Sample Assisted Living Activity Calendar
August 2020 Assisted Living Activity Calendar
For each day, find creative activities that you can easily add to your current senior activity calendar for your nursing home or assisted living.
TIP: Click on the links in the calendar box below to see more information about each activity.
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
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1 | ||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
30 | 31 |
TIP: Use the following monthly themes as inspiration for activity ideas.
August is ...
- American Adventures Month
- American Artist Appreciation Month
- Boomers Making a Difference Month
- Bystander Awareness Month
- Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
- Children's Vision and Learning Month
- Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
- Happiness Happens Month
- International Pirate Month
- Motorsports Awareness Month
- National Back-to-School Month
- National Black Business Month
- National Eye Exam Month
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
- Read-a-Romance Month
- What Will Be Your Legacy Month
TIP: Click on the following days of the month to see activity ideas for that specific day.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31
TIP: Click on the highlighted links below to get more information (instructions, recipes, or pictures) to assist with completing the activity.
1
- Colorado became the 38th state (1876)
- Girlfriends' Day
- Rounds Resounding Day, a day to celebrate singing in rounds
Playing Spin the Bottle
Gather the ladies together on this Girlfriends' Day to play a fun game of Spin the Bottle. Instead of playing the traditional game, substitute food, where the ladies can sample different snacks when they spin (e.g., popcorn, peanuts, and even spicy chips).
Open Air Break
Pass out popsicles for residents to enjoy outdoors in the open air in recognition of this day that Colorado, known for its clean, open air spaces, became the 38th state.
Singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Gather your residents together and help them sing in rounds on this Rounds Resounding Day, a day to celebrate singing in rounds.
Beach Golf Social
Recognize this beach season by providing a fun afternoon beach-themed social all month long. Start the month with a fun game of beach golf. Simply fill a kiddie pool with sand to create "sandy links" for residents to putt golf balls. Then dig holes in the sand to see if residents can put the ball into the hole. Serve lemonade.
2
- First U.S. census began (1790)
- National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Crafts: Watercolor Journals
Show residents how to make watercolor journals for the summer. Supply residents with watercolor paper, grid paper, brushes, watercolors, needles and thread, and an awl.
Ice Cream Sandwich Bar
Set up an ice cream sandwich bar in your Activity Room on this National Ice Cream Sandwich Day for residents to assemble their own ice cream sandwiches using a variety of cookies, ice cream, and toppings.
Playing Shut the Box
On this day that the first U.S. census began, teach residents how to play the counting game Shut the Box. Supply each participant with a pencil and a d.i.y. scorecard to keep track of their score for each round. Beforehand, create the scorecard by writing out lines of numbers 1 to 9 (or 1 to 12) to cross out.
Beach Ball Air Toss Social
Divide residents into teams of two to play a fun game of beach ball air toss. To play, provide each team with a towel so that each resident holds one end of the towel as they toss up a beach ball to see how high it goes. For each round, award a point to the team who tosses their ball the highest. Serve peanuts as a snack.
3
- Full Sturgeon Moon, so-called by Native Americans because of the prevalence of sturgeon fish at this time of year
- National Bargain Hunting Week (August 3-9)
- National Watermelon Day
Watermelon Eating Contest
Host your annual watermelon eating contest in your Activity Room on this National Watermelon Day to see who can finish their piece of watermelon first without using their hands.
Bargaining Tips
Recruit residents to share their bargaining tips on this first day of National Bargain Hunting Week. After collecting the ideas, recruit a volunteer to create a Bargain Pamphlet in Microsoft Word that features all your residents' bargain hunting tips. Then sell the small pamphlet at your next family event to raise money for activity supplies.
Beach Volleyball Social
Inflate a beach ball for residents to hit back and forth over a volleyball net for a fun game of beach ball volleyball. Serve peanut butter crackers as a snack.
Full Moon Nightcap
Host a fun full moon nightcap for your residents on this Full Sturgeon Moon, so-called by Native Americans because of the prevalence of sturgeon fish at this time of year. Serve juice and cookies near a large picture window so that residents can enjoy the full moon.
4
- Birthday: Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900)
- Coast Guard Day
- National Night Out, an annual day to promote awareness of crime prevention and police-community partnerships
Coast Guard Wheel of Fortune
Play several rounds of the Wheel of Fortune game with residents using the missions of the Coast Guard as the puzzle for each round on this Coast Guard Day. To play, first print out a Wheel of Fortune wheel and attach it to a piece of cardboard. Then attach a paper clip to the center of the wheel using a push pin, so that residents can flick the paper clip to "spin the wheel." On a large sheet of paper or a white board, draw out the blanks needed for one of the missions to see which resident can solve the puzzle first. Be sure to pass around a letter board to help residents guess letters. (Consider laminating the letter board so that you can easily cross off letters as you play and still be able to wipe the board at the end of each game.)
Having a Queen as a Mother
Chit chat with residents about the Royal Family in England on this birthday of the matriarch, the Queen Mother. Afterwards, share what it was like for the current princes and princesses to have a queen as a mother.
Blackout Bingo
In recognition of this National Night Out, an annual day to promote awareness of crime prevention and police-community partnerships, play a fun game of blackout bingo (also known as cover-all bingo) in which residents must cover all the numbers on their card.
Beach Bocce Social
Show residents how to play beach bocce in the backyard by placing a white ball (the jack) in a kiddie pool filled with sand and having residents roll their balls so that they land closest to the jack. Serve warm cookies as a snack.
5
- Birthday: John Eliot, American translator of the Bible into Indian language who was known as the "Apostle to the Indians" (1604)
- Birthday: John Huston, Hollywood actor and director (1906)
- First English colony in North America was established in Newfoundland (1583)
Lost in Translation
On this birthday of John Eliot, the American translator of the Bible who translated it into Indian language, play the fun translating game Telephone with residents. To play, divide residents into two teams, and have all the members on the same team sit side-by-side. Then give the first person of each team a word to whisper to their neighbor, who then whispers it to their neighbor, and so on. Award a point to the team whose last team member correctly states the word that you gave the first team member.
Colonial Life
Share the history of Colonial Americans with residents on this day that the first English colony in North America was established in Newfoundland.
Can You Guess the Hollywood Family?
For this birthday of Hollywood actor and director John Huston, set out photos of Old Hollywood families to see who can identify them all.
Beach Shells Social
Pass out seashells for residents to paint in bright, summer colors. Serve peanuts as a snack.
6
- Birthday: Andy Warhol, American pop artist (1928)
- Birthday: Edith Roosevelt, American First Lady to President Theodore Roosevelt who was the first to employ a full-time, salaried social secretary (1861)
- Birthday: Lucille Ball, American comedienne and television star (1911)
Crafts: Pop Art Leaf Printing
Show residents how to create their own leaf pop art on this birthday of pop artist Andy Warhol by painting leaves and stamping them onto colorful paper. Hang the finished prints in your Activity Room for the summer.
Can You Guess the T.V. Show?
Read a description of a 1950s television show for residents to identify on this birthday of television actress Lucille Ball.
Who Had the Best White House Parties?
Pass around photos with your residents of the best White House parties on this birthday of First Lady Edith Roosevelt, who was the first to employ a full-time, salaried social secretary. (More photos)
Picasso in the Sand Social
Supply residents with aluminum pie plates filled with sand for residents to use their fingers to create sand art. Serve pieces of fruit as a snack.
7
- Hatfield-McCoy Feud began (August 7-9, 1882)
- Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day
- Professional Speakers Day
Summer Family Feud
On this day that the Hatfield-McCoy Feud began, play a fun game of Family Feud in your Activity Room with residents using summer-themed questions.
Story Time
In recognition of this Professional Speakers Day, pass out photos of everyday life for residents to create a story from and tell the rest of the group.
Saran Wrap Game
Play the fun Saran Wrap unwrapping game with residents on this Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day. Beforehand, wrap sugar-free candy and small bingo prizes in the cling wrap. To play, seat residents at a table, and provide one participant with the ball to begin unwrapping and the person to their right with two dice to roll. Once the person with the dice rolls a double, then they get the ball to begin unwrapping and collecting the gifts that come out.
Beach Ball Hot Potato Social
Invite residents to play a fun game of Hot Potato with your residents using a large beach ball and big band music. Serve cheese and crackers as a snack.
8
- Birthday: Florence August Merriam Bailey, American ornithologist and nature writer (1863)
- Birthday: Odie, the dog from the "Garfield" comic strip (1978)
- National Bowling Day
- Wear Your Mother's Jewelry Day
Birdwatching Break
Pass out a birdwatching sheet for residents to use while sitting on the back patio watching the birds on this birthday of American ornithologist and nature writer Florence August Merriam Bailey.
Complete the Balloons!
In recognition of this birthday of Odie, the dog from the "Garfield" comic strip, assist residents with filling in a Garfield comic strip.
Rose Brooches
Invite residents to use felt, scissors, and glue to create felt rose brooches to wear on this Wear Your Mother's Jewelry Day. Once the roses have been made, provide residents with pin backs to attach to the back of the roses so they can wear them.
Beach Bowling Social
For this National Bowling Day, fill a kiddie pool with sand and place bowling pins on one end of the pool for residents to roll a small rubber ball to see how many pins they can knock down. Serve popcorn as a snack.
9
- First American, Robert Gray, circumvented Earth (1790)
- International Day of the World's Indigenous People
- National Rice Pudding Day
Crafts: Aboriginal Paintings
Encourage residents to use paint and rocks on this International Day of the World's Indigenous People to make their own dot painting rocks that are similar to the popular indigenous dot art found in Australia.
Baking Club: Earth Cookies
Assist residents with baking Earth cookies in honor of this birthday of Robert Gray, the first American to circumvent Earth.
Rice and Safety Pins
On this National Rice Pudding Day, invite residents to play the rice and safety pin game. To play, pass around bowls of dried rice that have safety pins hidden in them. Then give the participants 60 seconds to see how many safety pins they can fish out of the rice.
Beach Stories Social
Share a few funny beach stories with residents. Serve almonds and cheese as a snack.
10
- Birthday: Henri Nestlé, German inventor of baby formula and founder of the Nestlé company which later went into the chocolate business (1814)
- National Lazy Day
- Television's first reality show Candid Camera premiered (1948)
Sit Down Bowling
Help residents enjoy this National Lazy Day by having them bowl while sitting.
Candy Pops
Assist residents with creating candy pops using Fruit Roll-Ups candy and pretzel sticks on this birthday of candy founder Henri Nestlé.
Watching Skits
On this day that television's first reality show Candid Camera premiered, invite residents to watch a few reality television skits on their phones.
Beach Darts Social
Fill a kiddie pool with sand and use a stick to draw a dart board in the sand for a fun game of beach darts with residents. To play, provide small rocks to residents to toss as "darts" on the "dart board" to accumulate points. Serve root beer and brownies as a snack.
11
- Birthday: Carl Rowan, newspaper columnist (1925)
- Birthday: David Rice Atchison, Missouri legislator who became president of the United States for the day pending the swearing in of President-elect Zachary Taylor in 1849 (1807)
- Birthday: Enid Bryton, English children's writer and one of the world's most popular writers (1897)
Newspaper Puzzles
Invite residents to solve their own newspaper puzzles on this birthday of newspaper columnist Carl Rowan. For the activity, cut up newspaper sheets into pieces for residents to try to put back together. For each round, award a point to the fastest resident to assemble their puzzle.
Cat Bookmarks
For this birthday of English children's writer Enid Bryton, assist residents with making cat bookmarks to deliver to a local class once school starts. Use crafting foam, small craft pom-poms, glue, and scissors for the project.
President for a Day
On this birthday of Missouri legislator David Rice Atchison, share his story of becoming president for the day with your residents.
Beachy Zen Garden Social
Supply residents with aluminum pie plates of sand for residents to use their fingers or a plastic fork to create sand patterns that will also help them relax. Serve fresh berries as a snack.
12
- Birthday: Michael Kidd, American dancer and choreographer (1915)
- International Youth Day
- World Elephant Day
Baking Club: Confetti Bread
For this International Youth Day, invite residents to bake fun confetti bread using colored dough.
Elephant March
Provide residents with pantyhose and oranges to compete in fun elephant march game on this World Elephant Day in which residents try to knock down cups with the orange that is in the pantyhose. Instead of having residents wear the pantyhose over their face, encourage residents to tie the pantyhose around their waist.
Chair Dancing
Lead residents in a fun chair dancing activity on this birthday of dancer Michael Kidd.
Human Ring Toss Social
Grab a few beach innertubes to play a fun game of human ring toss with residents. Be sure to recruit a few of your facility's skinny volunteers or staff members to be the human peg that residents try to toss the innertube around. Serve Icees as a snack.
13
- Birthday: Anders Jonas Angström, Swedish astronomer who founded the science of light (1814)
- Birthday: William Caxton, first English printer (1422)
- International Left-Handers Day
Crafts: Food Prints
Provide residents with fruits and vegetables, like celery, oranges, lemons, and carrots, to create fun fruit and vegetable prints on this birthday of William Caxton, the first English printer.
Guess the Animal
Borrow a flashlight as you create hand shadow animals on the wall for your residents to guess on this birthday of Anders Jonas Angström, the Swedish astronomer who founded the science of light.
Left-Handed Pictionary
On this International Left-Handers Day, invite residents to play a fun game of Pictionary in which participants must draw objects using their left hands.
Beach Basketball Social
Inflate a beach ball for residents to use as a basketball as they try to make shots into a laundry basket. Serve peanuts and ginger ale as a snack.
14
- Navajo Code Talkers Day, recognizing the achievements of the Code Talkers who translated military messages in the Navajo language during World War II
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act (1935)
Navajo Code Talkers
In recognition of this Navajo Code Talkers Day, educate your residents about the Navajo Code Talkers who translated military messages in the Navajo language during World War II.
Indoor Bugs
On this hot, summer day, invite residents to get away from the biting bugs outdoors to create the pretty non-biting kind indoors, glow-in-the-dark fireflies. Supply residents with glow-in-the-dark paint, pasta noodles, glue, and wooden skewers for the project.
The Social Security Debate
Start a debate among residents about Social Security on this day that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. Share a list of issues facing the program today, and ask residents to brainstorm ways to resolve the issues.
Beach Treasure Hunt Social
Hide seashells in a kiddie pool that is filled with sand for residents to compete to see how many seashells they can find in 60 seconds. Serve popsicles as a snack.
15
- International Homeless Animals Day and Candlelight Vigils
- National Lemon Meringue Pie Day
Animal Envelopes
On this International Homeless Animals Day and Candlelight Vigils, assist residents with creating animal envelopes to send to their grandkids using animal print Washi tape. Just stick the tape onto wax paper and cut out the shapes before sticking to the envelopes. (On the website, scroll down to the last paragraph in the article, which is italicized, to read the instructions.)
How High Are Your Peaks?
Provide residents with egg whites, cream of tartar, granulated sugar, and salt to whip up meringues for lemon meringue pies on this National Lemon Meringue Pie Day. (Beforehand, coordinate with Dining Services to supply the lemon filling and crust for the pies that residents can assemble with their meringues.)
Origami Swans
Show residents how to make origami swans using copy paper on this International Homeless Animals Day and Candlelight Vigils.
Sandy Tic-Tac-Toe Social
Set out several aluminum pie plates filled with sand for groups of two residents to play Tic-Tac-Toe using their fingers in the sand. Serve chips as a snack.
16
- Birthday: Fess Parker, American actor and wine vintner (1924)
- Birthday: George Meany, American labor leader (1894)
- National Roller Coaster Day
Crafts: Mini Coasters
Invite residents to assemble mini roller coasters on this National Roller Coaster Day using foam tubes (pool noodles) and masking tape. Once everyone has constructed their coaster, pass out marbles for residents to try them out.
Draw the Wine Label
Pass out nonalcoholic wine for residents to sip on this birthday of actor and vintner Fess Parker. While residents are sipping, provide them with paper and colored pencils to begin drawing a creative wine label for the wine that they are drinking. Encourage residents to be inspired by how they are feeling and how much they are enjoying the wine.
The Future of Work
On this birthday of American labor leader George Meany, start a discussion with residents about the current workplace and how things have changed over the years. Pass around photos of workplaces then and now.
Beach Ball Favorites Social
Use a permanent marker to write questions on an old beach ball for residents to answer when they catch the ball. Simple have residents read and answer the question that is closest to their left hand. Serve wine and cheese as a snack.
17
- Birthday: Maureen O'Hara, Irish-born actress (1920)
- Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (August 17-20)
- National Thrift Shop Day
School Blocks
On this National Thrift Shop Day, invite residents to assist you with upcycling old blocks and turning them into school blocks that can be used for your upcoming Back-to-School-themed activities. Paint the blocks to look like rulers, chalkboards, and erasers.
How Does the National Convention Work?
Educate residents about political national conventions on this first day of the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Afterwards, organize a voting committee in your facility who can help you set up your voter registration process in your facility for this election year.
Can You Name This Redhead?
Pass around photos of classic Hollywood redheads for residents to identify on this birthday of redhead Maureen O'Hara.
Parachute Toss – Beach Style Social
Seat residents in a large circle to move a parachute up and down as you add a few beach balls to the top of the parachute. Encourage residents to try to move their arms up and down so that the balls fall off the parachute on the opposite side of where they are sitting. Serve milk and cookies as a snack.
18
- Birthday: Meriwether Lewis, American explorer (1774)
- First mail-order catalog was published by Montgomery Ward (1872)
- National Ice Cream Pie Day
Find the...
On this day that the first mail-order catalog was published by Montgomery Ward, invite residents to play a fun catalog game. Provide each participant with a mail-order catalog, and then name an item and award a point to the first person who finds it in their catalog (e.g., pass out gardening catalogs and name items like garden gloves or mulch for residents to find).
Ice Cream Eating Contest
Host a fun ice cream eating contest for residents on this National Ice Cream Pie Day. For the activity, provide residents with a bowl of ice cream to try to eat and finish with their hands behind their backs. Award a prize to the first person who finishes their ice cream.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
In recognition of this birthday of American explorer Meriwether Lewis, lead residents in the backyard on a nature scavenger hunt where they mark the items that they see on their nature hunt sheet.
Beach Badminton Social
Lay down a tarp in the backyard and place sand on top for residents to play a fun game of beach badminton in your backyard. Serve veggies and dip as a snack.
19
- Birthday: Coco Chanel, French fashion designer (1883)
- Birthday: Ogden Nash, American writer known for his humorous verse (1902)
- National Potato Day
Potato Prints
Create pineapple stamps from potatoes on this National Potato Day for your residents to use to create Hawaiian-themed stationery to use as the invitations for your upcoming Hawaii-themed activities for Hawaii's statehood on August 21. After using a knife to create the stamps, have residents use the stamps to create pineapples along the perimeter of pieces of cardstock that can be used to print out invitations for your Hawaiian events.
Fashionable Necklaces
Assist residents with creating bead and fabric necklaces for residents to wear on this birthday of fashion icon Coco Chanel. To make the necklaces, first have residents paint wooden beads in pretty summertime colors. Once the beads are dry, provide residents with strips of fabric to string the beads.
Humorous Verses
Read several humorous verses for residents to enjoy on this birthday of Ogden Nash, an American writer known for his humorous verse.
Sand Pictionary Social
Fill an aluminum pie plate with sand for residents to draw pictures of objects for their partners to guess. Serve fresh fruit as a snack.
20
- Birthday: Eliel Saarinen, Finnish architect (1873)
- Birthday: H. P. Lovecraft, American writer known for Gothic literature (1890)
- Islamic New Year (begins in the evening on August 19)
Crafts: Sharpie Stained Glass
Provide residents with Mason jars and Sharpie markers as you teach them how to make Gothic-inspired Sharpie stained glass on this birthday of H. P. Lovecraft, the American writer known for Gothic literature.
Learning About Muharram
On this day of the Islamic New Year, educate your residents about the Muharram, which for 2020 begins in the evening of August 19.
Cardboard Houses
In recognition of this birthday of Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, supply residents with pieces of cardboard, paint, markers, glue, and tape to make cardboard houses. Beforehand, recruit volunteers to assist with cutting out the pieces so that residents can easily assemble the houses.
Colorful Sandcastles Social
Supply residents with dyed sand, buckets, and water to create their own colorful castles on the back patio tables. Serve apple pie as a snack.
21
- Birthday: Wilt Chamberlain, Basketball Hall of Fame player (1936)
- Hawaii became the 50th state (1959)
- National Senior Citizens Day
Hawaiian Fruit Tasting
Supply residents with tropical fruit that is popular in Hawaii, like mango, papaya, and star fruit, for residents to sample on this day of Hawaii's statehood.
Balloon Basketball
Set up a laundry basket to see which residents can hit their inflated balloons into the basket on this birthday of basketball star Wilt Chamberlain.
Sand Silhouettes Social
Provide each participant with an aluminum pie plate of sand and encourage them to use elements from nature (e.g., leaves, twigs, flowers) to create a silhouette of a loved one. Serve cake as a snack.
Senior Happy Hour
Organize a fun happy hour for your residents to enjoy on this National Senior Citizen Day with music and great food.
22
- Birthday: Dorothy Parker, American poet and author known as the "Wittiest Woman in America" (1893)
- National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day
- Taste of Montgomery County, a showcase of local foods, in Crawfordsville, Indiana
Cute Cork Cats
Assist residents with assembling cork cats on this National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day. For the activity, provide residents with wine corks, paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, markers, and glue.
The Best One-Liners
Share a few of the funniest one-liners with residents on this birthday of the "Wittiest Woman in America" Dorothy Parker.
Taste of (Your State)
In recognition of this day of the Taste of Montgomery County, a showcase of local foods, in Crawfordsville, Indiana, coordinate with Dining Services to provide a fun smorgasbord of food that is native to your state for residents to sample and enjoy.
Sand Animals Social
Supply residents with sand and water to see what animals they can create in 60 seconds. Award a point to the sculptor if anyone else correctly guesses their animal. Serve root beer floats as a snack.
23
- Birthday: Ernie Bushmiller, American comic strip artist of the "Nancy" strip (1905)
- Birthday: Oliver Hazard Perry, American naval hero (1785)
Crafts: Regatta Art
On this birthday of American naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry, encourage residents to make their own regatta-inspired artwork using canvases and paint (or paint pens).
Naval Seals
Share a few interesting facts about Navy Seal with residents on this birthday of American naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry.
Squiggle Drawings
Invite residents to participate in a drawing activity on this birthday of comic strip artist Ernie Bushmiller. For the activity, use a black marker to create a small squiggle on different sheets of paper, and then hand each resident a piece of paper to begin drawing a scene using that squiggle. Supply residents with colored pencils, and after about 30 minutes, invite residents to show off what they drew and how they incorporated the squiggle.
Sand Sock Toss Social
Fill a sock with sand and tie a knot at the end and have residents compete to see who can throw their sand sock the farthest. Serve chips and dip as a snack.
24
- National Peach Pie Day
- National Waffle Day
- Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina (August 24-27)
Belgian Waffle Breakfast
Host your annual Belgian waffle breakfast for your residents on this National Waffle Day. For the activity, encourage Dining Services to set up a waffle station in your Dining Room for residents to see their waffles cooking.
Spoonfuls of Pie Filling
Organize a fun pie filling tasting for residents on this National Peach Pie Day. For the activity, set out a plate for each resident, and on each plate put a spoonful of a different pie filling for residents to sample and identify.
Not Being Limited by Party
In recognition of this first day of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, chit chat with residents about politicians who have transcended party lines. Ask residents to brainstorm ways more people can come together in politics.
Beach Ball Dodge Ball Social
Recruit volunteers and staff members to stand in the middle of a large circle of residents for a fun game of beach ball dodge ball as they try to dodge the beach balls that residents are throwing at them. Serve veggies and dip as a snack.
25
- National Whiskey Sour Day
- U.S. National Park Service was founded (1916)
Lawn Chair Volleyball
Encourage residents to enjoy the outdoors with a game of lawn chair volleyball on this day that the U.S. National Park Service was founded. To play, have everyone sit in a circle of lawn chairs in the backyard, and encourage everyone to remain in their seats during play. Then stand in the middle of the circle and hit a large beach ball to residents and encourage them to use any part of their body to keep the ball in play.
Wild Bird Bingo
On this day that the U.S. National Park Service was founded, invite residents outdoors to play a game of wild bird bingo. To play, provide residents with bingo cards with the names of wild birds to cross out when they see the bird in the backyard.
Sand Pebble Art Social
Supply residents with small rocks to create unique objects, just like they were at the beach. Serve ice cream as a snack.
Happy Hour
Celebrate this National Whiskey Sour Day with residents before dinner by providing nonalcoholic whiskey sour drinks by substituting apple juice for the whiskey.
26
- Birthday: Benjamin Bradlee, American newspaper editor (1921)
- National Toilet Paper Day
Toilet Paper Gowns
Divide residents into groups and provide each group with a staff member model and a roll of toilet paper on this National Toilet Paper Day to create the best looking gown. Give residents 20 minutes to create their dress.
News Article Puzzles
Invite residents to solve a few news article puzzles on this birthday of newspaper editor Benjamin Bradlee. For the activity, first cut out an article from your local newspaper, and then cut the paragraphs apart for residents to try to put back together in order.
Grab a Roll
Pass around a roll of toilet paper to residents on this National Toilet Paper Day, and ask them to grab as much as they think they will need. Then go around the room and ask residents to share something about themselves for each sheet of toilet paper that they took.
Sand Between My Toes Social
Fill a kiddie pool with sand and seat chairs along the perimeter of the pool for residents to sit down and place their bare feet in the sand. Serve virgin piña coladas as a snack.
27
- Birthday: Mother Teresa, Catholic nun (1910)
- The Duchess Who Wasn't Day, honoring the writer who took The Duchess as her pen name when writing her novels
Crafts: Prayer Jars
Assist residents with making their own prayer jars on this birthday of Mother Teresa. Supply residents with Mason jars, liquid watercolors, ribbon, paint, craft sticks, and trim to create the jars.
British Backyard Fun
For this day known as The Duchess Who Wasn't Day, honoring the writer who took The Duchess as her pen name when writing her novels, invite residents to play the fun popular British game of croquet.
Bible Pictionary
Invite residents to play a fun game of Bible Pictionary on this birthday of Catholic nun Mother Teresa. (Pictionary cards)
Name That Beach Tune Social
Play fun music from The Beach Boys to see which residents can correctly identify the songs. Serve cheese and crackers as a snack.
28
- Birthday: Jack Kirby, American comic book artist and writer of famous characters, including Captain America, Incredible Hulk, and Thor (1917)
- Birthday: Lucy Hayes, American First Lady to President Rutherford B. Hayes who was nicknamed "Lemonade Lucy" because they did not serve alcohol at White House receptions (1831)
- First paid radio commercials were broadcast (1922; some sources say August 29)
Lemonade Stand
Help residents organize a lemonade stand in your facility to sell lemonade to staff and visitors on this birthday of Lucy Hayes, the American First Lady to President Rutherford B. Hayes who was nicknamed "Lemonade Lucy" because they did not serve alcohol at White House receptions.
Identifying Superheroes
On this birthday of Jack Kirby, the American comic book artist and writer of famous characters, including Captain America, Incredible Hulk, and Thor, read the descriptions of famous superheroes for your residents to guess.
Radio Commercials
Share old radio commercials with residents on this day that the first paid radio commercials were broadcast.
Limbo Contest Social
Play beachy music as you host a fun limbo contest on the back patio for staff and residents. Serve pieces of fruit as a snack.
29
- According to Hoyle Day, a day promoting games to be played according to the rules
- Birthday: Ingrid Bergman, Swedish actress (1915)
- The Fugitive television series concluded with one of the highest-rated shows, holding a ratings record for over a decade (1967)
Name Bergman's Movies
Read the Ingrid Bergman's movies for residents to try to identify on this birthday of the actress.
Playing Fan Tan
Teach your residents how to play the fun card game Fan Tan on this According to Hoyle Day, a day promoting games to be played according to the rules.
Remember These Shows?
In recognition of this day that The Fugitive television series concluded with one of the highest-rated shows, holding a ratings record for over a decade, read a description of popular television shows from the 1960s for residents to identify.
Beach Boardwalk Milk Bottle Game Social
Use your facility's bowling pins or empty water bottles to create a fun boardwalk milk bottle tossing game in which residents get three tries to knock down the bottles with a baseball. Serve cookies as a snack.
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- Birthday: Mary Shelley, English novelist (1797)
- Birthday: Ted Williams, Major League Baseball player who was known as one of the greatest hitters in the league (1918)
- National Toasted Marshmallow Day
Crafts: Tea Cup Bookmarks
Show residents how to make tea cup bookmarks on this birthday of novelist Mary Shelley. For the craft, use colorful gift bags or heavy scrapbook paper, string, glue, markers, scissors, a craft knife, a tapestry needle, and the teacup template.
Water Balloon Baseball
Invite residents out on the back patio to watch your facility's staff play a fun game of water balloon baseball in the backyard on this birthday of Major League Baseball player Ted Williams. To play, pitch water balloons to staff members who use a plastic bat to hit the balloons.
Marshmallow Transfer
For this National Toasted Marshmallow Day, supply residents with a bowl of marshmallows, an empty bowl, and a pair of chopsticks to see who can transfer their marshmallows from one bowl to the other the quickest.
Would You Rather? Beach Edition Social
Ask residents a few summer-themed Would You Rather? questions. (The questions begin on page 2 of the pdf.) Serve peanut butter crackers as a snack.
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- Diana, Princess of Wales died (1997)
- Love Litigating Lawyers Day
- National Trail Mix Day
English Pub Game
In recognition of this day that Diana, Princess of Wales died, invite residents to play the fun British pub game penny pitching.
Trail Mix Bar
Organize a trail mix bar in your Activity Room for residents to make their own trail mix on this National Trail Mix Day.
Lawyer Jokes
Share a few funny lawyer jokes with your residents on this Love Litigating Lawyers Day.
Beach Paintings Social
Set up canvases and paint, and encourage residents to paint a beach scene. Serve milkshakes as a snack.