Sample Men's Activity Calendar

February 2021 Men's Activity Calendar

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

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

Fun Men's Activity Ideas for February
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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TIP: Use the following monthly themes as inspiration for activity ideas.

February is ...

TIP: 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 four 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

Tactile: St. Brigid's Cross

Provide the men with colorful pipe cleaners as you teach them how to make a St. Brigid's cross on this St. Brigid Feast Day.

One-on-One: Heart Cake

Recruit your resident to assist you with decorating a heart cake using candy conversation hearts on this Decorating With Candy Day. For the activity, have your facility's Baking Club bake a cake that you and your resident can frost with pink frosting before adding on the candy hearts.

Discussion: Is America Free?

Host a debate among the men about America's freedom on this National Freedom Day, commemorating President Lincoln's approval of the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery. Ask the men whether they feel that America is free.

Special Event: Best Rose Marshmallow Contest

On this Decorating With Candy Day, supply the men with jumbo marshmallows on lollipop sticks to see who can decorate the best rose marshmallows using food writer pens.

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2

Tactile: Drawing Shadow

Show the men how to draw acorns using shadow on this Groundhog Day.

One-on-One: Corporate Silhouette

In recognition of this Groundhog Day, borrow a tablet to play a fun online silhouette logo game to see if your resident can identify the corporate logo by its silhouette.

Discussion: Wetlands Benefits and Costs

For this World Wetlands Day, invite the men to discuss the benefits and costs of protecting wetlands. Afterwards, share a list of popular wetlands like the Everglades.

Special Event: City Spelling Bee

On this Groundhog Day, invite the men to compete in a spelling bee to see who can spell the most hard-to-spell city names like Punxsutawney and Albuquerque.

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3

Tactile: Peeling Carrots

In recognition of this Carrot Cake Day, supply the men with carrots and vegetable peelers to help Dining Services peel carrots for their recipes.

One-on-One: The Saturday Evening Post Cover

Assist your artistic resident with designing a fun magazine cover for The Saturday Evening Post on this birthday of the magazine cover's illustrator Norman Rockwell. Supply your resident with colored pencils and copies of old magazine covers for inspiration.

Discussion: Do We Go to the Doctor Too Often?

Start a debate among the men about doctor visits on this birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman physician. Ask the men whether people see the doctor too often.

Special Event: Remember These Female Athletes?

On this National Girls and Women in Sports Day, divide the men into teams to see which team can correctly identify the female athlete from photos.

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4

Tactile: Paper Planes

Assist the men with making paper planes to use for the upcoming Runway Landing activity on this birthday of American aviator Charles Lindbergh. During the activity, teach the men how to fold four different types of paper airplanes.

One-on-One: Valentine Painting

In recognition of this African-American Coaches Day, coach your resident on how to make valentine art to hang on his door during this valentine season. For the artwork, provide your resident with watercolor paper, watercolors, Washi tape, a ruler, and a jar.

Discussion: Pros and Cons of the Feminist Movement

For this birthday of American feminist and first president of the National Organization for Women Betty Friedan, chit chat with the men about feminism. Ask the men to name a few pros and cons of the feminist movement.

Special Event: Runway Landing

On this birthday of aviator Charles Lindbergh, use masking tape to create a runway (two parallel lines) on the floor in your Activity Room to see which of the men can land the paper airplanes on the runway. Use the paper planes that they made earlier during the Tactile activity.

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5

Tactile: Cloud Tutorial

Give the men a quick tutorial on how to paint clouds using watercolors on this Weatherperson's Day. Supply the men with watercolors and watercolor paper to create the dramatic sunset painting.

One-on-One: Red Lights

Recruit your resident to assist you with hanging red Christmas lights to decorate your facility on this National Wear Red Day, a day to raise awareness about heart disease in women.

Discussion: Best Small Towns in America

In recognition of this Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Day, chit chat with the men about whether they like living in towns or cities. Afterwards, pass around photos of some of the best small towns in America.

Special Event: Whipped Cream Bubbles

Host a fun game for the men featuring bubble gum and whipped cream on this Bubble Gum Day. For the activity, seat the men at a table and blindfold them. Then set in front of each participant an aluminum pan that contains a piece of bubble gum. Next, cover the piece of bubble gum with whipped cream, making sure to fill up the pan. Then have the men compete to see who is first to find their gum in their pan (without using their hands), chew it, and blow a bubble.

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6

Tactile: Cereal Minute-to-Win-It

On this birthday of cereal commercial voice artist Thurl Ravenscroft, encourage the men to play a fun cereal game to see who is good at making cereal bracelets using only one hand. For the game, supply each of the men with a pipe cleaner and loop cereal (e.g., Cheerios or Froot Loops) to see who can place the most cereal on their pipe cleaner in one minute.

One-on-One: How to Speak With a Boston Accent

Teach your resident how to speak with a Boston accent on this day that Massachusetts became the 6th state.

Discussion: Did Dinosaurs Exist?

Start a debate among the men about dinosaurs on this birthday of archaeologist Mary Leakey. Ask the men whether they believe that dinosaurs are still alive today, in the form of birds and alligators.

Special Event: Reading the Tea Leaves

Open up a few tea bags for the men to use to play a fun game of tea leaf Pictionary on this day that tea drinker Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne. To play, divide the men into teams of two and supply each team with tea leaves from your tea bags. Then provide one member of each team with the name of an object to form using the tea leaves in hopes that their teammate will correctly guess the object.

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7

Tactile: Making Pretzel Footballs

Show the men how to make pretzel footballs for the big game on this Super Bowl Sunday using just pizza dough, beer, baking soda, and salt.

One-on-One: Do You Know Your Fictional Characters?

On this day that Charlie Chaplin debuted his fictional character "Tramp," read off the names of famous fictional characters to see if your resident can identify them.

Discussion: New Words

In recognition of this birthday of Sir James Murray, an English lexicographer who was one of the primary editors of the Oxford English Dictionary, read off several "new words" from the last few years (2019 and 2020) to see if the men recognize them. Afterwards, ask the men whether they agree with adding words to the English language.

Special Event: It's Time to Play the Feud – Super Bowl Edition

Host a fun Super Bowl Family Feud game for the men on this day of Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (For the activity, the men can play without a board or with a homemade board.)

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8

Tactile: Paper Rose Balls

On this day that the City of Roses, Portland, Oregon was incorporated, teach the men how to make paper roses by cutting spirals in a circle and then rolling the spiral so that it takes the shape of a rose. For the activity, supply the men with red, pink, and orange colored paper to make the roses before gluing to Styrofoam balls to create rose balls that can be used as decoration for Valentine's Day.

One-on-One: Commonly Confused Words

For this first day of the Arizona Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon, Arizona, a state known for its deserts, share a list of commonly confused words, like desert and dessert, with your resident.

Discussion: College Facts

Start a discussion with the men about their college days on this first day of CAMEX, an annual national conference and trade exhibit for collegiate retailers in Atlanta, Georgia. Afterwards, share a few fun facts about college life.

Special Event: West Coast or East Coast?

In recognition of this day that Portland, Oregon was incorporated, see how well the men are at identifying American cities as West Coast or East Coast as you read off just the city's name to see if the men can correctly identify which coast it is on.

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9

Tactile: Breakfast Pizzas

Recruit the men to assemble their own English muffin breakfast pizzas on this National Pizza Pie Day. To make the pizzas, first split an English muffin lengthwise, and top with tomato sauce, olive oil, Canadian bacon, and mozzarella cheese before baking.

One-on-One: Image Dice

In recognition of this birthday of imagist poet Amy Lowell, whose poetic words created vivid images in the reader's mind, challenge your resident to a fun game of Image Dice. To play, first create print out two dice, and on one of the dice, write a different noun on each side (e.g., cow, robot, dragon, etc.) and on the other dice, write a different action on each side (e.g., flying, fighting, sleeping, etc.). Then for the activity, have your resident shake the two dice and then draw an image based on the noun and action that was rolled. Once your resident has drawn his image, it's now your turn to shake the dice to see what image you will draw.

Discussion: Is Poetry Practical for Students?

On this birthday of poet Amy Lowell, start a debate among the men about poetry in schools. Ask the men whether poetry should be removed as required coursework and replaced with more practical subjects.

Special Event: Literary Charades

Invite the men to play a fun game of charades using book titles in recognition of this Read in the Bathtub Day. To play, give one of the participants a book title to act out for the others to guess. (On the book title generator site, click the green "See Another" button to view a new book title.)

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10

Tactile: Backhand Hits

Seat the men in front of an empty wall to practice their backhand tennis hits on this birthday of tennis great Bill Tilden, using a foam ball and a plastic tennis racket.

One-on-One: Playing Chess

Download a printable chess set to play your resident in a fun game of chess on this day that a computer first beat a human in a chess game. (Printable pdf)

Discussion: Trusting the Science

Host a debate among the men about science on this third day of the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting that is being held virtually this year. Ask the men whether the public can trust scientific experts.

Special Event: Tell Me a Story

In recognition of this day that The New York Times slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print" first appeared on its front page, invite the men to play a game using newspapers. To play, supply the men with images that were cut out of your local newspaper. Then ask the men to create a story about their image.

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11

Tactile: Valentine Bird Feeder Hearts

Assist the men with assembling valentine bird feeder hearts to hang on your backyard trees for your neighborhood birds. For the activity, use heart cookie cutters, birdseed, unflavored gelatin, straws, water, and twine.

One-on-One: Remembering Thomas Edison

Share a few fun facts with your resident about inventor Thomas Edison on this day that the New Jerseyan was born.

Discussion: Wrongful Convictions

Host a discussion among the men about wrongful convictions on this day that anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was freed from prison after serving 27 years for being convicted of trying to overthrow the South African government. Afterwards, pose a conviction question to the men – if one person is innocent and the other is guilty, is it better to convict both of them or let both go free.

Special Event: Old Hollywood Film Guessing Game

Invite the men to participate in a fun guessing game about Old Hollywood films on this first day of the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany. To play, divide the men into teams and read a description of a classic Hollywood film. Award a point to the team who is the first to answer correctly.

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12

Tactile: Chopstick Relay

For this Chinese New Year, invite the men to compete in a chopstick relay game to see which team can successfully move their cotton balls using chopsticks. To play, have one member from each team use chopsticks to transfer cotton balls from one bowl to another. Once the task has been completed, have another team member come to the table to transfer cotton balls from the bowl to a different bowl, and so on.

One-on-One: Hit the Penny

Challenge your resident to a game of Hit the Penny on this day that the person who occupies the penny, President Abraham Lincoln, was born. To play, sit on opposite sides of a long table and take turns sliding your penny so that it knocks off your opponent's penny from the table.

Discussion: Do You Believe in Evolution?

On this Darwin Day, host a fun discussion with the men about evolution. Ask the men whether they agree with the theory of evolution.

Special Event: Fill the Bank

Invite the men to play the penny game Fill the Bank on this birthday of the president whose face is on the penny, Abraham Lincoln. To play, provide each of the men with a jar and 30 pennies, and have each roll a die to see how many pennies they can put into their jar ("bank"). The winner is the first person to fill their bank (i.e., runs out of pennies).

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13

Tactile: Valentine Rocks

Pass out glue pens for the men to draw valentine designs on rocks before sprinkling with glitter to make valentine rocks on this Valentine's Eve.

One-on-One: Wrapping Candy Bars

Recruit your resident to assist you with wrapping candy bars on this Valentine's Eve to give to staff members as valentine treats. (Candy wrapper; another candy wrapper)

Discussion: Online Friends

For this Internet Friends Day, chit chat with the men about having friends online. Ask the men to brainstorm a few of the pros and cons of forming friendships online.

Special Event: Eisenhower, Truman or FDR?

On this birthday of First Lady Bess Truman, read off the accomplishments of Presidents Eisenhower, Truman, and FDR with the men so that they can identify which president you are describing.

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14

Tactile: Valentine Houses

Invite the men to assemble valentine houses that can be used as decoration throughout your facility on this Valentine's Day. Use heart templates, a paper house template, cardstock, glue, tape, vellum paper, and battery-operated tea lights for the craft.

One-on-One: Valentine Pixel Art

Show your resident how to create his own Valentine pixel art on this Valentine's Day using a pencil, paper, markers, and water. Hang the finished artwork in your resident's room for the season.

Discussion: Donor Opt-Out System

In recognition of this National Donor Day, start a debate among the men about organ donations. Ask the men whether the country should move from an opt-in to an opt-out organ donor system.

Special Event: Valentine Pictionary

On this Valentine's Day, divide the men into teams and provide a member of each team with the name of an object associated with Valentine's Day to draw that their teammates can guess.

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15

Tactile: Log Cabin Contest

Supply the men with pretzel sticks and icing to see who can build the best log cabin on this Presidents' Day.

One-on-One: The City of Presidents

On this Presidents Day, borrow a tablet to take your resident on a virtual trip to Rapid City, South Dakota to see the presidential statues scattered throughout the city.

Discussion: Is Factory Farming Necessary?

Start a debate among the men about farming on this birthday of Cyrus McCormick, the American inventor of the harvest reaper. Ask the men whether factory farming is necessary.

Special Event: Presidential Game Night

Divide the men into teams to ask them presidential trivia on this Presidents' Day. (More presidential trivia)

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16

Tactile: Shelling Almonds

For this National Almond Day, provide the men with whole almonds to shell using nutcrackers so that they can eat the seed inside.

One-on-One: Wooden Spoon Puppets

Assist your resident with making a few wooden puppets for his grandchildren on this birthday of puppeteer and ventriloquist Edgar Bergen.

Discussion: Should We Celebrate Mardi Gras?

Host a discussion with the men about Fat Tuesday, a day in which people tend to overindulge. Ask the men whether we should celebrate the holiday and our overindulgences.

Special Event: New Orleans Casino

Transform your Activity Room into a fun New Orleans-themed casino on this Mardi Gras as you pass out hurricane mocktails for the men to sip as they play the card game Casino.

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17

Tactile: Butterfly Garden Ornaments

Recruit the men to help you get a head start on your garden by helping you make butterfly garden ornaments on this day that the opera Madama Butterfly was performed for the first time in Milan, Italy. To make the garden ornaments, first use the butterfly template (another butterfly template) to cut out from cardboard. Then use glue to create a design on the cardboard butterfly before covering with aluminum foil. Next, have the men decorate the butterflies using colorful markers, gems, and craft wire for the antennas. Finally, coat the finished butterflies in Mod Podge and varnish so that they can withstand the outdoor elements this spring.

One-on-One: Lenten Actions

On this first day of Lent, help your resident use Lenten action cards. Simply cut out the daily actions for your resident to use and follow each day.

Discussion: It's My Way or the Highway!

Host a discussion with the men about being a boss on this My Way Day, a day to celebrate doing things your way. Ask the men to brainstorm a list of things that bad bosses say or do, like "It's my way or the highway!"

Special Event: Which Latin American Country is Known for...

Quiz the men about their knowledge of Latin American countries on this day that the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was founded. To play, click on one of the countries and read a description of the country and ask the men to try to identify the country that you are describing.

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18

Tactile: Magazine Collage Art

For this birthday of magazine editor Helen Gurley Brown, invite the men to make magazine collage art that can be framed and hung as decoration. For the craft, provide the men with magazines to cut out similar colors that can be glued to cardstock to make colorful artwork.

One-on-One: Can You Spot Earth?

Borrow a tablet to challenge your resident to an online planet identifying game on this day that the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered. Afterwards, share a few fun facts about our solar system.

Discussion: Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered?

Begin a debate among the men about the drinking age on this National Drink Wine Day, and ask the men whether the drinking age should be lowered. Afterwards, encourage the men to brainstorm the pros and cons of lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18.

Special Event: Planet Trivia

On this day that the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered, quiz the men with planet trivia to see if they can answer the questions correctly.

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19

Tactile: Copper Pots

Assist the men with making copper pots, using metallic paint, rubber bands, and clay pots, that can be used for the upcoming Growing Mint From Cuttings activity.

One-on-One: Painted Chocolate Bars

Recruit your resident to assist you with making a painted chocolate bar in recognition of this National Chocolate Mint Day. For the activity, splatter melted candy melts onto an acetate sheet before spreading it using an offset spatula. Then place the candy bar onto the melted candy melts. Once the candy has cooled, remove the candy bar and let it set in the freezer.

Discussion: The Wrongs of America

Start a discussion among the men about past mistakes made by America on this day that Japanese Americans were ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to be placed in concentration camps during World War II. Share a list of other events that are considered some of America's worst moments in history.

Special Event: Growing Mint From Cuttings

In recognition of this National Chocolate Mint Day, set out a large mint plant for the men to take cuttings to grow their own indoor mint plants using the pots that were decorated earlier during the Tactile activity.

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20

Tactile: No-Sew Pet Beds

Use fleece, scissors, and polyester filling to assist the men with creating no-sew pet beds that can be donated to a local animal shelter on this National Love Your Pet Day.

One-on-One: Can You Spot the Difference

Borrow a tablet and have your resident try to Spot the Difference between two images on this birthday of photographer Ansel Adams. (Another Spot the Difference game)

Discussion: How to Support Social Justice in the Workplace

Start a debate among the men about social justice on this World Day for Social Justice. Ask the men to brainstorm ideas on how organizations can support social justice in the workplace.

Special Event: Bird Feeder House Contest

Supply the men with crackers, birdseed, and peanut butter to see who can make the best bird feeder house on this National Love Your Pet Day. Afterwards, have the men place their houses in the backyard to feed the neighborhood birds.

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21

Tactile: Paper Chain Contest

On this first day of National Engineers Week, invite the men to compete in a fun paper chain contest. For the activity, provide each of the men with a pair of scissors, tape, and a sheet of colorful construction paper, and give them the challenge to try to build the longest paper chain using just that one sheet of paper. When everyone is finished, place the chains side-by-side to see whose chain is the longest.

One-on-One: Want to Build the Eiffel Tower?

Recruit your resident to assist you with building a newspaper Eiffel Tower in your Activity Room on this first day of National Engineers Week. For the activity, use newspaper sheets, a stapler, and tape.

Discussion: Learning a Foreign Language

Start a discussion with the men about learning foreign languages on this International Mother Language Day. Ask the men whether learning a foreign language should be a requirement in schools.

Special Event: Snowball Fight

In recognition of this first day of National Engineers Week, assist the men with building their own snowball catapult to participate in a fun snowball fight activity. To make the catapults, use popsicle sticks, plastic spoons (or bottle caps), and rubber bands. After the catapults have been made, supply the men with mini marshmallows for a fun snowball fight in your Activity Room.

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22

Tactile: Sand Pictionary

Play a fun game of sand Pictionary with the men on this day that the United States acquired Florida from Spain. To play, divide the men into teams, and provide one member of each team with a tray of sand to draw objects in the sand using their finger. Award a point for each team who correctly guesses the object.

One-on-One: History of Woolworth's

Share a bit of history about the popular five and dime store Woolworth's with your resident on this day that it first opened. Afterwards, borrow a tablet to show your resident a few vintage items to chit chat about.

Discussion: Is Florida Ground Zero?

Start a discussion with the men about the climate change issues in Florida on this day that the United States acquired Florida from Spain. Ask the men whether they see Florida as the state this is receiving the worst effects of climate change.

Special Event: Cuban Coffee Break

In recognition of this day that the United States acquired Florida from Spain, turn your Activity Room into South Florida's Little Havana as you host a fun Cuban coffee break for the men where you serve Cuban coffee and encourage the men to play Dominoes.

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23

Tactile: Going Bananas

In celebration of this National Banana Bread Day, recruit the men to make a variety of fun banana art, like a duck (using carrots and toothpicks) or a dolphin (using cloves for the eyes)

One-on-One: Single-Tasking Fun

Invite your resident to help you focus on only one task on this Single-Tasking Day – creating a domino run in your Activity Room. After the two of you have created the domino run, invite residents in to witness the toppling of the dominoes.

Discussion: Should We Ban Diesel?

On this day that the diesel engine was patented, start a discussion with the men about the types of cars that are available today. Afterwards, encourage the men to name their favorites before you share a list of the pros and cons of each (diesel, electric, hybrid, and gasoline).

Special Event: Speed Scrabble

For this National Tile Day, invite the men to play in a fun Speed Scrabble game in your Activity Room. To play, divide the men into groups of four to play with a set of Scrabble tiles. (Watch the short video to see how the game is played.)

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24

Tactile: Mexican Yarn Painting

Show the men how to use yarn to make Mexican yarn paintings on this Flag Day in Mexico. For the activity, use the templates on the website or use Mexican-themed coloring pages for the men to fill in with glue and yarn.

One-on-One: Gingerbread Ski Cabin

Recruit your resident to assist you with assembling a gingerbread ski cabin on this first day of the American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Race/Birkie Week in Wisconsin. After making the gingerbread, assemble the cabin using the cabin template, candy-coated chocolate pebbles, pretzel rods, icing, red licorice rope, a piece of gum, a sugar cone, and peppermint sticks. (Video)

Discussion: Going Digital in the Classroom

For this birthday of technology innovator Steve Jobs, host a fun debate among the men about technology. Ask the men whether they agree with digital devices being allowed in the classroom.

Special Event: Bartender Games

On this World Bartender Day, pass out root beer in your Activity Room as you invite the men to play the popular card game Spades.

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25

Tactile: Inventor's Challenge

Host a fun challenge for the men to see what each person builds using the supplies in their invention box on this Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Before the activity, assemble the invention boxes by filling shoeboxes with a variety of supplies (e.g., pipe cleaners, pom-poms, scissors, tape, beads, craft sticks, toilet paper tubes, etc.). Then provide the men with the name of an object to make in 15 minutes (e.g., create a vehicle, assemble a woodland animal, etc.).

One-on-One: Let's Play Peanuts

Teach your resident how to play the card game Peanuts in recognition of this National Chocolate-Covered Peanuts Day using two decks of playing cards. (Video)

Discussion: Is There a Bias Against Women in Science?

On this Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, chit chat with the men about their past science classes and whether they remember females wanting to study the subject. Afterwards, ask the men whether they believe that there is a bias against women in science.

Special Event: Coin Spatial Game

Challenge the men to play a fun coin spatial game on this day that the first national bank was chartered by Congress. For the activity, divide the men into pairs and provide each of the men with five coins, making sure to give their partner the same types of coins (e.g., one dime, two nickels, one penny, one quarter). Then have one of the men in each pair use his five coins to create a random pattern. Next, have that person's partner study the pattern before the coins are covered. Then have the partner try to replicate the pattern of coins using his coins. Award a point for each coin that matches the original pattern. Then have the pairs of men alternate creating the coin patterns and having their partner try to replicate the pattern from memory.

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26

Tactile: Pine Cone Elves

In recognition of this day that the Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Teton National Park were established, 10 years apart, invite the men to create pine cone elves using pine cones, an elf template, wooden beads, pipe cleaners, paint, and felt. Ahead of time, recruit your facility's Sewing Club to make the mini gloves and hats for the men's elves.

One-on-One: Pom-Pom Purim Groggers

Assist your resident with making pom-pom Purim groggers for a grandchild on this day of Purim, a Jewish holiday celebrating Jewish deliverance. For the craft, use tissue paper, crepe paper, empty aluminum cans, glue, stones, and wooden dowels.

Discussion: Funniest Men of the 1950s

Begin a discussion with the men about the funniest men of the 1950s on this birthday of 1950s comedian and entertainer Jackie Gleason. Pass around photos of the men to jog their memories.

Special Event: Guess the Emoji Idioms

On this For Pete's Sake Day, see how well the men do at guessing the idiom when presented with a list of emojis. (Answers)

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27

Tactile: Getting Ready for Strawberry Season

For this National Strawberry Day, gather the men to help you get ready for strawberry season this summer by painting your terra cotta pots to look like strawberries. Use green, black, and red paint for the fun project.

One-on-One: Strawberry Topiary

Recruit your resident to assist you with making a strawberry topiary on this National Strawberry Day by cutting strawberries to look like flowers. For the project, use a knife, strawberries, a Styrofoam ball, wooden dowels, glue, lollipop sticks, plastic food wrap, tape, ribbon, and a vase.

Discussion: Burial Grounds

On this day that the African Burial Ground National Monument was established in New York City, start a discussion with the men about burial grounds. Ask the men whether American Indian burial grounds should be left alone.

Special Event: Ice Cream Party

Celebrate this International Polar Bear Day by hosting an ice cream party with the men where you pass out ice cream cone polar bears. Make the polar bears by adding candy melts, candy eyes, and chocolate chips to regular vanilla ice cream cones.

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28

Tactile: Toy Acrobats

On this birthday of French acrobat Charles Blondin, assist the men with making toy acrobats. For the activity, follow the website's instructions for drawing the pieces onto paper and cutting them out and gluing them to a wooden dowel. Help the men by using needle and thread to reinforce the acrobat's body with three stitches and attach the arms and legs, as shown on the website. Finally, have the men use markers to decorate the toy acrobats. Donate the finished acrobats to a local school class.

One-on-One: Drawing a Chrysanthemum

Show your resident how to draw a chrysanthemum on this Floral Design Day.

Discussion: Little Known Facts

Start a discussion with the men about the mob on this birthday of American gangster Bugsy Siegel, and ask the men whether they believe that the mafia is more dangerous than terrorist groups. Afterwards, share a few little known facts about the mobster Bugsy Siegel.

Special Event: Sweet Tooth Party

Invite the men to participate in a fun dessert tasting on this National Tooth Fairy Day. Coordinate with Dining Services to provide a variety of easy-to-make tasty desserts for the men to sample.

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