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Celebrate the commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Across the USA theme for November. Throughout the month, provide fun activities that relate to The Bay State\u2019s unique state symbols, which can also be used as the basis of activity ideas for the\u00a0![\"across](\"https:\/\/www.ssww.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/floral-pictures-e1509130753536-300x2752.jpg\")
popular holiday of the month \u2013 Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
State Flower: Mayflower<\/strong><\/p>\n Since the Mayflower is the state flower of Massachusetts, provide a flower painting activity for residents using floral pictures<\/a>. Simply have residents use the kit\u2019s watercolors to paint beautiful floral prints that can be framed and hung throughout your facility. Encourage residents to mix the watercolors to create autumn colors, like a burnt orange or sunflower yellow, so that the flowers fit in with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.<\/p>\n State Game Bird: Wild Turkey<\/strong><\/p>\n With Thanksgiving approaching, Massachusetts\u2019 state bird, the wild turkey, is the\u00a0 Furthermore, don\u2019t\u2019 forget about your active residents. Pass out inflatable turkey legs<\/a>\u00a0for residents to use as tennis rackets to bat an inflated balloon back and forth over a tennis net. Consider making this game your annual Turkey Leg Tennis Challenge, where the winning team members receive trophies<\/a>.<\/p>\n Official Artist: Norman Rockwell \u2018Tis the season for family memories, and there\u2019s no better artist who captures those memories than Norman Rockwell, Massachusetts\u2019 official artist. As an activity, encourage residents to tap into their inner Norman Rockwell to paint beautiful masterpieces. Simply pass out coloring pages<\/a>\u00a0of famous paintings for residents to fill in with markers<\/a>, colored pencils<\/a>, or oil pastels<\/a>. Then, frame<\/a>\u00a0the finished artwork and hang the pieces on your Activity Room wall for an impromptu art gallery activity.<\/p>\n Official Cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie<\/strong><\/p>\n Schedule a few afternoons to host a fun cookie social, where you can pop refrigerated cookie dough of Massachusetts\u2019 official cookie \u2013 the chocolate chip cookie \u2013 into the toaster oven<\/a>\u00a0to make a quick batch of chocolate chip cookies. With each batch, add a different ingredient like pecans, white chocolate chips, or even M&M\u2019s.<\/p>\n Official Inventor: Benjamin Franklin Have fun with residents as you encourage them to be creative during an invention activity to honor Massachusetts\u2019 official inventor, Benjamin Franklin. First, create an invention box \u2013 a box full of craft supplies like buttons<\/a>, pipe cleaners<\/a>, paper<\/a>, glue<\/a>, craft sticks<\/a>, etc. Next, encourage residents to invent something using the objects provided. Try to guide residents with this project by asking them to create a Thanksgiving decoration or a pin that can be worn on Veterans Day.<\/p>\n In addition, since Benjamin Franklin was also a scientist, supply residents with a science experiment kit<\/a>. Provide residents with the materials provided in the kit so that they can record and compare their observations.<\/p>\n Official Bean: Navy Bean Pay tribute to Massachusetts\u2019 official bean, the Navy Bean, by scheduling several bean bag tossing games throughout the month. For instance, host a Tic Tac Toe game<\/a>, in which teams of residents compete to be the first to get Tic Tac Toe, or invite residents to play a bean bag hole game<\/a>\u00a0to see who can toss bean bags into the target. Additionally, invite the grandkids over to play a fun bean game with residents, called Don\u2019t Spill the Beans<\/a>.<\/p>\n State Shell: New England Neptune<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, since Massachusetts has almost 1,500 miles of coastline, invite residents to make crafts involving seashells. For instance, assist residents with making necklaces Official Muffin: Corn Muffin<\/strong><\/p>\n It just isn\u2019t November without the smell of tasty desserts. For the month, host a fun Corn Muffin Challenge, featuring the official muffin of Massachusetts: the corn muffin. Divide residents into teams, and provide each team with a different corn muffin recipe to bake. Have the administrators be the tasters of the finished product to determine which corn muffin recipe is the best. Before the baking begins, however, organize an apron-decorating activity so that residents can decorate their aprons<\/a>\u00a0for the Corn Muffin Challenge.<\/p>\n Find more ideas from Notjustbingo\u00a0on the S&S blog here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n About Not Just Bingo:<\/strong><\/p>\n Not Just Bingo<\/a>\u00a0is an online resource of fun, senior activity ideas for activity professionals of assisted living facilities. They have been providing fun activity ideas online since 2009, and continue to assist activity professionals across the country by creating meaningful and engaging activity ideas for their residents that go \u201cbeyond bingo.\u201d Not Just Bingo feels privileged to help activity directors better the living experiences of their residents while demonstrating that a senior\u2019s quality of life can actually improve when they move to a senior facility!<\/p>\n Want even more ideas each month? Visit\u00a0www.notjustbingo.com<\/a>\u00a0for how-to activity ideas, monthly newsletters, and daily holiday ideas. You can also sign up for the\u00a0Notjustbingo Membership<\/a>\u00a0to receive specialized activity ideas to keep your residents and staff engaged, active, and having fun!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"across](\"https:\/\/www.ssww.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/turkey-thanksgiving-craft-1-e1509130898548-300x2562.jpg\")
perfect animal to focus on during the month. Provide easy-to-make turkeys\u00a0that\u00a0residents can assemble, which can also be used as decoration or as table centerpieces for your Thanksgiving festivities. For instance, use paper turkeys<\/a>\u00a0that can be put\u00a0together and used as place cards for your holiday table. For a craftier activity, provide residents with a craft foam turkey kit<\/a>, in which residents can compete to see who can assemble their turkey the fastest.<\/p>\n![\"across](\"https:\/\/www.ssww.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/coloring-pages-e1509131153977-300x2312.jpg\")
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\u00a0using shell beads<\/a>\u00a0that can be sold at an upcoming Crafts Fair. In addition, use a shell casting kit<\/a>\u00a0for residents to enjoy a hands-on activity of making casts using shells and\u00a0plaster.<\/p>\n
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