Sample Assisted Living Activity Calendar

February 2022 Assisted Living Activity Calendar

For each day, find creative activities that you can easily add to your current senior activity calendar for your assisted living facility.

TIP: Click on the links in the calendar box below to see more information about each activity.

Fun Activity Ideas for February
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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TIP: Use the following monthly themes as inspiration for activity ideas.

February is …

TIP: Click on the following days of the month to see activity ideas for that specific day.

TIP: Click on the highlighted links below to get more information (instructions, recipes, or pictures) to assist with completing the activity.

1

Lantern Riddles

Invite residents to play a fun lantern riddle game on this day of the Chinese New Year. Before the activity, cut out riddles to attach to the bottom of paper lanterns, and hang the paper lanterns in your Activity Room, making sure that residents can easily view the riddles while walking underneath the lanterns. Then throughout the day, pass out small gifts (e.g., chocolate candy) to residents who correctly answer a riddle.

Playing Mahjongg

Set out your facility's Mahjongg game for residents to play on this day of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese Fortune Sticks

Create a Chinese fortune sticks game for residents on this day of the Chinese New Year. Before the activity, create the game by taking 20-30 craft sticks and numbering them on one end of each stick from 1-20 (or 1-30 if using 30 craft sticks). Next, take a sheet of Chinese fortunes and number then 1-20. Then during the activity, invite residents to pick out a stick and tell you the number that is on their stick so that you can read their fortune (the numbered fortune on your sheet that corresponds with the number that is on their stick).

Valentine Trivia Social

Throughout the month of February, celebrate this Valentine season by hosting afternoon socials featuring a fun Valentine-themed game. For instance, on this first day of the month, quiz residents with fun valentine trivia. Serve a valentine Chex Mix as a snack.

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2

Groundhog Pencil Toppers

Use yarn, paper, and glue to assist residents with assembling groundhog pencil toppers on this Groundhog Day.

Shadow Charades

On this Groundhog Day, in which everyone watches to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, play a fun game of Shadow Charades with residents. To play, hang up a sheet and have someone shine a light on your hands as you create shadow puppets for residents to try to identify. (More shadow puppets; a few more puppet ideas)

Commonly Misspelled City Names

Host a spelling bee for residents to try to spell the names of the largest cities in your state or other commonly misspelled city names, including Punxsutawney, on this Groundhog Day.

Valentine Bean Bag Toss Social

Create a valentine target for residents to play a valentine bean bag tossing game. Serve cupid floats as a snack.

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3

Crafts: Winter Village

Invite residents to assemble a winter village as decoration for your facility that is reminiscent of the winter images depicted by Norman Rockwell on this birthday of the artist. Beforehand, use a craft knife to cut the template out of chipboard. Then during the activity, assist residents with assembling the villages and decorating them.

Letter, Category, Number

For this World Read Aloud Day, invite residents to play the game Letter, Category, Number. Before the game, create three bowls, with the first bowl having 26 slips of paper featuring each letter of the alphabet, the second bowl containing 10-12 slips of paper featuring the name of a different category (e.g., flowers, trees, cookie, boy's names, etc.), and the third bowl featuring 3 slips of paper featuring only three numbers (1, 2 and 3). To play, have a resident take pick a slip of paper from each bowl to give an answer. (So when Bill picks his three slips of paper from the three bowls, he gets: the letter K, the category of vegetables, and the number 2. For his answer, he needs to state 2 vegetables that begin with the letter K.) Whenever a person cannot think of an answer, then they are out of the game.

Coloring Like Norman Rockwell

Provide residents with coloring pages of artist Norman Rockwell paintings to fill in with colored pencils on this birthday of the artist.

Heart to Heart Social

Play the fun game Heart to Heart with residents, in which residents use chopsticks to transfer conversation hearts from one bowl to another. Award a prize to the person who transfers the most hearts in a minute. Serve valentine pretzel rods as a snack.

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4

Bubble Contest

In recognition of this Bubble Gum Day, host a fun bubble contest among residents to see who can blow the biggest bubble with their bubble gum in one minute.

My Name Is...

On this day that Facebook launched their social network, invite residents to play the social game My Name Is. To play, go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and name something that they like that also begins with the first letter of their first name (e.g., I'm Diane and I like dinosaurs.); however, each person must also repeat all the statements that were said before. Whenever someone cannot recall what someone else has said, then they are out of the game.

Purse Tally

Play a fun purse game with the ladies on this birthday of the former National Organization for Women president Betty Friedan. To play, provide residents with a purse tally sheet to tally the points they accumulate based on the objects found in their purse.

Valentine Idioms Social

Have fun with residents as you read a valentine idiom for residents to describe what it means. Serve no-bake mini peanut butter cheesecakes as a snack.

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5

Mexican Lotería

Play a fun game of Mexican bingo, called the lotería, with residents on this Constitution Day in Mexico. For the activity, pass out the lotería cards for residents to mark when you call out one of the calling cards.

Which State...

In recognition of this Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Day, read a quirky fact about a state for residents to try to identify which state you are describing.

Table Archery

On this first day of the Arizona Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon, Arizona, introduce residents to a variation of the classic Renaissance game of archery. For the activity, first create plate targets (using paper plates, tape, and paper clips) to set on the table. Then assemble balloon cup shooters (using plastic cups, balloons, and duct tape) for residents to use to knock down the plate targets using ping pong balls.

Valentine Word Search Social

Invite residents to complete a valentine word search puzzle to see who can finish first. (Printable) Serve valentine pretzel hearts as a snack.

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6

Crafts: Felt Ice Skating Ornaments

During this Winter Olympics, assist residents with sewing felt ice skate ornaments.

Cereal Box Scramble

On this birthday of cereal commercial voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft, invite residents to play the fun Minute-to-Win-It Breakfast Scramble using cereal boxes. Beforehand, ask staff members to donate their empty cereal boxes for the activity.

Name the Tea

Play a fun tea game with residents on this day that Great Britain's Princess Elizabeth succeeded to the throne to become Queen Elizabeth II. For the activity, place loose leaf tea on saucers for residents to pass around and smell to try to guess the tea.

Valentine Taboo Social

Host a fun Taboo game for residents to play featuring valentine words. Serve no-bake coconut cookies as a snack.

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7

Four-Letter Words

Invite residents to play the fun word game Four-Letter Words on this birthday of lexicographer Sir James Murray. To play, tape a letter of the alphabet onto each resident. Then tell residents that they need to find three other residents whose letters can be combined with theirs to form an interesting four-letter word. (Residents may belong to more than one four-letter group.) Award a point to residents for each four-letter word that they are in.

Who Is It?

For this Wave All your Fingers at Your Neighbors Day, invite residents to get to know one another by playing a fun game of Who Is It? To play, invite everyone to write down one quirky fact about them. Then place the pieces of paper in a hat. Finally, pick one out to read and ask everyone to try to guess who you are describing.

Borrowing From the Neighbors

Chit chat with residents about their former neighbors on this Wave All your Fingers at Your Neighbors Day. Afterwards, ask residents to identify the things that are totally appropriate to share with neighbors.

Stacking Hearts Social

See who can stack the most candy conversation hearts in one minute using only one hand. Serve valentine s'mores snack mix as a snack.

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8

Rose Pencil Toppers

Show residents how to assemble felt rose pencil toppers using colorful felt, green pipe cleaners, and glue on this day that the "City of Roses" Portland, Oregon was incorporated.

Rose Piping

Teach residents how to pipe roses onto plain cupcakes on this day that the "City of Roses" Portland, Oregon was incorporated.

Guess the Song

Invite residents to play a music game on this day that opera debuted in the colonies in South Carolina. To play, have a resident use a jingle bell stick to play a song for others to guess.

Valentine Family Feud Social

Host a fun Family Feud game, in which residents answer valentine-themed questions. Serve valentine popcorn as a snack.

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9

Cardboard Horses

On this birthday of country and western singer Ernest Tubb, invite residents to assemble cardboard horses using a template, buttons, craft wire, paint, and glue.

Guess the Music Group

In recognition of this day that the music group Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show to start their "British Invasion" with their American tour, invite residents to play a music group guessing game. To play, read a list of songs by a particular group for residents to name the group.

What's the Boat?

For this first day of the Vancouver International Boat Show in Canada, pass around photos of different types of boats for residents to try to identify.

Candy Conversation Heart Charades Social

Host a fun valentines charades game for residents, in which they act out what is written on candy conversation hearts for others to guess. Serve valentine snack bites as a snack.

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10

Crafts: Newspaper Winter Landscape

Gather newspaper, watercolors, and cardstock to show residents how to create newspaper winter landscape art on this day that The New York Times slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print" first appeared on its front page.

Dodge Ball Tennis

Play a game of Dodge Ball Tennis with residents on this birthday of tennis great Bill Tilden. To play, have a staff member or volunteer stand in the middle of a circle of seated residents who use plastic tennis rackets to serve foam balls to try to hit the person in the middle.

Old Hollywood Homes

On this first day of the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, pass around photos of a few homes of Old Hollywood actors.

X's and O's Social

Use colorful Washi tape to create Tic-Tac-Toe boards on your Activity Room tables for residents to play Tic-Tac-Toe with one another. Have two sets of individually wrapped candies at each table for residents to play with as their X's and O's. Serve no-bake valentine cookies for residents to enjoy.

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11

Name That Hymn

On this Get Out Your Guitar Day, play instrumental guitar music for residents to try to identify the title of the hymn.

A Few Kitchen Hacks

Share a few kitchen hacks with residents on this birthday of French chef Paul Bocuse. Afterwards, encourage residents to share a few cooking hacks of their own.

Remembering Reynolds

Reminisce with residents about movie star Burt Reynolds on this day that he was born. Share a few fun facts with residents about the entertainer.

Valentine Scavenger Hunt Social

Pass out valentine scavenger hunt sheets for residents to take to locate the objects in your facility and mark off on their sheet. Award a prize to the first person to have marked off all the items on their sheet. When residents come to pick up their scavenger hunt sheets, serve no-bake Oreo balls for residents to enjoy.

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12

First Wives Club

On this birthday of First Lady Louisa Adams, the wife of President John Quincy Adams, quiz residents with First Lady trivia.

Name That Big Band Song

Recognize this birthday of bandleader "Tex" Beneke by playing a fun game of Name That Big Band Song. For the activity, play a big band song for residents to identify.

Food Safety True or False

Quiz residents with a few true or false questions about food safety on this National Plum Pudding Day.

Valentine Logic Puzzle Social

Invite residents to try to solve a valentine logic puzzle. Because some residents may find the logic puzzle difficult, have residents add the following as the 8th clue on their sheet – "8. Carl and Anne watched the Romantic movie in Theater B." – so that residents can solve the puzzle easily. (Answers to the logic puzzle: Anthony and Bernadette watched the Sci-Fi movie in Theater C; Bruce and Celine watched the Thriller movie in Theater D; Carl and Anne watched the Romantic movie in Theater B; Daniel and Dahlia watched the Musical in Theater A.) Serve valentine heart cupcakes as a snack.

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13

Crafts: Foam Fingers

Assist residents with making foam fingers on this Super Bowl Sunday using craft foam, the foam finger template, and hot glue.

The Name Game

Play the Name Game with residents on this Get a Different Name Day, in which residents play several rounds of verbal charades and traditional charades.

Superbowl Bingo

On this day of Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, California, invite residents to play a game of Super Bowl Bingo, in which residents mark their bingo card whenever they see one of the actions on their card happen during the game. (Second bingo card; third bingo card; Fourth bingo card)

Put a Ring on It Social

Set out bottles for residents to play a ring toss game, in which they toss heart-shaped pipe cleaners around the bottles. Serve Oreo truffles as a snack.

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14

Would You Rather? – Valentine's Day Edition

On this Valentine's Day, quiz residents about what they would do by playing the Valentine's Day version of the game Would You Rather? (Printable)

Washi Tape Heart Cards

Recruit residents to use Washi tape to make Valentine's Day cards to pass out to friends on this Valentine's Day.

Valentine Scattergories

Invite residents to play Valentine Scattergories on this Valentine's Day. (Printable)

Valentine's Day Bingo Social

Pass out Hershey's Kisses candy for residents to use as bingo markers for a fun valentine bingo. Set up a fun Valentine's Day charcuterie board featuring candies and cookies for residents to sample.

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15

Origami Lanterns

On this day of the Lantern Festival in China, Taiwan and Korea, teach residents how to make origami lanterns using the lantern template. During the activity, show residents how to make valley and mountain folds to make the lanterns. Once the lanterns have been made, place small battery-operated tea lights inside each lantern for illumination.

Gumdrop People

For this National Gumdrop Day, assist residents with assembling gumdrop people using colorful gumdrops, wooden balls, paint, glue, and toothpicks.

Washer Necklaces

In recognition of this birthday of jeweler Charles Lewis Tiffany, assist residents with using metal washers, nail polish, beads, and yarn to assemble washer necklaces that residents can wear.

Love Connection Social

Invite residents to play a fun heart puzzle game. Beforehand, cut up heart templates that have been printed on red paper for residents to put together to see how many they can complete in a minute. Serve white chocolate-dipped wafer cookies for residents to sample.

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16

Old Sock Puppets

Assist residents with taking old socks to create puppets on this birthday of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. Use buttons, glue, and yarn for the fun project that can be donated to local elementary school classes. (On the website, scroll down to the second craft to view the instructions.)

Clothespin Snowmen

Supply residents with wooden clothespins, white paint, orange mini pom-poms, colorful yarn, glue, and black markers to assemble clothespin snowmen on this day of the Full Snow Moon. Use the finished clothespins as decoration throughout your facility for the season.

Valentine Word Scramble Social

Pass out word scramble puzzles for residents to attempt. Award a prize to the first person who completes their puzzle. (Answer Key: Chocolate, Flowers, Love, Candy, February, Valentine, Hearts, Cupid, Friend, Cuddle, Kiss, Roses, Sweethearts, Hug, Arrow, and Jewelry) Serve valentine Oreo cookies as a snack.

Full Moon Nightcap

Host a fun full moon nightcap for residents on this day of the Full Snow Moon. For the activity, simply set warm cookies and hot cocoa near a large picture window to draw residents to the window to observe the full moon.

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17

Crafts: Kindness Pencil Toppers

For this Random Acts of Kindness Day, assist residents with making kindness pencil toppers to give to a local elementary school class. To make the toppers, write compliments on the two ends of a label before wrapping around the top of a pencil.

Medical Facts – True or False?

In recognition of this birthday of the "Father of Chest Medicine" René Laennec, quiz residents with medical true or false questions to see how many they can get correct.

Zumba Chair Arm Exercises

On this birthday of Olympic swimmer Buster Crabbe, invite residents to exercise their arms and improve their arm movement by leading them in Zumba arm exercises while playing fun Zumba music in the background.

Heart Toss Social

Set up a heart toss game to see how many residents can toss paper balls through the heart. Pass out valentine-decorated fruit for residents to enjoy.

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18

Cardboard Bird Feeders

Use toilet paper rolls, peanut butter, birdseed, wooden dowels, and twine to assist residents with assembling cardboard bird feeders on this first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Set out the feeders to attract birds for the upcoming Watching the Birds activity.

Museum Art Trivia

On this birthday of museum philanthropist George Peabody, quiz residents with museum art trivia.

Watching the Birds

For this first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count, set up seats and binoculars near large picture windows in your facility for residents to count birds.

Giant Tic Tac Toe Social

Using "X" or "O" balloons, set up a giant Tic-Tac-Toe game for residents to play. Beforehand, use Washi tape to create a Tic-Tac-Toe grid on the wall. Then during the activity, ask trivia questions for each team to try to answer correctly to be able to put an "X" or "O" on the board.

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19

Baking Club: Chocolate Mint Brownie Bark

Encourage residents to bake a batch of chocolate mint brownie bark on this National Chocolate Mint Day.

Planet Trivia

Quiz residents with planet trivia on this birthday of astronomer Nicolas Copernicus.

Military Planes

Provide residents with wooden clothespins, paint, and jumbo craft sticks to assemble military airplanes in recognition of this day that American troops landed on Iwo Jima.

Ping Pong Dance Social

Get residents up and moving as they play a fun ping pong dancing game. To play, attach a tissue box filled with ping pong balls to the waist of each resident. Then have them dance to see who can empty their tissue box first. Serve no-bake strawberry bites as a snack.

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20

Crafts: Dog Collages

For this National Love Your Pet Day, invite residents to assemble dog collages using a dog stencil template and scrapbook paper. (To print out the dog stencil, scroll down the page and when you arrive on the desired template, hover your mouse over the template and right-click your mouse. Then click "Open image in new tab" to print out from your browser.)

Making Pie Crusts

Teach residents how to make decorative pie crusts on this National Cherry Pie Day.

Spot the Difference Puzzles

Pass out Spot the Difference puzzles for residents to complete in recognition of this birthday of photographer Ansel Adams. (To print out each puzzle, first click on the image to make it full size. Then click "Print" at the top of the page.)

Candy Dice Social

Set up a fun candy dice game at each of the tables in your Activity Room for residents to play. (Printable) Serve valentine monster bites as a snack.

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21

Name the Dessert

Share photos of the top 50 desserts and the top 10 desserts on this National Sticky Bun Day, and ask residents to identify them.

Put the Presidents in Order

Divide residents into teams and provide each team with the same photos of American presidents for residents to put in order on this Presidents' Day. (To make the game easier, use more recent presidents; to make the game harder, use less recent presidents.)

Which Monument Is It?

Pass around photos of national monuments for residents to identify on this day that the Washington Monument was dedicated. (More monuments)

That's a Wrap Social

Invite residents to play an unwrapping game, in which the resident who can unwrap the most Hershey's Kisses while wearing mittens (or oven mitts) wins. Serve chocolate dipped strawberries as a snack.

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22

Animal Trivia

Host a fun animal trivia game with residents to see who can answer the most questions correctly on this World Spay Day.

Guess the Fruit and Veggie

On this National Cook a Sweet Potato Day, pass around photos of unusual fruits and veggies for residents to try to identify.

Doily Target Social

Set out doilies on a table for a fun tossing game in which residents toss conversation hearts onto a doily. The person with the most hearts on their doily after one minute wins. Serve no-bake chocolate peanut butter pretzel cookies as a snack.

Margarita Party

Schedule a fun after-dinner margarita party for residents on this National Margarita Day. Serve Virgin Margaritas while asking residents random trivia questions.

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23

Baking Club: Banana Bread Crumb Cake

Encourage residents to bake a batch of banana bread crumb cake to serve to passersby on this National Banana Bread Day.

Bananagrams – Paper Version

On this National Banana Bread Day, invite residents to play a version of the popular Bananagrams game by completing a Bananagram word scramble.

Ski Bunny Contest

Encourage residents to participate in a ski bunny contest to see who can make the best ski bunny on this first day of the American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Race/Birkie Week in Wisconsin. Use wooden clothespins, paint or felt pens, pipe cleaners, wooden balls, toothpicks, craft sticks, and hot glue for the craft.

Acting Out Social

Divide residents into teams to take turns to act out valentine words, valentine sayings, and valentine love songs for their teammates to guess. Serve candy heart bark for residents to enjoy as a snack.

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24

Crafts: Popsicle Stick Skis

On this second day of the American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Race/Birkie Week in Wisconsin, assist residents with using craft sticks to make craft ski ornaments.

Penny Drop

Invite residents to play the popular bar game Penny Drop on this World Bartender Day. To set up the game, place a shot glass in the bottom of a larger container and fill the container with water. Then have residents stand over the jar to drop a penny to try to get it to land within the shot glass.

Misconceptions About Mythology

In recognition of this birthday of mythologist Wilhelm Grimm, share a few misconceptions about mythology.

Hershey's Matching Social

Set up several Hershey's Kisses matching games at each table in your Activity Room using lots of Hershey's Kisses candy and pictures to glue to the bottom of the candy. Serve no-bake banana split cake as a snack.

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25

Fashion Design School

On this birthday of fashion model Millicent Fenwick, invite residents to have fun creating fashion designs by covering a fashion template with scrapbook paper. (Another template)

3-Dimensional Art

In recognition of this birthday of Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, invite residents to make three-dimensional art. To make the art, simply tape a coloring page to a piece of cardstock or cereal box cardboard and then ball up colorful pieces of crepe paper to glue to the picture.

Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party

Educate residents about the work of Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir on this birthday of the painter by passing around a photo of the original 1880-1881 Luncheon of the Boating Party painting for residents to view.

Rubber Band Shoot Social

Host a fun rubber band game to see which resident can knock down the most valentine-themed red cups. For the activity, set up a pyramid of red paper cups and provide residents with rubber bands to see who can knock down the most cups using five rubber bands. Serve valentine truffles as a snack.

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26

Match the Actors

On this birthday of entertainer Tony Randall, see how well your residents can match older photos and more recent photos of television entertainers. For the activity, seat residents in groups at tables, and place both sets of pictures at each table for the groups to match. (To print out the images, hover your mouse over the image and right-click your mouse. Then click "Open image in new tab" to print from your browser.)

Interesting College Majors

Have fun with residents as you share with them a few interesting college majors on this first day of the collegiate retailer conference, CAMEX.

Peel the Pistachios

Pass out plastic food-grade gloves to see how many residents can peel the most pistachios in one minute on this National Pistachio Day.

Straight Through the Heart Social

Play the Straight Through the Heart game with residents by having them toss a pool noodle to try to knock down a large cardboard heart. Beforehand, cut a large heart shape from cardboard, and attach a piece of cardboard to the back to help it stand upright. Serve chocolate-covered wafers as a snack.

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27

Crafts: Polar Bear Plates

Celebrate this International Polar Bear Day with residents by helping them make clay polar bear plates. Use air-dry clay, rolling pins, markers, plastic knives, and a polar bear template for the craft.

Name Her Co-Star

Recognize this birthday of actress Elizabeth Taylor by quizzing residents to see if they can name her co-stars when you list one of her movies.

Polar, Grizzly or Panda?

Quiz your residents about their knowledge of bears on this International Polar Bear Day. To play, read a description about a polar bear, a grizzly bear, or a panda bear, and ask residents to identify the correct bear you are describing.

Bottle Drop Social

Invite residents to play a fun Bottle Drop game by trying to drop conversation hearts into a bottle. Serve chocolate-dipped marshmallows as a snack.

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28

Fairy Clothespins

For this National Tooth Fairy Day, assist residents with making fairy clothespins using wooden clothespins, glue, cupcake liners, tulle, cardstock, and paint.

How Would You Rank the Classic TV Shows?

On this day that the final episode of the popular television sitcom M*A*S*H debuted, see how your residents would rank classic television shows. For the activity, seat residents in groups, and ask each group to discuss the shows and rank their top 10.

Gangster Lingo

Quiz residents with gangster lingo on this birthday of gangster Bugsy Siegel by listing a gangster term so that residents can describe what it means.

All Paired Up Social

Invite residents to play an Old Hollywood couple match game, in which you place the names of romantic couples on the backs of residents so that they can walk around and find their match by asking "yes or no" questions. Serve valentine pudding parfaits as a snack.

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