Sample Men's Activity Calendar

August 2018 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 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 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: Clown Cupcake Toppers

Encourage the men to assemble clown cupcake toppers that can be placed on cupcakes in celebration of this first day of International Clown Week. To make the cupcake toppers, assist the men with adhering lollipop sticks to wooden beads before using markers and ink to decorate the faces. Then cut out small circles from colorful paper using pinking shears before stringing them onto the lollipop sticks. Finally, make the clown hats using cupcake liners and mini pom-poms.

One-on-One: Playing Sprouts

Teach your resident how to play the paper and pencil game of Sprouts that was created by mathematicians in honor of this first day of the International Congress of Mathematicians 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Discussion: R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

For this Respect for Parents Day, start a discussion among the men about respect. Ask the men whether they feel that the younger generations show them the proper respect. Afterwards, ask the men to share the ways that they were able to get their kids to respect them.

Special Event: Hula Dance-Off

Invite the men to participate in a fun Hula dance-off on this day that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established. Invite staff members to help judge the best hula dancers.

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2

Tactile: Paint Chip Beach Art

Instead of using crayons and coloring pages on this National Coloring Book Day, provide the men with paint chips, glue sticks, study cardstock, and frames to create colorful beach art. For the activity, encourage the men to tear the paint chips so that they can layer their beach scenes. Frame the finished beach scenes to hang in your Activity Room for the summer.

One-on-One: Color Therapy

Go online and invite your resident to relax as he uses his fingertips to color an online coloring page, like Flowers in Window, in honor of this National Coloring Book Day. (After selecting the photo that your resident wants to color, click on the purple "Paint coloring online" button to begin coloring.)

Discussion: Ask or Not Ask?

In recognition of this day that the first U.S. census was taken, start a debate among the men about whether the census should include the citizenship question. Ask the men for the pros and cons of including the question in the census.

Special Event: Legos Competition

In honor of this birthday of French architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant, borrow Lego bricks from the kids of one of your staff members for the men to use during a Lego competition. For the activity, provide the men with Legos to build a replica of your building in 15 minutes. Invite other residents to judge, and award a prize to the participant whose structure looks most like your facility.

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3

Tactile: Beer and Shuffleboard

Set up your facility's shuffleboard game and pass out beer as you encourage the men to sip as they play on this International Beer Day.

One-on-One: Kolache Eating Contest

Recruit your resident to assist you with hosting and running a fun kolache eating contest, in which your facility's administrators and staff members compete to see who can eat the most kolache in a set amount of time on this first day of the National Czech Festival in Wilber, Nebraska. (On the YouTube video, the kolache eating contest begins at the 1-minute mark of the video.)

Discussion: Age Discrimination

Chit chat with the men about age discrimination on this birthday of activist Maggie Kuhn. Ask the men whether they see age discrimination as a problem and whether more of the elderly should sue for age discrimination.

Special Event: Cherry Pie Game

Challenge the men to compete in a fun cherry pie game in honor of this Braham Pie Day, an annual festival featuring homemade pies, a pie-eating contest, a pie auction, and a pie trivia contest in Braham, Minnesota. For the game, fill aluminum pie plates with five cherries each before covering the cherries with whipped cream. Then have the men try to be the first to eat all five cherries without using their hands.

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4

Tactile: Painting With Wine

Celebrate this National White Wine Day by encouraging the men to paint with wine. First, pass out nonalcoholic white wine for the men to sip. As the men are enjoying their white wine, reduce red wine on an electric stovetop (or have Dining Services reduce for you), as mentioned on the site. Next, provide the men with sketch pads and pencils to sketch out their drawings. Finally, have the men fill in their drawings using the reduced red wine.

One-on-One: Stick Friends

Recruit your resident to assist you with assembling stick friends to pass out to visiting kids this weekend in recognition of this first day of the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Craftsmen's Fair, America's oldest crafts fair in Newbury, New Hampshire. Assemble the stick friends using sticks, colorful yarn, a craft knife, paint, acorn tops, and glue.

Discussion: Don't Forget About the Coast Guard

On this Coast Guard Day, start a discussion with the men about why the Coast Guard doesn't seem to get the same respect as the other four branches of military, even though they are the oldest continuous seagoing service of the United States. Share a bit of history about this branch of service as well as a few fun facts.

Special Event: Garden Art

In recognition of this first day of the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Craftsmen's Fair, America's oldest crafts fair in Newbury, New Hampshire, recruit the men to assist you with assembling a birdhouse sculpture for your back patio. For the activity, provide each of the men with a mini wooden birdhouse to paint, using similar colors. Then use wood glue to adhere the finished birdhouses together on a large piece of painted wood. Finally, hang the finished piece as sculpture art on your facility's back patio. (Be sure to seal the piece if it will be out in the elements.)

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5

Tactile: Bendy Dolls

Invite the grandchildren to make bendy dolls with the men on this National Doll Day. Use pipe cleaners, wooden beads, embroidery floss, and craft glue for the dolls.

One-on-One: Jenga Challenge

Challenge your resident to the tower game of Jenga on this birthday of Swedish architect Raoul Wallenberg. Consider playing variations of the popular game.

Discussion: Would You Travel to Outer Space?

On this birthday of astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, host a fun discussion with the men about traveling to outer space. Ask the men whether they would be willing to travel to space if they had the money to do so. Afterwards, ask the men whether they would be concerned about the health risks of being a space tourist.

Special Event: Uno Night

Host a fun Uno night featuring the Uno card game for the men and their grandchildren to play in recognition of this American Family Day in Arizona.

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6

Tactile: Brush With Danger

On this National Fresh Breath Day, encourage the men to use a toothbrush for a fun Minute-to-Win-It game, Brush With Danger. For the game, divide the men into teams of two, and give each team long pieces of string or dental floss to try to guide their toothbrush into a cup. Award a prize to the first team to successfully get their toothbrush into the cup.

One-on-One: Root Beer Float Party

Surprise your resident with a tasty root beer float on this National Root Beer Float Day.

Discussion: The Atomic Bomb

Start a discussion with the men about the atomic bomb on this day of the Peace Festival in Japan, recognizing the world's first atomic bomb drop in 1945. Ask the men whether the invention of the atomic bomb was good or bad.

Special Event: Messy Marbles

For this Wiggle Your Toes Day, invite the men to play a fun and messy game with their toes. For the activity, first have the men remove their socks and shoes. Then place in front of their feet an aluminum pie plate that is filled with shaving cream and marbles. Give the men five minutes to remove as many marbles as they can from their pan using only their toes.

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7

Tactile: Wrapping Game

Invite the men to participate in a fun wrapping game in honor of this Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day. First, divide the men into teams, and give each team wrapping paper, a pair of scissors, tape, ribbon, and an object to wrap (e.g., one of your bingo prizes). To play, instruct all the men that they must work as a team to wrap the object, but that they have to do so while keeping one hand behind their back. Encourage the men to talk to their teammates to help one another with cutting the wrapping paper, wrapping and taping the gift, and decorating the gift with ribbon.

One-on-One: The Story of Mata Hari

Share a video of double agent Mata Hari with your resident on this birthday of the dancer-turned-spy.

Discussion: The Hatfields and McCoys

In recognition of this day that the Hatfield-McCoy Feud began, share a few fun facts about the feud with the men. Afterwards, host your own feud among the men as you divide them into two teams to see which team can correctly answer Family Feud questions.

Special Event: Playing Taboo

Help the men say the right words on this Professional Speakers Day by leading them in a fun game of Taboo. First, cut out Taboo cards for the men to use. Then during the activity, divide the men into two teams and have a member from each team try to get their teammates to guess the word at the top of the card without saying any of the words listed below. Award points for each word that is correctly guessed by the team.

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8

Tactile: Mod Podge Jewelry Boxes

Supply the men with paper towel rolls, pretty scrapbook paper, Mod Podge, tape, scissors, paint, a box cutter, and adhesive to make small jewelry boxes in honor of this Wear Your Mother's Jewelry Day. Sell the finished jewelry boxes at an upcoming Crafts Fair.

One-on-One: Playing Coin War

Invite your resident to play a money game on this National Dollar Day by challenging him to a fun game of Coin War, a similar concept to the card game War. To play, first divvy up your loose change so that you each have the same amount of change in your cups. Next, to play the game, have the two of you at the same time remove a coin from your cup without looking. Whoever has the coin with the highest value wins both coins. If the two of you pull out the same coin, then you must "declare war" by removing four more coins from your cups, with the last coin deciding who wins all the coins on the table.

Discussion: Ending World Hunger

On this Farmers' Day in Tanzania, start a discussion among the men about the best way to end world hunger. Ask the men whether the United States should focus on ending world hunger when they are so many people in the United States who are going hungry.

Special Event: Cash Cab

For this National Dollar Day, invite the men to win play money as you play a version of the popular television game show Cash Cab, where participants win money for each question they answer correctly. For the activity, use trivia questions, and award play money for correct answers.

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9

Tactile: Floral Arrangements

On this first day of the Jersey Battle of Flowers, a colorful parade of floats in the Channel Islands, challenge each of the men to create their own floral display that can be placed at each of the tables in your Dining Room. Use the flowers from your garden and provide the men with jars, paint, baskets, and other decorative items (e.g., old teacups) to help with their design. After the finished arrangements are placed on the tables in your Dining Room, encourage residents to vote on their favorite.

One-on-One: Hobo Sticks

Assist your resident with assembling hobo sticks to pass out at the upcoming Hobo Party. For the activity, cut bandana fabric into small squares and fill them with tasty treats before tying the bandanas closed and attaching them to sticks. Make enough of the bags for all the participants at the upcoming Hobo Party.

Discussion: Assimilation of the World's Indigenous People

Chit chat with the men about the Native American culture in the United States in recognition of this International Day of the World's Indigenous People. Ask the men whether they believe that native people should be assimilated into our culture or be allowed to continue in their own traditions of living.

Special Event: Hobo Party

Host a fun hobo party for the men on this first day of the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa, encouraging the men to dress in camping attire. Coordinate with Dining Services to serve a hobo stew, featuring ground beef and mixed vegetables. During the party, use an electric grill, like a Foreman Grill to make hobo pies for the men to sample, using white bread, a fruit filling, and butter. After eating, pass out a few harmonicas for the men to play along to music.

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10

Tactile: The Blue Angels

For this first day of the Abbotsford International Airshow in Canada, encourage the men to make clothespin airplanes to pay tribute to the well-known Blue Angels squadron. For the activity, provide the men with blue and yellow paint, crafts sticks, and wooden beads. Collect the finished planes to pass out to visiting kids over the weekend.

One-on-One: The Science Behind Flight

On this first day of the Abbotsford International Airshow in Canada, share a video about the science behind flight with your resident.

Discussion: Exotic Animals

In recognition of this World Lion Day, host a discussion with the men about whether exotic animals like lions should be domesticated as pets. Afterwards, share a few reasons why all animals cannot be domesticated.

Special Event: Chocolate and Wine Pairing

To honor this birthday of Nestlé founder Henri Nestlé, invite the men to participate in a tasty chocolate and wine tasting. (On the website, scroll down to view the recommended pairings.)

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11

Tactile: Mountain Rocks

For this Mountain Day in Japan, invite the men to paint their own mountain rocks using rocks with a pointy top, green and white paint, and paintbrushes. After the men paint their mountain rocks, encourage them to use thin paintbrushes to write a short, inspirational message on their rocks. Set the finished rocks in your garden for the summer.

One-on-One: Hallway Sale

On 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.

Discussion: Top 3 Issues

In recognition of this birthday of U.S. Representative David Rice Atchison, who became president of the United States for the day, pending the swearing in of President-elect Zachary Taylor in 1849, start a discussion with the men about what they would do if they were president for a day. Ask the men to name the top three issues that they would focus on.

Special Event: Name That Elvis Hit

Divide the men into teams to compete in a Name That Elvis Hit game on this first day of Elvis Week. For the game, play songs by Elvis and award points to the team who correctly guesses the title of the song. (On the YouTube site, click on "Show More" to view the titles of the songs.)

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12

Tactile: After All These Years

In recognition of this day that the home sewing machine was patented, teach a fun hand-sewing class to the men to show them how to sew the 6 basic stitches. Provide each of the men with a light piece of fabric, colorful thread, and a needle. Have the men switch thread colors when you teach a new stitch, so that they can easily see the difference on their fabric.

One-on-One: Save the Elephants

Recruit your resident to assist you with making noisemaker elephants to pass out to visiting kids on this World Elephant Day. First, print out the elephant template onto gray cardstock and then cut it out. Next, use colored pencils to color in the eyes before cutting out the circle nose and replacing it with a noisemaker. Finally, place the finished noisemaker elephants in a basket at your facility's front desk for children to take.

Discussion: The Challenges of Being the Middle Child

On this Middle Child Day, encourage the men to discuss their family dynamics and whether they think that their personality resulted from their birth order. Afterwards, share a few middle child struggles to see if any of the men had them too.

Special Event: Swatter Ball

For this International Youth Day, invite the men to play a fun game of swatter ball using clean fly swatters and balloons. To play, use masking tape to divide the room and place chairs on either side of the line facing each other (a few feet from the tape line). Seat the men in the chairs and hand them a fly swatter to swat balloons back and forth. Give the men one minute to swat as many balloons to the other side. At the end of the minute, the team with the fewest balloons on their side of the tape wins the round. Allow short breaks in between the rounds for the men to rest.

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13

Tactile: Yarn Ball Lights

In recognition of this birthday of Swedish astronomer Anders Jonas Angström, who founded the science of light, invite the men to assist you with making yarn ball lights that can be used as decoration for a special nighttime event in your facility. Use small balloons, colorful yarn, and white school glue to assemble the yarn balls. After the yarn balls have completely dried, add them to a set of mini Christmas lights for hanging.

One-on-One: House Hunters Bingo

For this birthday of John Logie Baird, the Scottish inventor who was the first to demonstrate a working television, tune your Activity Room's television to an episode of House Hunters (HGTV) for your resident to play a fun game of House Hunters bingo while watching.

Discussion: Do Walls Help or Hurt?

On this day that the Berlin Wall was erected, start a debate among the men about whether barriers deter unwanted migration. Afterwards, ask the men whether they agree with building a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Special Event: Left-Handed Pictionary

Play a fun Pictionary game with the men on this International Left-Handers Day. To play, divide residents into teams and give a person on each side an easy object for them to try to draw with their non-dominant hand for their teammates to guess.

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14

Tactile: Drop, Sink, Clink

Play the fun Minute-to-Win-It game, Drop, Sink, Cling with the men in recognition of this first day of the World's Fair of Money in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To play, set up three buckets full of water and place a shot glass inside of each of the full buckets. Give each participant a minute to try to drop a coin in each bucket so that it falls in the shot glass. Award a fun prize to those who are able to complete the task in under a minute.

One-on-One: Balloon Dumbbell

Assist your resident with making a balloon dumbbell to use as a prop for the upcoming Carnival Photos activity. Use newspaper, paste (glue and water), balloons, black and white paint, and electrical tape. Throughout the activity, set the wet pieces out in the sun for them to dry faster.

Discussion: Can Money Buy You Happiness?

Host a fun discussion with the men about money on this first day of the World's Fair of Money in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ask the men whether they believe that money can buy you happiness.

Special Event: Carnival Photos

In recognition of this first day of the Vermont State Fair, take carnival photos of the men using the dumbbell that was made earlier during the One-on-One activity. In addition, supply the men with other fun carnival props to use for the photos. Then send the photos to their loved ones.

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15

Tactile: Sand Art Cards

Assist the men with making sand art cards to pay tribute to this birthday of the "Father of Modern American Graphic Design" Paul Rand. For the project, first use alphabet stickers to create a word on each card. Then use paintbrushes to apply Mod Podge to the cards before sprinkling on rows of colored sand. Once the sand is in place, remove the letter stickers, and allow the cards to dry.

One-on-One: Dollar-Store Tie-Dyeing

In honor of this day that the Woodstock music festival in Bethel, New York began, invite your resident to attempt dollar-store tie dyeing using inexpensive materials like tissue paper, vinegar, and water. Use cotton t-shirts for the activity.

Discussion: How Do You Relax?

On this National Relaxation Day, chit chat with the men about the best ways for them to relax. Ask the men to brainstorm ideas for different types of fun men's clubs to create at your facility so that the men can relax and bond with one another.

Special Event: Hippies Contest

Recruit volunteers to assist the men with picking out hippie style clothing to wear in a fun hippies contest in your Activity Room on this anniversary of the Woodstock music festival. Invite other residents to judge the best dressed hippie. Serve tie-dyed popcorn for residents to enjoy during the contest.

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16

Tactile: Wine Charms

In recognition of this birthday of American actor and wine vintner Fess Parker, assist the men with making wine charms that can be sold in sets at your next Crafts Fair. To make the charms, use colorful embroidery thread, crafting wire, and scissors. Have each of the men make four colorful charms so that you can package them as sets of four for your Crafts Fair.

One-on-One: Let's Ride a Coaster

Take your resident online to ride a virtual roller coaster to celebrate this National Roller Coaster Day.

Discussion: Government Surveillance

Begin a debate among the men about government surveillance on this International Wave at Surveillance Day. Ask the men to brainstorm a list of pros and cons for the surveillance.

Special Event: Big League Chew Contest

Host a fun bubble-blowing contest among the men featuring the baseball-themed Big League Chew bubble gum in honor of this first day of the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

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17

Tactile: Fleece Trees

For this birthday of outdoorsman Davy Crockett, invite the men to make fleece trees that can be used as decoration throughout your facility for the summer. Use green and yellow wool fleece and twigs to assemble the trees. Set the finished trees in glass jars that are filled with sand or rice.

One-on-One: Chocolate Candy Challenge

In recognition of this day of the Double Seven Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day, in China, challenge your resident to a fun chocolate candy guessing game. To play, use a box of chocolates and alternate picking out a piece of chocolate and guessing what is in the center (e.g., nuts, cream, caramel, or liquid). After taking a guess, sample the chocolate to see if the guess was correct. Award a point for each correct guess that was made.

Discussion: Are We Overdeveloping?

Host a discussion about overdevelopment of the country's green spaces on this birthday of American frontiersman Davy Crockett. Ask the men whether they think that cities should ban development of green spaces. Then ask the men to brainstorm ways to curb suburban sprawl, and whether creating more parks would be the answer.

Special Event: Messy Valentines

On this day of the Double Seven Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day, in China, invite the men to play a fun game of valentine Pictionary. Instead of drawing the images using pen and paper, have the men attempt to draw their objects using melted chocolate. To play, divide the men into teams with each team sitting at their own table. Use a list of valentine-themed vocabulary as the Pictionary words for the men to draw. Beforehand, melt chocolate in the microwave to pour into cups for the men to use. Provide each team with paintbrushes and large sheets of paper for the men to paint the objects.

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18

Tactile: Pet Toys

Ask staff members to donate t-shirts for the men to make into pet toys in honor of this International Homeless Animals Day and Candlelight Vigils. Simply cut out strips of fabric and tie them into knots. Donate the finished toys to a local pet shelter.

One-on-One: The Beauty of Indonesia

On this first day of the Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia, educate your resident about the country of Indonesia by watching a travel documentary of Bali.

Discussion: Do We Take Our Right to Vote for Granted?

In recognition of this day that the right to vote was extended to women, chit chat with the men about whether they think that Americans take the right to vote for granted. Ask the men for their opinion on what affects voter turnout rates.

Special Event: Catalog Game

Play a fun catalog game with the men on this anniversary that the first mail-order catalog was published by Montgomery Ward. (Beforehand, collect unwanted mail-order catalogs from staff and residents so that you have enough for each of the participants.) To play, pass out a catalog to each participant. Then name an object (e.g., woman wearing red pants, a cookie tin, or a garden bag). The objects depend on the types of mail-order catalogs that the men are using. For this game, try to have the same type of catalogs, like all clothing catalogs, all food catalogs, or all gardening catalogs. Award a point to the first participant who finds the object and raises their hand.

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19

Tactile: Album Organizers

Download the photos from your facility's camera and recruit the men to assist you with placing them in photo albums on this World Photography Day. Use the finished albums for your one-on-one visits with your bedridden residents.

One-on-One: Can't Eat Just One

Invite your resident to assist you with making homemade potato chips in an oven on this National Potato Day. Use Idaho or Yukon potatoes, a mandolin, vegetable oil, and salt for the tasty treat.

Discussion: Stepping Up for Humanity

Chit chat with the men about humanitarian aid in the world on this World Humanitarian Day. Ask the men whether a country's government should provide humanitarian aid even if they have no direct interest in the country that needs the help.

Special Event: Hot and Spicy Champion

Host a fun hot and spicy barbecue wings contest on this National Hot and Spicy Food Day, inviting family members, staff members, and even some of the men to participate to see how many spicy wings they can eat. Ahead of time, coordinate with Dining Services to prepare the spicy buffalo wings. During the activity, pass out bibs and napkins as you see who will be crowned this year's Hot and Spicy Champion. (Beforehand, purchase an inexpensive trophy for the winner.)

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20

Tactile: Pipe Cleaner Pictionary – Furniture Edition

For this birthday of architect and furniture designer Eero Saarinen, invite the men to play a fun game of pipe cleaner Pictionary. To play, divide the men into teams and provide a member of each team with pipe cleaners to create pieces of furniture for teammates to guess. Give each team 15 minutes to see how many furniture types their teammates can guess from the pipe cleaner shapes. (Before the game, recruit a volunteer to write down different types of furniture onto small pieces of paper that the men will pick from a hat.)

One-on-One: Mosquito Trap

Assist your resident with making a mosquito trap for your pesky backyard mosquitoes on this World Mosquito Day. Use a plastic juice bottle, a box cutter to cut the plastic, duct tape, black construction paper, sugar, dry active yeast, and hot water to assemble the trap. Make several traps to set around the perimeter of your backyard patio to catch unwanted mosquitoes.

Discussion: Is Radio Still Important?

In recognition of this National Radio Day, start a discussion with the men about the importance of radio in today's technological world that features music downloads of any song that you want to hear, live streaming of news on social media platforms, and instant phone alerts during an emergency. Ask the men whether radio is still important or whether it is unnecessary in today's digital world.

Special Event: Building Contest

On this birthday of architect Eliel Saarinen, host a building contest among the men using cardboard squares. Beforehand, recruit volunteers to cut out squares from corrugated cardboard and then use scissors to cut out small triangles from the sides of the squares. Have the volunteers make enough cardboard squares so that each participant has 15 squares. During the activity, provide each participant with their 15 squares to see who can build the tallest structure.

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21

Tactile: Cupcake Liner Leis

Assist the men with making cupcake liner leis to pass out during the upcoming Aloha Shirt Contest. Use small and large cupcake liners, twine, and straws to assemble the leis.

One-on-One: Drawing Lesson

Give your resident a drawing lesson on this birthday of English illustrator Aubrey Beardsley.

Discussion: Are Unjust Laws OK?

In recognition of this day that the American Bar Association was founded, start a discussion among the men about unjust laws, and ask whether it should be fine to accept unjust laws. Share a few unjust laws that are still in existence today to see if the men agree.

Special Event: Aloha Shirt Contest

Encourage the men to wear their Hawaiian shirts for a fun Aloha shirt contest on this day that Hawaii became the 50th state.

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22

Tactile: Statue of Liberty

Provide the men with air-dry sculpting clay to make their own Statue of Liberty replicas in honor of this first day of the New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York. After the clay has dried, provide the men with paint to decorate their statues.

One-on-One: Organ Player

On this day that the Mormon Choir first performed, invite your piano-playing resident to try playing the organ online. Open a second tab on your browser, and play a cappella hymns for your resident to play along with. (Another keyboard option that includes the notes on the keys)

Discussion: How to Be an Angel

Chit chat with the men about the angels in their lives on this Be an Angel Day, a day to serve someone else with one small act. Ask the men to list the qualities of those that they consider to be angels.

Special Event: Blues Brothers Party

Host a "Blues Brothers" party for the men in honor of this birthday of blues musician John Lee Hooker. Encourage the men to dress in The Blues Brothers attire, with white shirts, black suits, black ties, and black hats. At the party, play music from the classic movie using your karaoke machine for a fun Blues Brothers karaoke contest. (Another option, is to rent the movie from your local library or stream it from your movie subscription service for the men to watch.)

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23

Tactile: Newspaper Boats

Assist the men with making newspaper boats on this birthday of American naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry. For the project, use newspaper, wallpaper scraps for the sails, bamboo skewers, glue, string, and Washi tape for the flags. Display the finished boats in your Activity Room.

One-on-One: The Most Popular Sponge Cake Ever

For this National Sponge Cake Day, recruit your resident to assist you with making the most popular sponge cake ever – the Twinkie. If you do not have a canoe pan to give the Twinkies their shape, then follow this quick tip that shows you how to use aluminum foil for each of the Twinkies.

Discussion: Slavery Today

On this International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition, start a discussion with the men about whether they are aware of slave practices today in some countries. Share a list of countries that enslave the most people, and then ask the men whether other countries should engage in business with those who still enslave others.

Special Event: Newspaper Puzzle

On this birthday of artist Ernie Bushmiller, whose comic strip was featured in national newspapers, play a fun game of Newspaper Puzzle with the men. To play, divide the men into teams, and seat each team at a different table. Then provide all the teams with the same newspaper. (The local free papers work best for this activity.) Then announce a headline or describe a picture that the men must find in their paper and circle before raising their hand. Award points to the first team who finds what you have asked for.

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24

Tactile: Best Hawaiian Gingerbread Men

Provide the men with gingerbread men to see who can decorate the best Hawaiian-style gingerbread men on this birthday of Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku. (Beforehand, recruit your facility's Baking Club to bake the gingerbread men for the activity.)

One-on-One: Library Notes

In recognition of this first day of the World Library and Information Congress in Malaysia, recruit your resident to help you leave a few kind notes in the books of your facility's library. Use small sheets of paper and write kind words of encouragement, like "I hope you have a great day" or "I hope you enjoy this book." After writing the kind thoughts, stick them in various books on your library's shelves.

Discussion: Dangerous Sports

On this birthday of the "Father of International Surfing" Duke Kahanamoku, start a discussion with the men about whether they consider surfing a dangerous sport. Afterwards, share a list of sports that are considered dangerous before asking the men to share their stories and experiences with those sports.

Special Event: Waffle Breakfast

Host a fun waffle breakfast for the men in your Activity Room to celebrate this National Waffle Day. Coordinate with Dining Services to serve a variety of syrups for the men to enjoy with their waffles.

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25

Tactile: Clay Animals

On this birthday of American artist Walt Kelly, who was known for his comic strip "Pogo," invite the men to assemble clay animals using polymer clay.

One-on-One: The Wizard of Oz Peg Dolls

Provide wooden peg dolls, paint, and a pencil to your artistic resident for him to try to replicate The Wizard of Oz characters using peg dolls on this day that the iconic movie was released. First, use the pencil to draw the features on each of the pegs before filling in the sections with paint.

Discussion: Sharing Stories

Invite the men to share their experiences of others being kind to them on this first day of Be Kind to Humankind Week. Afterwards, share a few stories of kindness with the men.

Special Event: Playing Bananagrams

In recognition of this National Banana Split Day, teach the men how to play the fun tile game Bananagrams. (If you do not have a Bananagrams game, simply use the tile pieces from your Scrabble game.)

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Tactile: Marble Tubes

Recruit the men to assist you with assembling marble tube games for the upcoming Marble Tubes Contest. Provide the men with toilet paper tubes, box lids, colored paper, glue, and double-sided tape to assemble the games.

One-on-One: Dog Print Flowers

Assist your resident with getting your facility's house dog to make paw-print flowers to use as artwork in your Activity Room on this National Dog Day. For the project, use safe paint for the dog, a canvas, paint, and paintbrushes.

Discussion: Artistic Expression

On this first day of Burning Man 2018, an annual event in which people are encouraged to express themselves artistically, chit chat with the men about what they think about art. Ask the men whether they view art as a waste of time or whether they view art as necessary.

Special Event: Marble Tubes Contest

Celebrate this National Toilet Paper Day by encouraging the men to compete in a marbles rolling game using toilet paper tubes. Use the games that were created during the Tactile activity earlier. Set up the games at the end of tables, and provide each of the men with marbles to try to roll them into the tubes. Once the men have finished rolling their marbles, tally up the scores based on the number above each tube. Then return the marbles to the men to begin again for the second round. Award a prize to the participant who scores the most points at the end of three rounds.

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Tactile: Bible Cover Shop

Set up shop in your Activity Room for the men to make no-sew Bible covers on this birthday of Catholic nun Mother Teresa. Invite residents to bring their Bibles (or other books that they want covers for) to your Activity Room for the men to cover using pretty fabric and glue. (Instead of priming the book, as mentioned on the site, use an opaque fabric for the project.)

One-on-One: Go Fetch!

Invite your resident to play fetch using a tennis ball with your facility's house dog on this first day of the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Discussion: Do We Need More Oil?

On this day that the first commercial oil well was established, start a debate with the men about oil. Ask the men whether we should stop pumping oil and look elsewhere for natural resources.

Special Event: Activity Charades

For this first day of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York, invite the men to get active by playing a fun game of activity charades, in which they act out various activities for their teammates to guess. For the game, divide the men into two teams and have each team act out a different charade for their teammates to guess. Award a prize to the team who correctly guesses the most charades.

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Tactile: Nature as Art

For this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, assist the men with turning natural items like rocks into art by mimicking artist Wassily Kandinsky's famous concentric circles onto rocks.

One-on-One: Senior Gamer

In recognition of this Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day, turn your resident into an online gamer as you show him all the fun games he can access on the AARP site.

Discussion: Do You Still Remember Them Today?

On this day that the first radio commercials were broadcast, chit chat with the men about whether they think they can remember commercial slogans from fifty years ago. Afterwards, play old commercial jingles to see if the men remember them.

Special Event: Birdwatching Party

Invite the men to participate in a birdwatching party on this birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. To attract the birds for birdwatching, first have the men make simple Cheerios birdfeeders to place on the trees in your facility's backyard. For the feeders, just string Cheerios cereal onto pipe cleaners and then hang the pipe cleaners on the trees.

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Tactile: Shuffle Tricks

Pass out packs of playing cards to the men as you teach them different types of card shuffling on this According to Hoyle Day, a day promoting games to be played according to the rules.

One-on-One: Playing In-Between

Teach your resident how to play the card game In-Between on this According to Hoyle Day, a day promoting games to be played according to the rules.

Discussion: The Problems of Famous People

Chit chat with the men about famous celebrities on this birthday of pop star Michael Jackson. Share a list of the top problems encountered by the rich and famous, and ask the men whether they view the lives of celebrities as realistic.

Special Event: Men's Spa

Invite the men to the Activity Room to receive a lemon sugar scrub hand massage in recognition of this National Lemon Juice Day.

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Tactile: D.I.Y. Football Game

Recruit the men to assist you with constructing a football target game for the upcoming Football Toss activity. Use a tarp with grommets, duct tape, a rope, scissors, a yardstick, and pencils for the project.

One-on-One: Heading West

Encourage your resident to watch a travel documentary about South Dakota and Wyoming in recognition of this first day of the South Dakota State Fair in Huron, South Dakota.

Discussion: Like Mother, Like Daughter

In recognition of this birthday of English novelist Mary Shelley, who followed in her mother's footsteps as a writer, chit chat with the men about whether they have followed in their parents' footsteps, or whether they have encouraged their kids to follow in theirs. Share a list of famous children who have followed in the careers of their parents.

Special Event: Football Toss

For this first day of the Blue Hill Fair in Blue Hill, Maine, invite the men to play a fun carnival game of football toss using the game that was made earlier during the Tactile activity. Pass out foam footballs for the men to throw.

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Tactile: Trail Mix Bar

Set up a trail mix bar in your Activity Room on this National Trail Mix Day that features a variety of ingredients for the men to mix their own trail mix. Set up several trail mix stations featuring the six main ingredients: nuts, seeds, dried fruit, grains, sweets, and savory extras. Then place different ingredients at each of the six stations, and provide the men with cups to create their own mix.

One-on-One: Greek Worry Beads

Invite your resident to assist you with making Greek worry beads in recognition of this first day of the Odyssey – A Greek Festival in Orange, Connecticut. To make the worry beads, string beads onto embroidery floss, making sure to leave a bit of space in the circle of beads so that your resident can move the beads along the embroidery floss. Finally, secure the circle of beads by adding a knot in the embroidery floss before adding a few more beads and another knot.

Discussion: Lawyer Jokes

Share a few lawyer jokes with the men on this Love Litigating Lawyers Day. Afterwards, ask the men whether they think that there are too many lawyers in America and whether that is why there are so many lawsuits.

Special Event: Nature Tic-Tac-Toe Tournament

In recognition of this first day of the Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival in Winchester, Kentucky, honoring the outdoorsman, make several Tic-Tac-Toe boards using twigs and stones so that the men can compete in a fun nature Tic-Tac-Toe tournament on the back patio. For the tournament, group the men into pairs to play a game, and then have the winners of those games play each other until one winner is left.

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