Everything for Winter: A Complete Activity Book
for Teachers of Young Children: Activities for December,
January, and February
by Kathy Charner (Editor), Joan Waites (Illustrator)
February
Facts
Birthstone- Amethyst
Flower- Primrose
8- Boy Scouts of American
began (1910)
20- John Glenn orbits
the earth (1962)
21- Nixon is 1st US
President to visit China (1972)
February
Birthdays
4- Charles Lindbergh
(1902)
5- Hank Aaron (1934)
6- Ronald Reagon (1911),
Babe Ruth (1895)
12- Abraham Lincoln
(1809)
14- Jack Benny (1894)
17 - Michael Jordan
(1963)
22- George Washington
(1732)
Activities
for February
Cultural Fashion Show
submitted by Salima A of True Davidson Acres on February 17, 2010
Size of Group: 12
Equipment: Cultural Outfits and Accessories
Objective: Increased Self-Esteem that comes from celebrating one's culture and teaching others about it
Description: Advertise that you will be having a cultural fashion show so that anyone who is interested in either modeling or loaning outfits, will be aware.
Research the different cultures clothing, including the correct name, how it's made, when it would be worn, origin, and any other interesting / pertinent information. Do a write-up of same.
Put together an agenda so that everything is organized, including the order or items. On the day of, have all participants meet in a common area so that they can be organized.
If any residents are in wheelchairs, ensure someone is assigned to wheel them.
Organize the seating so that it resembles a runway.
Find an M.C. to read the descriptions of the items, and don't forget the jewelry, make-up, hats, hair and shoes to complement the outfits. We did an excellent fashion show that everyone enjoyed.
Heart to Heart
Submitted by Cher Oddy of KCHT on February 14,
2004
Size: 2 - 6
Equipment: card, scissors, marker pen
Objective: To match up the heart pairs ie:
Romeo - Juliet, Rhett Butler - Scarlett O'Hara
Description: I draw around a heart template & ask
my more able residents to cut them out. We
then write down on each heart the name of a
famous lover & their partners name is written
on another heart.
The cards are placed name
side up so all can see & we then match
up the pairs. This game can also be placed
with the names facing
the table so your residents turn them over
2 at a time to find the partner. This way they
have to remember where the partner card is
placed. You can increase or decrease the number
of cards used depending on your residents capabilities.
MODIFICATION BY
Karen Scott
on 2-1-17
Create the hearts on construction paper or other paper. To make it more interesting they may color the hearts in colors other than red, or stick with the traditional color.
"Color" the hearts in many ways:
1. Put drops of glue inside the heart outline and sprinkle glitter to make polka dot hearts.
2. Put the paper over a textured mat to make a rubbing as the "color"
3. Take shredded color paper and glue it to the hearts.
4. Put drops of glue inside the heart outline and sprinkle cinnamon and glitter together.
Place the paper hearts throughout the facility for others to find. Those who find the decorated heart are encouraged to announce, "I found a heart!" The hearts can be used to decorate their room.
Hunt
the heart Submitted
by Cher Oddy of National Housing Association
on
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Size: 3-4
(more if abilities allow)
Equipment: hearts cut out of red and pink card and bluetack
Objective: Treasure hunt with a slight twist. Gets the residents
searching for the hearts to win a small prize.
Description: Cut out the hearts drawn on the card or paper,
your residents can help with this as it will help
with recognition when they go off to hunt the
hearts.
For the more able you could write clues but with
mine I number the back of the heart and list where
I have put it in case we do not find them all.
I usually find that those who do not want to take
part will point out the objects to those who are
playing. This theme takes place near Valentines
day but could be adapted to Easter eggs, shamrocks,
fish, chocolate coins, Xmas trees and stockings
etc.
Have
a heart Submitted
by Cher Oddy of National Housing Association on
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Size: I tried
this with a group of 6
Equipment: Salt
dough, fun foam, terracotta pot, small stones,
willow twigs, thread, glue, paint
Objective: to paint the flower pot, cut out hearts in various
sizes and glue to pot or glue together to hang
on branches. Also to roll out salt dough and use
heart shaped cutters and make a small hole for
hanging after they have been cooked.
Description: Once
all of the above has been done you can paint the
hearts and let then dry. meanwhile place the branches
in the pot and add the pebbles to hold in place.
Thread the hearts with ribbon or wool and hang
from the branches for a Valentines day decoration.
Valentine's Day Singing
Telegrams
submitted by Gail Greenberg of
JCADCP on August 17, 2000
Size: 4-8
residents
Equipment: Song Sheets with 2-3 Love Songs,
Big Red Heart Name Tags, Singing Telegram Forms
Objective: Empowerment, Self-Esteem, FUN!
Description: A group of residents will sell singing telegrams
for Valentine's Day. They will be delivered on
or near the holiday itself. When our facility
did this, we charged $1 per telegram and made
$50! The press came out and covered the event,
and we were on the front page of the metro section.
VERY SUCCESSFUL!
3-4 weeks prior:
1. Develop forms for people to fill out to give
to telegram recipient. This must include the recipient's
name, the giver's name, and an area for a message.
2. Advertise in your facility newsletter and on
boards in your facility.
3. Send out press releases.
2 weeks prior:
Begin practicing songs with your telegram delivery
group. Songs like "Always" and "Let
Me Call You Sweetheart" go over well.
1 week prior:
1. Make large heart name-tags at a craft activity
to be worn when delivering telegrams.
2. Take inventory of how many telegrams you have
sold and begin to organize them to make them easy
to deliver.
3. Follow up with media contacts.
Day of:
1. Gather your group, who have been encouraged
to wear red. Pin on name-tags.
2. Deliver telegrams thru out the facility.
This was an incredible
activity for our residents. They especially liked
giving telegrams as thank you's to the staff.
Good Luck!
HEART
(bingo)
submitted
by Lisa Laveglia of The Nursing Center at
Oak Summit on June 23, 2000
Size of Group:
all of your regular bingo players
Equipment:
bingo cards, bingo chips, bingo master sheet,
strips of paper
Objective: celebrate Valentines Day and add a little twist
to ordinary Bingo
Description: take strips of paper large enough to cover the
B-I-N-G-O letters on top of bingo cards and write
H-E-A-R-T on them. Also do this on the Master
Board. When you call your numbers, you use the
new letters instead of the old (B6 becomes H6,
N35 becomes A35, etc)
Heart
Throw Pillows
submitted by
Carolyn Leo, CTRS
Objective:
To develop a new leisure skill. To promote self-esteem
through the completion of a project. To learn
a life skill.
Description:
Cut out a pattern of an 8" by 8" heart
onto poster board. Provide clients with fabric
and marker and let them trace the heart two times
on fabric. Clients will cut the heart shape from
fabric. Instruct clients to stitch together the
hearts, inside out. Leave small opening at the
base of heart. Turn heart "inside out"
so that the stitches go on the inside and the
front of the fabric faces out. Fill hearts with
cotton fabric stuffing. Stitch together the small
opening.
Heart Throw pillow
is complete.
Valentine
Hugs
submitted by
Linda Bell of Shoreham Village
Equipment:
red bristol board, string, paper punch , heart
pattern large enough to sign 56-60 names
Objective: interaction with all staff and residents within
the home and to in touch by a hug
Description:
on valentines morning a heart is given to each
resident. They are told to get as many signatures
on their heart as they can by 2 pm. They must
receive a hug from the person before their heart
is signed.
Later in the day,
have the residents bring their hearts to the valentines
party. Count the signatures. We give out three
prizes for the highest number of signatures.
Comment: It is
a fun day, and residents look forward to this
activity every Valentines day.
Be
My Valentine
submitted
by Julie Carbaugh of Nazareth Court and Center on
January 26, 1999
Size
of Group: Large: 20 plus
Equipment:
Duplicate items or pictures of duplicate items
Objective:
Social activity to promote interactions with others
Physical - while looking for partner Cognitive - Finding
matches for each item-- you decide the cognitive level
depending on your group's abilities
Description:
Pair up your residents using some Valentine-related
items. Give each person one item up to one week before
the event. They must interact to find the person who
holds the other half of the item. On the day of the
event the couples dine with each other with a special
Valentine meal.
Some ideas
for pairing: make a giant heart-shaped candy box--make
pairs of candies (candy bars, etc) as the couples find
each other their candy gets taped in the "box"
(display the box on the wall); famous pairs, hearts
cut in two pieces (vary the size and color of hearts
and distinct cuts); flowers, animals (we did Noah's
ark for this one).
You may
choose to pick partners so that you know the two will
get along-- this depends on your residents-- this also
allows you to know who is supposed to be a certain person's
partner if someone can't find their partner or if someone
is unable to search for his/her partner. For the special
meal you may choose to provide the real items they used
to pair. Ex. For Noah's ark each pair got a cutout cookie
of the animal they were, and for the candy box they
received that candy in their meal-- we do "box
lunch" on these days-- similar to picnic lunch
so they can be prepared ahead-- another good reason
for pre-pairing your couples so Dietary can determine
special needs lunches.
GROUNDHOG SCAVENGER
HUNT
submitted by SUSAN LONG CTRS of SANDALWOOD
MANOR on February 2, 1999
Size of Group:
20+
Equipment: A dozen
or more, whichever desired, construction paper groundhogs
attached to some sort of pocket large enough to hold
several pieces of paper. Tags that have residents name
on them, enough tags for each resident to have their
name on and enough to correspond with number of groundhogs.
Prizes for winners.
Objective: Facility
awareness. Interaction with staff and socialization
with peers. Increased problem solving ability.
Description: Groundhogs
are placed around facility in inconspicuous places.
Residents are gathered and given tags that have their
names on each tag. Twelve tags if there are twelve groundhogs.
Residents are instructed to hunt for the groundhogs
and place one of their tags in the pocket until they
have found all of the groundhogs. A social is planned
for the afternoon and groundhogs are collected. Tags
are counted to see how many each resident found. Prizes
are awarded. I have also done this at Christmas time
using elves and opening day of deer hunting season using
magazine pictures of deer.
An
afternoon in Mardi Gras
submitted by Christine Allen of Newmarket Health
Center on May 23, 1999
Size
of Group: Any number
Equipment: Balloons, streamers, lots of decorations
Mardi Gras masks for everyone, crowns for the king
and queen
King Cakes and punch
Objective: Turn the activity area into downtown New Orleans
for Mardi Gras
To provide entertainment and socialization for the
residents. To reminisce through familiar songs and
allow them to participate in group activities.
Description: We had a barbershop quartet come in and sing many
of the classic hits from the past. The harmony between
them was nothing compared to the harmony of the
group. Everyone sang and laughed. Staff dressed
up like clowns to add to the carnival atmosphere
and there was a draw for the king and queen of Mardi
Gras (for the afternoon). There was juggling acts
and the history of Mardi Gras was explained to all.
Traditional
refreshments of King cakes and punch were served
and everyone left with their own Mardi Gras Mask.
Send your favorite activities for February and have it posted here.
Activities & Tx pages sponsored by compuTR and maintained by Charles
Dixon
If reprinting ideas from these pages, please give credit.
Everything for Winter: A Complete Activity Book
for Teachers of Young Children: Activities for December,
January, and February
