February 2017 Assisted Living Activity Calendar

1

• Hula in the Coola Day, a day to host a fun, "warm" luau party indoors during winter
• National Candy-Making Day (some sources say Decorating With Candy Day)

Snow Day

Persuade residents to take a "snow day" by checking out a book from your facility's library to read on this winter day. Set up several reading nooks throughout your facility to encourage residents to independently enjoy reading this winter.

Baking Club: Homemade Cherry Pie

During this National Cherry Month, encourage the Baking Club to make a homemade cherry pie for residents to sample. If time permits, teach residents how to make a lattice-top pie crust for the pie.

Candy Decorators

In recognition of this National Candy-Making Day, which some refer to as Decorating With Candy Day, invite the residents to make adorable candy people using gum drops and gummy worms. Once the people have been assembled, fill glass jars with white sanding sugar to create wintertime dioramas.

Hula Social

Celebrate this Hula in the Coola Day by escaping winter with a luau party. Turn up the heat indoors and invite residents to sip fruity non-alcoholic drinks, like Hawaiian Lemonade, as they enjoy Hawaiian music.

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2

• Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day Breakfast

Coordinate with Dining Services to host a special breakfast for residents on this Groundhog Day. Consider serving breakfast foods that are native to Pennsylvania like Scrapple or Amish bread. Ask residents if they think that there will be six more weeks of winter.

Crafts: Groundhog Treats

Gather residents to assist you with assembling groundhog treats to pass out to residents and visitors during the upcoming afternoon social. Use chocolate-covered nuts, cellophane bags, and labels for the craft.

Learn a New Language

During this romantic month of February, teach residents how to speak French, the language of love. Recruit a resident or staff member who knows a little French to teach the class.

Groundhog Day Social

Educate residents about this Groundhog Day by sharing a few fun facts for residents to enjoy while sampling the Groundhog Treats that were made earlier in the Crafts activity.

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3

• Birthday: Norman Rockwell, artist and illustrator (1894)
• Bubble Gum Day
• National Wear Red Day

#GoRedWearRed

Encourage residents and staff to wear red on this National Wear Red Day, in honor of American Heart Month. Take pictures of residents and staff members in their red to send to family members.

Bubble Blowing Contest

On this Bubble Gum Day, encourage residents to have a contest to see who can blow the biggest bubble. Line participants up in a row and let 'em blow. Encourage other residents to be on the lookout to see who blows the biggest bubble.

Painting to Music

Persuade residents to tap into their inner Norman Rockwell, on this birthday of the famous illustrator, by painting to music. Supply residents with paint and canvases.

Tea Sampler Social

Keep residents warm by providing them with an array of hot teas for them to sample. Encourage residents to vote on which tea they prefer. Serve butter cookies.

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4

• Famous concert pianist Liberace died (1987)
• Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst's granddaughter was kidnapped (1974)
• United Service Organizations (USO) was founded (1941)

History Review

For this National Black History Month, discuss the various inventions and discoveries made by African-Americans. Encourage residents to discuss the evolution of race relations in America.

Piano Lesson

Offer piano lessons to residents on this day that pianist and entertainer Liberace died. Invite a staff member to teach residents a simple song like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on your facility's piano.

USO Memories

Invite residents to reminisce about the United Service Organizations (USO) on this day that it was founded. Ask the residents about the USO parties that they have attended as you play music from the 1940s.

Front Page Social

Talk to residents about current events and newspaper headlines on this day that Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped. Serve coffee and pastries.

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5

• Children's Authors and Illustrators Week (February 5-11)
• Super Bowl LI in Houston, Texas
• Weatherperson's Day

Crafts: Pop-up Books

During this Children's Authors and Illustrators Week, encourage residents to create a pop-up book for their grandchildren by making pop-up cards and pasting them together to form a book.

Winter Predictions

On this Weatherperson's Day, share interesting winter predictions for 2017 with your residents from the Farmers' Almanac. Afterwards, go around the room and ask each resident to discuss the worst winter storm that they have ever seen.

Extreme Weather Social

For this Weatherperson's Day, invite residents to learn more about weather by conducting a fun science experiment, like creating a tornado in a jar. Serve veggies and dip as a snack.

Super Bowl LI Party

Throw a fun Super Bowl party in your Activity Room in which residents watch the big game on your television. Encourage residents to root for their favorite team.

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6

• Elizabeth II became Queen of England (1952)
• Massachusetts became the 6th state (1788)

Trip to the Library

For this Library Lovers' Month, take residents on a trip to your local library. Call ahead to arrange for a tour of the library for your residents.

High Tea

Host a high tea for your residents this afternoon in celebration of this day that Elizabeth II became Queen of England. Add tablecloths to your Activity Room tables and serve hot tea and warm scones.

Best Female Comedians

Reminisce with residents about the best female comedians during this Spunky Old Broads Month. Start a debate about the best comedienne of all time.

Strawberries and Cream Social

Enjoy this Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month with residents by serving strawberries and cream. Ask residents if they have ever had a fruit tree or small fruit orchard in their garden.

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7

• Ballet was introduced to the United States (1827)
• The Beatles arrived in New York, setting off Beatle mania (1964)

Heart-Healthy Exercise

Invite residents to improve their heart health by joining your Exercise Class today during this American Heart Month.

Low-Vision Support Group

Encourage your low-vision residents to meet during this Low Vision Awareness Month. Invite several department coordinators to attend to discuss ways in which their departments can improve services for low-vision residents, like enlarging the print on Dining Room menus or adding more large-print books to your facility's library.

Afternoon at the Ballet

In honor of this day that ballet was first brought to the United States, show residents a popular ballet in your Activity Room, like Swan Lake.

Beatles Social

Play familiar Beatles tunes as you encourage residents to discuss Beatle mania on this day that The Beatles arrived in New York. Ask residents if they remember the teen frenzy around Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Serve ice cream sundaes.

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8

• Birthday: Portland, Oregon (1851)

Baking Club: Cupcakes

During this Bake for Family Fun Month, invite the Baking Club to make tasty cupcakes for the afternoon social.

Art Project

Celebrate this birthday of Portland, Oregon, also known as the "City of Roses," by encouraging residents to make beautiful crepe paper roses.

West Coast Bias

In honor of this birthday of Portland, Oregon, invite a few of your West Coast natives to explain why the West Coast is better. Afterwards, encourage your East Coast natives to list the benefits of living closer to the Atlantic.

Winter Memories Social

Invite residents to reminisce about their past winters and the wintertime traditions that they had with family, like ski vacations or snowball fights. Serve the cupcakes that were made earlier by the Baking Club.

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9

• Baseball great Satchel Paige was nominated to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1971)
• Birthday: William Henry Harrison, American president (1773)

Crafts: Building a Telescope

Encourage residents to assist you with constructing a simple telescope to watch the full moon on February 10 during the Snow Moon Nightcap.

Older, But Wiser

For this Spunky Old Broads Month, reminisce with the women of your facility – now that they are older and wiser – about the life lessons that they have learned over the years. Ask the women to share a few funny stories about the mistakes that they have made in the past.

Baseball Cards

Pass around copies of baseball cards from the 1940s and have residents discuss the players on this day that Satchel Paige, the first Negro League veteran, was nominated to the Baseball Hall of Fame. (Beforehand, print out the cards onto cardstock and have volunteers cut out the cards for you to pass around during the activity.)

Presidential Trivia Social

Quiz residents with presidential trivia on this day that President William Henry Harrison, who had the shortest term in history with 32 days as President, was born. Serve warm cookies as a snack.

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10

• Freelance Writers Appreciation Week (February 5-11)
• Snow (Full) Moon, so named by American Indians because of the amount of snow in February

Baking Club: Strawberry Pizza

In recognition of this Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month, encourage your Baking Club to bake a unique strawberry pizza.

Writer's Corner

During this Freelance Writers Appreciation Week, encourage residents to write a love poem for Valentine's Day. Supply stationery and pens to residents.

What Is It? Social

Borrow antiques from your local antique store and pass them around to residents. Invite residents to guess what the antique is and how to use it. Serve nuts as a snack.

Snow Moon Nightcap

Invite residents to gaze at the Snow (Full) Moon tonight. Set up the telescope, which was made on February 9, near a large picture window. Serve juice and cookies.

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11

• Birthday: Thomas Edison, inventor (1847)
• Florida State Fair in Tampa, Florida (February 9-20)
• Julia Childs premiered on the television show The French Chef (1963)

Inventor's Day Projects

Invite residents to create toys for their grandkids, like a sailboat or a tambourine, on this day that inventor Thomas Edison was born.

Winter Fair

During this first week of the Florida State Fair, host a fun winter fair in your Activity Room. Set up several carnival games, like Ring Toss or Bean Bag Toss, for your residents to enjoy.

French Cooking Demo

Celebrate this day that The French Chef cooking show premiered on television with Julia Child by having a staff member from Dining Services demonstrate how to make an easy French food, like crepes.

Tart Trivia Social

In celebration of this National Grapefruit Month, host a tart trivia social in which you ask trivia questions. If a resident gives a wrong answer, then he or she must drink a shot of grapefruit juice.

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12

• Birthday: Abraham Lincoln, American president (1809)
• Dracula premiered (1931)

Crafts: Candy Roses

Have fun with residents as you assist them with making candy roses that can be passed out on Valentine's Day.

(Log) Cabin Fever

To honor President Abraham Lincoln who was born in a log cabin on this day, host a checkers tournament to help residents fight off their cabin fever during winter.

Staying Warm Social

Serve a variety of hot drinks for residents on this cold day, like hot tea, hot cocoa, and hot toddies.

Scary Movie Night

Show residents the popular movie Dracula (1931) on this day that it premiered. Borrow the DVD from your local library or online. Serve popcorn.

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13

• Get a Different Name Day
• 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City (February 13-14)

Baking Club: Chocolate Mousse

Encourage the Baking Club to make a delicious chocolate mousse for residents to enjoy for the upcoming Chocolaty Social.

Dog Tricks

To pay tribute to this first day of the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, arrange to have a friendly dog that knows a few tricks (a staff member's dog or a family member's dog) to visit your facility. If your facility has a dog, teach the dog a few dog tricks to demonstrate to the residents.

They Call Me...

For this Get a Different Name Day, ask residents which name they would like to be called today. Encourage residents to pick a name that they have always liked. Write their new name on a name tag or label, which residents can stick on their clothing for the day.

Chocolaty Social

Get ready for Valentine's Day by serving a tasty favorite: chocolate. Serve a variety of chocolates, including the chocolate mousse that was made earlier today.

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14

• Arizona became the 48th state (1912)
• Oregon became the 33rd state (1859)
• Saint Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Cards

Have fun with residents as they make Valentine's cards for Valentine's Day.

Valentine Bingo

Create bingo cards on your computer with the names of famous couples in each of the squares. During the bingo game, list facts or trivia about a particular couple and have the residents place a chip on the correct couple's names.

Manicures & Make-up Social

Encourage residents to get ready for tonight's big ball by inviting a make-up consultant to give free make-overs to residents. In addition, ask staff members to give manicures to the residents. Serve appetizers on toothpicks so the manicures will remain intact.

Valentine's Day Ball

Invite residents to get all gussied up for tonight's Valentine's Ball. Hire fun, musical entertainment to keep the residents on the dance floor all night!

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15

• Birthday: Susan B. Anthony, women's suffrage pioneer (1820)

Indoor Hockey

Show residents how to play a winter sport like indoor hockey. To play, divide seated residents into two teams, with each team facing one another. Provide brooms to the residents to hit a soft Nerf ball under an opposing team member's chair to score a goal.

Flannel Shirt Fashion Show

While it may be too cold to take residents outdoors, have fun with residents indoors as you encourage staff and residents to wear their favorite flannel shirts today. Host a fashion show for staff and residents to show off their warm shirts.

Women's Suffrage

Host a discussion about the history of women's voting rights on this day that Susan B. Anthony was born. Ask residents about their past voting experiences.

Whiteout Conditions Social

On this wintry day, set up your afternoon social near a large picture window for residents to enjoy the winter scenery. Then, serve a variety of "whiteout" snacks, like powdered donuts and hot white chocolate with marshmallows.

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16

• Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 12-18)

Crafts: Indoor Snowmen

On this wintry day, assist residents with making Styrofoam ball snowmen. Stick the finished snowmen throughout your facility for the season.

Baking Club: Ginger Cookies

Encourage the residents to bake ginger cookies for this afternoon's Hot Cocoa and Warm Cookies Social.

Random Acts

Gather residents to assist you in the Activity Department during this Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Hot Cocoa and Warm Cookies Social

Keep your residents warm on this cold day by serving them hot cocoa and the warm ginger cookies that were made earlier today by the Baking Club.

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17

• American Indian leader Geronimo died (1909)
• Great Backyard Bird Count, a national movement in which volunteers track the numbers and types of birds in their area (February 17-20)

Bird Count

On this first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count, supply residents with binoculars to view the birds in your backyard from one of your facility's large picture windows.

Educational Series

Recognize this day that famous American Indian Geronimo died by showing a documentary about his life. Borrow the documentary Geronimo and the Apache Resistance (1988) from your local library or online. Serve popcorn.

Winter Gardening Social

Recruit residents at this afternoon social to help plant flower bulbs in indoor planters so that your facility can have beautiful flowers during the wintertime. Serve hot coffee and pastries as a snack.

Ladies' Margarita Night

In honor of this Spunky Old Broads Month, invite the women of your facility to have non-alcoholic margaritas while listening to big band music. Purchase a non-alcoholic margarita mix at your local grocery store.

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18

Assembling Birdhouses

For this National Bird-Feeding Month, invite residents to assemble birdhouses that can be painted during the Crafts activity on February 19. Purchase inexpensive birdhouse kits from your local activity supply store.

Red Hat Ladies Volunteer Project

Invite the red hatters to make no-sew fleece hats to be donated to a local homeless shelter.

Armchair Travel: Antarctica

In recognition of this snowy season, take your residents on a fun trip to Antarctica. Show a DVD that showcases penguins and other wildlife, like National Geographic: Antarctic Wildlife Adventure (1991). Borrow the DVD from your local library or online.

Sour Social

Invite residents to enjoy the afternoon with a piece of fresh grapefruit during this National Grapefruit Month.

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19

• Automotive company Ford finished the prototype of the Thunderbird (1954)
• Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique about women achieving their potential in life (1963)
• Inventor Thomas Edison patented the phonograph (1878)

Crafts: Painting Birdhouses

During this National Bird-Feeding Month, invite residents to paint the birdhouses that they assembled on February 18. Once the houses are dry, add bird feed and set the houses outdoors.

Musical Bingo

Have fun with residents as you play musical bingo on this day that Thomas Edison patented the phonograph. Make bingo cards and place the titles of the songs that you will play into each of the bingo card squares. Be sure to play only instrumental songs so that the residents will have to guess the song title and place a chip on the bingo square that contains the correct song title.

My First Car

Reminisce with residents about their first car on this day that the Ford Thunderbird's prototype was formed.

The Feminine Mystique Social

Encourage residents to reminisce about the women's movement on this day that author Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique. Ask residents if they recall the contents of the book. Serve warm bread as a snack.

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20

Family Baking Fun

Invite the grandkids over to bake delicious snowflake cookies with the residents during this Bake for Family Fun Month.

Library Tour

Take your facility's new residents on a tour of your facility's library during this Library Lovers' Month.

Roaring Twenties Social

On this 20th of February, play music from the Roaring Twenties and encourage residents to dance at this fun, afternoon social. Serve cheese and crackers.

Long Johns & Cocoa Nightcap

Encourage residents to stop by your Activity Room for a hot cocoa nightcap before they turn in for the evening. Set up a hot cocoa bar with marshmallows and peppermint sticks.

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21

• Actress Elizabeth Taylor married Michael Wilding (1952)
• Washington Monument was dedicated to George Washington (1885)

Heart-Health Program

During this American Heart Month, invite a speaker, like your facility's dietitian, to speak to residents about healthy foods that are good for the heart.

Name That Monument

Share pictures of U.S. monuments and invite residents to guess "what and where" on this day that the Washington Monument was dedicated to George Washington.

Which Husband Was It? Social

On this day that actress Elizabeth Taylor married Michael Wilding, reminisce with residents about actress Elizabeth Taylor's eight husbands as you quiz residents to guess which husband you are describing. Serve wine and cheese as a snack.

Movie Night: Father of the Bride

Show the popular movie Father of the Bride (1950) starring Elizabeth Taylor on this day that Liz married hubby #2 Michael Wilding. Serve popcorn.

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22

• Birthday: George Washington, American president (1732)
• Five and dime store Woolworth's opened (1879)
• United States hockey team upset the Soviet Union hockey team in the Winter Olympics (1980)

Baking Club: Russian Apple Cake

Encourage the Baking Club to make a delicious Russian apple cake on this day that the U.S. hockey team upset the Soviet team during the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Winter Cruise

Dust off your shuffleboard game and host a shuffleboard tournament in the dead of winter! Pretend that you are aboard a cruise ship and serve fun tropical drinks with umbrellas.

Washington and the Cherry Tree

On this birthday of President George Washington, share the fable about Washington cutting down the cherry tree. Ask residents what they think about the myth.

Lunch Counter Memories Social

Reminisce with residents about the five and dime store Woolworth's on this day that it opened. Serve the Russian apple cake that was made earlier today by the Baking Club.

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23

• Children received the first polio vaccine (1954)
• Folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote "This Land is Your Land" (1940)
• United States flag was raised over Iwo Jima (1945)

Crafts: Still Life Artwork

On this cold day, encourage residents to enjoy the indoors by persuading them to show their artistic side as they paint a bowl of fruit. Set the residents around a table and place the bowl of fruit in the middle of the table. Give each resident a canvas and paint. Afterwards, invite residents to reveal their paintings and compare the different viewpoints of the same bowl of fruit.

Show & Tell

In honor of this day that the U.S. flag was raised over Iwo Jima, invite residents to show and tell about their military mementos. Invite residents to discuss their time (or their husband's time) in the military.

Do You Remember?

Reminisce with residents about vaccinations in the 1950s on this day that children received the first polio vaccine.

Sing Along Social

Play folk music and encourage residents to sing along on this day that folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote "This Land is Your Land." Borrow a folk music CD from your local library. Serve peanuts and ginger ale.

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24

• Flag Day in Mexico
• United States Supreme Court defended the right to satirize public figures (1988)

Nurse's Notes

For this Wise Health Care Consumer Month, invite your facility's nurse to speak to family members and residents about the types of health care decisions that should be made at this time.

Talent Show

Encourage residents to participate in a talent show on this day that the U.S. Supreme Court defended the right to satirize public figures. Persuade residents to share their talents with other residents.

Mexican Fiesta Social

On this Flag Day in Mexico, teach residents a few Spanish words and phrases. Serve guacamole and chips as a snack.

Winter Cocktail Happy Hour

Host a fun happy hour for residents before dinner on this wintry day. Provide warm appetizers and wintertime drinks, like Hot Toddies or Hot Whiskey Punch.

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25

• First national bank was chartered by Congress (1791)
• Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca premiered on television (1950)

Baking Club: Oatmeal Grapefruit Quick Bread

Encourage residents to make a grapefruit recipe like oatmeal grapefruit quick bread during this National Grapefruit Month.

Heart-Health Quiz

Quiz residents about their heart health during this American Heart Month.

Banking Memories

Begin an interesting discussion with residents about the services that they used to receive from their local banks, on this day that the first national bank was chartered by Congress. Ask residents about the gifts that their banks gave them for being good customers, like free toasters.

Your Show of Shows Social

Take residents back to the 1950s on this day that the television show Your Show of Shows premiered featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Show the DVD The Sid Caesar Collection: The Fan Favorites (2004), which you can borrow online. Serve the Oatmeal Grapefruit Quick Bread made earlier today by the Baking Club.

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26

• Birthday: Levi Strauss, jean manufacturer (1829)
• Daytona 500, racing competition in Daytona Beach, Florida

Crafts: Soapbox Dragsters

Invite the grandsons over for a fun Daytona 500 viewing party in your Activity Room. Before the race begins, invite the residents to make soapbox dragsters with their grandkids.

Sweet Treat Demonstration

For this National Cherry Month, host a fun sweet treat baking demonstration of Double Chocolate Cherry Muffins. Allow the muffins to cool before serving them at the upcoming Chocolate & Cherries Social.

Wear Your Jeans Day

Encourage staff and residents to wear their dungarees on this day that jean manufacturer Levi Strauss was born.

Chocolate & Cherries Social

During this National Cherry Month, invite residents to sample the delectable double chocolate cherry muffins made earlier today during the Sweet Treat Demonstration.

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27

• United States Supreme Court declared the 19th Amendment, the women's right to vote, was constitutional (1922)

Black History

Invite residents to watch the PBS documentary A History of Black Achievement in America (2005) during this National Black History Month.

Famous Women Trivia

Question residents about famous women on this day that the U.S. Supreme Court declared the 19th Amendment, the women's right to vote, constitutional.

Heart-Healthy Social

In recognition of this American Heart Month, coordinate with Dining Services to provide a heart-healthy snack for residents, like fat-free yogurt with granola, cantaloupe with fat-free cottage cheese, or veggies with hummus.

Strawberry Daiquiri Night

Play fun music as you hand out Virgin Strawberry Daiquiris to residents during this Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month.

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28

• Floral Design Day
• National Tooth Fairy Day
• Scientists discovered the double helix structure of human DNA (1953)

Tissue Paper Flowers

On this Floral Design Day, encourage your seniors to make fun and easy tissue paper flowers to decorate your facility.

Genealogy Project

Invite residents to bring photos and mementos to your Activity Room to discuss their family history on this day that scientists discovered the double helix structure of human DNA.

Genealogy Scrapbooking

In your Activity Room, provide residents with special paper and scrapbooking materials so that they can create a genealogy book featuring their family photos and mementos.

Tooth Fairy Social

For this National Tooth Fairy Day, provide residents with a healthy snack for their teeth, like raw carrots, celery, or cucumbers. Discuss whether any of the residents left money "from the Tooth Fairy" under their kids' pillows.

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