Sample Dementia Activity Calendar

August 2019 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
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TIP: Use the following monthly themes as inspiration for activity ideas.

August is ...

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

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: Clown Cupcakes

Celebrate this first day of International Clown Week with your residents by having them help you assemble clown cupcakes to serve at your afternoon social. Before the activity, coordinate with Dining Services to provide cupcakes for residents to frost with white icing before adorning them with cupcake liners and candy to create the clown cupcakes.

One-on-One: Flannel Shirt Beanbags

Ask a staff member to donate an old flannel shirt for you and your resident to turn into no-sew flannel shirt beanbags in recognition of this first day of the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin. Instead of using the felt that is mentioned on the website, cut similar sizes from the flannel shirt to create the unique beanbags. Use the finished beanbags for your tossing games.

Exercise: Exercising the Lungs

Help residents improve their lung capacity on this World Lung Cancer Day by leading them in a fun dance routine. Encourage your immobile residents to follow along in their chairs.

Bedside: Sing Along

Teach your resident a different way to sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" by singing in rounds on this Rounds Resounding Day.

Reminiscing: Nursing Moms

Reminisce with residents about their time as nursing mothers on this first day of World Breastfeeding Week. Ask residents whether they felt pressured to nurse their kids for a certain length of time. Afterwards, share a few of the barriers to breastfeeding to see whether the ladies ever encountered them.

Sensory Stimulation: Orange Volcanoes

Recognize this day that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established by encouraging residents to help you make orange volcanoes. Set up the activity using bowls, spoons, baking soda, food coloring, and vinegar. Help residents along by first cutting off the top of each of the oranges.

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2

Crafts: Animal Cracker Pins

Invite residents to make unique animal cracker pins on this first day of Agrifair, an annual agricultural fair in Canada. To make the pins, simply microwave the cookies on both sides (as mentioned on the website) to help dry them out before having residents paint them. Once the paint has dried, have residents use clear nail polish to go over the animal crackers before drying again. Next, use a black Sharpie marker to accentuate the details on the animals before applying another coat of the clear nail polish. Finally, once the crackers are dry, use glue to attach pin backs to the back of the animal crackers.

One-on-One: Watermelon Coasters

Recruit your resident to help you get prepared for this International Beer Day by painting watermelon coasters for residents to use for their drinks. For the activity, use cork coasters, scissors, and paint. In addition, consider using the coasters again in celebration of National Watermelon Day on August 3.

Exercise: Seated Dance

On this first day of the Gigglefeet Dance Festival in Ketchikan, Alaska, play music in the background during your Exercise Class, and show residents how to do a few seated dance moves.

Bedside: Summer Tree

Help your resident liven up her room for summer by assembling a rainbow paper tree for her room in recognition of this first of the Tall Timber Days Festival in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Use branches from outdoors, colorful cardstock, floral wire, scissors, glue, and leaf templates for the fun project.

Reminiscing: Having Twins

Recognize this first day of the Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio with your residents by reminiscing about the twins in their families. Share a few funny twin stories and twin fun facts before asking residents to list the adorable twin names that they would have used if they had twins.

Sensory Stimulation: Coloring Party

Host a fun coloring party for your residents to celebrate this National Coloring Book Day. Download adult coloring pages for residents to color using crayons, colored pencils, or markers. Frame the finished coloring pages as artwork for the summer.

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3

Crafts: Watermelon Suncatchers

Show residents how to make watermelon suncatchers on this National Watermelon Day using clear plastic plates, red and green glass paint, black puffy paint, ribbon, and glue. Hang the finished suncatchers for the observance.

One-on-One: Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest

Challenge your resident to a fun backyard seed-spitting contest on this National Watermelon Day. For the activity, take pieces of watermelon for the two of you to eat, while spitting out the seeds to see who can spit their seeds the farthest.

Exercise: Frisbee Golf

Celebrate this National Disc Golf Day with your residents by creating a Frisbee golf game in the backyard for residents to play. Use wire tomato cages, dollar store laundry baskets, and Frisbees for the project.

Bedside: Summer Bangles

Invite your resident to assemble fabric wrapped bangles on this first day of the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Craftsmen's Fair, America's oldest crafts fair in Newbury, New Hampshire. Simply bend wire hangers into bangles before wrapping them with fabric scraps. Consider saving the finished bangles to sell at an upcoming summer Crafts Fair in your facility.

Reminiscing: School Lessons

Reminisce with residents about the subjects they learned in school on this birthday of American schoolteacher John T. Scopes, who was convicted in the famous Monkey Trial for teaching evolution. Encourage residents to discuss what school was like back then.

Sensory Stimulation: Sandcastle Cake

Encourage residents to assist you with assembling a sandcastle cake on this Sandcastle Day. Beforehand, recruit your facility's Baking Club to bake cakes for you and your residents to assemble using icing, cookie crumbs, and ice cream cones.

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4

Crafts: Puffy Paint Friendship Bracelets

For this Friendship Day, invite residents to make friendship bracelets using puffy paint, plastic bags, the bracelet template, toothpicks, and Washi tape. For the activity, print out the templates to place in large plastic Ziploc bags for each resident so that the template shows through the bag. Then place pieces of embroidery thread on top of the plastic bag so that it runs through the center of each rectangle, making sure to tape down the edges of the thread (as shown on the website). Next, invite residents to use colorful puffy paint to fill in the rectangles and all around the thread to create a design using the toothpicks. Finally, allow the puffy paint bracelets to dry overnight.

One-on-One: Sisters' Day Card

Help your resident recognize this Sisters' Day by making a Sister's Day card for her sister. Use colored paper, craft sticks, markers, glue, and fabric for the project.

Exercise: Dancing With the Grandkids

On this first day of Exercise With Your Child Week, encourage residents to teach visiting grandchildren how to dance the Hokey Pokey.

Bedside: Rag Doll

Make a handkerchief doll with your resident on this National Doll Day using handkerchiefs, stuffing, ribbon, lace, flowers, and thread. Encourage your resident to wrap the doll as a gift to a grandchild.

Reminiscing: Summer Group Bingo

Assist residents with remembering past summers by playing a fun game of summer group bingo. To play, divide residents into groups and provide a large sheet of paper to each group to fold in half four times, resulting in 16 evenly squared boxes when opened. Then have residents brainstorm words that relate to summer (e.g., beach, sunshine, vacation, etc.) as you write the words on a whiteboard for all to see. Next, ask the groups to pick 16 different words from the board to put on their paper in one of the 16 boxes. Then for the game, call out a summer word from the board for residents to try to find on their paper to circle. When a team gets bingo, have all the teams switch papers, and then call another round of bingo where the teams mark the words with an "X".

Sensory Stimulation: Squirt Gun Watercolor Art

Set up canvases in the backyard so that residents can create summer art by using water guns at a distance.

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5

Crafts: Building Birdhouses

Assist residents with building birdhouse bird feeders on this birthday of Swedish architect Raoul Wallenberg using graham crackers, saltines, birdseed, and peanut butter.

One-on-One: Tasty Lawnmowers

Encourage your resident to assist you with assembling fun Rice Krispies lawnmowers to serve at your afternoon social. Use Rice Krispies squares, mini Oreo cookies, juice box straws, Rolo chocolate candy, red, white, and green frosting, and graham crackers for the treat.

Exercise: Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling

Invite residents to take advantage of the beautiful evening weather by leading them in a fun game of glow-in-the-dark bowling. Use water bottles, sand, and glow sticks for the game.

Bedside: Reading Palms

In recognition of this birthday of world-famous astrologer Sydney Omarr, ask your resident if you can read her palms.

Reminiscing: Bargain Hunting

Ask a few bargain hunting questions to see if residents get them correct on this first day of National Bargain Hunting Week. Afterwards, reminisce with residents about the bargains that they enjoyed shopping for each summer.

Sensory Stimulation: Moon Pie Tasting

Recruit members of your facility's Baking Club to make homemade moon pies (graham cracker cookies with a marshmallow filling dipped in melted chocolate) to serve to residents for an official moon pie tasting on this birthday of Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk the moon.

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6

Crafts: Jamaican Pony Bead Dangles

Provide residents with black string to thread red, yellow, black, white, and green pony beads to create Jamaican pony bead dangles on this Independence Day in Jamaica. For the activity, give each resident two black strings, making sure that the strings are knotted on just one end. Then have residents thread the beads onto 3/4 of each string before tying the two strings together and making a knot. Next, add a few more beads on the adjoining strings before tying a second knot. Finally, make a top loop before tying the final knot.

One-on-One: Mint Boxes

Create Tic-Tac-Toe games with your resident on this National Fresh Breath Day using Tic Tac mints and a Tic-Tac-Toe game printable. (Beforehand, purchase inexpensive boxes of Tic Tacs from your local dollar store.) Pass out the finished games to visitors of your facility.

Exercise: Exercise Those Piggys

For this Wiggle Your Toes Day, invite residents to remove their socks and shoes as you lead them in toe exercises.

Bedside: Abstract Art

Persuade your resident to make mess-free abstract artwork for her room on this birthday of artist Andy Warhol. Simply place a few dollops of colorful paint inside of a large Ziploc bag, along with white cardstock and small sponges. After sealing the bag, encourage your resident to mash the bag to move the sponges to create colorful artwork on the cardstock.

Reminiscing: Throwing a Great Party

On this birthday of First Lady Edith Roosevelt, who was the first to employ a full-time, salaried social secretary, reminisce with residents about the great parties that they used to throw. Encourage residents to discuss their secrets for throwing a great party.

Sensory Stimulation: Homemade Finger Paint

Invite residents to make homemade finger paint to use on paper while creating abstract art on this birthday of pop artist Andy Warhol. Use cornstarch, cold water, unflavored gelatin, and food coloring for the project.

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7

Crafts: Candy Bracelets

Pass out plastic needles, dental floss, and candy for residents to make candy bracelets to hand out on this day of the Double Seven Festival in China (Chinese Valentine's Day).

One-on-One: Cereal Box Lighthouse

Invite your resident to assist you with constructing a cereal box lighthouse that can be displayed on this National Lighthouse Day. Use a cereal box, black paint or markers, Mod Podge, a battery-operated tea light, and floral wire for the craft.

Exercise: Making Waves

On this National Lighthouse Day, encourage residents to pretend that they are at the beach as you use a parachute for them to raise and lower as though they are making large and small waves in the ocean.

Bedside: Valentine Treat

Recruit your facility's Baking Club to bake valentine Kisses cookies that you can wrap and give as a Chinese Valentine's Day gift to your resident on this day of the Double Seven Festival in China (Chinese Valentine's Day).

Reminiscing: Conversation Starters

Get your residents chatting on this Professional Speakers Day as you encourage them to participate in conversation starters about their lives. For the activity, print out questions for residents to answer.

Sensory Stimulation: Chinese Valentine's Day Party

Host a fun Valentine's Day party for your residents on this day of the Double Seven Festival in China (Chinese Valentine's Day). For the party, encourage residents to play cupid bingo by replacing the B-I-N-G-O on your bingo cards with C-U-P-I-D. Pass out candy hearts for residents to use as the bingo markers.

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8

Crafts: Jewelry Boxes

Assist residents with making jewelry boxes to give to loved ones on this Wear Your Mother's Jewelry Day using just toilet paper rolls, brown cardstock, glue, burlap, and twine. For the craft, simply cut out pieces from toilet paper rolls to form the jewelry box and lid before gluing on circular pieces of brown cardstock (as shown on the website). Next, glue a wider strip of the brown cardstock to the inside of the box. Finally, once the jewelry box has been assembled, use twine and burlap to decorate the outside of the box.

One-on-One: Veggie Bugs

Invite your resident to make vegetable bugs using veggies and a black food marker on this Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbors' Porch Night.

Exercise: Leg Exercises

In recognition of this birthday of Rockettes founder and choreographer Russell Markert, help residents strengthen their legs with simple leg exercises.

Bedside: Now You See It, Now You Don't

Conduct several fun money magic tricks for your resident to enjoy on this National Dollar Day.

Reminiscing: Classic Pieces of Jewelry

Reminisce with residents about their mother's favorite jewelry pieces on this Wear Your Mother's Jewelry Day. For the activity, invite staff members to bring jewelry to show-off to the residents. Afterwards, share a list of great pieces to pass down to future generations.

Sensory Stimulation: Flower Garland

Use fresh flowers and greenery from your facility's garden for residents to create a flower garland for your Activity Room on this first day of the Jersey Battle of Flowers in the Channel Islands.

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9

Crafts: No-Sew Gnomes

For this birthday of Finnish artist and cartoonist Tove Jansson, assist residents with making no-sew Finnish-inspired gnomes. For the project, simply wrap full plastic water bottles with summer fabric, and secure with twine. (Later in the year, be sure to re-wrap the gnomes with winter fabric to reuse them as holiday decoration.) Then use felt and glue to make the gnome hat that can be attached to the top of the wrapped bottle using hot glue. Next, glue on a wooden bead as the gnome's nose. Finally, glue on cotton batting as the gnome's beard. Use the finished gnomes for the upcoming Ring Around the Gnome activity.

One-on-One: Rice Krispies Beach House

Invite your resident to assist you with constructing a Rice Krispies beach house in recognition of this National Rice Pudding Day. To make the house, use a microwave to make the treats instead of a stovetop. Then add pastel-colored candies and frosting to make the house look beachy.

Exercise: Ring Around the Gnome

Set out the Finnish-inspired gnomes that were made during the Crafts activity for residents to toss rings around to score points on this birthday of Finnish artist Tove Jansson.

Bedside: Speed Reading

On this National Book Lovers Day, share a few speed-reading tips with your resident to help her read faster.

Reminiscing: Downfalls of Stardom

Reminisce with residents about the tragic downfalls of Old Hollywood It Girls on this birthday of pop star Whitney Houston. After passing around the celebrities' photos, ask residents to name their favorite Old Hollywood stars of all time.

Sensory Stimulation: Rice Pictures

Recruit volunteers to use food coloring and rubbing alcohol to make colored rice for residents to apply to coloring pages to make their own rice art in recognition of this National Rice Pudding Day.

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10

Crafts: Frozen Lions

Celebrate this World Lion Day with your residents by assisting them with making frozen lion treats using round ice cream sandwiches, yellow candy melts, a black food marker, candy eyes, lemon cookie wafers, yellow candy, and dark M&M's candy. (On the website, scroll down to the second treat to view the instructions.)

One-on-One: Chocolate 101

Educate your resident on the different types of chocolate as you present her with samples of each type on this birthday of chocolate candy entrepreneur Henri Nestlé.

Exercise: Bowling League

Set up an informal bowling league in your facility for residents to get their exercise while bowling on this National Bowling Day. Encourage residents to break into groups to compete against one another.

Bedside: S'mores Treat

Whip up s'mores krispie bars for your resident to enjoy on this National S'mores Day. (For the recipe, melt the butter and marshmallows in your microwave instead of using a stovetop.)

Reminiscing: What's That For?

Reminisce with residents about antiques on this Somerset Antique Show in Somerset, Pennsylvania by passing around photos of antiques for residents to identify.

Sensory Stimulation: Chocolate and Nut Tasting

Recruit your residents to help you decide which nuts go best with milk chocolate on this birthday of chocolate candy entrepreneur Henri Nestlé. Pass out Hershey's miniature bars for residents to sample with a different nut, including almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts. Then have residents vote on the best nut for the chocolate.

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11

Crafts: Summer Clay Pots

Recruit residents to create summer clay pots for the season using polymer clay, rolling pins, and paint. Have residents paint their pots once they have baked them in the oven according to the polymer clay instructions.

One-on-One: Playing Hooverball

Play a game of Hooverball with your resident using one of your facility's heavier activity balls for the two of you to toss back and forth over a net on this first of the Hoover's Hometown Days in West Branch, Iowa.

Exercise: Word Basketball

In recognition of this day of the Manhattan Scrabble Tournament in New York City, play a fun game of word basketball with residents. To play, first pick a word (e.g., senior) and then whenever someone misses their basket, give them a letter in the word. Once a participant receives all the letters that spell the word, then they are out of the game.

Bedside: Where Are They From?

On this first day of the Hoover's Hometown Days in West Branch, Iowa, use your phone to show a picture of an Old Hollywood star to see if your resident can guess their home state. (On the website, hover over the state names at the top of the site to see the Old Hollywood stars listed and then click on a name. Then show your resident the picture of the star to see if they can guess their home state.)

Reminiscing: Best Small Towns

Reminisce with residents about their favorite small towns on this first of the Hoover's Hometown Days in West Branch, Iowa. Afterwards, share a list of the best small towns in America.

Sensory Stimulation: Palm Tree Beach Cookies

Assist residents with making palm tree cookies for this beachy season using kitchen ingredients and modeling chocolate.

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12

Crafts: Folding Towel Animals

Borrow a few towels from your facility's Housekeeping Coordinator to show residents how to make towel animals on this World Elephant Day.

One-on-One: Seated Dance Routine

Enjoy playing music for you and your resident to create a fun seated dance routine on this birthday of dancer and choreographer Michael Kidd. (On the video, go to the 2:05 mark to view the routine.)

Exercise: Fly Swatter Hockey

For this International Youth Day, invite residents to play a game of fly swatter hockey. To play, seat residents in a circle and provide them with dollar store fly swatters to swat a foam ball back and forth along the floor to try to hit it under another's chair. Whenever a ball goes out of the circle under someone's chair, then that person is out of the game. Once that happens, remove the chair and make the circle smaller.

Bedside: Crayon Etching

On this birthday of English artist and engraver Thomas Bewick, create a crayon etching for your resident to etch summertime art for her room. To make the etching, first recruit a volunteer to use light-colored crayons to cover a piece of paper. Next, have the volunteer use a black crayon to cover the whole page. Then for the activity, provide your resident with the crayon etching for him to etch a design using a craft stick.

Reminiscing: Listening to Old Records

Play old records and have residents try to guess the songs on this Vinyl Record Day. (On the YouTube channel, scroll down to the first comment to view the song titles.)

Sensory Stimulation: Clay Elephants

Teach residents how to make clay elephants on this World Elephant Day. Provide residents with colorful playdough or clay for the project.

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13

Crafts: Duct Tape Wallets

Pass out colorful duct tape as you show residents how to make duct tape wallets on this first day of the World's Fair of Money in Rosemont, Illinois. For the project, recruit volunteers to help residents assemble the wallets using duct tape fabric, colorful duct tape, a ruler, and scissors. During the activity, encourage residents to pick out the duct tape colors that they want to use to create a uniquely patterned wallet.

One-on-One: Coin Sorting

Invite your resident to help you sort coins on this first day of the World's Fair of Money. Use four bowls for you and your resident to sort all the pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

Exercise: Hand Exercises

During your Exercise Class, lead residents in a few hand exercises in recognition of this International Left-Handers Day.

Bedside: Pipe Cleaner Horses

Use pipe cleaners to teach your resident how to make pipe cleaner horses in recognition of this first day of the Wyoming State Fair and Rodeo in Douglas, Wyoming.

Reminiscing: Fun T.V. Quiz

Share photos from classic television shows for residents to identify and reminisce on this birthday of John Logie Baird, the Scottish inventor who was the first to demonstrate a working television.

Sensory Stimulation: Blowing Bubbles

Provide residents with bubble solution and bubble wands to blow tiny bubbles on this birthday of Hawaiian singer Don Ho, who made the song "Tiny Bubbles" famous.

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14

Crafts: Stained Glass Jars

Supply residents with glass jelly jars, Sharpie markers, and puffy paint to make their own stained glass jars on this day that the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, was completed. For the craft, first wipe the outside of the glass jars with rubbing alcohol. Then have residents use black markers to draw their design before filling the design in with colorful markers. Residents can then add rubbing alcohol to their design to give a more blended look using a cotton swab. Finally, once the surface has dried, provide residents with black puffy paint to outline their design.

One-on-One: Water Experiments

In recognition of this birthday of American marine biologist Ernest E. Just, conduct a few water experiments with your resident using everyday household materials.

Exercise: Senior Workout

On this day that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, help your seniors stay fit by hosting a low-impact workout.

Bedside: Native American Culture

Educate your resident about Native American culture on this Navajo Code Talkers Day by showing him a documentary on a tablet.

Reminiscing: Staying Cool

Recognize this National Creamsicle Day by reminiscing with residents about how they used to stay cool during the summers without air conditioning. Afterwards, share a list of surprising ways to stay cool on a hot, summer day.

Sensory Stimulation: Creamsicle Break

Celebrate this National Creamsicle Day by passing out creamsicles for residents to enjoy.

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15

Crafts: Mandala Paper Lanterns

Assist residents with assembling mandala paper lanterns on this Independence Day in India. First, show residents how to glue craft sticks together to form the four sides of their lantern (as shown on the website). Then provide residents with four square sheets of tracing paper, and have them trace the mandala template onto one of the sheets before coloring it in with colored pencils. Next, assist residents with gluing the four pieces of tracing paper to each of their four craft stick squares before assembling the lantern. Then supply residents with colorful Washi tape to create a border along their lantern's edges. Finally, supply each resident with a battery-operated tea light to illuminate their lantern. (Another mandala template)

One-on-One: Flour Doodles

Invite your resident to make flour doodles on this birthday of cook and author Julia Child. For the activity, fill a cookie sheet with flour for the two of you to practice drawing different objects using your fingers. Use your cellphone to generate easy Pictionary words to draw.

Exercise: Crazy Baseball

For this first day of the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, host a fun baseball game in your Activity Room. To play, first place a marble inside of a small balloon and inflate it to be a baseball that you toss to residents for them to hit with a pool noodle "bat." Award points each time a resident successfully hits the ball (that will not go straight due to the marble).

Bedside: Modern Collage

Provide your resident with a variety of paper and fabrics to glue onto cardstock to create a unique modern art collage for her room on this birthday of the "Father of Modern American Graphic Design" Paul Rand.

Reminiscing: Lost Pets

Reminisce with residents about their pets on this Check the Chip Day, a day to remind pet owners to update their pets' microchip information. Afterwards, ask residents to share how they found their lost pets.

Sensory Stimulation: Full Moon Sing Along

On this day of the Full Sturgeon Moon, schedule a fun sing along with residents featuring songs about the moon, like "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Miller, "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra, "It's Only a Paper Moon" by Ella Fitzgerald, "Moonlight Bay" by Doris Day, "Shine on Harvest Moon" by Ruth Etting, "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" by Ray Noble, "Blue Moon" by Nat King Cole, and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe.

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16

Crafts: Metallic Bracelets

In recognition of this day that gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon, provide residents with metallic beads and cording to make their own metallic bracelets.

One-on-One: Find the Ball

Tease your resident with the carnival game Find the Ball on this first day of the Western Idaho Fair in Boise, Idaho. To play, place a ball under one of three cups and begin moving the cups around to see if your resident can follow the ball. If she picks the right cup, then she wins.

Exercise: Bucket Game

For this first day of the Western Idaho Fair in Boise, Idaho, invite residents to play a fun carnival game, called the bucket game. To play, place several buckets on the floor, and have residents bounce ping pong balls on the floor so that they land in the buckets.

Bedside: Coaster Ride

Borrow a tablet to take your resident on a virtual roller coaster ride for this National Roller Coaster Day. (While watching the video, use your hand to touch the screen to look around.)

Reminiscing: Summer Fruit Tasting

Blindfold residents as you give them small cups of summer fruits to taste and identify on this first day of the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias, Maine.

Sensory Stimulation: Bursting Berries

On this first day of the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias, Maine, invite residents to make berry burst juice. But instead of using just a blender, provide residents with gloves and aprons to burst the berries with their hands. For the activity, provide each resident with a bowl of berries to burst with their hands before placing the burst berries in the blender to make the juice.

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17

Crafts: Clay Thumb Owls

Show residents how to make clay thumb owls using air-dry clay on this birthday of American frontiersman Davy Crockett. For the project, have residents place a mound of clay on their thumbs so that they can begin creating their owl's features.

One-on-One: Little Bees

Assist your resident with assembling pom-pom ball bees on this National Honey Bee Day. Use one-inch black pom-poms, two-inch yellow pom-poms, hot glue, black pipe cleaners, and vellum paper for the project. Use the finished bees as decoration for your indoor plants.

Exercise: Hammer Throw

On this first day of the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival in West Newton, Pennsylvania, invite residents to participate in the Renaissance game of the hammer throw. Instead of using a hammer, have residents compete in throwing a 12-inch pool noodle to see who can throw it the farthest.

Bedside: Cute Cats

Recognize this Black Cat Appreciation Day by sharing pictures of cute cats with your resident.

Reminiscing: Thrift Shop Bargains

For this National Thrift Shop Day, reminisce with residents about their past adventures at thrift shops. Afterwards, share a few fun and lucrative finds from thrift stores.

Sensory Stimulation: Painting With Nature

Collect a few items from nature, like flowers and leaves, for residents to use as paintbrushes in honor of this birthday of frontiersman Davy Crockett.

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18

Crafts: Magazine Flowers

Encourage residents to use magazines to create magazine flowers on this day that the first mail-order catalog was published by Montgomery Ward. For the project, cut the magazine pages into strips before folding them and using a hole punch to punch a hole through the strip. Then thread the strips onto green pipe cleaners to create the flowers.

One-on-One: Ice Cream Pie

Assist your resident with making an ice cream pie on this National Ice Cream Pie Day. Instead of purchasing a graham cracker crust as mentioned on the website, have your resident make the crust using graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, butter, salt, and cinnamon.

Exercise: Walking Tour

Take residents on a walking tour throughout your facility to explore the less-traveled areas, like the library or the apartment model in your facility, on this birthday of American explorer Meriwether Lewis.

Bedside: Browsing the Catalogs

Collect several different catalogs to "go shopping" with your resident in her room in recognition of this day that the first mail-order catalog was published by Montgomery Ward.

Reminiscing: Women's Rights

In recognition of this day of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, extending the right to vote to women, reminisce with residents about women's rights issues that they have encountered. Ask residents to brainstorm issues challenging women today.

Sensory Stimulation: Best Ice Cream Toppings

Invite residents to participate in an activity to choose the "Best Chocolate Ice Cream Topping" on this National Ice Cream Pie Day. Provide each resident with Dixie cups (small cups) of chocolate ice cream, with each cup containing a different topping on the ice cream, like Rice Krispies, crushed almonds, chocolate sprinkles, or chocolate sauce. Take a vote to see which topping wins as the "Best Chocolate Ice Cream Topping" in your facility.

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19

Crafts: Summer Tote Bag Party

Host a summer tote bag party for residents as they paint plain canvas tote bags using pastel paints on this birthday of fashion designer Coco Chanel. (Purchase the plain tote bags from a local dollar store, or ask staff members for donations of their unused tote bags.)

One-on-One: Smiley Fries

Encourage your resident to assist you with making tasty smiley fries on this National Potato Day. First, microwave the potatoes before mashing them with other ingredients to form a potato mixture. Next, roll out the mixture and use circle cutters to make the circles. Finally, use a straw and a spoon to make the smiley face on each of the circles before baking.

Exercise: Paper Plane Contest

Help residents get their arm exercise as they make paper planes to toss through a target on this National Aviation Day.

Bedside: Spot the Differences

Borrow a tablet on this World Photo Day to have your resident look at photos online to play Spot the Differences.

Reminiscing: Listening to Nat King Cole

Reminisce with residents about crooner Nat King Cole as you play a few of his songs on this day that he recorded "The Christmas Song."

Sensory Stimulation: Senses Tasting

Provide a variety of spicy foods for residents to taste on this National Hot and Spicy Food Day. Use foods like gumdrops, spicy jelly beans, and salsa.

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20

Crafts: Moon Lights

For this World Mosquito Day, assist residents with making moon lights for your backyard patio using clear jars, hairspray, colorful glitter, and moon lights or battery-operated tea lights. To make the lights, spray the inside of Mason jars with hairspray before sprinkling in glitter to stick to the inside of the jars. Then add the lights.

One-on-One: Learning About the Presidents

On this birthday of President Benjamin Harrison, use a random president picker to identify an American president to quiz your resident about. Once the generator has picked the president, share a fun fact with your resident about that president.

Exercise: Backyard Lawn Darts

Beware of the mosquitoes in the backyard on this World Mosquito Day as you make a lawn darts game for residents to play using sand-filled plastic bags and rope.

Bedside: Listening to the Ball Game

Bring a radio to your resident's room so that he can listen to a Major League Baseball game on the radio on this National Radio Day. (On the website, scroll down to view the games scheduled for today.)

Reminiscing: History of the Radio

Pass around photos of vintage radios to see if residents recognize them on this World Radio Day. Encourage residents to talk about listening to the radio as kids.

Sensory Stimulation: Summer Fruit Smoothie Stand

Set up a blender and mix summer fruit smoothies for residents, encouraging them to pick their favorite summer fruits.

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Crafts: Hawaiian Leis

Assist residents with crafting cupcake liner leis to wear on this day of Hawaii's statehood.

One-on-One: Illustrative Paper Fans

Help your resident assemble illustrative paper fans to pass out to residents for the summer on this birthday of English illustrator Aubrey Beardsley.

Exercise: Senior Fitness Fun

Add in a few new chair exercises to your Exercise Class for your senior residents on this National Senior Citizens Day.

Bedside: Visiting Hawaii

Borrow a tablet to take your resident on a trip to Hawaii on this day that the islands became the 50th state.

Reminiscing: Favorite Summer Drinks

Pass out sweet tea for residents to enjoy on this National Sweet Tea Day as they reminisce about their favorite drinks of the summer. Share a list of the most popular beverages in the world to see if residents agree.

Sensory Stimulation: Ice Cream Cone Party

Honor the seniors in your facility on this National Senior Citizens Day with a fun ice cream cone party as a tasty treat for your residents.

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Crafts: Angel Luminaries

Assist residents with assembling angel luminaries on this Be an Angel Day, a day to serve someone else with one small act. Use plastic cups, paper, markers, tape, and battery-operated tea lights for the luminaries. Beforehand, recruit a few visiting kids to use crayons to color the paper that can be used for the project.

One-on-One: Planet Suncatchers

Recruit your astronomy-lover-resident to help you use coffee filters, markers, and a spray bottle of water to make planet suncatchers on this birthday of astronomer Samuel Langley. Hang the finished suncatchers in your Activity Room windows.

Exercise: Song Walk

Lead residents throughout the hallways while singing fun traditional folk songs in recognition of this day that the Mormon Choir first performed.

Bedside: Choir Performance

Invite your facility's choir to stop by your resident's room to sing for her on this day that the Mormon Choir first performed.

Reminiscing: State Fairs

For this first day of the Maryland State Fair in Timonium, Maryland, reminisce with residents about their good or bad luck at playing games at state fairs. Afterwards, share a few secrets on how to win state fair games.

Sensory Stimulation: Who Has the Juiciest Peach?

On this National Eat a Peach Day, pass out peaches for residents to enjoy while having them determine who has the juiciest peach – the person with the most peach juice running down their arm.

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Crafts: Sponge Water Bombs

For this National Sponge Cake Day, invite residents to assemble sponge water bombs for the upcoming water bomb dodgeball game with the grandchildren. Use strips of sponges and plastic twist ties for the craft.

One-on-One: Dancing Moves

Play music and ask your resident to dance so that he can show-off his Gene Kelly moves on this birthday of the actor and dancer.

Exercise: Hand Jive

Teach residents how to do the hand jive dance during a chair exercise on this birthday of dancer Gene Kelly.

Bedside: Sponge Mug Cake

Celebrate this National Sponge Cake Day with your resident by making her a sponge mug cake to sample.

Reminiscing: Easiest Cakes to Make

Reminisce with residents about their favorite cakes to make on this National Sponge Cake Day. Afterwards, go around the room and ask residents to name the easiest cakes for them to make.

Sensory Stimulation: Water Bomb Dodgeball

On this hot, summer day, invite the grandchildren to stop by to play a fun game of water bomb dodgeball, where residents toss water-soaked sponge water bombs (made earlier during the Crafts activity) to try to hit the kids as they run.

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Crafts: Mini Disco Balls

Encourage residents to make mini disco balls as decoration for the upcoming Disco Exercise activity. Use tacky glue (instead of hot glue), mini Styrofoam balls, and sequins for the project.

One-on-One: Coffee Filter Bats

Invite your resident to assemble coffee filter bats on this International Bat Night. Use coffee filters, clothespins, markers, and water droppers for the fun project.

Exercise: Disco Exercise

Organize a fun disco exercise for your residents on this day of the One Day at the Disco Festival in England.

Bedside: Pool Noodle Car Race

Use pool noodles and toy cars to host a fun car race in your resident's room on this day of the Corvette Crossroads Auto Show in Mackinaw City, Michigan.

Reminiscing: When Things Change

Reminisce with residents about the things that they learned in school, like in science, on this day that Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status. Share a list of science facts that have changed over the years, and ask residents what they remember being taught.

Sensory Stimulation: Ocean Waves

Pass out shaving cream, paper plates, and blue food coloring to make ocean wave art with your residents on this birthday of the "Father of International Surfing" Duke Kahanamoku.

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Crafts: Floral Napkin Rings

Assist residents with making floral napkin rings using floral wire, floral tape, and the fresh flowers that were picked during the Exercise activity. Use the floral napkin rings for tonight's dinner.

One-on-One: Tennis Volley

Host a tennis volley game between you and your resident on this birthday of tennis champion Althea Gibson. Use plastic rackets and an inflated balloon for the activity.

Exercise: Picking Flowers

On this day that the U.S. National Park Service was founded, lead residents outdoors to pick flowers for your Floral Napkin Rings activity.

Bedside: Hershey's Kisses Matching Game

Set up a matching game using Hershey's Kisses candy, round stickers, and colorful markers for your resident to play on this Kiss-and-Make-Up Day.

Reminiscing: Character I.D.

Reminisce with residents about the movie The Wizard of Oz on this day that the movie was released. Pass around photos of the movie's characters, and have residents try to identify them. (On the website, click on the photo to enlarge it. Then right-click the mouse and click on "Open image in new tab" to print out from your browser.)

Sensory Stimulation: Animal Cracker Charades

Play a fun game of animal cracker charades with your residents on this birthday of animal artist Walt Kelly. To play, have residents draw an animal cracker and then act out the animal for their teammates to guess.

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Crafts: Desk Organizers

For this National Toilet Paper Day, invite residents to use toilet paper tubes to make toilet paper tube organizers for your Activity Room. For the project, cover the tubes with scrapbook paper and adhesive gems.

One-on-One: Cherry Popsicles

Assist your resident with making cherry popsicles on this National Cherry Popsicle Day. If you do not have popsicle molds, simply use paper cups that can easily be peeled off after the popsicles have been frozen.

Exercise: Frisbee Toss

On this International Dog Day, invite staff members to bring their well-behaved dogs to play a fun fetch game with your residents as they toss Frisbees for the dogs to retrieve in the backyard.

Bedside: Room Lights

Encourage your resident to assist you with making paper lanterns for her room using toilet paper rolls on this National Toilet Paper Day. Use paint, a hole punch, tissue paper, and a string of white lights, and then hang the finished lights in your resident's room.

Reminiscing: He Looks Like a Rover

Reminisce with residents about their past pets and their names on this International Dog Day. Pass around photos of dogs and cats and ask residents to think of names that they would call each of them.

Sensory Stimulation: Summer Hot Air Balloon Art

Invite residents to make textured hot air balloons on this birthday of Joseph-Michel Montgolfier, the French inventor of the Montgolfiere-style hot air balloon. Use paper plates, glue, scissors, string, a hole punch, brown paper lunch bags, and activity supplies like fabric, felt, glitter, and tissue paper for the project.

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Crafts: Beach Ball Necklaces

Assist residents with crafting beach ball necklaces for the season using wooden beads and colorful paint.

One-on-One: Paper Flowers

Recruit your resident to assist you with making paper flowers for the season. To make the flowers, first paint toilet paper rolls and craft sticks in bright paint colors. Then glue on buttons and attach the flowers to cardstock, adding painted craft sticks as the flower stems. Frame the finished artwork using glassless frames before hanging on the wall.

Exercise: Beach Ball Categories

On this summer day, take residents to the beach by playing a fun beach ball category game. To play, pick a category and have residents toss the ball back and forth as they name items in the category.

Bedside: Name That Hymn

Play instrumental hymns for your resident to identify and sing along on this birthday of Catholic nun Mother Teresa. (On the YouTube video, click "Show More" to view the titles of the hymns.)

Reminiscing: Sunday School

Reminisce about Sunday school with residents on this birthday of Mother Teresa. Afterwards, share a brief history of Sunday school, and ask residents whether they think that today's kids should attend.

Sensory Stimulation: Summer Fruit and Veggie Art

Invite residents to make summer fruit and veggie art using real vegetables and fruit, like lemons, limes, and bell peppers.

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Crafts: Paper Birdhouses

Encourage residents to make paper birdhouses as colorful decoration on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use colorful scrapbook paper and the birdhouse template for the project.

One-on-One: Cherry Turnovers

Invite your resident to assist you with making simple cherry turnovers on this National Cherry Turnover Day using puff pastry dough and cherry pie filling.

Exercise: Balloon Fight

Blow up lots of balloons and host a fun balloon fight among your seated residents on this day of La Tomatina, the world's biggest food fight in Spain.

Bedside: Bird Identification

Borrow a tablet to help your resident identify birds from her window on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson.

Reminiscing: Attending Rallies

Reminisce with residents about the rallies that they have attended over the years on this anniversary of the March on Washington civil rights rally in Washington, D.C. Share a list of the largest marches in history, and ask residents whether they remember them.

Sensory Stimulation: Suet Cakes

Assist residents with assembling suet cakes for your backyard birds on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use peanut butter, birdseed, and vegetable shortening for the cakes.

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Crafts: Paper Birdhouses

Encourage residents to make paper birdhouses as colorful decoration on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use colorful scrapbook paper and the birdhouse template for the project.

One-on-One: Cherry Turnovers

Invite your resident to assist you with making simple cherry turnovers on this National Cherry Turnover Day using puff pastry dough and cherry pie filling.

Exercise: Balloon Fight

Blow up lots of balloons and host a fun balloon fight among your seated residents on this day of La Tomatina, the world's biggest food fight in Spain.

Bedside: Bird Identification

Borrow a tablet to help your resident identify birds from her window on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson.

Reminiscing: Attending Rallies

Reminisce with residents about the rallies that they have attended over the years on this anniversary of the March on Washington civil rights rally in Washington, D.C. Share a list of the largest marches in history, and ask residents whether they remember them.

Sensory Stimulation: Suet Cakes

Assist residents with assembling suet cakes for your backyard birds on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use peanut butter, birdseed, and vegetable shortening for the cakes.

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Crafts: Paper Birdhouses

Encourage residents to make paper birdhouses as colorful decoration on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use colorful scrapbook paper and the birdhouse template for the project.

One-on-One: Cherry Turnovers

Invite your resident to assist you with making simple cherry turnovers on this National Cherry Turnover Day using puff pastry dough and cherry pie filling.

Exercise: Balloon Fight

Blow up lots of balloons and host a fun balloon fight among your seated residents on this day of La Tomatina, the world's biggest food fight in Spain.

Bedside: Bird Identification

Borrow a tablet to help your resident identify birds from her window on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson.

Reminiscing: Attending Rallies

Reminisce with residents about the rallies that they have attended over the years on this anniversary of the March on Washington civil rights rally in Washington, D.C. Share a list of the largest marches in history, and ask residents whether they remember them.

Sensory Stimulation: Suet Cakes

Assist residents with assembling suet cakes for your backyard birds on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use peanut butter, birdseed, and vegetable shortening for the cakes.

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31

Crafts: Paper Birdhouses

Encourage residents to make paper birdhouses as colorful decoration on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use colorful scrapbook paper and the birdhouse template for the project.

One-on-One: Cherry Turnovers

Invite your resident to assist you with making simple cherry turnovers on this National Cherry Turnover Day using puff pastry dough and cherry pie filling.

Exercise: Balloon Fight

Blow up lots of balloons and host a fun balloon fight among your seated residents on this day of La Tomatina, the world's biggest food fight in Spain.

Bedside: Bird Identification

Borrow a tablet to help your resident identify birds from her window on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson.

Reminiscing: Attending Rallies

Reminisce with residents about the rallies that they have attended over the years on this anniversary of the March on Washington civil rights rally in Washington, D.C. Share a list of the largest marches in history, and ask residents whether they remember them.

Sensory Stimulation: Suet Cakes

Assist residents with assembling suet cakes for your backyard birds on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use peanut butter, birdseed, and vegetable shortening for the cakes.

Back to Activity Calendar