Sample Dementia Activity Calendar

August 2021 Dementia Activity Calendar

Find fun senior activity ideas for your Alzheimer's and dementia residents in the calendar below that you can easily add to your nursing facility's activity calendar.

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

Fun Dementia Activity Ideas for August
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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 ...

TIP: Find activities that are classified to help you easily find the types of activity ideas that you need for your calendar.

Each day contains six types of activities:

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

1

Crafts: Best Clown Face

Supply residents with inflated white balloons and markers to see who can create the best clown face on this first day of International Clown Week. Beforehand, assemble cone hats made out of colorful paper and provide them to residents to decorate. Encourage residents to attach pieces of colorful balloon ribbon to the inside of the cone hats to simulate clown hair. Then have residents attach the hats to the top of their finished balloons.

One-on-One: Paper Stars

Assist your resident with making paper stars on this birthday of Francis Scott Key, the American poet who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner." Simply create the stars by folding colorful paper and making a few cuts.

Exercise: Olympic Bounce

In recognition of this birthday of Olympic gold medalist Sammy Lee, host a fun "Olympic" bounce for residents. For the game, set out a basket in the middle of the floor and provide each resident with 10 ping pong balls to bounce to see how many of the balls they can get to land in the basket. Award candy medals (candy taped to ribbon) to the participants.

Bedside: Whale Mosaic

Invite your resident to assist you with assembling a whale mosaic on this birthday of Moby-Dick author Herman Melville. To create the mosaic, cut out colorful paper and then glue the paper to a whale template. (When printing out the template, adjust the scale settings to print the whale template at 200%.) Finally, cut out the whale and adhere it to a contrasting piece of paper for hanging.

Reminiscing: You Never Said This, Did You?

Reminisce with residents about the things their parents told them on this Respect for Parents Day. Ask residents whether they ever told themselves that they would never say those same things to their own kids.

Sensory Stimulation: Sing Along

On this birthday of singer Jerry Garcia, invite residents to participate in a sing along to sing classic songs from yesteryear.

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2

Crafts: Designer Planters for a Bargain

Celebrate this first day of National Bargain Hunting Week with residents by showing them how to create ombre plants using small terra cotta plants and paint.

One-on-One: Round-the-Clock Dice Game

On this day that the first U.S. census began, challenge your resident to a fun dice counting game called Round-the-Clock in which each player takes two dice to roll all the numbers – 1 to 12 – in order. Each player gets to roll once per round. Once they have rolled a 1 (in either of the two dice), then the next time they roll, they must try to get a 2 (either on one dice or a combination of 1 and 1 on both dice). The first player who goes "Round the Clock"– rolling all the numbers from 1 to 12 – wins.

Exercise: Over the Chair

Recognize this first day of the U.S. Women’s Amateur (Golf) Championship in Rye, New York by setting out a lawn chair in the backyard for residents to practice hitting a golf ball so that it goes over the chair.

Bedside: Planning a Fall Garden

In recognition of this birthday of city planner Pierre Charles L’Enfant, encourage your resident to help you plan your facility’s fall garden. Chit chat about which fall vegetables should be planted in the garden.

Reminiscing: Famous Movies

Reminisce with residents about famous movies on this birthday of Warner Bros. film studio co-creator Jack Warner. For the activity, pass around photos of famous movie scenes for residents to guess the classic movie. (Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page of the website to make sure the images load before printing the page from your browser.)

Sensory Stimulation: Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

Make homemade ice cream sandwiches with residents to sample on this National Ice Cream Sandwich Day.

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3

Crafts: Creative Lunch Bags

In recognition of this birthday of American schoolteacher John T. Scopes, assist residents with making creative lunch bags for their grandchildren using brown lunch bags, markers, and colored pencils.

One-on-One: Watermelon Manicure

Give your resident a fun watermelon manicure in celebration of this National Watermelon Day.

Exercise: Spotlight Charades

On this National Night Out, an annual day to promote awareness of crime prevention and police-community partnerships, invite residents to get their exercise by playing a fun game of Spotlight Charades. For the activity, use a large flashlight and a sheet and have each resident act out an animal so that the image appears on the large sheet. Encourage residents to guess the animal.

Bedside: Learning About Martha

Share a few fun facts with your resident about lifestyle guru Martha Stewart on this day that she was born.

Reminiscing: Name the Crooner

Reminisce with residents about their favorite singers on this birthday of singing icon Tony Bennett. Afterwards, pass around photos of singers for residents to identify.

Sensory Stimulation: Eating Watermelon

Pass out pieces of watermelon for residents to enjoy on this National Watermelon Day.

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4

Crafts: Drag Queen Cookies

On this birthday of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, invite residents to have fun focusing on a different type of queen by decorating drag queen cookies with residents. For the activity, first bake sugar cookies using a gingerbread man cookie cutter, making sure to bend the arms a bit. After the cookies have baked and cooled, supply residents with royal icing that has been tinted with food coloring to ice and decorate the cookies.

One-on-One: Floral Crowns

Assist your resident with creating her own crown in honor of this birthday of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Use flowers, floral tape, and floral wire to create a pretty flower crown for her to wear.

Exercise: Field Day Games

Host a fun "Field Day" in your Activity Room on this birthday of athlete Glenn Cunningham. Set out several fun floor games, like corn hole and bean bag toss.

Bedside: Extraordinary People

For this birthday of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish architect who was granted honorary American citizenship for helping save 100,000 Jews during World War II, borrow a tablet to share with your resident a list of successful people who have excelled through difficult times.

Reminiscing: Popular Jobs for Women: Then and Now

Recognize this Single Working Women’s Day by reminiscing with residents about their past professions. Afterwards, share a list of professions dominated by women today and those dominated by women 100 years ago.

Sensory Stimulation: Emotion Portraits

In recognition of this birthday of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, help residents tap into their emotions by creating emotion portraits. To make the portraits, use an emotion generator and have each resident use markers, watercolors, and watercolor paper to draw themselves with that emotion.

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5

Crafts: Paint-by-Number Canvas Art

Encourage residents to paint using numbers on this birthday of chronologist Joseph Justus Scaliger by having residents create paint-by-number artwork. Use canvases, paper, pencils, and the paint-by-number templates for the activity.

One-on-One: Which One?

State a popular characteristic of a zodiac sign and ask your resident to identify the sign you are referring to on this birthday of world-famous astrologer Sydney Omarr. (On the website, click a zodiac sign to view its characteristics.)

Exercise: Wrist and Hand Stretches

On this birthday of writer Conrad Aiken, help your residents exercise their most important writing instruments – their hands and wrists – by doing a few stretches.

Bedside: Hangman: Literary Edition

Use paper and a pen to play a fun game of hangman with your resident using the titles of famous novels on this birthday of novelist Conrad Aiken.

Reminiscing: Name the Variety Show

Reminisce with residents about their favorite variety shows on this day that the Spanish-language variety show Sábado Gigante originated. Afterwards, pass around photos of popular variety shows for residents to rank. (To print out the images from the videos, hover the mouse over the video image and right-click the mouse. Then click "Print image in new window" to print from your browser.)

Sensory Stimulation: Space Suncatchers

Supply residents with plastic plates and stained glass paint to make space suncatchers on this birthday of astronaut Neil Armstrong.

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6

Crafts: D.I.Y. Pop Art

Show residents how to create pop art on this birthday of pop artist Andy Warhol by simply filling in a cupcake template or a donut template with brightly colored markers.

One-on-One: Easiest Pie Ever

Help your resident make the easiest cream pie using cream cheese and unflavored gelatin on this Braham Pie Day in Braham, Minnesota.

Exercise: Toe Exercises

Lead residents in a few toe exercises on this Wiggle Your Toes Day.

Bedside: Funny Stories From the Courtroom

Borrow a tablet to share a few funny courtroom stories with your resident in recognition of this day of the mysterious disappearance of Judge Crater.

Reminiscing: Old Hollywood Gossip

Reminisce with residents about the gossip of Old Hollywood on this birthday of gossip columnist Louella Parsons.

Sensory Stimulation: Doggie Breath Mints

Assist residents with making a batch of doggie breath mints for your facility’s house dog on this National Fresh Breath Day.

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7

Crafts: Sandcastle S’mores

Help residents make their own sandcastle s’mores on this Sandcastle Day. Use graham crackers, plastic sandcastle molds, chocolate, and marshmallows for the fun activity.

One-on-One: Drawing Lighthouses

On this National Lighthouse Day, show your resident how to draw a lighthouse using the tutorial and colored pencils.

Exercise: Strengthening the Legs

In recognition of this birthday of Olympic marathoner Abebe Bikila, lead residents in a few leg strengthening exercises.

Bedside: Beachy Aquariums

Assist your resident with crafting a beachy aquarium for her room on this first day of the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Craftsmen’s Fair, America’s oldest crafts fair in Newbury, New Hampshire. To create the aquarium, first fill the bottom of a glass with sand and then fill the glass with water. Next, encourage your resident to pick out seashells and sea glass to add to the aquarium. Finally, set the aquarium in your resident’s room for the day.

Reminiscing: How Do You Use Mustard?

Reminisce with residents about their favorite condiments on this National Mustard Day. Afterwards, ask residents to share a few ways they have used mustard.

Sensory Stimulation: Seashell Creatures

Supply residents with seashells to create seashell creatures on this first day of the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Craftsmen’s Fair. Use air-dry clay, glue, and paint for the activity.

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8

Crafts: Easy Summer Necklaces

Provide residents with wooden beads, paint, and fabric to make summer necklaces on this Wear Your Mother’s Jewelry Day.

One-on-One: Cat Pins

Recruit your resident to help you assemble cat pins on this International Cat Day using fabric, embroidery floss, the animal template, pin backs, and a needle.

Exercise: Frisbee Bocce

On this birthday of Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis, invite residents to play a variation of the Italian bowling game of bocce by playing Frisbee bocce. To play, first roll a ball (the jack) onto the lawn. Then have residents compete on who can toss their Frisbee so that it lands the closest to the jack.

Bedside: Ever Been Rock Climbing?

Borrow a tablet to take your resident rock climbing virtually in recognition of this Mountain Day in Japan.

Reminiscing: How Did You Decorate Your Porch

For this Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbors’ Porch Night, pass around photos of beautiful summer porches as you reminisce with residents about how they used to decorate their front and back porches for the season.

Sensory Stimulation: Beaded Flowers

Supply residents with pipe cleaners and colorful beads to create beaded flowers on this birthday of ornithologist Florence August Merriam Bailey.

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9

Crafts: Foil Fish

Use cardstock and aluminum foil to assist residents with making foil fish on this birthday of fishing treatise author Izaak Walton.

One-on-One: Sending Out Beach Cards

Print out a few beach-themed cards to help your resident write notes to send out to loved ones this summer.

Exercise: Playing With Water Guns

Fill several toy water guns for residents to play a target shooting game on this summer day. To play, simply set up empty soda cans in the backyard to see how many cans residents can knock down by squirting the water guns.

Bedside: Old Hollywood Rules

Pique your resident’s interest of Old Hollywood stars on this birthday of English actor Robert Shaw by sharing a few Old Hollywood rules that celebrities had to follow to remain a star in the entertainment industry.

Reminiscing: From What Decade

On this birthday of actor Robert Shaw, whose first name was very popular, reminisce with residents about classic baby names they remember as children. Afterwards, read the top baby names from the 1930s, 1960s, and 1990s for residents to identify which decade you are referring to.

Sensory Stimulation: Earth Cookies

Bake a batch of Earth cookies with residents on this day that Robert Gray became the first American to circumvent Earth.

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10

Crafts: Migajón Clay

For this Independence Day in Ecuador, invite residents to create migajón clay using bread and glue to make small Ecuadorian-inspired miniature figures or flowers.

One-on-One: Watching the Clouds Go By

Help your resident be lazy on this National Lazy Day by inviting her to sit on the back porch to look up in the sky to try to find animals images in the clouds.

Exercise: Rocking Chair Workout

On this National Lazy Day, seat residents in rocking chairs and ask them to use their leg muscles to rock themselves back and forth in the rocking chairs.

Bedside: Name Their Famous Parent

Use a tablet to show your resident a few photos of the kids of famous Old Hollywood actors and actresses to see if your resident can identify them on this birthday of Hollywood actor Eddie Fisher.

Reminiscing: Top 10 Candies

Reminisce with residents about their favorite childhood candies on this birthday of candy company founder Henri Nestlé. Afterwards, share a list of the top 10 candies from the early 1900s.

Sensory Stimulation: Crescent Moon and Star Mobiles

Supply residents with watercolor paints to create crescent moon and star scrape mobiles to hang on this Islamic New Year.

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11

Crafts: Best Elvis

See which resident can assemble the best Elvis Presley using cardboard tubes on this first day of Elvis Week. Supply residents with felt, glue, googly eyes, and paint for the craft.

One-on-One: Watching Mike Douglas

Borrow a tablet to show your resident an old episode of The Mike Douglas Show on this birthday of the show’s host.

Exercise: Rock and Roll Dance Contest

Play rock and roll music and invite residents to dance to see who’s the best rock and roll dancer in your facility on this first day of Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bedside: Rock Star Cribs!

In recognition of this first day of Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee, use a tablet to show your resident a few photos of Old Hollywood celebrities.

Reminiscing: 1960s Stars

Reminisce with residents about stars from the 1960s on this birthday of daytime talk show host Mike Douglas, who regularly had celebrities on his show. For the activity, read a description of the star for your residents to identify.

Sensory Stimulation: Blue Hawaii Luau

For this first day of Elvis Week, host a fun "Blue Hawaii" luau for residents. For the activity, play Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii music while having residents participate in a blindfold tasting of tropical Hawaiian fruits, like pineapple, coconut, mango, guava, and papaya.

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12

Crafts: Scratch Foam Prints

On this birthday of artist and engraver Thomas Bewick, show residents how to make scratch foam prints that can be used to create designs that are printed onto fabric with fabric paint.

One-on-One: Baked Elephant Ears

Assist your resident with making a batch of elephant ears in recognition of this World Elephant Day.

Exercise: Dancing in the Chair

Lead residents in a fun dancing chair exercise on this birthday of dancer and choreographer Michael Kidd.

Bedside: Helping the Homeless

Chit chat with your resident about her past community service before discussing the homeless on this first day of the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa. Afterwards, brainstorm with your resident about ways your facility can help the homeless in your community.

Reminiscing: Single-Sex Schools

For this birthday of school headmistress Edith Hamilton, reminisce with residents about the types of schools their children attended. Afterwards, ask residents to discuss the pros and cons of single-sex education and whether any of their children attended a single-sex school.

Sensory Stimulation: White Elephant Game

Wrap your unwanted bingo prizes and gift donations for a fun game of the White Elephant Gift Exchange in recognition of this World Elephant Day. For the activity, set all the wrapped gifts on a table, and have residents pick a number. Then have the person who picked number one pick one of the gifts, unwrap it, and show it to the others. Next, have the person who picked number two to either pick a gift from the table or take the first gift (which would have the other person pick another gift). Continue having residents pick gifts in sequential order, in which the last person gets their pick of any of the previously picked gifts or the last unwrapped gift on the table.

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13

Crafts: Felt Brooches

Assist residents with crafting felt rose brooches for themselves or the ladies in their life on this Women’s Day in Tunisia. Use felt, scissors, glue (instead of needle and thread), the rose template, and pin backs for the craft.

One-on-One: Blue Ribbon Apple Pie

Recruit your resident to assist you with baking a blue ribbon-worthy apple pie on this second day of the Iowa State Fair.

Exercise: Eyeball Hunt

Use ping pong balls and paint pens to create eyeballs to hide throughout your facility for a fun Eyeball Hunt for your residents on this Friday the Thirteenth. Award a prize to the resident who collects the most eyeballs.

Bedside: Route 66

On this second full day of the Illinois State Fair, chit chat with your resident about the popular interstate Route 66, which connected Los Angeles to Chicago. Share a few fun facts about the historic highway.

Reminiscing: Sports During the War

For this birthday of American golfer Ben Hogan, reminisce with residents about the sports that were being played during World War II. Ask residents what they thought of having sports take place during the war.

Sensory Stimulation: Monster Cookies

Provide residents with plain sugar cookies, colored icing, and candies to decorate monster cookies on this Friday the Thirteenth.

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14

Crafts: Heart Cards

Assist residents with using Washi tape to create valentine cards to decorate your Activity Room on this day of the Double Seven Festival in China, similar to Valentine’s Day.

One-on-One: Drawing Stained Glass

In recognition of this day that the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, was completed, show your resident how to create stained glass using crayons, a marker, and the template.

Exercise: Soccer Ball Bowling

Celebrate this National Bowling Day with residents by setting up bowling pins in the backyard for residents to try to knock down by kicking a soccer ball.

Bedside: What Would Be Your Walkup Song?

For this birthday of baseball ballad writer Ernest Thayer, chit chat with your resident about which walk-up song he would use when walking up to bat in Major League Baseball.

Reminiscing: Things People Actually Sold at a Garage Sale

Reminisce with residents on this National Garage Sale Day about whether they ever hosted a garage sale to sell their items. Afterwards, share a list of amazing garage sale finds.

Sensory Stimulation: Singing Baseball Songs

On this birthday of baseball ballad writer Ernest Thayer, lead residents in singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame." (A few more "baseball" songs)

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15

Crafts: Tie-Dye Art

In recognition of this day that the Woodstock music festival in Bethel, New York began, teach residents how to create tie-dye art using oil pastels and white erasers.

One-on-One: Henna Tattoos

For this Independence Day in India, use neon gel pens to give your resident a henna tattoo.

Exercise: Deep Breathing Exercises

Show residents how to do a few relaxation breathing exercises after your Exercise Class on this National Relaxation Day.

Bedside: Panama Canal

Use a tablet to share a short Panama Canal documentary with your resident on this day that the Panama Canal opened.

Reminiscing: Exotic Pets

On this Check the Chip Day, a day to remind pet owners to update their pets’ microchip information, reminisce with residents about the pets that they used to own. Afterwards, ask residents whether they believe that certain pets, like pet snakes, should be illegal to own.

Sensory Stimulation: Cookbook Search

Borrow cookbooks from your local library or staff members to provide each resident with a cookbook to play a fun cookbook search game on this birthday of cooking author Julia Child. To play, name a popular dish and award a point to the first person who finds the dish in their cookbook.

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16

Crafts: Homemade Marble Runs

Use pool noodles and marbles to assist your residents with assembling marble runs on this National Roller Coaster Day.

One-on-One: Rum Cake

For this National Rum Day, invite your resident to assist you with baking a rum cake for passersby to taste.

Exercise: Nature Hunt

Take residents outdoors for a nature hunt in recognition of this day that gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon. Provide residents with empty egg cartons to collect different elements from nature.

Bedside: Baseball Word Scramble

Invite your resident to participate in a baseball word scramble on this day that baseball legend Babe Ruth died in 1948. (Printable and Answer sheet)

Reminiscing: Labor Unions Today

Reminisce with residents about the unions they were members of on this birthday of American labor leader George Meany. Afterwards, ask residents whether they believe that labor unions are still useful or if they have outlived their usefulness.

Sensory Stimulation: Sipping Homemade Grape Juice

Assist residents with making homemade grape juice to sample on this birthday of wine vintner Fess Parker.

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17

Crafts: Black Cat Felt Plant Sticks

Recruit residents to assemble black cat felt plant sticks on this Black Cat Appreciation Day using stiff black felt, glue, wooden skewers, and a black cat template.

One-on-One: Hot Air Balloon

Assist your resident with assembling a hot air balloon for her wall on this day that the first transatlantic trip in a balloon was completed. Use cardboard, fabric, glue, a hot air balloon template, glue, colorful pom-poms, colorful cardstock, and pipe cleaners for the craft.

Exercise: Indonesian Footvolley

Teach residents a variation of Indonesia’s popular sport of sepak takraw on this Independence Day in Indonesia. To play, seat residents in a large circle to hit a balloon back and forth without using their hands. They are allowed to use their feet, knees, and heads.

Bedside: They’re Just Like Us!

On this birthday of actress Mae West, borrow a tablet to share a few photos of Old Hollywood celebrities at home with your resident.

Reminiscing: Beautiful Towns in New England

For this first day of the Vermont State Fair in Rutland, Vermont, reminisce with residents about their past trips to New England. Pass around photos of picturesque towns in New England for residents to comment on as they enjoy Vermont’s Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Sensory Stimulation: Nature Windows

Invite residents to have fun creating nature windows on this birthday of frontiersman Davy Crockett. For the activity, cover your backyard patio tables with white butcher paper and use four sticks to create windows for each resident on the table. Then provide residents with elements of nature to "decorate their windows."

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18

Crafts: Handkerchief Dolls

Assist residents with making handkerchief dolls on this birthday of Virginia Dare, the first child of English parents born in the New World. Use handkerchiefs and fabric for the craft.

One-on-One: Dice Game

Challenge your resident to a serendipitous dice game to see who will win on this Serendipity Day. Beforehand, make 20 paper dice for the game.

Exercise: Garden Flower Hunt

For this birthday of American explorer Meriwether Lewis, pass out paint chips for residents to use to match to the flowers in your garden.

Bedside: What Are the Numbers?

On this day that the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, extending the right to vote to women, was ratified, chit chat with your resident about her first time voting. Afterwards, share a few statistics of women in office.

Reminiscing: Favorite Catalogs

Reminisce with residents about their favorite catalogs on this day that the first mail-order catalog was published by Montgomery Ward. Pass around photos of mail-order catalogs for residents to identify their favorites. (More catalogs)

Sensory Stimulation: Roll a Sundae Game

Invite residents to play a fun Roll a Sundae ice cream game on this National Ice Cream Pie Day. For the game, provide each resident with a bowl of ice cream and then have them roll the dice to see what toppings they can add to their sundae.

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19

Crafts: No-Sew Rainbow Scarves

Assist residents with crafting no-sew rainbow scarves on this birthday of fashion designer Coco Chanel by cutting out pieces from colorful fleece material and hooking them together through slits that are cut in each piece. Encourage residents to gift the finished scarves to their grandchildren for the upcoming school year.

One-on-One: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

On this birthday of Malcolm Forbes, the American publisher who was known for his lavish lifestyle, borrow a tablet to share with your resident an old episode of the show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous featuring famous stars from the 1980s and 1990s, like Joan Collins.

Exercise: Couch Potato Exercises

In recognition of this National Potato Day, lead residents in a few chair exercises that they can do while sitting.

Bedside: Flying Over America

Use a tablet to help your resident view a few American landmarks by plane on this birthday of American aviation pioneer Orville Wright. Ask your resident whether he can identify each of the landmarks from above.

Reminiscing: Potato Peeler Test

Reminisce with residents about having to peel potatoes on this National Potato Day. Afterwards, supply residents with potatoes and a variety of potato peelers for residents to identify their favorite peeler.

Sensory Stimulation: Corn Prints

For this first day of the Sun Prairie’s Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, assist residents with making corn prints by dipping corn-on-the-cob in different paint colors to roll over paper to create unique abstract art.

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20

Crafts: Canvas Wall Art

Supply residents with canvases and paint to create wall art for their rooms on this birthday of architect and furniture designer Eero Saarinen.

One-on-One: Mini Caramel Apple Pops

Assist your resident with making a batch of mini caramel apple pops in recognition of this first day of the New York State Fair.

Exercise: The Potato Bowl

Host a Potato Bowl for residents in recognition of this first day of the Western Idaho Fair in Boise, Idaho. For the activity, set up bowling pins and have residents use potatoes as bowling balls to knock down the pins. Be sure to remind residents that potatoes don’t always roll straight ahead.

Bedside: Presidential Quirks

Share a few fun presidential quirks with your resident on this birthday of American President Benjamin Harrison.

Reminiscing: Carnival Rides

Reminisce with residents about their favorite carnival rides on this first day of the New York State Fair.

Sensory Stimulation: Trail for the Birds

On this first day of the Oregon Trail Rodeo in Hastings, Nebraska, pass out cups of birdseed for residents to create trails on the ground for your neighborhood birds.

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21

Crafts: Pineapple Necklaces

Assist residents with assembling pineapple necklaces on this day that Hawaii became the 50th state by using green felt, yellow buttons, twine, and glue.

One-on-One: Blackout Poetry

Show your resident how to create blackout poetry on this Poet’s Day by taking a marker to a newspaper article and blacking out all the words that they don’t want in the poem.

Exercise: Lei Toss

Encourage residents to play a fun lei toss on this day that Hawaii became the 50th state. To play, divide residents into teams and recruit a staff member for each team. Then have residents toss leis around the necks of the staff member, making sure that the staff member does not use their hands. Beforehand, make leis by tying colorful strips of tissue paper around twine.

Bedside: A Bike Ride in the Mountains

Borrow a tablet to take your resident on a virtual bike ride on this first day of the Bike Van Buren in Van Buren County, Iowa.

Reminiscing: Raise Your Hand If You Remember…?

For this World Senior Citizens Day, encourage residents to raise their hands if they remember certain items from yesteryear. Encourage residents to reminisce and share their stories about the items.

Sensory Stimulation: Sweet Tea Stand

Ask Dining Services to brew several pitchers of sweet tea for you and residents to pass out to passersby to celebrate this National Sweet Tea Day.

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22

Crafts: Cat Clay Sculptures

For this National Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day, invite residents to use clay to make their own cat clay sculptures.

One-on-One: Discovering the Moon Phases with Oreos

Use Oreo cookies to discover the different moon phases with your resident on this day of the Full Sturgeon Moon, so-called by Native Americans because of the prevalence of sturgeon fish at this time of year.

Exercise: Artist Relay Race

Invite residents to get their exercise with a fun painting relay race on this day that Swedish artist Anders Leonard Zorn died. For the activity, divide residents into teams on one side of the room, and set up tables on the other side of the room. To play, have one member of each team go to the table. Then give them an object to paint. Once they are done, have them return to their team and tag the next player.

Bedside: Christmas in August

On this day that the Mormon Choir first performed, bring Christmas to your resident this summer by sharing a video of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing a Christmas special.

Reminiscing: Guardian Angel Stories

Reminisce with residents about the guardian angels of their past on this Be an Angel Day, a day to serve someone else with one small act. Afterwards, share a few true stories of guardian angels saving lives.

Sensory Stimulation: Botanical Fish

Supply residents with elements of nature to create botanical fish on this day of the Full Sturgeon Moon, so-called by Native Americans because of the prevalence of sturgeon fish at this time of year. For the activity, use fish templates for residents to fill in.

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23

Crafts: Comic Strip Canvases

Supply residents with canvases, glue or Mod Podge, and comic strips to create comic strip canvases on this birthday of comic strip creator Ernie Bushmiller.

One-on-One: Fossil Cookies

Bake a batch of fossil cookies with your resident on this birthday of French paleontologist Georges Cuvier.

Exercise: Dancing in the Chairs

Lead residents in a fun chair dancing exercise on this birthday of actor and dancer Gene Kelly.

Bedside: Comic Strip Reading

Take the comics sections of your local newspaper to your resident to read on this birthday of comic strip creator Ernie Bushmiller.

Reminiscing: Sports Played in High School

In recognition of this birthday of basketball star Kobe Bryant, reminisce with residents about the sports they played in high school. Afterwards, see how well residents do at guessing the popular high school sport for each state.

Sensory Stimulation: Coffee Ground Fossils

Encourage residents to make coffee ground fossils on this birthday of the "Father of Paleontology" Georges Cuvier. Use flour, salt, coffee, and coffee grounds for the craft.

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24

Crafts: Hula Skirts

On this birthday of Hawaiian athlete Duke Kahanamoku, assist residents with making hula skirts to wear for the upcoming Hula Lesson activity. Use brown paper bags, tape, and scissors for the craft.

One-on-One: Peach Pie

Help your resident make a juicy peach pie on this National Peach Pie Day.

Exercise: Hula Lesson

Encourage residents to wear the Hawaiian skirts made earlier during the Crafts activity as you teach them how to Hula on this birthday of Hawaiian athlete Duke Kahanamoku.

Bedside: Spam Fries

Make a batch of Spam fries for your resident to sample on this birthday of Hawaiian Olympic gold medal swimmer Duke Kahanamoku.

Reminiscing: Breakfast Foods

Reminisce with residents about their favorite breakfast dishes on this National Waffle Day. Afterwards, pass around photos of breakfast foods for residents to identify.

Sensory Stimulation: Watercolor Planets

Assist residents with making watercolor planets using watercolor paper, white paint pens, black glitter cardstock, and watercolors on this day that Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status.

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Crafts: Watercolor Bugs

Assist residents with creating watercolor bugs on this day that the U.S. National Park Service was founded. Use large and small brushes to create the bugs with watercolor paints.

One-on-One: Funny Animal Videos

For this birthday of artist Walt Kelly, who drew funny animals, share a video of funny animals with your resident.

Exercise: Bouncing Balloons

In recognition of this birthday of tennis champion Althea Gibson, pass out plastic tennis rackets for residents to bounce balloons. Award a point each round for the resident who can bounce their balloon on their racket the longest.

Bedside: Orchestra Instruments

Borrow a tablet to play orchestra instruments for your resident to listen to on this birthday of Leonard Bernstein, the American conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Reminiscing: Kind Stories

For this first day of Be Kind to Humankind Week, reminisce with residents about the kind actions that someone has done for them. Afterwards, share a few stories of kind actions.

Sensory Stimulation: Patio Chalk Mandalas

On this day that the U.S. National Park Service was founded, use colored chalk to draw circles on the patio for residents to fill in with flower petals to create nature mandalas.

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Crafts: Gift Boxes

On this National Toilet Paper Day, show residents how to decorate toilet paper rolls as gift boxes. Save the finished boxes to fill and use as party favors for an upcoming event.

One-on-One: Christmas Decor

Invite your resident to assist you with making Christmas decor crafts using toilet paper rolls and paint on this National Toilet Paper Day. Save the finished crafts for your December decorations.

Exercise: Multiple Bowling Games

For this National Toilet Paper Day, use toilet paper rolls to create multiple cardboard bowling games throughout your facility to encourage passersby to stop and play a game. Beforehand, assign activity staff and volunteers to man one of the games and to encourage residents to enjoy the quick game.

Bedside: Making Cherry Popsicles

Use only three ingredients to make cherry popsicles for your resident to sample on this National Cherry Popsicle Day.

Reminiscing: County Fair Photos

Reminisce with residents about their past trips to the county fair on this first day of the Acton Fair, an annual country fair in Acton, Maine. Afterwards, pass around vintage photos of state fairs to spark a discussion. (To print out the photos, hover your mouse over the image, and right-click the mouse. Then click "Open image in new tab" to print from your browser.)

Sensory Stimulation: Paper Aquariums

Help residents create their own paper aquariums using toilet paper rolls on this National Toilet Paper Day. Supply residents with paint, pipe cleaners, glue, googly eyes, and the bowl template for the activity.

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Crafts: Colorful Crosses

Help residents assemble colorful crosses on this birthday of Mother Teresa. Use craft sticks, paint, and gems for the craft stick crosses, and use pipe cleaners and colorful beads to create the beaded crosses.

One-on-One: Chocolate Pots du Creme

Recruit your resident to assist you with making a simple chocolate pots du creme in a blender on this National Pots du Creme Day, honoring the French custard dessert.

Exercise: Backyard Cover the Spot

For this first day of the Colorado State Fair, invite residents to play the state fair game of Cover the Spot. Beforehand, paint a circle on poster board or on a piece of cardboard to use as the target. Then during the game, have residents toss Frisbees to try to land them in the circle.

Bedside: Do I Know Them From Film, T.V. or Broadway?

On this birthday of actress Martha Raye, borrow a tablet to show your resident a list of famous actors to see if she can state where she knows them from – film, television, or Broadway. (On the website, click on the link of the movie, show, or play listed underneath the actor’s name to learn more.)

Reminiscing: Famous Churches

In recognition of this birthday of Mother Teresa, reminisce with residents about the places that they used to worship. Afterwards, pass around photos of the most beautiful churches in America.

Sensory Stimulation: What’s in the Balloon?

Play a fun balloon game with residents on this first day of the Oregon State Fair. To play, fill each balloon with a different ingredient to see if residents can identify it by touch.

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Crafts: Stained Glass Jars

For this first day of the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Annapolis, Maryland, invite residents to create stained glass jars. For the project, use glass jars and Sharpie markers to create the stained glass.

One-on-One: Coffee Filter Bats

Assist your resident with assembling colorful bats on this first day of International Bat Night, using coffee filters, clothespins, markers, and spray-bottles of water.

Exercise: Golf Ball Toss

Set out buckets for a fun golf ball toss with residents on this first day of the U.S. Senior Amateur (Golf) Championship in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.

Bedside: Favorite Childhood Cartoons

Borrow a tablet to chit chat with your resident about his favorite childhood cartoons on this birthday of comic book artist Jack Kirby.

Reminiscing: German Language Class

In recognition of this birthday of German author and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, reminisce with residents about their past visits to Europe. Afterwards, teach residents a few German words.

Sensory Stimulation: Nature Names

Supply residents with paper, pencils, glue, and items from nature (leaves, grass blades, etc.) for residents to create nature names on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson by using the items of nature to spell their names on paper.

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Crafts: Lemon Art

Assist residents with crafting lemon art on this National Lemon Juice Day. Use cut lemons and paint for the craft before framing the finished artwork for your residents’ rooms for the summer.

One-on-One: Playing Go Fish

Challenge your resident to a game of Go Fish on this According to Hoyle Day, a day promoting games to be played according to the rules.

Exercise: Lemon Roll

In recognition of this National Lemon Juice Day, invite residents to play a Lemon Roll game, similar to bocce, where everyone rolls their lemon on the floor so that it lands closest to the jack (the white ball) in the center of the circle.

Bedside: That Person Looks Familiar

Use a tablet to show your resident a few pop icon faces for him to identify on this birthday of pop star Michael Jackson.

Reminiscing: Best Shows of the 1960s

Reminisce with residents about their favorite 1960s television shows on this day that The Fugitive television series concluded in 1967 with one of the highest-rated shows, holding a ratings record for over a decade.

Sensory Stimulation: Sniff This!

For this More Herbs, Less Salt Day, provide residents with small cups of herbs and spices to smell to try to identify.

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Crafts: Bib Decorating Station

Provide residents with fabric markers and plain bibs to decorate the bibs on this day that the first White House presidential baby was born to President Grover Cleveland. Donate the finished bibs to a local homeless shelter.

One-on-One: D.I.Y. Marshmallow Peeps

Recruit your resident to assist you with piping homemade marshmallow Peeps on this National Toasted Marshmallow Day.

Exercise: Activity Room Ping Pong

On this first day of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, create a ping pong table in your Activity Room by setting two square tables together so that residents can hit a ping pong ball back and forth.

Bedside: Name the Baby

For this day that the first White House presidential baby was born to President Grover Cleveland, invite your resident to complete a baby animal matchup game. (Printable; Answers)

Reminiscing: Favorite Professional Sports to Watch

In recognition of this first day of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, reminisce with residents about their favorite sports to watch over the years. Afterwards, share a list of the most popular sports today to see if residents agree.

Sensory Stimulation: Toasted Marshmallow S’mores Bars

Assist residents with making a batch of toasted marshmallow s’mores bars on this National Toasted Marshmallow Day.

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Crafts: Napkin Pencils

Help residents make napkin pencils on this birthday of educator Maria Montessori. For the craft, first have residents use watercolors to decorate white napkins. Then cut the dried napkins into strips to glue to plain pencils using glue sticks and Mod Podge.

One-on-One: Making Trail Mix

Celebrate this National Trail Mix Day with your resident by making several varieties of trail mix.

Exercise: Pool Noodle Golf Course

Use pool noodles, tape, cardstock, and craft sticks to create a backyard golf course for residents to play on this birthday of golfer Pádraig Harrington.

Bedside: Golf Trivia

Quiz your resident with golf trivia on this birthday of golfer Pádraig Harrington. (Answers)

Reminiscing: Paparazzi Jobs

In recognition of this day that Diana, Princess of Wales died from fleeing from paparazzi, reminisce with residents about what they remember about seeing Old Hollywood celebrities out and about. Afterwards, share a few facts about the paparazzi.

Sensory Stimulation: Edible Palm Trees

Assist residents with making edible palm trees on this Independence Day in Trinidad and Tobago. Use candies, Pirouline cookies, chocolate frosting, chocolate sprinkles, and cupcakes for the activity.

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