Sample Dementia Activity Calendar

February 2020 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 February
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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TIP: Use the following monthly themes as inspiration for activity ideas.

February is ...

TIP: 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: Candy Wreaths

Assist residents with assembling valentine candy wreaths on this Decorating With Candy Day. For the craft, instead of using wreath forms shaped like hearts, cut out hearts from cardboard. Then hot-glue pink and white curling ribbon to the cardboard before attaching wrapped candy. Encourage residents to hang their candy wreaths on their doors for this valentine season.

One-on-One: Valentine Candy Necklaces

For this Decorating With Candy Day, encourage your resident to assist you with making valentine candy necklaces to pass out to visiting children this weekend. Simply string Froot Loops cereal onto stretchy jewelry cording or string before tying a knot to secure.

Exercise: Tin Can Alley

Play a fun western-themed bowling game using tin cans on this birthday of western film director John Ford. To play, set 10 empty tin cans on the floor for residents to roll a ball to knock down.

Bedside: How Much Fun Did They Have in the 1920s?

On this birthday of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, share several photos from the 1920s with your resident to discuss what they remember their parents saying about the decade.

Reminiscing: Ranking The Kings of Hollywood

Reminisce with residents about their favorite Old Hollywood actors on this birthday of American actor Clark Gable. Afterwards, ask residents to rank their favorites.

Sensory Stimulation: Western Sing Along

Lead residents in a fun western-themed sing along on this birthday of film director John Ford, who directed memorable films including the 1939 western Stagecoach.

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2

Crafts: Football Pennants

Invite residents to assemble football pennants using felt, scissors, glue, and wooden dowels to display for your Super Bowl activities on this Super Bowl Sunday.

One-on-One: Match the Shadow

Assist your resident with playing a fun game of shadow match on this Groundhog Day, in which your resident tries to match the animal with its shadow.

Exercise: Shadow Charades

On this Groundhog Day, play a fun game of shadow charades with residents using a large sheet and a bright light. To play, provide a participant with a clue to act out behind the lit sheet for other residents to guess.

Bedside: Chalk Marker Votives

For this Candlemas Day, invite your resident to assist you with decorating glass votives using colorful chalk markers. Simply use the markers to draw designs on the glass votives before allowing them to dry. Then fill each glass votive with battery-operated tea lights to illuminate your resident's room.

Reminiscing: Pop Icons of the 1950s

Reminisce with residents about the pop icons of the 1950s on this birthday of 1970s pop icon Farrah Fawcett.

Sensory Stimulation: Homemade Tater Tots

Coordinate with Dining Services to peel, boil, and grate potatoes for your residents to mix with their hands to make homemade tater tots on this National Tater Tot Day.

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3

Crafts: Bean Bag Balloons

In recognition of this Bean-Throwing Festival in Japan, encourage residents to assemble bean bag balloons to use for your facility's tossing games. Simply fill balloons with dried beans to make the balls.

One-on-One: Unique Paintbrushes

Help your resident create abstract art for her room on this birthday of painter Norman Rockwell by using a few unusual items as paintbrushes, like sponges and cotton swabs.

Exercise: Gymnast Stretches

Get your residents stretching their limbs in recognition of this birthday of gymnast George Nissen, who invented the trampoline. For the activity, lead residents in upper body exercises.

Bedside: Bean Throwing Target

Provide your resident with a few dried beans to play a bean-throwing game in her room on this day of the Bean-Throwing Festival in Japan. To play, lay the printable target on a flat surface, like your resident's tray table, and then have her toss the beans onto the target to accumulate points.

Reminiscing: Tax Responsibility

Reminisce with residents about having to pay taxes each year on this day that the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing Congress the right to levy taxes on income, was ratified. Afterwards, ask residents whether they think that the current tax system is fair for all.

Sensory Stimulation: Bean Mosaics

Invite residents to make bean mosaics in recognition of this Bean-Throwing Festival in Japan. For the activity, first assist residents with making salt dough to roll out into circles before adding colorful beans to make the mosaics.

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4

Crafts: Pretty Stationery

Assist residents with making colorful Washi tape cards and envelopes to write thank you letters to give to your facility's mail carriers (including the staff members who deliver the mail in your building) on this National Thank a Mail Carrier Day.

One-on-One: Crockpot Soup

In recognition of this National Homemade Soup Day, invite your resident to assist you with making a homemade soup using your facility's crockpot. Prepare the soup with your resident early in the day so that your residents can sample the soup for the afternoon social.

Exercise: Giant Golf

Show residents how to play a fun game of giant golf on this birthday of golfer Byron Nelson. To play use masking tape to create three horizontal lines on the floor, making sure there is twenty feet between lines one and two, and only one foot between lines two and three. To play, line a resident behind line one with a broom and a ball, and have them putt the ball using their broom so that the ball lands between lines two and three. Award a prize to each participant who gets their ball to land between lines two and three.

Bedside: Healing Blankets

On this World Cancer Day, invite your resident to help you make a healing blanket to donate to a person who has breast cancer. For the activity, assemble the blanket using the colors of breast cancer awareness: pink, white, and black.

Reminiscing: The Lindbergh Kidnapping

Reminisce with residents about the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby on this birthday of aviator Charles Lindbergh. Share a few facts with residents about the tragic event.

Sensory Stimulation: Guess the Fruit by Taste

For this Medjool Date Day, honoring the type of fruit, invite residents to play a fun taste testing game using fruit. For the activity, blindfold residents and have them sample different fruits, like raisins, cherries, and oranges, to see if they can identify them by taste.

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5

Crafts: D.I.Y. Dominoes

Assist residents with making rock dominoes using paint and markers so that they can play a few rounds of Mexican train dominoes on this Constitution Day in Mexico.

One-on-One: Umbrella Cupcakes

Recruit your resident to assist you with making umbrella cupcakes on this Weatherperson's Day. Simply cut plain cupcakes in half before icing them and inserting the straws.

Exercise: Soccer Kicks

In recognition of this National Girls and Women in Sports Day, invite residents to play the most popular female sport – soccer – in your Activity Room. To play, seat residents in a large circle and have them kick a beach ball back and forth to other participants in the circle without using their hands.

Bedside: Dramatic Reading

Move Hollywood to your town on this Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Day by inviting your resident to participate in a fun dramatic reading with you. Simply take on different roles in the two-person scripts and read aloud your parts.

Reminiscing: Weather Predictions

For this Weatherperson's Day, reminisce with residents about extreme weather events that they have experienced. Afterwards, ask residents whether they know how to predict the weather.

Sensory Stimulation: Sombrero Cookies

Encourage residents to assist you with making sombrero cookies to pass out to passersby in honor of this Constitution Day in Mexico. To make the colorful cookies, use the recipe's baking ingredients along with food coloring, candy melts, and mini M&M's.

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6

Crafts: Rasta Dreamcatchers

On this birthday of Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley, assist residents with assembling dreamcatchers with a Rasta theme by using red, green, yellow, and black feathers and beads.

One-on-One: Making Frozen Yogurt

Recruit your resident to assist you with making frozen yogurt for the upcoming Fro-Yo Party.

Exercise: Ping Pong Toss

Encourage residents to play the state fair game of ping pong toss on this first day of the Florida State Fair in Tampa, Florida. To play, set up small vases and have residents toss ping pong balls to try to land one in a vase.

Bedside: Creation vs Evolution Debate

For this birthday of archaeologist Mary Leakey who studied evolution, invite your resident to watch portions of the Creationism vs. Evolution Debate. Afterwards, ask your resident to identify which side is more persuasive.

Reminiscing: Will Prince Charles Ever Become King?

In recognition of this anniversary of the day that Princess Elizabeth succeeded to the throne in Great Britain to become Queen Elizabeth II, reminisce with residents about what they remember about the Royal Family in England. Then ask residents whether they believe that Prince William will become king instead of Prince Charles.

Sensory Stimulation: Fro-Yo Party

Host a frozen yogurt party for your residents where residents can take the yogurt that was made earlier during the One-on-One activity and add a variety of toppings.

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7

Crafts: Dancing Ballerinas

Assist residents with assembling dancing ballerinas using paper napkins, glue, and craft wire on this day that ballet was introduced to the United States. Save the finished ballerinas as toy gifts to pass out this upcoming weekend to visiting children.

One-on-One: Playing Online

Borrow a tablet and get your resident online playing word games in recognition of this birthday of lexicographer Sir James Murray.

Exercise: The Ballet Workout

Lead residents in a fun ballet workout to stretch their muscles on this day that ballet was introduced to the United States.

Bedside: Red Flower Brooch

Encourage your resident to create a red flower brooch to wear on this National Wear Red Day, a day to raise awareness about heart disease in women. Use glue, red and green felt, and a brooch pin back for the project.

Reminiscing: I Remember That!

Reminisce with residents about their favorite classical compositions on this birthday of American composer and songwriter Eubie Blake. Afterwards, play popular classical compositions to see which ones residents remember.

Sensory Stimulation: Bubble Gum Challenge

Challenge your residents to a bubble-blowing contest on this Bubble Gum Day. For the activity, have everyone blow bubbles at the same time to see who can blow the biggest bubble.

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8

Crafts: Heart Banner

Recruit residents to help you get your facility decorated for the upcoming valentine holiday by making a felt conversation heart banner using string, a heart template, colorful felt, puffy paint, and glue.

One-on-One: Honor Code

On this day that the Boy Scouts of America was founded, see how well your resident follows the Boy Scouts law to tell the truth as you challenge him to a game of Liar's Dice.

Exercise: Shuttlecock Hits

For this first day of the Arizona Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon, Arizona, invite residents to play the Renaissance game of shuttlecock (badminton) in your Activity Room. Pass out plastic tennis rackets and a birdie or small Nerf ball for residents to hit back and forth.

Bedside: Joke Time

Stop by your resident's room to share a few funny jokes with him on this first day of Love May Make the World Go 'Round, But Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week.

Reminiscing: Funniest People in the Family

Reminisce with residents about the funniest people in their families on this first day of Love May Make the World Go 'Round, But Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week. Then afterwards, share a few funny family stories.

Sensory Stimulation: Sing Along Karaoke

Play traditional folk songs on your facility's television so that residents can follow along with the words while singing on this day that opera debuted in the colonies in South Carolina.

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9

Crafts: Frosted Snowman Vases

Invite residents to assemble frosted snowman vases on this day of the Full Snow Moon. For the project, simply paint the outsides of vases with white paint before sprinkling on Epsom salt. Then once the paint has dried, coat the vase with a spray sealant before hot-gluing on a ribbon scarf and buttons.

One-on-One: Heart Paper Clips

Show your resident how to turn regular plastic coated paper clips into heart-shaped paper clips to pass out to your facility's Administrators for the upcoming valentine holiday.

Exercise: Moonlit Walk

Invite residents to get their exercise as they walk the halls after dinner on this day of the Full Snow Moon. Arrange to have the end of the walk near a large picture window where residents can sit and enjoy the moonlight.

Bedside: Snowy Wreath

Recruit your resident to assist you with making a snowy wreath for her door on this day of the Full Snow Moon. For the project, use white yarn to make pom-poms to attach to a circle wreath or a circle piece of cardboard.

Reminiscing: Best Ways to Flirt

For this first day of International Flirting Week, reminisce with residents about how they used to flirt. Afterwards, ask residents to share their tips on how to flirt with others.

Sensory Stimulation: Homemade Valentine Candy

Assist residents with making conversation heart candy during this valentine season using a microwave, gelatin, and edible writers. Place the finished candies out for passersby to sample.

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10

Crafts: New Year Trees

Invite residents to work together to help you assemble a fake tree for your Activity Room on this day of Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish Arbor Day known as the "New Year of the Trees." Beforehand, recruit volunteers to assemble the branches of the tree. Then during the activity, provide residents with lime green paper to cut out leaf shapes before painting the back of the leaves with dark green paint. Once the paint has dried, attach the leaves to the tree's branches with glue.

One-on-One: Tu B'Shvat Cake

On this day of the Jewish New Year, assist your resident with baking a Tu B'Shvat cake. Follow the recipe to make the delicious cake using dried fruit and nuts.

Exercise: Tennis Balloon Game

For this birthday of tennis player Bill Tilden, invite residents to hit inflated balloons back and forth over a net using plastic tennis rackets.

Bedside: Heart Garland

Encourage your resident to assist you with assembling a pipe cleaner heart garland for her room for the upcoming valentine observance. Use colorful pipe cleaners and mold them into heart shapes to create a heart garland to hang in her room.

Reminiscing: Wedding Traditions

Reminisce with residents about their weddings on this World Marriage Day. Then share a list of the stories behind the traditions of weddings.

Sensory Stimulation: Fruit Plates

Recruit residents to assist you with assembling fruit plates on this Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish Arbor Day known as the "New Year of the Trees." Provide residents with the ingredients to assemble the fruit plates for passersby to enjoy.

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11

Crafts: Cross Suncatchers

Assist residents with crafting cross suncatchers for their rooms in recognition of this day that the first woman Episcopal bishop was consecrated. Use contact paper and cut pieces of colorful tissue paper for the project. Attach the finished crosses to your Activity Room's windows for the day.

One-on-One: Lava Lamp

Invite your resident to construct a lava lamp for her room in recognition of this International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Use an empty water bottle, water, vegetable oil, food coloring, and Alka-Seltzer tablets for the project.

Exercise: Magazine Delivery

Pass out magazines to your mobile residents to visit and read to your facility's bedridden residents on this National Shut-in Visitation Day.

Bedside: Monster Cookies

Whip up a batch of monster cookies for your resident to enjoy on this Extraterrestrial Culture Day.

Reminiscing: Famous Hollywood Sisters

Reminisce with residents about their siblings on this birthday of Eva Gabor, who had two sisters in show business. Share a list of famous Hollywood sisters, and ask residents whether they would enjoy sharing the Hollywood spotlight with their siblings.

Sensory Stimulation: The Smell Test

For this National Peppermint Patty Day, supply blindfolded residents with a variety of aromatic foods like peppermint, citrus, herbs, and spices to see if they can identify them by smell.

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12

Crafts: Glitter Gem Magnets

On this birthday of geologist James Dwight Dana, assist residents with assembling glitter gem magnets that they can use for their refrigerator doors. To create the gem magnets, first apply adhesive to the flat side of the gem before dipping it into glitter. Once the glue dries, apply Mod Podge as a sealer over the glitter. Then attach colorful paper to the back before attaching a small magnet to the back of the paper.

One-on-One: Penny Drop

For this birthday of President Lincoln, invite your resident to use Lincoln (the penny) for a fun penny drop game. To play, simply place an open jar on the floor and have your resident stand with his arm outstretched over the jar to see how many pennies he can drop into the jar. Alternate playing with your resident, making sure to use 10 pennies each during each round. Award one point for each penny that falls into the jar.

Exercise: Penny Pitching

Get your residents moving their arms on this birthday of President Lincoln by pitching pennies. To play, have residents stand about three feet from a wall and take turns tossing pennies. During each round, the player whose penny comes closest to the wall wins all the pennies that have been thrown during that round. (The penny can hit the wall and bounce off, roll to the wall, or even be knocked closer to the wall by another player’s penny.) After the first round is over, have each resident take a giant step back to begin the second round.

Bedside: The Gem Guy

Provide your resident with a variety of colored and shaped gems to make gem magnets to give out to family members as gifts on this birthday of geologist James Dwight Dana. For the project, first have your resident hot-glue the gems in a design onto white felt. Then use scissors to cut around the gems, cutting off the excess felt. Finally, hot-glue a magnet to the back of the felt.

Reminiscing: Name That Glenn Miller Song

Reminisce with residents about their favorite big band leaders on this birthday of American bandleader "Tex" Beneke. Afterwards, play a few songs by Glenn Miller to see if residents can identify them.

Sensory Stimulation: Making Plum Pudding

Invite residents to make plum pudding on this National Plum Pudding Day for others to sample.

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13

Crafts: Collage Bookmarks

Invite residents to cut pictures from magazines to make collage bookmarks on this day that the first magazine was published in America.

One-on-One: Yarn-Wrapped Hearts

Provide your resident with floral wire and red and pink yarn to assemble yarn-wrapped hearts to use as decoration for Valentine's Day.

Exercise: Walking Laps

On this first day of the Simplot Games, one of the nation's largest indoor high school track-and-field events, in Pocatello, Idaho, lead residents on a walking trek throughout your facility for residents to get their exercise.

Bedside: Vintage Radio Shows

Play a few vintage radio shows for your resident to listen to on this World Radio Day.

Reminiscing: Remembering Bess Truman

Reminisce with residents about former First Lady Bess Truman on this day that she was born. Afterwards, share a few fun facts with residents about the once private lady.

Sensory Stimulation: Love Rocks

Encourage residents to turn plain rocks into love rocks that you can use as decoration throughout your facility for your Valentine's Day festivities. Simply paint Mod Podge on the rocks in a heart shape before sprinkling on glitter to fill in the heart.

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14

Crafts: Candy Heart Planters

Assist residents with decorating candy heart planters to use as decoration on this Valentine's Day. To make the planters, first paint the planters, and after the paint dries, cut out paper candy hearts to attach to the planters using Mod Podge.

One-on-One: Passing Out Valentines

Encourage your resident to assist you with passing out valentines to residents on this Valentine's Day. (Printable valentines)

Exercise: Love Song Match

Play a fun walking game with residents called Love Song Match on this Valentine's Day, in which each resident receives the title of a love song that they have to hum. As the residents walk around the room, they must find the other person in the group who is humming the exact same song. Award a point to the first duo who has found their exact love song match.

Bedside: Valentine Wall Art

Persuade your resident to make valentine wall art to hang on her wall on this Valentine's Day using paper roses, a heart template, a canvas, scrapbook paper, and glue dots.

Reminiscing: Ferris Wheel Fun

On this Ferris Wheel Day, reminisce with residents about visiting the carnival and Ferris wheel. Afterwards, pass around several pictures of fun Ferris wheels from around the world.

Sensory Stimulation: Bird Valentines

Invite residents to make special valentines for your neighborhood birds on this Valentine's Day using bread, peanut butter, heart cookie cutters, and birdseed.

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15

Crafts: Gumdrop People

Supply residents with gumdrops, wooden balls, and toothpicks to assemble gumdrop people on this National Gumdrop Day.

One-on-One: Rose Hair Ties

Invite your resident to make rose hair ties for her granddaughter in recognition of this birthday of jeweler Charles Lewis Tiffany. Simply use pipe cleaners and hair ties for the simple craft.

Exercise: Valentine Matchmaker

Organize a fun Old Hollywood couple match game for your mobile residents on this Love Reset Day, in which you write the name of a person from a famous Old Hollywood couple on the back of your residents. Then have your residents walk around and ask "yes or no" questions to determine who they are and to then find their match.

Bedside: Leftover Valentine Candy Shakes

Make a tasty cherry chocolate shake for your resident on this Love Reset Day using some of your leftover Valentine's Day candy.

Reminiscing: My First Piece of Jewelry

On this birthday of jeweler Charles Lewis Tiffany, ask residents to bring their vintage jewelry to your activity to discuss and show-off. During the activity, go around the room and ask residents to recall their first piece of jewelry and how they acquired it.

Sensory Stimulation: Gumdrop Tasting

Set out a bowl of gumdrops and encourage residents to sample the different gumdrops on this National Gumdrop Day.

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16

Crafts: Air-Dry Clay Air Freshener

In recognition of this day of the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida, show residents how to make air-dry clay air fresheners that they can sell at an upcoming Crafts Fair. For the craft, use air dry clay, essential oils, and items to create texture by imprinting the clay.

One-on-One: Twenty Questions

On this birthday of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, play a fun speaking game of Twenty Questions with your resident. To play, first think of something and then have your resident ask twenty "yes or no" questions to try to guess what it is. Take turns asking the twenty questions.

Exercise: Hoop It Up

Invite residents to play a fun game of basketball in your Activity Room on this day of the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago, Illinois.

Bedside: Animal Documentary

Borrow a tablet to show your resident an animal documentary about pandas on this birthday of the "Father of the Documentary Film" Robert J. Flaherty.

Reminiscing: What Jobs Did Schools Train You For?

For this first day of National Engineers Week, reminisce with residents about the types of jobs that school administrators pushed them to choose. Then share photos featuring the common jobs of yesteryear.

Sensory Stimulation: Enunciation Practice

Lead residents in a fun enunciation practice on this day that ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, who could talk without moving his lips, was born.

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17

Crafts: Button Family

In celebration of this Family Day in Canada, recruit an artistic volunteer to use black markers to draw the immediate families of your residents onto heavy cardstock. Then during the activity, have residents use colored markers to fill in the clothes before gluing buttons onto the cardstock for faces.

One-on-One: Butterfly Coloring Pages

Supply your resident with butterfly coloring pages to color on this day that the opera Madama Butterfly was performed for the first time in Milan, Italy. For the activity, simply print out the coloring page for your resident to color with colored pencils or markers.

Exercise: Delivering Balloons

For this Random Acts of Kindness Day, inflate lots of balloons for your mobile residents to deliver to your facility's bedridden residents.

Bedside: Hockey Bingo

On this wintry day, invite your resident to watch a hockey game and play hockey bingo by marking a hockey bingo card once an action on the bingo card is seen in the hockey game.

Reminiscing: Old Time Medicine

In recognition of this birthday of René Laennec, the French physician known as the "Father of Chest Medicine" who invented the stethoscope, reminisce with residents about the medicine that their parents and grandparents used to tell them to take. Afterwards, share a list of dangerous drugs that were once marketed as medicine.

Sensory Stimulation: Presidential Desserts

Invite residents to make a few presidential desserts to sample on this Presidents Day.

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18

Crafts: Stained Glass Art

In recognition of this birthday of stained glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, assist residents with assembling stained glass artwork using black construction paper, colorful tissue paper, pencils, and scissors.

One-on-One: Magazine Read

Take a magazine and alternate reading some of the articles in the magazine with your resident on this birthday of Helen Gurley Brown, the American feminist and editor of Cosmopolitan magazine.

Exercise: Snowball Punch

Create fun punch balls for residents to use this winter. Create the punch balls using large white balloons and string.

Bedside: Great Things Come in Small Packages

On this day that the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered, borrow a tablet to share a video with your resident featuring a few other small things – cute babies.

Reminiscing: Fashion Trends

For this birthday of John Hughes, the American film director of the 1980s "Brat Pack" films featuring high schoolers wearing preppy clothes, reminisce with residents about the fashion trends they have enjoyed over the years. Share a few photos of today's fashion trends to see what your residents think.

Sensory Stimulation: Stained Glass

Show residents how to use colorful tissue paper to assemble stained glass suncatchers for their windows on this birthday of stained glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany.

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19

Crafts: Winter Hats

Assist residents with making winter hats on this first day of the American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Race/Birkie Week in Wisconsin. To make the hats, wrap colorful yarn around cardboard rings before hot-gluing a small white pom-pom to the top.

One-on-One: Sun Drop Cookies

Encourage your resident to bake sun drop cookies in recognition of this birthday of Nicolas Copernicus, the Polish astronomer who established the Copernican theory, that the sun and not the Earth is the center of our planetary system.

Exercise: Cross-Facility Walk

Invite residents to walk throughout your facility in recognition of this first day of the American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Race/Birkie Week in Wisconsin.

Bedside: Reading a Few Excerpts

Read a few excerpts from the feminist book The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan to your resident on this day that it was published.

Reminiscing: The Good Housewife Guide

In recognition of this day that the Feminist book The Feminine Mystique written by Betty Friedan was published, reminisce with residents about what it was like for them or their mothers as housewives. Afterwards, share a few housewife guidelines to see whether residents agree.

Sensory Stimulation: Making Sun Tea

Show residents how to make sun tea this winter using winter fruits, like citrus.

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20

Crafts: Origami Tent

Assist residents with assembling origami tents on this first day of the Montreal Hunting, Fishing & Camping Show in Canada. (Watch a short video for instructions.)

One-on-One: Taking Pictures

Teach your resident how to take great pictures on this birthday of American photographer Ansel Adams.

Exercise: Baseball Toss

Set up a target on the wall using pieces of felt for residents to aim for as they pitch soft Nerf balls on this birthday of Carl Stotz, the founder of Little League baseball. To make it easier to see who hits the center of the target, use a piece of chalk to cover the center circle so that whenever someone hits it, a dusting of chalk will appear.

Bedside: Rodeo Watch

Borrow a tablet to show your resident a rodeo on this first day of the Georgia National Rodeo.

Reminiscing: Getting Kids Into Sports

On this birthday of Little League founder Carl Stotz, reminisce with residents about getting their kids into sports. Afterwards, ask residents to try to guess the best sports for kids.

Sensory Stimulation: Building Pretzel and Marshmallow Sculptures

For this Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, invite your residents to become engineers for the day by using pretzels and marshmallows to build their own structures. Beforehand, place the names of different objects in a bowl, and have each person pick an object to build using their marshmallows and pretzels.

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21

Crafts: Flamenco Flower Dolls

Assist residents with making flamenco flower dolls in recognition of this first day of the Jerez Flamenco Festival in Spain. Use real flowers, sticks, small wooden balls (for the heads instead of drawing them on paper), glue (to attach the wooden balls to the top of the stick), markers to draw the face on the dolls, and clay to place the stick in so that the doll stands upright.

One-on-One: Language Class

Teach your resident a few basic phrases in different languages on this International Mother Language Day.

Exercise: Chair Jazzercise

Lead a jazz exercise class for your residents on this birthday of jazz singer Nina Simone.

Bedside: Virtual Tour of D.C.

Borrow a tablet to take your resident on a virtual tour of Washington, D.C. on this day that the Washington Monument was dedicated.

Reminiscing: Historical Assassinations

Reminisce with residents about several historical assassinations on this day that civil rights activist Malcolm X was assassinated. Share a list of other famous assassinations.

Sensory Stimulation: Toe Tapping to Morning Jazz

Get your residents tapping their toes as you play morning jazz music in honor of this birthday of jazz singer Nina Simone.

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22

Crafts: Blinged-Out Margarita Glasses

Help residents bling-out plastic margarita glasses on this National Margarita Day by gluing gems onto the glasses.

One-on-One: Tongue Twisting

In recognition of this birthday of President George Washington, who allegedly chopped down a cherry tree, teach your resident the unique skill of tying a knot in a cherry stem using just their tongue.

Exercise: Beach Volleyball

Invite residents to play a fun game of beach volleyball in your Activity Room on this day that the United States acquired Florida from Spain. To play, seat residents on either side of a volleyball net and have them hit a beach ball back and forth over the net.

Bedside: Bizarre World Records

Chit chat with your resident about world records on this birthday of the tallest man in recorded history, Robert Wadlow. Afterwards, share a list of the most bizarre world records.

Reminiscing: Things Bought at the Five and Dime Store

Reminisce with residents about the Five and Dime Stores that they used to frequent on this day that Woolworth's opened its first chain store in Utica, New York. List a few of the classic Five and Dime stores where you can still shop.

Sensory Stimulation: West Indies Coloring Party

On this Independence Day in Saint Lucia, host a fun coloring party featuring Caribbean coloring pages. (Another coloring page)

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23

Crafts: Envelope Liners

In recognition of this birthday of writer and diarist Samuel Pepys, assist residents with making envelope liners that they can use when they send letters to loved ones. For the simple project, use envelopes, colorful scrapbook paper, a paper cutter, and glue.

One-on-One: Embossed Cross

Show your resident how to construct an embossed cross on this first day of Shrovetide, the three days before Ash Wednesday.

Exercise: D.I.Y. Curling Game

Organize your own curling game in your Activity Room for residents on this Curling Is Cool Day. To play, use red and blue tape to create a curling target on the floor, and then have residents slide shuffleboard discs or even poker chips to see who can hit the target.

Bedside: Dare Devils

Have fun with your resident as the two of you discuss dare devils and their stunts on this World Sword Swallowers Day.

Reminiscing: Standard Car Features

On this day that the diesel engine was patented, reminisce with residents about the standard car features in their first cars. Afterwards, share a list of standard car features today for residents to make the comparison.

Sensory Stimulation: Banana Bread Party

Host a banana bread baking party for residents on this National Banana Bread Day.

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Crafts: Personal Piñatas

Assist residents with crafting personal piñatas in recognition of this Flag Day in Mexico. For the project, use paper cups, colorful tissue paper, tape, ribbon, candy, and rubber bands.

One-on-One: Phone Games

Help your resident get a few games on his phone in honor of this birthday of tech genius Steve Jobs.

Exercise: Snowball Bounce

Play a fun game of snowball bounce with residents on this winter day as you set up a target (a large box) and have residents bounce ping pong balls so that they land in the target.

Bedside: Papel Picado

Invite your resident to assist you with making papel picado to hang in her room on this Flag Day in Mexico. Use colorful tissue paper, scissors, and twine for the project.

Reminiscing: Lent Prep

On this Shrove Monday, the Monday before Ash Wednesday, reminisce with residents about how they used to prepare for Lent. Ask residents what they normally gave up each year.

Sensory Stimulation: Churro in a Mug

Show residents how to make their own churro in a mug on this Flag Day in Mexico.

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Crafts: Mardi Gras Mask Bar

Set up a Mardi Gras mask bar for residents to assemble their masks to wear on this Mardi Gras. For the activity, supply residents with felt to create their masks using the mask template, beads, sequins, glue, and feathers.

One-on-One: Cinnamon Roll King Cake

Recruit your resident to assist you with making a cinnamon roll King cake for passersby to sample on this Mardi Gras.

Exercise: Cabin Fever Fashion Show

To help cure your residents' cabin fever, encourage them to get their exercise as they walk the runway during a fun winter fashion show on this birthday of former model and congresswoman Millicent Fenwick.

Bedside: Mardi Gras Headpiece

Invite your resident to create a Mardi Gras headpiece to wear on this Mardi Gras. Use pipe cleaners, craft foam, and glue for the project.

Reminiscing: Bank Gifts

On this day that the first national bank was chartered by Congress, reminisce with residents about opening their first bank account. Ask residents to recall the gifts that the banks gave them for opening their accounts, like toasters.

Sensory Stimulation: Fashion Outfits

Assist residents with creating their own fashion outfits on this birthday of former model and congresswoman Millicent Fenwick. Supply residents with colorful scrapbook paper, a paper model, and scissors to create unique fashions.

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Crafts: Beaded Crosses

Assist residents with crafting beaded crosses on this Ash Wednesday by stringing colorful tri-beads onto pipe cleaners in the shape of a cross.

One-on-One: What Are You Giving Up?

Chit chat with your resident about Lent on this first day of the fasting and penitence period, making sure to give him a few Lent ideas on what he can give up for the next 40 days.

Exercise: Lower Body Exercises

On this first day of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Germany, lead residents in a fun lower body exercise routine that can strengthen their legs.

Bedside: A Visit to the Grand Canyon

Take your resident on a virtual trip to see the Grand Canyon on this day that the park was established.

Reminiscing: Grand Canyon Fun Facts

Reminisce with residents about their family trips to the Grand Canyon on this day that the park was established. Afterwards, share a few fun facts with residents.

Sensory Stimulation: Cracking Nuts

Seat residents at a long table and provide them with shelled nuts and nutcrackers to encourage them to crack and eat nuts while socializing on this National Pistachio Day.

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Crafts: Pom-Pom Polar Bears

Assist residents with crafting pom-pom polar bears to pass out to visiting kids on this International Polar Bear Day. Use white pipe cleaners, different sized white pom-poms, craft glue, and mini black pom-poms for the craft.

One-on-One: Polar Bear Documentary

Share a polar bear documentary with your resident on this International Polar Bear Day.

Exercise: Chipping Class

Set out a Hula Hoop on the floor in your Activity Room, and encourage residents to practice chipping ping pong balls into the hoop using a sand wedge club on this birthday of golf great Gene Sarazen, who invented the sand wedge.

Bedside: Elizabeth's Diamonds

Chit chat with your resident about Elizabeth Taylor's diamonds on this birthday of the actress. Ask your resident to point out her favorite Liz Taylor jewelry.

Reminiscing: Comfort Foods

Reminisce with residents about their favorite comfort foods on this National Chili Day. Be sure to pass around the photos of the food to encourage residents to discuss the food.

Sensory Stimulation: Reading Hour

Read a portion of the classic novel Grapes of Wrath to your residents on this birthday of writer John Steinbeck.

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Crafts: Rose Jars

In recognition of this Floral Design Day, invite residents to make rose Mason jars using chalk paint and acrylic paint.

One-on-One: Shabbat Jars

Invite your resident to design shabbat jars for your upcoming Shabbat service on this day of Shabbat Across America and Canada.

Exercise: Watering Flowers

For this Floral Design Day, invite your mobile residents to help you water flowers in your facility.

Bedside: Shabbat Service

Borrow a tablet to show your resident a Shabbat service on this day of Shabbat Across America and Canada.

Reminiscing: Tooth Fairy Stories

On this National Tooth Fairy Day, reminisce with residents about being the tooth fairy for their kids. Afterwards, share a few funny tooth fairy stories with residents.

Sensory Stimulation: Flower Arrangements

Supply residents with real flowers to arrange into unique designs on this Floral Design Day.

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Crafts: Bottle Painters

Assist residents with painting the insides of empty bottles for an upcoming ring toss game during the D.I.Y. Ring Toss activity.

One-on-One: Frog Oreos

Show your resident how to assemble frog Oreos on this Leap Day using candy clay, candy eyes, cookie cutters, Oreo cookies, and frosting.

Exercise: D.I.Y. Ring Toss

For this Open That Bottle Night, a night to encourage wine drinkers to open wine that has been saved for a special occasion, invite residents to play a fun ring toss game using the bottles that were decorated earlier during the Crafts activity.

Bedside: Crayon Roses

Invite your resident to assist you with making crayon roses in recognition of this first day of the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Use white cotton fabric, floral tape, floral wire, cotton balls, crayons, and plastic knives for the project.

Reminiscing: Leap Day Traditions

On this Leap Day, reminisce with residents about their Leap Day traditions. Afterwards, share a few Leap Day superstitions with residents.

Sensory Stimulation: Making Potpourri

For this first day of the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, invite residents to make potpourri with real flowers, an oven, and essential oils.

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