Sample Dementia Activity Calendar

August 2022 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 senior facility's activity calendar.

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

Fun Dementia Activity Ideas for August
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31

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

August is ...

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

Each day contains six types of activities:

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

1

Crafts: Accordion Clowns

Celebrate this first day of International Clown Week with residents by making accordion clowns using colorful paper, a clown face template, glue, and markers. (Another clown template)

One-on-One: Summer Constellations

Invite your resident to assemble summer constellations on this birthday of Maria Mitchell, the first female professional astronomer. For the craft, use marshmallows and toothpicks to form several summer constellations. (On the mrprintables.com site, scroll down and click the "Summer Constellation Map – Black, LTR" link.)

Exercise: Increasing Lung Capacity

Help your residents increase their lung capacity on this World Lung Cancer Day by leading them in a few lung-expansion exercises.

Bedside: MTV Break – 1950s Edition

Borrow a tablet to watch a few "music videos" from yesteryear with your resident in recognition of this day that MTV, a music video channel, premiered.

Reminiscing: Breastfeeding in Public

For this first day of World Breastfeeding Week, reminisce with residents about what was appropriate childcare in public during the 1950s. Ask residents whether they believe that breastfeeding in public is acceptable.

Sensory Stimulation: Exploring Texture

Assist residents with exploring texture, on this birthday of American explorer William Clark, by making crayon rubbings. Simply have residents place paper on top of a textured object and rub colorful crayons over the paper to imprint the image.

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2

Crafts: Popsicle Beach Houses

Assist residents with making popsicle stick beach houses on this birthday of architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant using tacky glue, glue dots, or hot glue.

One-on-One: Playing Pig

In recognition of this day that the first U.S. census began, use dice to play a fun numbers game of Pig with your resident to see who can get to 100 first.

Exercise: Summer Charades

Encourage residents to get their exercise by acting out summer-themed charades on this birthday of actor Carroll O'Connor.

Bedside: What to Do in Washington, D.C.

Borrow a tablet to share a video with your resident about fun things to do in Washington, D.C. on this birthday of D.C. city planner Pierre Charles L'Enfant.

Reminiscing: Name the Warner Bros. Character

Reminisce with residents about cartoons on this birthday of Jack Warner, the Canadian born co-creator of Warner Bros. film studio. Share a few photos of popular cartoon characters to see if residents remember them.

Sensory Stimulation: Learning How to Color Like a Professional

Teach residents a few fun coloring techniques while filling in adult coloring pages on this National Coloring Book Day.

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3

Crafts: Watermelon Magnets

Assist residents with making watermelon magnets on this National Watermelon Day using pink and green polymer clay and plastic knives (or craft sticks for cutting). Once the clay watermelons have baked, attach small magnets to the back using a strong adhesive.

One-on-One: Newspaper Sort

Take a newspaper and scramble the papers for your resident to try to put the newspaper back in order in recognition of this birthday of journalist Ernie Pyle.

Exercise: Newspaper Funnel

For this birthday of American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ernie Pyle, invite residents to use newspaper to play a newspaper funnel game. To play, pair residents together to see how many ping pong balls a player can catch in a newspaper funnel (rolling a sheet of newspaper into a funnel).

Bedside: Tony Bennett Sing Along

Use a tablet to play a few Tony Bennett songs for you and your resident to sing along to on this birthday of the singer.

Reminiscing: Housewife Guide

On this birthday of lifestyle consultant Martha Stewart, reminisce with residents about the lifestyles of women in the 1950s. Share a few tips from the housewife guide to see if residents ever followed them.

Sensory Stimulation: Watermelon Pizza

Whip up some cream cheese frosting to serve a tasty watermelon pizza for residents on this National Watermelon Day.

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4

Crafts: Love Rocks

Help your residents assemble love rocks on this day of the Double Seven Festival in China, similar to Valentine's Day. To create the rocks, apply Mod Podge in a heart shape on a rock before sprinkling on glitter.

One-on-One: Paper Wardrobe

For this birthday of fashion designer Louis Vuitton, invite your resident to create a paper wardrobe for a grandchild to use for her dolls. For the project, use a shoebox, glue, paper clothes templates, colorful scrapbook paper, scissors, yarn, and craft wire (for the hangers). (To print out the clothes templates, hover your mouse over the image and right-click your mouse and click "Open image in new tab" before printing from your browser.)

Exercise: Track and Field Games

Host a fun track and field event in the backyard for your residents on this birthday of track athlete Glenn Cunningham. Set up fun games like shot put (tossing a ball the farthest), discus (tossing a Frisbee the farthest), and javelin (tossing a pool noodle the farthest).

Bedside: What's the Instrument?

In recognition of this birthday of musician Louis Armstrong, use a tablet to see if your resident can identify the musical instrument that plays.

Reminiscing: Heart Tea Bags

Reminisce with residents about the past valentine gifts that they have given or received on this day of the Double Seven Festival in China, similar to our Valentine's Day. During the discussion, invite residents to assist you with making heart tea bags before making tea for everyone to enjoy.

Sensory Stimulation: Paint-Poured Bracelets

Recruit residents to help you create fun paint-poured bracelets on this birthday of fashion designer Louis Vuitton. Before the activity, follow the instructions on the site to prepare the craft sticks by boiling them and molding them into a bracelet shape. Then during the activity, provide residents with colorful paints to pour onto the craft stick bracelets. After the bracelets have dried, gather them to sell at an upcoming Crafts Fair to raise money for your facility's craft supplies.

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5

Crafts: Butterfly Collages

In recognition of this first day of the Tall Timber Days Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan, invite residents to assemble butterfly collages using flowers, sticks, glue, and colored paper.

One-on-One: Strawberry Pie Maker

Recruit your resident to assist you with baking a strawberry pie on this Braham Pie Day in Braham, Minnesota.

Exercise: Symmetrical Butterflies

Invite residents to get outside to the backyard to walk around to create symmetrical butterflies on this summer day. Before the activity, cut out a butterfly shape from cardboard, and create symmetrical holes in the butterflies. Then fill one side of the butterflies with different kinds of flowers and elements of nature for residents to duplicate on the other side.

Bedside: Guess the Pie Filling

For this Braham Pie Day in Braham, Minnesota, provide your resident with cups of different pie fillings for her to taste and try to identify while blindfolded.

Reminiscing: Pie Tips

Reminisce with residents about baking pies on this Braham Pie Day in Braham, Minnesota. Ask residents to share a few of their favorite pie tips.

Sensory Stimulation: Embellishing Nature

Encourage residents to add to nature on this first day of the Tall Timber Days Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan by embellishing sticks and branches with glitter and beads. For the activity, take small branches and remove the leaves before sticking the branches into mounds of clay so that the branches stand upright on their own. Then provide residents with colorful beads to place on the branches. In addition, encourage residents to brush Mod Podge on the branches before sprinkling on glitter.

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6

Crafts: Summer Yarn Ornaments

Recruit residents to help you create summer yarn ornaments on this first day of the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Craftsmen's Fair in New Hampshire. To create the yarn ornaments, use brightly colored yarn, paste (glue and water), and balloons. Once the project is complete, use string to hang the colorful ornaments in your Activity Room for the season.

One-on-One: Catching Up on Gossip

Borrow a tablet to read about the latest entertainment gossip with your resident on this birthday of Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons. Afterwards, share a few gossip stories from Old Hollywood.

Exercise: Senior Racquetball

For this Independence Day in Bolivia, a country whose second most popular sport is racquetball, invite residents to play a variation of the game. For the activity, seat residents in chairs facing empty walls in your Activity Room in which pairs of residents hit an inflated balloon back and forth off the wall to the person sitting next to them.

Bedside: Toe Exercises

Show your resident a few toe exercises to help her stretch her toes on this Wiggle Your Toes Day.

Reminiscing: Do You Remember These I Love Lucy Episodes?

Reminisce with residents about the I Love Lucy show on this birthday of its star, Lucille Ball. Afterwards, read the descriptions of popular episodes to see if residents remember them.

Sensory Stimulation: Dancing Lady Art

On this Independence Day in Jamaica, supply residents with markers and crayons to create dancing lady art that resembles the artwork of Jamaican-born artist Bernard Hoyes, who paints colorful images in movement.

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7

Crafts: Candy Lighthouses

Assist residents with assembling candy lighthouses on this National Lighthouse Day. Simply cut out the lighthouse template and assemble with Hershey's Kisses.

One-on-One: Egg Carton Mermaid Dolls

Help your resident assemble egg carton mermaid dolls for her grandchildren on this National Doll Day using egg cartons, paint, jingle bells, twine, glue, and a mermaid template. Instead of purchasing their mermaid template, consider drawing it yourself onto cardstock from the photos or finding one online that you can alter. (Print the mermaid template at 200% scale to make larger.) (Another set of mermaid doll instructions)

Exercise: Schoolyard Bowling

On this first day of National Exercise With Your Child Week, invite residents to play a game of schoolyard bowling on the back patio. To play, set up bowling pins along the back wall of your facility for residents to roll a ball to knock down.

Bedside: Famous Sisters

Chit chat with your resident on this Sisters' Day about famous Old Hollywood sisters, like Joan and Constance Bennett, Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine, and the Gabor Sisters.

Reminiscing: Name That Doll

Reminisce with residents about their favorite dolls on this National Doll Day. During the activity, show pictures of famous dolls from the 1930s and 1940s. (On the website, click on the photos of the dolls to view the larger image and print out.)

Sensory Stimulation: Bird Seed Hearts

Invite residents to assemble bird seed hearts to place on your backyard trees for your neighborhood birds on this Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish holiday that is celebrated as a holiday of love, like Valentine's Day.

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8

Crafts: Cotton Ball Cats

Help residents attach cotton balls to water bottles to create cotton ball cats on this International Cat Day. Use gemstones, cotton swabs, and scissors for the project.

One-on-One: Ice Cream Lasagna

On this birthday of Odie, the dog from the "Garfield" comic strip that features a cat that likes lasagna, assist your resident with making a batch of ice cream lasagna.

Exercise: Rockettes Kick Line

In recognition of this birthday of Rockettes choreographer Russell Markert, seat residents in chairs in a line and lead them in kicking their legs while playing can-can music.

Bedside: Cat Collage

Show your resident how to create a cat collage on this International Cat Day using paper, cardstock, a black marker, a glue stick, and a cat template.

Reminiscing: Jewelry Show & Tell

Invite residents to bring their favorite pieces of jewelry to discuss during a fun jewelry "show and tell" activity in your Activity Room on this Wear Your Mother's Jewelry Day. Encourage residents to share their stories of how they acquired the pieces of jewelry.

Sensory Stimulation: Orange Cup Bird Feeders

Supply residents with halved oranges to eat before using the leftover orange cups to create bird feeders on this birthday of ornithologist Florence August Merriam Bailey. Fill the empty orange cups with melted peanut butter, nuts, and seeds.

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9

Crafts: Salt-Dough Earths

Recognize this day that Robert Gray became the first American to circumvent Earth by inviting residents to use salt dough to create salt-dough Earths. Once the dough has dried, have residents paint the mini Earths with blue and green paint.

One-on-One: Dressing Spoon Dolls

Show your resident how to create dresses for spoon dolls for a grandchild in recognition of this birthday of fashion designer Michael Kors. To make the dresses use colorful squares of paper, buttons, glue, and ribbon. (Video)

Exercise: Nature Ring Toss

Create a ring toss out in nature for residents to play in the backyard on this day that the United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council released posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time. To create the game, simply place a stick in the ground, and provide residents with rings made with sturdy rope and tape to toss over the stick.

Bedside: The Doodle Game

On this birthday of artist and cartoonist Tove Jansson, invite your resident to play the Doodle Game. To play, use a red and blue pen as the two of you take turns creating a doodle on paper while the other creates an object from the doodle.

Reminiscing: Going Camping

In recognition of this day that the United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council released posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time, reminisce with residents about their past camping trips. During the chit chat, invite residents to make their own microwavable s'mores.

Sensory Stimulation: Buttons in Rice

For this National Rice Pudding Day, invite residents to play the Buttons in Rice game to see who can accumulate the most points in one minute while removing buttons. To set up the game, supply each resident with a bowl of uncooked rice, with 10 white buttons and 10 black buttons mixed in, and an empty bowl to collect buttons. Residents receive 10 points for every white button removed and 5 points for every black button removed. One point is deducted for each grain of rice that has been removed from the bowl.

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10

Crafts: Lion Birthday Cards

Invite your residents to make lion birthday cards for their grandchildren on this World Lion Day. Use colorful felt, googly eyes, glue, and cardstock for the project.

One-on-One: Marshmallow Stack

Challenge your resident to see who can stack the most mini marshmallows in a minute on this National S'mores Day.

Exercise: Lazy Bowling

Assist residents, who may feel too lazy to stand on this National Lazy Day, with playing a fun seated bowling game. To play, seat residents in chairs to roll a bowling ball to try to knock down bowling pins.

Bedside: Funny Skits

Share a few funny Candid Camera skits with your resident on this day that the reality show premiered.

Reminiscing: Chocolate Bars of the 1950s

Reminisce with residents about their favorite chocolate bars on this birthday of chocolatier Henri Nestlé. Share a few classic candies from the 1950s to see if residents remember them.

Sensory Stimulation: Fruity Lions

Pass out cereal, orange slices, banana slices, dark grapes, and slivered almonds as you show residents how to assemble lion food art on this World Lion Day.

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11

Crafts: Penny Spinners

For this first day of the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa, use pennies and poster board for a fun intergenerational craft with your residents to make penny spinners. Provide the group with crayons and markers to decorate the discs before spinning them using pennies. Afterwards, host an impromptu penny spinning tournament to see who can spin their penny spinner the longest.

One-on-One: Abstract Fish Art

In recognition of this day of the Full Sturgeon Moon, have fun with your resident as you help her use vibrant paint colors to paint abstract fish art. For the art, use pencil to draw the outline of a fish onto canvas before filling the outline in with colorful splotches of paint for the scales.

Exercise: Penny Toss

Pass out pennies for residents to play a penny toss game on this first day of the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa. Before the game, recruit a volunteer to use colorful paint or markers to create circles on a large sheet of white paper that can be used as the game board. Then during the activity, have residents toss pennies to try to land on the different colors. Be sure to give different point values for the different colors on the board. Also give different point values for those pennies that land within the circle and for those pennies that land on the edge of the circle.

Bedside: Window Stars

Invite your resident to pick out a color of tissue paper to help you make a paper window star to attach to her window on this first day of the Perseid Meteor Showers.

Reminiscing: Camping Underneath the Stars

On this first day of the Perseid Meteor Showers, reminisce with residents about their past camping trips and whether they ever camped out among the stars. During the activity, invite residents to assist you with baking a batch of colorful stars to sample.

Sensory Stimulation: Torn Paper Mountains

Assist residents with tearing paper to create torn paper mountains on this Mountain Day in Japan. Simply have residents paint one side of paper. Then when the paint is dry, turn the paint over and use a marker to draw a large mountain shape. Next, have residents tear the paper along the mountain shape before attaching the torn mountains onto light-colored paper.

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12

Crafts: Plastic Jar Lanterns

Supply residents with plastic jars, colorful tissue paper, and Mod Podge to create plastic jar lanterns on this day of the Feast of Lanterns (Bon Festival) in Japan.

One-on-One: Lavender Sachets

In recognition of this day that the home sewing machine was patented, assist your resident with hand-sewing lavender sachets that can be used to keep her laundry smelling fresh like lavender. Use dried lavender, rice, colorful fabric, needle and thread, and scissors for the project.

Exercise: Category Ball Bounce

For this International Youth Day, host a fun "recess" for your residents as they play a fun game of category ball bounce. To play, seat residents in a large circle and then name a category (e.g., types of cars, girls names that begin with the letter "S", etc.). Then hand a ball to one of the residents and have them list an item in the category before bounce-passing the ball to another resident in the circle. Then when that resident catches the ball, have them list a different item in the category before bounce-passing the ball to another resident, and so on.

Bedside: CD Suncatchers

Invite your resident to make CD suncatchers for her window in recognition of this Vinyl Record Day. To make the colorful suncatchers, use permanent markers in different colors, old CDs, fishing line, twine, and sticks. Hang the finished suncatchers in a sunny corner in your Activity Room for the season.

Reminiscing: My First Sewing Machine

Reminisce with residents about their first sewing machine on this day that the home sewing machine was patented. Pass around your tablet to show residents photos of vintage sewing machines, and ask residents to point out the machines that they remember using.

Sensory Stimulation: Scratch Art

On this birthday of artist and engraver Thomas Bewick, assist residents with making their own scratch art. First, have residents use oil pastels or crayons to color sturdy paper, making sure to completely cover the paper in color. Next, show residents how to use sponge brushes to paint the whole picture with black paint. Then once the paint dries, provide residents with craft sticks to begin etching a design on the black painted paper that reveals the color beneath.

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13

Crafts: Bubble Wands

Encourage your residents to make bubble wands to use for the upcoming Tiny Bubbles Auditions activity. Use pipe cleaners, wooden dowels, and colorful beads for the project.

One-on-One: Hallway Sale

For this National Garage Sale Day, recruit your resident to assist you with going through your activity closet to gather old kits and supplies that are no longer used by your activity department. Then set up a table in the hallway to sell the items to staff members at low prices. Use the proceeds to purchase new kits and supplies that your activity department can use.

Exercise: Bean Bag Target

In honor of this birthday of markswomen Annie Oakley, help residents improve their aim by using chalk to create circles on the back patio for residents to toss bean bags so that they land in the targeted areas. Beforehand, simply fill clean socks with dried beans to create the bean bags.

Bedside: Jazz Hands

On this first day of the Long Beach Jazz Festival in Long Beach, California, play jazz music in the background as you help your resident stretch her fingers to help with her arthritis.

Reminiscing: Bowling Leagues

In recognition of this National Bowling Day, reminisce with residents about whether they ever belonged to a bowling league. Pass around vintage photos of bowling alleys to spark a few memories.

Sensory Stimulation: Tiny Bubbles Auditions

Play tribute to Hawaiian singer Don Ho on this day that he was born by having residents blow tiny bubbles while listening to music from Don Ho, the singer known for his hit song "Tiny Bubbles." Beforehand, make bubble solution for residents to use with the bubble wands that were made earlier during the Crafts activity.

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14

Crafts: Twig Tabletop Teepees

Assist residents with making twig tabletop teepees in recognition of this Navajo Code Talkers Day. While assembling the teepees using twigs, twine, and paint, chit chat with residents about what they remember hearing about the Navajo Code Talkers during World War II.

One-on-One: Cute Geckos

For this World Lizard Day, invite your resident to create a gecko dot painting by using cotton swabs to apply paint to a gecko template.

Exercise: Early Morning Meditation Walk

Lead your early risers on an outdoor meditation walk before it gets too warm in recognition of this day that the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, the Cologne Cathedral, was completed.

Bedside: Baseball Drinking Game

Challenge your resident to a fun baseball drinking game (using cranberry juice) while watching a MLB game on this birthday of baseball ballad writer Ernest Thayer. To play, before each person bats, pick whether the hit will be a ground ball or fly ball. Whenever someone guesses wrong, then they have to take a sip of their cranberry juice.

Reminiscing: Going to Worship

Reminisce with residents about their past religious traditions on this day that the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, was completed. Ask residents to describe their early memories of going to worship on Sundays.

Sensory Stimulation: Creamsicle Break

Celebrate this National Creamsicle Day by passing out creamsicles for residents to enjoy on this hot, summer day.

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15

Crafts: Indian Elephants

On this Independence Day in India, assist residents with making Indian elephants using wooden clothespins, cardboard, modeling clay, pipe cleaners, and paint. To access the template on the website, simply click on the image. Once the image is enlarged, right-click the mouse and click "Open image in new tab" to print from your browser. (If your computer does not automatically translate the Spanish website into English, then use Google Translate by placing the URL in the first box and clicking the link that pops up in the second box.)

One-on-One: Tie-Dyed Balloons

Recruit your resident to help you create colorful marbleized balloons in honor of this first day of the Woodstock music festival in 1969. For the activity, use inflated balloons, a bowl of water, and nail polish.

Exercise: Dancing Like It's 1960!

Play music from the 1960s as you lead residents in the fun dances from the era, like the Mashed Potato or the Swim, in honor of this day that the Woodstock music festival began.

Bedside: Sleepy Eyes

For this National Relaxation Day, invite your resident to help you make a fun no-sew sleeping mask that she can wear when she doesn't want to be disturbed. Use felt, fabric glue, elastic, and the mask template for the craft.

Reminiscing: Piping Whipped Cream

In recognition of this National Lemon Meringue Pie Day, reminisce with residents about the different pies that they used to make. During the activity, make a batch of stabilized whipped cream and have residents show off their piping skills as they pipe whipped cream to frost plain cupcakes.

Sensory Stimulation: One of Julia's Favorites

In celebration of this birthday of cook Julia Child, invite residents to help you roll out croissant dough to make tasty croissants. (Before the activity, make the dough and allow it to chill for at least two hours.)

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16

Crafts: Stamped Clay Wine Charms

Assist residents with making stamped clay wine charms on this birthday of wine vintner Fess Parker.

One-on-One: Here, Little Piggy

Invite your resident to use needle and thread to create a few felt piggy banks for her grandchildren in recognition of this first day of the World's Fair of Money in Chicago, Illinois. To make the piggy banks, first use the pig pattern template to cut out of felt, and then cut and sew around the coin hole, as shown on the website. Next, sew the felt pig to another piece of felt before cutting away the excess. Encourage your resident to use a variety of colored felt and thread for the project.

Exercise: Bobbling Balloons

On this first day of the Vermont State Fair in Rutland, Vermont, invite residents to play a fun game with balloons. To play, first divide residents into teams of two or three. Then provide each person with a balloon to hit back and forth with their teammates. Shortly thereafter add in another balloon to each team. Whenever a team lets a balloon drop, then they are out of the game. Keep adding in balloons until there is only one team left that keeps the balloons in the air.

Bedside: Let's Ride a Coaster

Use a tablet to take your resident online to ride a virtual roller coaster to celebrate this National Roller Coaster Day. Use your finger to view the ride 360°.

Reminiscing: Amusement Parks

Reminisce with residents about their past trips to amusement parks on this National Roller Coaster Day. Pass around photos of popular theme park foods, and ask residents to identify their favorites.

Sensory Stimulation: Cork Flowers

Supply residents with wine cork and paint to create cork flowers on this birthday of wine vintner Fess Parker.

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17

Crafts: Bobblehead Black Cats

For this Black Cat Appreciation Day, recruit residents to help you assemble bobblehead black cats to use for your Halloween decorations in a few months. Use the cat template, cardstock, glue, and googly eyes for the craft.

One-on-One: Flea Market Flip

In honor of this National Thrift Shop Day, play a fun game of Flea Market Flip. Instead of actually doing the flip, show your resident a before picture and have her creatively think of things that she could repurpose the item for, before showing her the after picture.

Exercise: Balloon Ring Toss

Attach inflated balloons to wooden dowels and stick in the ground in the backyard for residents to play a fun balloon ring toss game in recognition of this day that the first transatlantic trip in a balloon was completed. To play, place several balloon-attached wooden dowels in the ground, and provide residents with Hula Hoops to try to ring the balloons. Beforehand, use markers to write different point values on each of the balloons.

Bedside: Flower Cones

On this birthday of American frontiersman Davy Crockett, invite your resident to help you assemble a clay cone that can hold fresh flowers from outdoors. For the cone, use air-dry clay, a rolling pin, a patterned doily, and silver paper fasteners (brads).

Reminiscing: Before There Was a Marilyn Monroe, There Was a Mae West

Reminisce with residents about the stage and screen actress Mae West on this day that the actress was born. Share a few fun facts about the sex symbol of the 1930s. Afterwards, pass around photos of other beautiful actresses of the 1930s to see if residents can guess their names.

Sensory Stimulation: How Many Shades of Green Can You Find?

Lead residents outdoors for a walk in nature on this birthday of frontiersman Davy Crockett to identify different shades of green leaves in the backyard that match green paint swatches. (If walking in the backyard is not an option, recruit volunteers ahead of time to fill a small basket with different shades of leaves for residents to compare to their paint swatches inside.)

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18

Crafts: Corn Mosaic Art

Celebrate this first day of the Sun Prairie's Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin by assisting residents with creating colored corn mosaic art. Beforehand, recruit volunteers to dye the corn kernels. Then during the activity, have residents glue the kernels onto sturdy cardstock to create a mosaic. (If residents are unable to freehand a mosaic, simply print out coloring pages onto cardstock for residents to fill in with the corn kernels.)

One-on-One: Blueberry Mug Muffin

Treat your resident to a quick-to-make blueberry mug muffin mug on this first day of the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias, Maine.

Exercise: Hey, Batter Batter

Set up a batter box in your Activity Room for residents, and invite each resident to use a pool noodle to try to hit the foam ball that you pitch to them on this birthday of Buck Weaver, the Major League Baseball player who was banned from the league for conspiring to fix the 1919 World Series.

Bedside: Corn Kernel Necklace

For this first day of the Sun Prairie's Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, invite your resident to assist you with stringing a corn kernel necklace that can be given as a gift to a grandchild. Provide your resident with a bowl of corn kernels, and have her pick out the kernels that she wants you to string onto the necklace.

Reminiscing: Popcorn Party

On this first day of the Sun Prairie's Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, reminisce with residents about their favorite flavors of popcorn while serving a variety of popcorn flavors to sample.

Sensory Stimulation: Corn Pudding Chefs

Invite residents to assist you with preparing corn pudding in honor of this first day of the Sun Prairie's Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Divide residents into teams so that each team can work on one task (e.g., creaming the butter and sugar, cracking the eggs, etc.)

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19

Crafts: Potato Stamp Stationery

For this National Potato Day, provide residents with halved potatoes, paint, and white cardstock to make their own stationery this summer. Beforehand, recruit volunteers to use craft knives to carve designs in each of the potatoes. Then during the activity, have residents fold the cardstock in half and begin using the potatoes to stamp designs on the outside of the cards. Allow the finished cards to dry before having residents save them as stationery.

One-on-One: Volunteer Help

Recruit your resident to assist you with passing out greeting cards to your bedridden residents on this World Humanitarian Day. Ahead of time, print out greeting cards for the activity.

Exercise: Sweep Potato

Encourage residents to play a fun game of Sweep Potato using brooms and a potato on this National Potato Day. To play, use masking tape to create two parallel lines on the floor that are 10 feet apart. Then have a resident stand on the outside of one of the lines and hit a potato with the broom so that the potato crosses the line that is 10 feet away. (If you have more than one broom and one potato, then you can have multiple residents attempt at the same time.) Award points for each resident who is able to hit their potato so that it rolls over the line (instead of rolling to the side).

Bedside: Tell Me a Story

On this World Photography Day, share photos from the 1950s with your resident and have her create a story about the picture. Encourage your resident to tell you what she thinks the people in the photos are doing that day.

Reminiscing: Family Photos

Reminisce with residents about their families as you encourage them to bring their family photos to show others on this World Photography Day.

Sensory Stimulation: Best French Fries Condiments

Invite residents to taste-test different condiments with their fries on this National Potato Day. Beforehand, coordinate with Dining Services to provide you with pre-cut fries that you can bake in your Activity Room oven for residents to sample with the condiments.

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20

Crafts: Jingle Bell Ribbon Wands

Assist residents with making jingle bell ribbon wands to use for the upcoming Dancing to the Radio activity on this World Radio Day. For the project, (to avoid using hot glue as mentioned on the website) string jingle bells onto colorful ribbon and tie the ribbon around the tops of wooden dowels. Next, use colorful duct tape to wrap the wooden dowels (and to secure any loose ribbon to the dowels).

One-on-One: Honey Tasting

Surprise your resident with a platter of different types of honey, cheese, and nuts to sample in recognition of this National Honey Bee Day.

Exercise: Dancing to the Radio

Pass out the jingle bell ribbon wands that were made earlier during the Crafts activity as you invite residents to move to music from a local radio station on this National Radio Day.

Bedside: Touring NYC

Invite your resident to go on a virtual tour of New York City from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building in recognition of this birthday of architect Eliel Saarinen. (On the website, click the video to check out the different landmarks in the city.)

Reminiscing: Fibber McGee & Molly

Share an old episode of the radio show Fibber McGee & Molly with residents to enjoy on this National Radio Day. Afterwards, reminisce with residents about their favorite radio programs from the 1950s. (On the website, scroll down to read off the radio programs for residents to comment on whether they remember them.)

Sensory Stimulation: Radio Songs

Play vintage songs "from the radio " from the 1930s and 1940s for your residents to enjoy on this National Radio Day.

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Crafts: Pine Cone Pineapples

For this anniversary of Hawaii's statehood, assist residents with painting pine cones to resemble pineapples using pine cones, yellow paint, green construction paper, and tacky glue.

One-on-One: Quick Draw

Use a tablet to see how well your resident draws as you play a game of Quick Draw on this birthday of illustrator Aubrey Beardsley.

Exercise: Ukulele Dance Marathon

Recognize this day that Hawaii became the 50th state by playing ukulele music for a fun dance marathon, in which residents dance on your dance floor. Award a prize to the last person dancing (the one who outlasts all the others).

Bedside: Special Recording

On this World Senior Citizens Day, interview your resident by asking her fun questions that may be of interest to her grandchildren. With her permission, record her answers to the questions and send them to her grandchildren.

Reminiscing: Favorite Destinations

In recognition of this day that Hawaii became the 50th state, reminisce with residents about the states that they used to travel to for vacation. Afterwards, share a list of the top states to visit on vacation to see if residents agree.

Sensory Stimulation: Hawaiian Taste Test

Coordinate with Dining Services to serve a variety of Hawaiian desserts for residents to sample in honor of this day that Hawaii became the 50th state.

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Crafts: Paper Clip Angels

Invite your residents to help you make paper clip angels on this Be an Angel Day. Use butterfly paper clips for the craft, along with pearl beads and colorful ribbon. Store the finished angels to use either as ornaments for your upcoming Christmas decorations or as gifts to residents at the end of the year.

One-on-One: Constellation Coasters

Enlist the help of your resident to make constellation coasters on this birthday of American astronomer Samuel Langley. Use wooden circles, black paint, a white colored pencil, a constellation chart, and clear spray sealant for the coasters. After painting the circles black, allow them to dry before using the white colored pencil to draw the constellations. If you do not have a star stamp, as mentioned on the site, simply use your white colored pencil to draw stars as the connection points on the constellations. Finally, spray a sealer over the coasters to seal in the design.

Exercise: Delivering Balloons

Inflate balloons for your mobile residents to tie in different common areas of your facility to brighten everyone's day on this Be an Angel Day, a day to serve someone else with one small act.

Bedside: Belief in Angels

For this Be an Angel Day, invite your religious resident to discuss her beliefs about angels. Host an impromptu Bible study with her as you share a few facts about angels in the Bible.

Reminiscing: Which One is Ripe?

On this National Eat a Peach Day, reminisce with residents about their grocery shopping habits. Ask residents how they are able to tell whether a fruit is ripe. (If possible, provide a few different fruits for residents to show off their skills at picking the ripest fruit.)

Sensory Stimulation: Choir Practice

Lead residents in a fun choir practice on this day that the Mormon Choir performed for the first time. Beforehand, print out traditional folk songs lyrics. (On the website, click on the song and then click on the orange "Text (PDF)" link to download the lyrics.) During the activity, pick a song that has a melody that you and your residents are familiar with, and then lead them in singing the other verses of the song that they may not be familiar with.

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Crafts: Fossil Art

Show residents how to draw fossils on this birthday of Georges Cuvier, the French paleontologist known as the "Father of Paleontology." Use white paint pens and cardstock for the craft.

One-on-One: The Perfect Sponge Cake

Celebrate this National Sponge Cake Day by baking a sponge cake with your resident.

Exercise: Around the World

Invite residents to play a variation of the Around the World basketball game in your Activity Room on this birthday of NBA star Kobe Bryant. To play, set out several baskets throughout your Activity Room, and provide residents with foam balls to see how many balls they can get in all the baskets.

Bedside: Author Fun Facts

Share a few fun facts about a few famous authors with your resident on this birthday of poet and author Edgar Lee Masters.

Reminiscing: Movies You Remember Seeing in the Theater

Reminisce with residents about the movies they remember seeing in the theaters, like Singin' in the Rain with Gene Kelley, on this birthday of the actor and dancer. To get the conversation going, read through a list of movies from the 1950s to see if residents remember going to see them in the theaters.

Sensory Stimulation: Comics and Lemonade

Set out the comics section from your local newspaper for residents to read while sipping lemonade on this birthday of comic strip artist Ernie Bushmiller.

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Crafts: Ice Cream Cone Roses

On this first day of the New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York, invite residents to use ice cream cones to create ice cream cone roses. Use strawberry ice cream, green sanding sugar, and corn syrup for the edible craft.

One-on-One: Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

Recruit your resident to help you make a batch of mini waffle ice cream sandwiches for passersby to enjoy on this National Waffle Day.

Exercise: Coconut Bowling

Borrow a whole coconut from Dining Services for residents to use for a fun coconut bowling game in your Activity Room on this birthday of Hawaiian Olympic gold medal athlete Duke Kahanamoku. Simply set out your bowling pins for residents to try to knock down with a coconut.

Bedside: Waffle Topping Tester

Invite your resident for a waffle topping tasting on this National Waffle Day. Beforehand, use an electric waffle iron to make a waffle before cutting it into strips. For the activity, borrow four different toppings from Dining Services (e.g., strawberry jam, grape jelly, blueberry jam, and peach preserves) and heat each in the microwave. Then have your resident dip a waffle stick into each of the toppings to try them out.

Reminiscing: Weekend Breakfast

For this National Waffle Day, reminisce with residents about the breakfasts they used to make and eat on the weekend. Afterwards, share a list of the most popular breakfast foods in each state.

Sensory Stimulation: Picking Apart a Pineapple

In celebration of this birthday of Hawaiian Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, show residents how to pick apart a very ripe pineapple without a knife.

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Crafts: Greeting Cards

Celebrate this Kiss-and-Make-Up Day with residents by making watercolor greeting cards to send to loved ones. For the project, fold cardstock or watercolor paper in half to create the cards. Then have residents use Washi tape to make designs on the front of the cards before using watercolors to fill in the rest of the space on the front of the cards. Next, carefully remove the tape to reveal the designs. After the cards have dried, assist residents with writing notes of love and encouragement to their family members.

One-on-One: No-Bake Banana Split Cake

Recruit your resident to assist you with assembling a no-bake banana split cake on this National Banana Split Day using ingredients that include bananas, crushed pineapple, and graham cracker crumbs.

Exercise: Human Ring Toss

For this first day of the Acton Fair in Acton, Maine, invite residents to participate in a fun game of human ring toss. Beforehand, borrow pool inner tubes from staff members for the activity. To play, divide residents into small teams, and have each team designate a "peg" who will have the rings tossed around them. (Another option is to recruit staff members or volunteers to be the peg for each team.) Award points for each ring that goes around the human peg. (If you have a limited amount of inner tubes, then time each team individually to see how many inner tubes they can get over their human peg in 60 seconds.)

Bedside: Colorful Twig Art

In recognition of this day that the U.S. National Park Service was founded, gather twigs for you and your resident to create string twig art. For the activity, first use twine to tie the twigs into triangles, and then wrap colorful pieces of yarn around the triangles. Hang the finished twig art at varying lengths in a window in your Activity Room.

Reminiscing: Kind Stories

Recognize this first day of Be Kind to Humankind Week by reminiscing with residents about instances in which people were very kind to them. Afterwards, share a few kind stories with residents.

Sensory Stimulation: Cutting Bananas

On this National Banana Split Day, invite residents to participate in the relaxing, sensory activity of cutting bananas. Pass out bananas and plastic knives to residents, and have them peel and cut the bananas before eating them.

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Crafts: Newspaper Flower Pots

Recognize this birthday of newspaper editor Benjamin Bradlee by recruiting residents to make over some of your terra cotta pots into simple newspaper flower pots. To create the pots, first use Mod Podge to attach pieces of newspaper to the lower part of the pots. Then paint the top in fun summer colors. Once the paint has dried, tie twine around the pot before planting.

One-on-One: Popsicle Stick Frames

For this National Cherry Popsicle Day, convince your resident to use popsicle sticks to make popsicle stick frames for her room. Use colorful Washi tape, popsicle sticks, small magnets, and tacky glue for the fun project.

Exercise: Men vs. Women

In honor of this Women's Equality Day, host a fun shuffleboard contest between the men and women in your facility to see which gender is best at shuffleboard.

Bedside: Western Bingo

Show an old episode of the popular western television show Gunsmoke from the 1950s for your resident to enjoy on this first day of the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, Colorado. Before the activity, create a bingo card featuring items normally found in a western (e.g., cowboy, cowgirl, cactus, saloon, sheriff, horse, spur, bank, stage coach, boots, etc.). Then as your resident watches the episode, encourage him to mark off the things that he has seen on the show.

Reminiscing: When Did You Feel Equal?

Start a discussion with residents about gender equality in their communities and in their former workplaces on this Women's Equality Day. Ask residents to share their stories of inequality in the workplace, and whether they view women and men as being equal. Afterwards, share a list of gender inequities still around today.

Sensory Stimulation: Vegetable Seedlings

In recognition of this National Toilet Paper Day, provide residents with toilet paper rolls to create seedling pots that include the seeds of vegetables or herbs that should be planted in August. Pass out the seedlings to visitors over the weekend.

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Crafts: Bible Snacks

For this birthday of Catholic nun Mother Teresa, encourage residents to make edible crafts by making Bible snacks using Fig Newtons. For the activity, have residents use a plastic knife to trim off three sides of the Fig Newton before decorating it with white icing and a fruit roll-up that is carved to look like a bookmark. Take pictures of the finished Bibles before residents begin sampling them.

One-on-One: Do You Know the Books of the Bible?

Assist your resident with completing a Books of the Bible word scramble in honor of this birthday of Catholic nun Mother Teresa. (Printable; Answers)

Exercise: Putt Putt Bowling

Invite residents to play a fun game of putt putt bowling on this first day of the U.S. Senior Amateur (Golf) Championship in Marion, Massachusetts. To play set up your regular bowling pins. But instead of having residents roll a bowling ball, have residents use a putter to hit (putt) a rubber ball so that it knocks down the pins.

Bedside: Carnival Balloons

On this first day of the Notting Hill Carnival in England, give your resident's room a make-over by inflating lots of colorful balloons and tying them throughout the room.

Reminiscing: The Fanciest Car

Reminisce with residents about the fanciest car that they have ever been in on this day of the Corvette Crossroads Auto Show in Mackinaw City, Michigan. Pass around photos of the beautiful cars of the 1930s and the 1940s, and ask residents what they remember about those cars.

Sensory Stimulation: Nonalcoholic Wine Tasting

Set out several nonalcoholic wines for residents to sip and judge their favorites on this Independence Day in Moldova, a country known for its wines.

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Crafts: Stick and Leaf Butterflies

Use several elements from nature to assist residents with making stick and leaf butterflies on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. For the project, have residents decorate leaves with chalk markers. Then use glue to attach the leaves to colored twigs. Gather the finished butterflies to give to visiting kids as nature gifts.

One-on-One: Commercial Break Bingo

In recognition of this day that the first radio commercials were broadcast, leave a television commercial bingo card with your resident for her to use when she watches her favorite program on television for the evening. Encourage her to check off the items on her bingo card when she sees them in a commercial (and have her write in the commercial product) before turning the bingo card back into you the following day for a fun prize.

Exercise: Cloud Watch

On this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, take residents outdoors for a walk to your garden to go on cloud watch to identify your local clouds. For the activity, pass out cloud viewers for residents to use after sitting down in the garden. (Beforehand, cut out the cloud viewers and attach craft sticks to make it easier for residents to hold up.)

Bedside: Nature Dragonflies

Gather a few items from nature to have your resident assist you with making nature dragonflies for her room in recognition of this birthday of American naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. For the dragonflies, use twigs, leaves, beads, rubber bands, and floral wire.

Reminiscing: March on Washington

Reminisce with residents about the March on Washington civil rights rally in Washington, D.C. on this anniversary of the event. Pass around photos of the march to spark a discussion.

Sensory Stimulation: Colorful Leaf Prints

Assist residents with gathering leaves from your outdoor trees to create leaf prints in recognition of this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Use a sponge brush to paint one side of the leaves before pressing the leaves onto paper to make the prints. For frameable art, encourage residents to overlap the leaf prints and to use complementary paint colors.

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Crafts: Lemon Centerpieces

Assist residents with making lemon centerpieces on this National Lemon Juice Day. Beforehand, cut off the bottoms from the lemons so that they stand upright. Then use a knife to cut a hole in the top of each lemon so that residents can make the hole deeper with their fingers before inserting real flowers. Place the finished lemon centerpieces on your Dining Room tables for the day.

One-on-One: Floral Herb Perfume

Encourage your resident to make her own floral herbal perfume in recognition of this More Herbs, Less Salt Day. To make the perfume, first take your resident outdoors to pick flowers and herbs from your garden. Then tear the flowers and herbs and place them in a bottle. Next, have your resident choose which essential oils she wants to add to her perfume before adding water to the spray bottle. Since the perfume doesn't last long, be sure to encourage your resident to use her spray right away to freshen up her room or clothes.

Exercise: Lemon Roll

Invite residents to participate in a fun lemon bocce ball game in recognition of this National Lemon Juice Day. To play, seat residents in a large circle and place the jack (a white ping pong ball) on the floor in the center of the circle. Then pass out lemons to each of the residents and have them roll their lemon so that it ends up being the closest to the jack. Be sure to warn residents that lemons don't always roll straight!

Bedside: Card Players

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

Reminiscing: Foreign-Born?

Reminisce with residents about Old Hollywood actresses on this birthday of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman. Borrow a tablet to run through a list of Old Hollywood actresses to see if residents can recall if they are foreign-born.

Sensory Stimulation: Herb and Spice Playdough

Use an electric stovetop to heat flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, and your favorite herbs to make herb and spice playdough for residents to mold on this More Herbs, Less Salt Day. After all the doughs have cooled, provide each resident with a different herbed dough to play a playdough animal game. To play, name an animal and give residents a minute to mold their dough into that animal. Once everyone has molded their animal, have residents pass their dough to the person on their right. Then give another animal for residents to mold using the new herbed playdough that they just received.

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Crafts: Napkin Pencils

Encourage residents to make beautiful napkin pencils in recognition of this birthday of writer Mary Shelley. For the project, first have residents use markers to create designs on paper towels. Then cut the dried paper towels into strips. Next, use glue sticks or Mod Podge to adhere the paper towel strips onto the pencils. Carefully add a final layer of Mod Podge over the paper towel and set the pencils out to dry.

One-on-One: Watercolor Postcards

In honor of this birthday of writer Mary Shelley, invite your resident to make watercolor postcards to send to her loved ones, using a postcard template and watercolors.

Exercise: Who Can Hit a Home Run?

See how many of your residents can hit homeruns on this birthday of MLB hitter Ted Williams. For the activity, have residents stand in the backyard behind a line. Then create another line several feet from the first. Next, toss a Whiffle ball to a resident so that they can hit it with a plastic bat. If the ball goes beyond the second line, then they have hit a homerun and they receive a point. Award a prize to the person who accumulates the most points at the end of the activity.

Bedside: Campfire Stories

Read a few funny campfire stories to your resident on this National Toasted Marshmallow Day. Provide your resident with s'mores to enjoy while listening to the stories.

Reminiscing: Toasted Marshmallows

Celebrate this National Toasted Marshmallow Day with residents by serving oven-toasted marshmallows to sample. While eating, reminisce with residents about the special treats that they used to enjoy as kids, like the toasted marshmallows.

Sensory Stimulation: Baseball Oreo Cookies

Assist residents with assembling baseball Oreo cookies on this birthday of MLB player Ted Williams. Use Golden Oreo cookies and red icing for the activity.

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Crafts: Cookie Ovens

Recognize this day of La Tomatina, the world's biggest food fight in Spain, by inviting residents to make a food craft – cookie ovens. Use graham crackers, peanut butter and chocolate candy melts, Kit Kat bars, M&M's candies, chocolate chips, and pretzel sticks for the fun craft. Take pictures of the finished ovens before residents begin sampling.

One-on-One: Leaving a Trail for the Birds

Invite your resident to walk out to the backyard to leave a trail for the birds on this National Trail Mix Day. Provide your resident with a bag of sunflower seeds for her to drop on the ground for the birds to follow and eat.

Exercise: Twister Toss

In recognition of this first day of La Tomatina, in which participants toss tomatoes at one another, invite residents to toss bean bags during a fun Twister Toss game. To play, place the Twister mat on the floor, and have residents try to toss bean bags so that they land on the color that they spun. Award points each time a bean bag lands touching the desired color.

Bedside: Cheesy Tomatoes

On this day of the La Tomatina, the world's biggest food fight (tomatoes) in Spain, treat your resident to a few cheesy baked tomatoes to sample. (Beforehand, ask your facility's Baking Club to bake a batch of the tomatoes.)

Reminiscing: Picking a Career

Reminisce with residents about how they picked their careers on this Love Litigating Lawyers Day. Go around the room, and ask residents to share the occupations that their parents wanted them to pursue and whether they ever did.

Sensory Stimulation: Calypso Break

For this Independence Day in Trinidad and Tobago, play calypso music for residents as you pass out fruity tropical drinks for residents to enjoy.

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