine used with an exemplary embodiment game to teach the meaning of Christmas is shown in  FIG. 1 . The figurine  10  is an Elf (or other Christmas-like figurine) having wings  11 . The exemplary embodiment game is provided with 25 cards ( FIGS. 2-26 ), one for each day beginning on December 1 ( FIG. 2 ) until Christmas Day, December 25 ( FIG. 26 ). On December 1, the Elf is placed on a mantel or other safe spot in the house that may be out of reach of the children. The card assigned to December 1st, as for example shown in  FIG. 2 , is read to the children. Each night after the children are asleep, the Elf is moved to a new spot, which in an exemplary embodiment is out of the reach of the children, and a next daily message is placed between the figurine hands or in the figurine pocket or on the figurine lap. In the morning or other time of the day, the children search for the Elf. And once they discover the Elf, the children read or are read the daily message. An exemplary set of messages is shown in  FIGS. 2-26 .  
         [0020]     The game may also come with helpful hints that may be related to the figurine that is used with the game. These hints  28  may be on a separate card  32  as shown in  FIG. 28 . Typical helpful hints for the Elf used during Christmas are shown in  FIG. 28 . Moreover, another card  32  with instructions  34  as for example shown in  FIG. 27  may also be included with the game.  
         [0021]     In other exemplary embodiments, another type of figurine, as for example an Easter Bunny, may be used for teaching the meaning of Easter. Similarly, other figurines may be used for teaching the meaning of Hanukah, Ramadan and Kwanza. Other figurines may be used for teaching the meaning of other events such as Easter or Thanksgiving. Exemplary figures for Thanksgiving may include a turkey or a pilgrim. In other exemplary embodiments, the same figurine may be used for teaching the meaning of multiple holidays or events. The game may be provided with multiple sets of cards, one set for each holiday or event. In yet further exemplary embodiments, instead of teaching the meaning of the event or holiday, the cards may be tailored to provide a story about a holiday or event or to recite a story that may relate to the holiday or event.  
         [0022]     In a further exemplary embodiment, the messages may be prerecorded and stored in the figurine  10 . For example, the messages may be pre-recorded in a means  30  such tape, disc or a chip that is housed in the figurine  10 , as for example shown in  FIG. 29 . In other exemplary embodiments, the messages may be recorded on a device separate from the figurine. Each message may than be retrieved and played on a speaker  31 , coupled or mounted to the figurine, by pressing at a location on the figurine. This may be a button  33  on the figurine. Alternatively a message may be retrieved by moving an extremity of the figurine such as the figurine arm  35  or paw. In other exemplary embodiments, the message may be retrieved by activating a playback feature of the device on which the messages are recorded.  
         [0023]     The figurine may include a controller  36  that allows for a single message to be retrieved every 24 hours. In another exemplary embodiment the time between messages may be set by the user. This may be accomplished by a switch  38 , such as an analog switch or a digital switch that allows the user to enter a desired time interval before a new message can be retrieved. In yet a further exemplary embodiment, a recorder or other recording means separate from, or integrated into, the figurine may be provided that allows one to record his/her own messages to be later retrieved via a microphone  40 . The figurine may also have means  42  that allow the user to select the order in which the messages can be retrieved. On option may be for the messages to be retrieved in a random order. The electronics required to provide these capabilities are well known in the art.  
         [0024]     In other exemplary embodiments, the game may be used to teach someone a topic such as math or spelling. With this embodiment, the figurine is hidden with a first math problem. As with previous embodiments, the math problem may be written on a card or recorded on a device. The person being taught the subject, e.g. a child, has to find the figurine and retrieve and solve the problem. The figurine is then hidden again with another math problem. The person being taught has to again find the figurine and retrieve and solve the second problem. The game can continue until all the problems provided with the game have been solved. In other exemplary embodiments instead of a math problem the figurine is hidden with the spelling of a word either spelled on a card or recited in a recording. The person being taught has to find the figurine and learn the spelling of the word. The figure is then hidden again with the spelling of a new word. The person being taught has to again find the figurine and learn the spelling of the new word.  
         [0025]     In other exemplary embodiments, the inventive game may be used to teach other subjects or topics. For example it may be used to teach someone the use of words in different sentences, or to teach a scientific topic.  
         [0026]     It should be noted that “message” as used herein refers to any recitation whether it be any message, a fact, a word, the spelling of word, a math problem, a science problem, etc., and whether or not it is written or otherwise recorded.  
         [0027]     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated to respect to multiple embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.