50’s Theme
Decoration Suggestions - Records or albums covers from the 50’s, posters of movie stars from the 50’s, pictures of a jukebox, etc. At nurses’ stations or front check in desk display the following items in a group arrangement: old roller skates with float glasses stuffed with brown tissue paper to look like a drink and pompoms, bobby socks with Oxford shoes and an old 45 portable record player, pointy high heels, box hat, white gloves, box purse and a pair of seam stockings, poodle skirts, white shirts with a neck scarf, high school letter jacket, 1950 Yearbook, high school band director’s Hat/baton, foam wig head stand with a wig styled in a flip, brush curlers, empty can of Aqua Net hair spray, lunch box from the 50 ear, old elementary song, math, reading books. If you know someone that has an old wooden desk it would make a great display in your front entry way.
Hula Hoop Games
- Have a hula hoop contest to see who hula hoop the longest time on their arm.
- Hula Hoop Ring Toss - See who can ring an item 4, 8 or 10 feet away.
- Hula Hoop Roll – See who can roll a hula hoop the farthest.
Toy Fun - Toys to use as props in games based on the 50 era
- Slinky - Set up books or boxes in stair steps to race the slinky down.
- Whee-Lo – See how long can the residents keep their Whee-lo rolling.
- Hot Potato – Play a round of Hot Potato.
- Trolls – Hide Trolls around the facility so the residents can find. The resident with the most collected trolls wins.
Game “I Remember That!” - Let’s take a walk down memory lane with the fabulous fifties fashion. Place in a box or brown paper shopping bag some items that were popular in the 50’s. Take the bag around and instruct the resident to reach in and without looking pull out one item. Once they pull out an item, they need to identify the item to the group by holding it up to show it off. Once everyone can see the item and know what it is, then ask the resident the following questions about the item:
- Did you have this item in the 50’s?
- If yes, do you remember who gave it to you?
- If no, do you remember any of your friends having one? Do you remember the friend’s name?
- What is the purpose of the item?
- Do you think the item is still sold in stores today?
- Did you ever have a funny experience with the item?
Once everyone has had a turn then you can either collect the items back or you can let the resident keep the item. Here is a list of items you can collect to put in the shopping bag: Aqua Net hair spray, pearls, bandanas, Peter Pan collars, berets, Brylcreem, bobby socks, army men, Breck shampoo, feather boas, hair scarves, ID bracelets, Old Spice cologne, Silly Putty, boomerang, Bazooka Joe, whiffle ball, bubble gum cigars, beanie (cap), frisbee, etc.
Craft “Name Fan” - Let the residents make and decorate their own fan. You may want them to make two, one to keep as a personal fan and the other to keep in the activity room for your games. Using the name fan during a game will help you keep some order in the group and make it fair so the same person does not answer all the questions. Sometimes you need to call on the residents that raise their fans but just can’t get it up as fast as the others. You can also use these if you have an in-house auction.
Materials: Paint stir sticks (the paint stores might donate these since it is a way they can advertise), at least 2 per resident, cardboard or poster board pre-cut into 8”x8” squares, 4 per resident if you want them to make two fans each, glue and tape, paint and/or markers, glitter sticks and/or stickers or anything to use to decorate fan.
Instruction: To start, give each resident one paint stir stick and two squares.
In large letters print their names across the top of both squares, leaving an inch above and on both sides of their name. The name should be boldly printed for easy readability across the fan.
Place the first square name side down.In the middle of the square about 3 or 4 inches long from the bottom up run the glue line.Place the wide end of the paint stir stick on top of the glue and secure it with a couple pieces of tape. You will have about 7 or 8 inches of the stick as the handle.Add glue around all edges of the first square and on the paint stir stick which is now glued to the first square. Now lay the second square blank side down on top making sure to position the square evenly together with all the side. (you can also staple the side for a more secure seal). Gently move this to the side so the glue can dry. You may want to put a book or something with weight on top of the fan once it is moved aside. This will help keep the card board or poster board lay flat and the glue will stick better. While the glue is drying start the second fan by following instructions 1 – 8 again.Once the second fan is set aside to dry, return to the first fan and decorate with any decorations available.
Game “Raise your Fan”. Ask the residents to name toys from the 50’s that were popular. An easy way to keep count of the points is to write down the name of the resident who named a toy on your list. At the end of the game time total the points per resident’s name on the list. Now to put some physical movement in the game and to keep from all the residents answering at the same time let them use their name fans (see craft idea) to raise so you can call on them. If the resident does not name a toy on your list then give the others another try until someone names a toy on your list.
50’s Toy list: army men, Candy Land, frisbee, jacks, lincoln logs, matchbox cars, Mr. potato head, pogo stick, slingshot, tinker toys, view-mater, yo-yo, barbie, hot potato. Magic 8 ball, pick up sticks, scrabble, slinky, tonka trucks, erector set, hula hoop, legos, marbles, pay-doh, silly putty, trolls, etc.
Social - Sock Hop Suggestions:
Food - Lady finger sandwiches filled with ham, tuna or chicken salad, root beer or cola floats, chips/crackers served with deviled ham-cheese dip, celery filled with cream cheese, baked apples, soda pop, etc.
50’s music - Dance the Stroll (a staff member can push the WC residents down the middle so they can participate in the Stroll) and Hand Jive with the residents. Ask staff or dancers to demonstrate the Swing, Cha Cha, and the Madison if anyone knows how to do it.
ICE AGE
This is a theme, not an official holiday.
Learn and listen – Learn all about the ice age on-line and discuss with residents.
Craft – Let the residents make an ice candle to keep or give as a gift. To make an ice candle you will need a square candle mold or a bottom of a milk carton, candle wicks, candle wax , ice cubes, candle dye (option), and a heavy pot or double boiler to melt wax.
Use basic candle making instruction which can be found in a basic candle making kit or Google “Candle Making Instructions”, there are a lot of sites that offer the instructions. You can even Research “Ice Candles” so you can see what they will look like. When you have the candle mold set up according to the instructions and the wax is almost ready to pour, place ice cubes in the mold. No need to place the ice cube in a neat order, just toss them in the mold. This will give the wax a unique form which makes each one special. Try to keep the area close to the wick free from ice so the wax can form solid around the wick. Slowly pour the melted wax around the wick and over the ice cubes. Continue until the entire mold is full. Allow the wax to set before trying to remove from the mold. The ice cubes will melt so it will not take as long to set up as regular candles do. Once the candle is set up and completely cooled then carefully remove from the mold (or milk carton). Watch out for the water that will come out from the melted ice cubes. These candles are just really cool to display and they really do remind one of an ice age formation.
Cooking – Snow Cones – Instructions for to make snow cone syrup can be found on eHow.com by entering “how to make snow cone syrup” in the search window. It’s seems simple to make. Then search for “how to make Hawaiian Shaved Ice”. This tells you how to make the shaved ice to use with your syrup. You could make this as two cooking classes by making the syrup in the first class then later in the day make the shaved ice toping it off with the syrup.
Movie – Show the cartoon Ice Age and if you have time show the second Ice Age: The Meltdown movie.
RENAISSANCE THEME
History lesson (Promotes social, cognitive, emotional and sensory aspects). Each day highlight at least one historical activity based on art, literature or architectural subjects between 14th – 17th centuries. This will give the residents opportunity to learn, review and discuss. Some residents may reminisce of travels to Italy, England or France and/or possible museum trips where they saw some of the subject and will talk about them during the open discussion time.
Art - Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) Suggest also exploring his invention sketches.
Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) , Nicholas Hilliard (1547-1619), etc.
Literature - Shakespeare, Giovanni della Casa (1503-56), Rules of Etiquette, Lodovico Ariosto (1474-1533), Journey to the Moon, Architectural (Architects with list of important/famous works), Giacomo da Vignola (1507-73), Villa Caprarola, St. Peter’s Basilica, Church of the Gesu in Rome, Andrea Palladio (1508-80), Villa Capra, Basilica in Vicenza, San Giorgio Maggiore, Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), Church of San Spirito, Pazzi Chapel, San Lorenzo, Florence
King and Queen: (Promotes social, cognitive, sensory and emotional aspects). A facility king and queen will be randomly selected through a daily drawing. Resident can only be king or queen once during the week.
Knights and Fair Maidens: (Promotes social, cognitive, sensory and emotional aspects) - Daily drawings for knights and fair maidens’ ceremony. Depending on how many men and women are in the facility divide the number of each to determine how many will be knighted or flower-crown presented that day. NOTE: Have separate drawings for each character so the residents will have a chance at each. The resident cannot be both king/queen and knight/fair maiden on the same day. If by chance this happens then put the name back in the bowl for another day. For example, if resident James was drawn to be king and the same day his name was drawn to be a knight, drop his name back in the bowl for a chance to be knight some other day and toss his name out of the king bowl. If you have equal number of male and female on multilevel floors, then have a king and queer for each floor. There will always be multiple knights and maidens because you want all your residents to be king/queen and/or knight/fair maiden sometime during the week. Even if it means you will have a morning and an evening ceremony each day. Each ceremony will be brief. The King and Queen drawing should be held in the “Royal Court” area with everyone present. The knight and fair maiden drawing can be held at different times, but still in the “Royal Court” area with the king and queen so they can knight and flower crown the winners for that day. Possible do the king/queen ceremony before breakfast and the knight/fair-maiden after breakfast.
Crafts projects: (Promotes social, cognitive, sensory and physical aspects). Leather belts or wallets, wood work (possible a walking cane or keepsake box), charmed pins or necklace, scented lotions, macrame (simple knotted plant hanger), pottery (deep bowl for plant), basket weaving (simple or true to the craft method depending on skill level), stained glass (sun catcher), mosaic table top (group project), metal sculpturing (photo holder), paint (self-expression), etc.
Entertainment: (Promotes social, cognitive, sensory, emotional and physical aspects). Strolling minstrels, Gypsy dancers (or can use belly dancers), story tellers or court jesters, jugglers, magicians, etc.
Games: (Promotes social, cognitive, sensory and physical aspects)
- Roll the hoop: This is slightly altered from what history documents. Use hula hoops to let residents roll and them measure the distance, with the further distance being the winner.
- Nine pin: Like bowling except set up nine pins and try to knock them all down with one roll of the bowl.
- Spinners: Have different color wooden tops, one for each resident. At the same time have all residents spin their tops. See whose top spins the longest. Can repeat several times for fun or for a treat.
- True Identity: Last day game to see how much the residents can recall about the history discussed this week. This is kind of like Jeopardy, except they see the picture or you can read/show a quote and the resident guesses the responsible person. For example, show a picture with Romeo and Juliet that also shows the title, and then asks who write this love story. Was it a) Queen Elizabeth, b) Leonardo De Vince, or c) Shakespeare?
Food - Bread bowls with soup. This is more modern, but I remember them serving small single servings at our local renaissance festival and they sold out because they were so good. Other ideas: tarts, cheese filling, lemon filling or other fruit filling, fresh or dry fruit, cheese, fish, etc.
Movie suggestions
- Elizabeth – The Golden Age
- Romeo and Juliet: The 1968 version is the best for this theme showing.
- Brothers Grimm: This movie does have some historical value due to the writings of the Brothers Grimm were during this time period; however, it is based on the mystery of the tales. Some scenes are scary.
- A Knight’s Tale: Has a lot of jousting in it.
- Black Knight: This is a very funny comedy!
- Ever After: A Cinderella story, but still a very good movie in this time period.
Props - Fern and other fake plants, old wooden buckets, wooden well, horse troth, natural baskets, shields, armor, swords, fake large stones or painted murals, tapestry, flags, any black rod iron home decor, ornate rugs, oversized chairs to use for King/Queen thrones, make “Royal Court” to look like a throne room in a castle, make outside door to Royal Court to look like a draw bridge, etc. Note: Most of the ideas will allow the residents that cannot or will not come out of their room to take part in most of the activities for the Renaissance Theme week. Hand out any sheet relating to the historical activity for them to review and discuss with any staff member. Ask staff to engage resident in discussion and note on their chart or simply tell you how the discussion went. Make sure all staff members get copies the day before so they will have a chance to read over the material to answer any questions or at least feel they are a part of the activity. The word games, spinning tops and true identity games can be taken to them as well. All entertainers can travel room to room, if they are willing. The crafts can be taken on an art cart or placed in baggies and delivered to the rooms.
Movies - The Renaissance – Maker of Modern Man; National Geographic Society, 1970
Other ideas:
- Contact local Renaissance Festival coordinators for possible prop loans or rentals.
- Check local high school drama and music departments for volunteering in readings and as strolling musicians.
- Local dance schools may have someone to volunteer time/talent as gypsy dancers.
- Print out pictures from the Internet for the architectural designs for show and tell in discussions.
- Check with library to see if they have paintings to loan for the show and tell in art discussion.
- Adjust the basket weaving so all skill levels can participate in activity. The lower-level residents can thread ribbon in and out of an open whole basket that strawberries sometimes come in. For level 3-4 skill residents, use a piece of large rope cord. As they wrap the cord in a spiral circle they must tie or thread the sections together. Higher level skills can use the same method, except sew the cord sections together or teach them to do true basket weaving.
- Set up special names for the activities and/or rooms, such as:
*Elizabethan Times for the discussion sheets, which will be held in Scholars Hall.
*The Market Square is where most/all crafts and entertainment will take place.
*Friar Tucks Pub or French Corridor if you have separate rooms to serve snacks in.
*Royal Court for any area large enough for all residents and staff to see the crowning.
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CHRISTINE'S THEMES: 