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For the Across the USA theme for March, take residents to the great state of Texas, since March is Texas History Month. Be sure to use the whole month as inspiration to provide activities that celebrate The Lone Star State. Here are some great ideas from notjustbingo.com:<\/p>\n
Then on March 6, recognize Alamo Heroes Day<\/strong>, a day to honor all those who died defending Texas against Mexican troops during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Help your residents \u201cRemember the Alamo\u201d by showing them a DVD from your local library about this memorable battle that occurred during the Texas Revolution.<\/p>\n Host fun Texas-themed food and musical activities throughout the month to get your residents into the Texas spirit. For example, designate your facility\u2019s Baking Club as the Texas Baking Club for the month of March. Organize weekly baking activities where you share tasty recipes for your residents to make, like Texas shortbread cookies, Texas cowboy cookies, and the classic Texas sheet cake.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to coordinate with Dining Services to serve a few Tex-Mex meals for your residents as well. For instance, treat residents to the Texas state dish of chili for a fun Chili and Cornbread Dinner, or plan an afternoon social featuring the state snack of tortilla chips and salsa, in which you purchase several salsas for residents to sample during a Salsa Taste Test.<\/p>\n In addition, host several musical activities that pay tribute to the state music of Texas: western swing. Teach residents how to do the Texas Two-Step, or recruit them\u00a0to learn the official folk dance of Texas: the square dance. Once residents become familiar with the new steps, organize a Square Dance Competition or a Texas Hoe-Down at the end of the month for residents to show-off their newly acquired dancing skills.<\/p>\n With spring arriving in March, be sure to provide activities that relate to If instead you have residents who would like to remain indoors, set up crafts where they can participate in creating beautiful butterfly crafts<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Plan several gardening outings for residents, like taking a trip to a local butterfly exhibit or taking a trip to your local nursery to view the beautiful flowers, like the Texas state flower, the Bluebonnet, or the state shrub, the Crape Myrtle.<\/p>\n Find even more butterfly items here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget about your residents who enjoy independent activities. For instance, set up different cowboy-themed tactile activities in your Activity Room for the day for residents to perform, like assembling cars<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n Spend a few days paying tribute to the favorite Friday night pastime of the state of Texas: football. Schedule several football-related activities for your residents, like a Football Target Competition, in which residents toss soft foam footballs<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>through a hoop hanging from a tree, or a Kicking Competition, in which seated residents take turns kicking the football in the yard.<\/p>\n Host a few intergenerational activities In addition, take advantage of baseball season quickly approaching by getting your residents to play baseball. Have residents be more active by setting up a batting tee<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>in your backyard for residents to compete in a Slugger Competition to see who can hit the ball the farthest. For those less mobile baseball-loving residents, provide a fun afternoon of playing this Baseball Matching Card Game<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>instead.<\/p>\n Finally as a fun resident-exercise, honor the large cheerleading squads throughout the state of Texas by passing out pom-poms<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>as props during your Exercise Class, to get residents working their arm muscles.<\/p>\n Find more ideas from Notjustbingo on the S&S blog here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n About Not Just Bingo:<\/strong><\/p>\n Not Just Bingo<\/a><\/strong>\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":"![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.ssww.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/texas-state-flag-e1485798737298-260x3001.jpg\")
Throughout March, schedule fun activities for your residents that educate them about the history of Texas. For instance, on March 2nd which is Texas Flag Day<\/strong>, decorate your Activity Room with a\u00a0Texas state flag<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and share fun facts with residents about the state and how it became a part of the union in 1845. Consider hosting a Texas Trivia Contest to see who really knows their stuff about America\u2019s second largest state.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t Mess With Texas!<\/h2>\n
The Yellow Rose of Texas<\/h2>\n
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nature. One option is to plan several activities that relate to the state insect of Texas: the Monarch Butterfly. For example, arrange to have a few of your residents grow an indoor butterfly garden<\/strong><\/a>, where they can watch caterpillars slowly turn into beautiful butterflies. For those residents who enjoy going outdoors, provide them with butterfly nets<\/a> <\/strong>to help you catch butterflies, or to at least get plenty of exercise trying to do so.<\/p>\nHowdy!<\/h2>\n
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This month, try to play up the \u201ccowboy\u201d image that most people associate with the state of Texas by turning your Activity Room into a \u201cDude Ranch for the Day\u201d. Pass out bandanas<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for residents to wear. Or, they can even decorate their own cowboy hats<\/strong>.<\/a> Recognize the state sport \u2013 the rodeo \u2013 by teaching residents how to lasso a horse during a Lasso Competition using a stuffed horse. If you are working with a smaller group of residents for this Dude Ranch Day, like a men\u2019s group, consider organizing a special event like a Huevos Rancheros Breakfast (eggs with tortillas, salsa, and avocados) that is just for them.<\/p>\nFriday Night Lights<\/h2>\n
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in which your residents get to be the spectators. For instance, invite the grandkids to participate in a Football Practice to show-off their throwing skills using a football target game<\/strong><\/a>. Alternatively, plan a Sprint Flag Football Game for the grandkids to play one another using flag football equipment<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
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