2005 Newsletter Activities
- Celebrate 60 Years Ago - 1945
- Love And Friendship
- Irish-Americans
- Celebrate Spring!
- Hospitality
- Happy Birthday, America!
- Family Reunion Fun
- FDR and His Times
- German Oktoberfest
- Revisiting The Fifties
- The Gift-Giving Season
- Celebrating National Hobby Month In January
CELEBRATE 60 YEARS AGO - 1945
(January 2005)
Consider the words of American novelist Pearl Buck: "If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday." The same thing can be said of people. If you want to know your clients, start by reflecting on their personal history. This generation of senior adults has lived through numerous life-changing events in the 20th century. Which events impacted their lives and helped define who they are today? To gain some insight, consider using activities that celebrate the news and pop cultural events for a particular decade or year. Here's how to get started, using the year 1945.
Reminisce with your group about the early part of 1945. A quick flashback: Many senior adults were teenagers or young adults in a year marked by a surge of patriotism due to World War II. Some young women were entertaining soldiers and sailors at USO canteens or writing letters to service boys; others had joined the armed forces. Many young men were fighting in the war; other males were working on assembly lines at defense plants alongside women. People were listening to the popular war correspondent Ernie Pyle on the radio and reading newspapers for information on the war. Families were going to the movies to see newsreels shown between films. Americans were buying war bonds and Defense Stamps. Children were participating in air-raid drills. Rationing was a fact of life. Ask your group about the impact of World War II on their daily lives as young adults. What was happening in their community and in their homes? Old Life magazines can provide your group with photos of the frontline as well as photos from the home front.
This scene was interrupted by the sudden death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945. (FDR had been president since 1933.) Ask your group if they remember hearing Arthur Godfrey report FDR's death on the radio. Talk about the thousands of Americans who paid last respects to FDR as a train carried his body from Warm Springs, Georgia, to Washington, D.C. Review the presidential legacy of FDR with your group.
A second major event of the year occurred: There is a radio news flash announcing the end of the war on August 14. Ask: How did Americans celebrate the end of World War II? Where were you when you heard the news? How did you feel?
By the end of 1945, rationing had ended except for sugar. The economy had recovered and Americans went on a spending spree. They took vacations again. There was a shortage of houses. Women in war plants had to give up their jobs for returning vets. A new president, Harry Truman, occupied the White House. America now possessed the atomic bomb. How did Americans handle all of these changes?
ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES TO CELEBRATE THE YEAR 1945
On the home front in 1945, pop culture was flourishing. Hollywood stars, radio personalities, and musicians were entertaining the American public. Families went to the movies for a diversion. Broadway Theatre was in full swing. Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como had hit songs. Celebrate the year's popular movies by showing the film adaptation of the beloved classic novel, National Velvet. In the movie, 12-year-old Elizabeth Taylor became a child star. This great family film, also starring Mickey Rooney, teaches many valuable life lessons. Discuss these with your group. Ask how many saw the film with their families. Or, enjoy the hit musical of 1945, Anchors Aweigh, which paired Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Reminisce about Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway stage musical Carousel with the hit songs "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "June is Bustin' Out All Over!" You can also watch the 1956 movie version, starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae.
The Andrews Sisters were very popular in the 40s, entertaining U.S. troops. Enjoy some of their hits in 1945, sung with Bing Crosby: "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" and "Rum and Coca-Cola." Don't forget to play their signature song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Another possibility: invite a musician to talk about the new jazz style that emerged in the 1940s, or be-bop to a recording of trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie.
For more creative ideas, consider ElderSong's book, Journey Through the 20th Century: Reminiscing and Discussion Activities. This helpful resource provides over 200 activities to celebrate the lives of your senior adults in 20th century America. The focus is on the 1920s-1960s, which represent years of prime-living for your participants. The first section of the book, the big picture, provides an overview of each decade, using a variety of activities. Short takes on each decade as well as year-by-year summaries are also provided. Here's a sample of the many topics included in the book, these from the section on the 1940s:
Decade Trivia Quiz - 30 questions about the 1940s
Words to Recall - 1940s slang
Personalities - famous people from the 1940s
On the Air - reminiscing questions about radio
World War II highlights - headlines from the war
Leading the Nation - Roosevelt and Truman
Help on the Home Front - adding to the war effort in the U.S.
Delinquency Debate - teenagers in trouble
Women in the Military - pros and cons
Call to Arms - the military draft
Returning Veterans - Readjusting to civilian life
An Afternoon at the Movies - 1940s films
Teen Idol - Frank Sinatra
Fashion Show - Modeling clothing from the 1940s
Teenage Fads - activities of young people
A Growing Experience - victory gardens
Show and Tell - 1940s toys and playthings
Sugarless Treat - Coping with sugar rationing
Changing Roles - Working women
Fireside Chat - Recreating FDR's radio addresses
Singing - Popular songs from the 1940s
An excellent visual complement to the book is The Century That Made America Great. narrated by Charles Osgood of CBS News. The Reader's Digest DVD collection includes three volumes of events that helped shape America into a world power. Enjoy a tour guide through the decades of the 20th century and re-live years of American history. Your group will discover what made the nation so great. Be sure to allow plenty of time for reminiscing and heartfelt discussion. Volume 1: The Eagle Soars covers world and national events such as immigration to Ellis Island in the early 1900s, Teddy Roosevelt and World War I, FDR and World War II, as well as the Cold War and Desert Storm. Volume 2: Miracles of Communication examines the development of mass communication in the nation. It covers early radio, magazines, and the impact of television and media on politics and other events such as the civil rights movement. Volume 3: Wonders of the Century discusses the impact of inventions and technological advances such as skyscrapers, dams and power plants, tunnels and bridges, air conditioning, automobiles and the interstate highway, photography, appliances, space rockets, and more.
The 1940s and 1950s were considered Broadway's golden musical years. Most musicals were produced on Broadway in New York and London's West End. Ask participants if they have ever seen a show on Broadway. Invite a guest speaker to talk about the history of Broadway musical theatre. Chat about popular songwriters Irving Berlin and Cole Porter or the songwriting teams George and Ira Gershwin and Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The compact disk The Best of Broadway, highlights the cast recordings of 20 popular musicals. The songs represent the best of old and new Broadway from Oklahoma! to The Phantom of the Opera. You group will enjoy: "Sue Me," from Guys and Dolls; "Tonight" from West Side Story; "Tomorrow" from Annie; and "One" from A Chorus Line. Try singing along with Mary Martin's version of "The Sound of Music."
Motion pictures were very popular in the 1940s. For fans of Hollywood's golden age, Movie Star Portraits of the Forties is a collection of glamorous photos of movie stars taken during the decade. Some of the stars include Ava Gardner, Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Marlene Dietrich, and pinup girl Rita Hayworth, who captured the hearts of American servicemen in the 1940s. Show a photo of a star and highlight his/her career. Take Humphrey Bogart, for example. Treat your group to a viewing of one of his popular films in the 1940s: The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, To Have and Have Not, or The Big Sleep. Talk about Bogie's marriage to actress Lauren Bacall in 1945 and his impact on Hollywood.
Also available: Film-Star Portraits of the Fifties, a collection of celebrity photos from the 1950s. Giants of the decade include: Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Katharine Hepburn, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Harry Belafonte, Paul Newman, and Clark Gable. James Dean was a popular symbol of 1950s teen rebellion. Talk about his hit movie, Rebel Without a Cause, in 1955 and ask your group what impact James Dean had on their children. A look at the film career of Liz Taylor might also be in order, including her eight marriages.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
Encouraging and comforting words will boost the morale of the people with whom you work. If you practice the virtue of kindness, it will become second nature to you.
"Kindness is the golden key that unlocks the heart of others." -Henry Drummond
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
(February 2005)
February gives you a wonderful opportunity to talk about love and friendship and to plan some endearing activities for your group. Each February we set aside a day to express our appreciation of the special people in our lives: St. Valentine’s Day. On this occasion, people of all ages exchange tokens of love. For a sensory experience, share some of these items with your group: mixed bouquet of flowers with a red-pink-white color scheme, box of chocolates, perfume, heart-shaped Mylar balloon, lace handkerchief, cutout of Cupid, cinnamon candy, chocolate-dipped strawberries, cuddly teddy bears, and vintage Valentine postcards. Encourage group members to share memories of a favorite Valentine gift. What made it so special?
Talk about the origins of the most romantic day of the year. Learn the story of Saint Valentine. Encourage your group to reminisce about childhood Valentine’s Day memories. Do they remember decorating a shoebox and trading cards with schoolmates? What candies did they enjoy eating as a child? Hold a counting contest. Fill a plastic jar with small Valentine conversation hearts. Ask each group member to guess the number of hearts in the jar. Or, make simple "Be My Valentine" cards from lace, ribbon, and hearts to share with staff and friends.
Ask your group: What is love? Does the meaning of love change, as you grow older? List synonyms for love. Ask participants if they agree with this quote by the Roman poet Virgil: Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love. Discuss: Does love have a different meaning in other countries? Is there a universal language of love? Describe it. Teach your group to say "I love you" in a foreign language. (Example: French - Je t’adore or Je t’aime.) Sing a special love song such as "I Love You Truly" or "True Love."
The rose is an ancient symbol of love and has become the traditional Valentine’s Day flower. Bring in samples of different colors of roses (minus the thorns) and explore the meaning of each shade, e.g., red means love and beauty. Talk about cultivating a rose garden. Show pictures of prize-winning roses. Pass around a bowl of rose petals for participants to touch.
CELEBRATE THE THEME OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
February is also a good time to honor and appreciate the gift of good friends. Ask participants: What kind of people did you choose as friends? What are the ingredients of a good friendship? What kind of advice would you give on nurturing long-term friendships? Industrialist Henry Ford once said, My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. Now you can build bonds of friendship and trust with your clients. The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer’s Activities. is a rich resource of creative activity ideas to help you turn the challenge of care giving into a more rewarding experience. Become a caregiver with a "knack" for being a friend to persons with Alzheimer’s disease. The book offers over 140 fun and enriching Best Friends activities. Here’s a sample: "Remembering Childhood Games," "Old Sayings," "The Men’s Club," "Winter Memories," "Trip to the Ocean," "Music to My Ears," "An Apple a Day," and lots more. You’ll find sensory-rich topics for discussion as well as creative activities such as painting, drawing, writing, and crafts. Games and personal care tasks are included as well. In "Ink Paintings of Winter Trees," for example, you can choose from ideas such as these: Share happy memories of playing in a tree house; read aloud the poem "Trees," by Joyce Kilmer; enjoy the smell of a pinecone or bark from a eucalyptus tree; discuss the spiritual nature of trees - the "wisdom" of an oak tree or the history of a centuries-old redwood tree. Match the activity to the strengths of each client.
Reading a book together can promote conversation and connection. The Sunshine on My Face: A Read-Aloud Book for Memory-Challenged Adults will help you create a unique bond of friendship with your clients. Read about happy times and comforting experiences such as watering the plants in the window. And then use the sample conversation prompts: What are your favorite plants/flowers? Did you ever have a garden? Easy-to-read words and colorful pictures provide a pleasant activity for clients. You can invite your client to read the words to you, read the words out loud together, or read the book out loud to your client. Read the whole book or concentrate on a page or two. For budding friendships, you can use the book to inspire an intergenerational exchange with children.
Songs have a special place in our hearts, especially love songs. Ask your group these questions: How did you meet your spouse? What was your courtship like? Did you and your loved one share a special song? You can trigger more memories of romantic occasions by listening to Sentimental Favorites, a collection of 10 memorable love songs from the 1940s & 1950s. Serve heart-shaped cookies for dessert.
Here are some heart-to-heart ideas for encouraging reminiscing about the many kinds of love, including romantic, platonic, and divine.
- Read some love poetry. Suggestions: William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 or Sonnet 116; Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43 ("How do I love thee? Let me count the ways"); Lord Byron’s "She Walks in Beauty"; or Robert Burns’ "A Red, Red Rose."
- Contemplate the definition of biblical love as found in 1 Corinthians 13.
- Read some of Helen Steiner Rice’s inspirational verse from books such as Gifts of Love or Blossoms of Friendship.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
A smile is an inexpensive but powerful gesture. Share one today!
"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." -Mother Teresa
IRISH-AMERICANS
(March 2005)
Do you know where your family came from? One important role for an older adult is preserving his or her family's history and cultural heritage for younger generations. Culture is often expressed through traditions, customs, and rituals, both within the family and the community. It is important to take pride in one's own culture and heritage as well as appreciate the uniqueness of others. America is a melting pot-a nation of immigrants. There are people of many diverse cultures. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Brainstorm the meaning of the words ancestor, heritage, and culture with your group.
- Ask participants to share the country their ancestors originally came from.
- Talk about childhood traditions and customs in the home and community.
- Consider music, dance, food, art, recreation, clothing, language spoken, stories, poems, or folktales. Sharing family stories and memories helps preserve America's rich cultural heritage.
CELEBRATING CULTURAL HERITAGE: IRISH-AMERICANS
Ireland is famed for its lush green landscape and friendly people. Look up Ireland in an atlas or globe. Talk about its geography and climate. Brainstorm images associated with the country of Ireland. Pass around souvenir postcards of Ireland for your group to view. Travel to the heart of the Emerald Isle with the DVD travel guide, The Magnificent Scenery of Ireland. This relaxing tour includes footage from the four historic provinces of Ireland: Munster in the south, Leinster in the east, Connaught in the west, and Ulster in the north. Your group will enjoy the famous Lakes of Killarney, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, Mayo Mountains, Dublin City, and more. A soundtrack of soothing Irish music complements the breathtaking scenery: countryside scattered with villages and town, coastal views and cliffscapes, bog lands, rugged mountains, spectacular lakes and rivers, and rich architecture. Treat your group to a shamrock shake (vanilla ice cream, milk, a touch of mint flavoring, and green food coloring) and shamrock-shaped cookies as they gain an appreciation for the beauty of the island.
To explore the rich culture of the Emerald Isle, use Travel Unlimited. Your armchair travelers can tour the country using a variety of activities. Here's a sample from the chapter on Ireland:
- Audio suggestions include harp music and Irish songs such as "Danny Boy," "I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover," "Molly Malone," and "Roamin' in the Gloamin'."
- For props, try green and white streamers, or anything with a shamrock motif; dolls in native costume and/or pictures of Irish children; sacks of potatoes and potato-preparing utensils; a banner with "Erin go Bragh"; symbols of Ireland such as a harp, shillelagh, Blarney Stone, hat, and Irish coffee mug.
- Creative group activities such as "A Wee Bit of Irish in Everyone," "Irish Staff of Life," "Irish Humor," "Leprechaun Lore," "Sons and Daughters o' the Green," and "A Love of Music and Dancing" identify the cultural traditions of the Irish people.
- There are discussion questions as well. Example: The Irish believe that kissing the Blarney Stone will render a person eloquent beyond compare. Have you ever known a person with the gift of gab? What was the most outrageous explanation or excuse anyone ever gave you? Who did it come from and did you believe it?
Need more ideas for celebrating St. Patrick's Day and Irish-American traditions and customs? Try some of our suggestions listed below.
- Find some old Irish recipes such as Irish soda bread and Irish potato candy and make them with your group.
- Discuss Irish proverbs, blessings, and sayings. Examples: What's good for the goose is good for the gander; it's no use boiling your cabbage twice; the older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune; a silent mouth is sweet to hear.
- Explore the legend of Saint Patrick. What impact did he have on the Irish people?
- Chat about early Irish immigrants to the U.S. in the 19th century. What brought them here during the mid-1800s and what challenges did they face? Ask your participants if they had immigrant ancestors who worked on building the transcontinental railroad.
- Talk about the first St. Patrick's Day celebration in the United States held in Boston in 1737. Make an assortment of Irish decorations and cards to commemorate the celebration.
- Invite an Irishman to talk about celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Old Ireland. How has the meaning of the holiday changed over the years in Ireland?
- President George Bush proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991. Read an excerpt from his proclamation.
- Watch the 1952 movie The Quiet Man, with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The romantic comedy, directed by John Ford, was filmed mostly on location in Ireland.
- Read some excerpts from works by award-winning Irish writers such as George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, or Samuel Beckett.
- Ask your group to list common Irish surnames such as Brennan, Kelly, or Sullivan.
- Demonstrate some traditional Irish dance steps such as the jig, reel, or hornpipe.
- Play some traditional Irish instruments such as harp, accordion, fiddle, flute, or harmonica.
- Invite a storyteller to present some Irish folktales to your group. How do the tales reflect the values and beliefs of the Irish people? Talk about symbols common to Irish folktales (e.g., leprechauns and shamrocks).
- Highlight some popular sports in Ireland such as rugby, Gaelic football, hurling, boxing, greyhound racing, and horse racing.
- Show pictures of some ancient castles in Ireland (e.g., Blarney Castle, Dublin Castle, Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny Castle). Explore their history and architecture.
- Examine the legacy of American presidents with Irish ancestors (e.g., Kennedy, Reagan, and Nixon).
- Wear a green shamrock leaf (for good luck).
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
The old Irish saying, "You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind," highlights the importance of opportunity. If you've set new goals for your activities program, now is the time to take action.
CELEBRATE SPRING!
(April 2005)
Spring is a favorite time of the year for children, birds, dogs, lovers, athletes-in fact, just about everybody! Listen to the sentiments of poet Richard Hovey: Spring in the world! And all things are made new! Nature awakens and puts on a glorious show: migrating birds return; trees begin to bud; bulbs begin to sprout; animals emerge from hibernation; daylight hours increase; sunshine abounds.
Spring is also a time of renewal and rebirth in our homes and heart. Ask your participants: What do you remember about spring growing up? What images do you associate with the season? Often the spring season spurs changes in our lives. It's the perfect time to clean out and to try something new and refreshing. Talk about some of these changes with your group.
- Changes in the home: new recipes; new home decorations; spring
- cleaning and beautification projects.
- Changes in people: new attitudes and outlook; new wardrobe; new diet/exercise; new hairstyle.
"See! The winter has past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season for singing has come." - Song of Solomon 2:11-12
Spring is a season of rites and rituals. Families often celebrate the transition with some familiar activities. Ask your group members to complete the following sentence: Every spring our family . . . Did they mention these:
- watching for the appearance of robins and nesting birds
- attending the opening day of baseball
- planting vegetable and flower seeds
- barbequing on the outdoor grill
- enjoying a cherry blossom parade
- cutting grass for the first time
- flying a colorful kite on a breezy day
- sampling Grandma's spring rhubarb pie
Fill the air with beautiful music. Here is an excerpt from the session on "Spring" from Roses in December: Music Sessions with Older Adults:
- Sing the following tunes with your group: "It Might as Well Be Spring," "When the Red, Red Robin," "I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time," or "Green Grow the Lilacs."
- Listen to classical favorites such as "Spring Song" by Mendelssohn or "Rustle of Spring" by Sinding. Discuss these questions about the season: What are the signs that tell us spring is here? What do you like about spring? Have you ever had spring fever? What does it feel like? What needs to be done during spring-cleaning? What needs to be done to get ready for a garden?
- Try this activity with your group: Listen to Vivaldi's "Spring" concerto from The Four Seasons. Talk about how the music captures the sounds of spring, for example, chirping birds.
- If you have some old hats, do a fashion show or parade to the song "Easter Parade."
Invite a nutritionist to talk about a healthy, balanced diet. For sensory pleasure, bring in some fresh young spring vegetables for your group to taste .Try asparagus, spring onions, baby carrots, and new potatoes. Or, relish a bowl of fresh berries.
Here's a spring activity especially for the men in your group. Pass around photos of historic cars and talk about the changing designs of the automobile. Auto buffs can reminisce about popular models (ex: 1927 LaSalle roadster, 1932 Chrysler Imperial custom limousine, 1938 Buick "Y-Job", 1951 Studebaker Starlight coupe, or 1956 Ford Thunderbird). Chat about washing and waxing the family car on a warm spring day or attending a vintage car show with a friend. With opening day right around the corner, why not plan a trip "to the old ball park" with your group. Don't miss the opportunity to talk about transportation to the stadium. Which automobile will they choose for the trip? Spring is also a time, according to Tennyson, when "a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." Encourage reminiscing about the days of dating and romance using the family car.
Spring is a good time to get a new pet. Puppies are a favorite choice among families. Your group members will enjoy sharing memories of their first dog. For fun, listen to Patti Page's popular rendition of "How Much is That Doggie in the Window?" Ask your group about the old adage - a dog is man's best friend. Discuss the benefits of owning a dog (e.g., companionship, exercise, responsibility). Ask: How do family relationships benefit from the presence of a pet? Compile a list of most popular names for a dog.
For a culminating activity, read some traditional poetry on spring. You'll find delightful verse to celebrate the season of rebirth by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Robert Frost, Sara Teasdale, William Shakespeare, Robert Browning, Amy Lowell, John Greenleaf Whittier, and e.e. cummings.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Attitude is your own personal choice. Sustaining a positive attitude on the job will reap many benefits.
"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." ~ Winston Churchill
HOSPITALITY
(May 2005)
Do you have memories of large family gatherings when all of the relatives came for a visit - grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins? The goal was simply to share a meal and enjoy each other's company. Or, can you recall a time when you opened your home to a new family in your suburban neighborhood? You wanted to welcome its members with a nice meal and to help them feel at home in their new surroundings. Senior adults probably have many such memories.
WHAT IS HOSPITALITY?
- Ask your participants to share memories of the following situations: Preparing a 1930s luncheon or tea for the women's bridge club
- Opening your home to travelers during the Great Depression as a "boarding house"
- Inviting your neighbors over for some 1940s war-time cake
- Offering a returning World War II veteran and his young bride a place to stay because of a housing shortage
- Hosting a 1950s-style teenage sleepover in your newly completed family "recreation" room Sharing a barbecue on your backyard patio with your co-workers
- Providing overnight lodging and a meal for an evangelist holding a revival in town
- Cooking a meal for a shut-in
- Can you think of a person who is particularly hospitable? What is
- he/she like? Describe ways you've offered hospitality or received it from
- someone. Did you grow up in a hospitable family?
- What does being hospitable mean? (Suggestions: opening your home and making your guests feel at ease; sharing resources to meet the needs of your guests; providing fellowship; offering acts of kindness; warmth and enthusiasm for people)
PRACTICING HOSPITALITY
Hospitality comes in many forms. Sharing an informal meal is one way of extending hospitality. Ask your participants to recall how they used good food to make guests feel at home. What lessons about entertaining did they learn from their parents or grandparents? Some old cookbooks might trigger memories. Look for favorites like the 1931 edition of The Joy of Cooking (or an updated version) or the 1950 classic Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook. To be hospitable means to be fond of guests. Your group can reminisce about what it means to be a gracious host/hostess. Share sections of Emily Post's 1922 classic Etiquette (or an updated version) or the best-selling 1952 edition of Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette. Another possibility: Betty Crocker's Guide to Easy Entertaining, published in 1959. Serve some tasty appetizers!
Sharing your home with guests becomes easier with practice. Use your group session to simulate a hospitable gathering. Start with some stimulating conversation around the table. Mind Stretchers and More Mind Stretchers have hundreds of conversation starters to spark any conversation. Mind Stretchers has five categories, ranging from basic questions like "Name a city" and " Name something wet" to more thoughtful ones like "If you had a magic wand, what would you do with it?" and "What would you wear to have your portrait painted?" More Mind Stretchers expands on the same categories and adds nine more. Here is a sample of discussion prompts from this book to use in your group:
- Name one type of bread.
- Where did you go on your honeymoon?
- What is your favorite hot weather activity?
- Would you rather sing the blues or sing in an opera?
- What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "sunflower"?
- Name one positive thing about chewing gum. Name one negative thing.
- Name five famous women.
- Describe a way to entertain a small child on a rainy day.
- How can you tell if a watermelon is ripe?
- Tell us about shaving for the first time.
- If you were a steamship captain, where would you like to sail?
- What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
- How long is a jiffy?
- What are all the things you would have to do to hold a baby shower?
One area of the country noted for its gracious hospitality is the South. Talk about the traditions/hallmarks of Southern hospitality (e.g., time for chit-chat, cheerful and friendly people, manners, traditions, special phrases and sayings). Then reacquaint your group with a good example of Southern hospitality by listening to the beloved singer and entertainer, Ernie Ford. Share some favorite gospel and spiritual music with your group. Ernie sings memorable hymns and songs of faith. Ask your group members if they remember Ernie's favorite expression: "Bless your little pea-pickin' hearts."
Gather your group and entertain your "guests" on your house piano. Singing with others builds bonds. Christmas songs are included as well. Sing some simple tunes with your group and enjoy the camaraderie. "I don't sing very well" is not an excuse! Just sing-for the fun of it! Serve some "Hospitality Punch," a favorite drink in the 1930s and 1940s. Add brewed tea to a fruit juice punch.
For a culminating activity, ask your group to compose an acrostic poem on the word HOSPITALITY (print the word vertically on a marker board and ask your group to define the word using the letters of the word). Example: S = Simplicity is a must!
BED AND BREAKFAST BRIEF
Another facet of hospitality is how to deal graciously with houseguests, whether overnight, weekend, or extended. Divide participants into two groups. Ask one group to compose a list of "Tips for Being a Good Houseguest" (e.g., bring a small gift for the hostess) and the other group to offer "Tips for Being a Gracious Host/Hostess" (e.g., be attuned to the special dietary needs of your guests, such as no sugar, no caffeine). Read the lists and encourage your group to share memories of houseguests - both good and bad!
Many people want to simulate a home-like atmosphere while traveling. Talk about the history of bed and breakfasts, in private homes or in bed-and-breakfast inns. Ask: Have you ever stayed in a B&B home or inn? Did you get a warm, comfortable bed, a gracious host, and a tasty meal in the morning? Describe the "personality" of your favorite B&B. Why do many people prefer bed and breakfasts to chain hotels and motel rooms? Serve your group some blueberry muffins and tea.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Bring a ray of light to your senior adults with a smile or hug, a kind deed, or a word of encouragement.
"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." ~ Sir James M. Barrie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
(June 2005)
It's time to start planning an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration. To set the mood, decorate your meeting room with red, white, and blue balloons and streamers. Design star-spangled T-shirts and patriotic hats for participants to wear. Pass out small American flags to wave. Ask your group members: What traditions are associated with Fourth of July celebrations? Did they mention parades, speeches, bonfires, fireworks, picnics, and concerts?
Congress established the Fourth of July (Independence Day) as a legal holiday in 1941. Senior adults have many fond recollections of this favorite American holiday. Ask: How did your family celebrate our nation's birthday? Did you host family gatherings or attend community celebrations? Did you ever participate in a national celebration, such as America's Bicentennial on July 4, 1976? Have you ever spent the holiday abroad? Encourage group members to share a favorite Fourth of July memory, e.g., a small-town parade with Little League baseball teams, local politicians, baton twirlers, high school marching bands, floats, and fire trucks.
Talk about national patriotic symbols such as the American flag. A salute to Old Glory is an appropriate activity for Independence Day. Ask participants this trivia question: Who sewed the first American flag? (Answer: Betsy Ross). Encourage group members to talk about what comes to mind as they see the flag of the United States fly across the sky. Discuss the significance of the flag's colors (red for courage; white for purity/truth; blue for justice). Discuss etiquette for displaying the U.S. flag. Invite a Scout group to demonstrate how to correctly fold a flag and to talk about disposing of old flags. Encourage group members to "voice" their love for America by singing "You're a Grand Old Flag." Recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the first stanza of our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The Fourth of July is all about patriotism, or love of and devotion to America. Ask your participants to share words that remind them of America, e.g., Coca-Cola, baseball, Mom's apple pie, politics. Encourage them to name what they like best about living in America. An excellent resource to stir nostalgic memories of growing up in our nation is the newly revised and updated version of Down Memory Lane - Second Edition. The second edition also incorporates sessions from the sequel Moments to Remember and includes 15 new sessions-a total of 65 themes for reminiscing and discussion. Each chapter has three sections for the topic under consideration. IN THE MOOD offers suggestions for gathering music as well as visual aids. ACTIVITIES provides short answer and trivia quizzes, guest speakers, memory sharing about an aspect of the theme, singing, hands-on activities, or listening activities. DISCUSSION stimulates further conversation and sharing of memories by participants. New session topics include the following: Camping, Cars, Christmas, Dating, Doctoring, Games, Hair, Marriage, Money, Reading and Writing, Relatives, Sleep, Sweets, Teenagers, and Weather.
To commemorate the birth of America, you can offer your group these sessions on "Patriotism" and "Presidents" from Down Memory Lane. You'll find patriotic song suggestions, a U.S. history trivia quiz, activities on flags, immigrants, veterans, and more. The "Presidents" chapter focuses on presidents and dates, first ladies trivia, presidents trivia, and presidential quotations. You can also encourage discussion with these questions: Who was your favorite president? Have you ever worked in anyone's political campaign? Have you ever worked at the polls, belonged to the League of Women voters, or were active in one of the political parties? In which election did you cast your first vote? When was the last time you voted? Serve a Happy Birthday, America cake. Hold a cake-decorating contest with prizes awarded for most original patriotic design!
Many families choose to visit a park for a picnic on the fourth of July. Ask your group: What is your favorite picnic meal? Plan a feast of summertime foods! Feature some popular American picnic foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, fruit salad, and strawberry shortcake. Share memories of fireworks displays.
Music is a big part of any national celebration. Bolster spirits with some patriotic songs. Make simple musical instruments from recycled materials and tap along as your group listens to a CD of popular patriotic tunes. Highlight a patriotic composer such as George Cohan or John Phillips Sousa. For a good time with friends, try a sing-along with your group. Enjoy the simplicity of beloved old tunes using Mitch Miller and the Gang, a CD set with 36 sing-along favorites, including "That Old Gang of Mine," "Ain't We Got Fun," "Jeepers Creepers," "On Top of Old Smoky," "You Are My Sunshine," "Baby Face," and more. Reminisce about this popular recording artist of the 1950s and 60s, noted for his sing-along records and hit musical variety show, Sing Along With Mitch. Serve homemade lemonade.
Read some presidential speeches given on the Fourth of July or share some patriotic poetry to celebrate our nation's heritage. A helpful resource is Caroline Kennedy's book, A Patriot's Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love, published by Hyperion, 2003.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
May you find joy in the process of attending to the varied needs and interests of your senior adults.
FAMILY REUNION FUN
(July 2005)
Hot lazy days, watermelon, swimming holes, and family reunions-these are some of the memories that summer evokes for many older adults. Extended family reunions are a way to gather multiple generations in one setting and to renew family ties. Newer family members can get to know relatives at a large gathering of the clan. Ask your participants: What images come to mind when you think of family reunions-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and distant cousins eating favorite foods, sharing stories, swapping photos and recipes, and playing games? Ask how reunions have changed over the years. Compare a reunion from 50 years ago to one today. Encourage each person in your group to share the most memorable reunion he/she ever attended. What made the event so special or unique? Reminisce about favorite locations for a reunion-perhaps a central location such as a family homestead, beach house, dude ranch, campground, cottage, hotel, or resort. How long were most of their reunions-a day, a weekend, or a full week? Who planned their family reunions? Have any of their reunions focused on a theme?
To trigger memories of family gatherings, plan some of these "mock" family reunion activities with your group. Take a group photo of your "family" and display it on a bulletin board. Encourage participants to bring in a baby picture and ask group members to guess the identity of each one. Pinpoint the hometown of participants on a large map of the U.S. Display group memorabilia such as a family Bible, pocket watch, diary, family cookbook, or ancestral photo. Encourage participants to share the history of their object. Pass out reunion door prizes, e.g., tallest, shortest, most grandchildren.
Reunions often include distant relatives who haven't met or seen each other in years, so it's important to plan activities to re-acquaint your extended family. For group fun, organize a get-acquainted scavenger hunt filled with family trivia questions. Gather facts from your participants beforehand. Encourage members to circulate and talk to people to find out information such as the following: Can you find someone who has at least 10 grandchildren? Who has a middle name beginning with M? Who has visited the state of Alaska? Who has parachuted from an airplane? At a designated time, ask the group to share their answers.
Warm up the crowd and stimulate conversation by using some icebreakers. Try conversation starter cards. Their simple format encourages fun-filled chatter among mixed groups. Here's a sample: Table Talk [W3601, click here] Over 700 million Twinkies are consumed in the United States every year. If you could name one food as The Official Food of the United States, what would you choose and why?
Reunions provide an opportunity to learn about family history, creating a bond among different generations. Teenagers and young children can connect to their older relatives through storytelling. For an intergenerational activity, ask the adults to read a story aloud to the younger children. In Yesterdays: A Collection of Short Stories, Nostalgic Photographs, and Related Programming Materials for Seniors [P211, click here], each 3-7 minute story presents an enjoyable plot related to memories of yesteryear. For example, "A Matter of Priorities" deals with a woman learning to drive an automobile in 1941, around the time of Pearl Harbor. Pass around the large, nostalgic photograph which complements each story in the book and you'll have lots of things to chat about. Discussion questions will bring back memories of people, places, and events. Examples: Describe your first or favorite automobile. Why was this car special? Who taught you to drive? How old were you? In the early days of the automobile, did many women drive or own cars? Why?
Parents and grandparents alike can share personal stories about their childhood with the younger generation. Other stories in Yesterdays relate to the following memories: hairstyles, barbershops, childhood pranks and mischief, radio programs, movie theatres, movie stars, dating and courtship, Sunday family dinners, cooking and favorite recipes, playing cards and other pastimes, holiday celebrations in the home, chores, jobs and allowances, dancing and etiquette lessons, and presidential advice. For added interest, encourage parents and grandparents to bring in vintage clothing from the 1940s - 1970s and hold a family fashion show. Teens can model their latest fashions.
One of the cardinal rules for family reunions is to provide an opportunity for all ages to interact. To keep interest high, plan a number of activities to entertain young and old alike. You can, for example, survey your "family" talent pool and host a talent show-complete with an emcee. Enjoy clean jokes, songs, skits about ancestors, instruments, or classic and contemporary dances.
At many reunions, the oldest generation may be asked to bring old records and tapes of music its members enjoyed when they were young. Enjoy the CD As Time Goes By: The Best of Sentimental Favorites [W4306, click here], which features 10 beloved classic songs performed on the silver screen. Listen or hum along with musical highlights from popular films of the 30s, 40s, and 50s: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca; "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz; "Cheek to Cheek" from Top Hat; "Honeysuckle Rose" from As Thousands Cheer; "Ol' Man River" from Show Boat; and "It's Magic" from Romance on the High Seas. Of course, you'll want to make time for Grandma to reminisce about some of her favorite movie stars, including Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Bing Crosby.
Create lasting family memories with an old-fashioned sing-along. Sing songs from several generations' childhood. Here are a few fun songs older relatives can share with younger ones: "The Farmer in the Dell," "I Whistle a Happy Tune," "London Bridge," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
Games are a common activity at reunions. Encourage socialization with Penny Ante Blue [W301, click here] or Penny Anne Red [W302, click here]. Your mixed group of 4-8 players will like the simple format: Draw a card and follow the directions. Each card tells a player to give or take a penny. For example: Take a penny if you like to play checkers. Take a penny if you have ever climbed a tree. Give a penny to each person who is wearing something purple. Players are asked to share an opinion, notice things about other people in the group, or answer simple recall questions. Be sure to welcome any family stories that may interrupt the flow of the game!
Family camaraderie is often the best at mealtimes. Sharing favorite dishes with relatives evokes many fond memories. Ask: How do you feed a whole passel of relatives? Bring in old Betty Crocker cookbooks from the 1950s and highlight some recipes for large crowds. Share favorite family recipes passed from generation to generation. For bragging rights, hold a favorite dessert contest!
Bring in a sample of your family tree, depicting the relationship of several generations. Ask your group to list words associated with family, e.g., ancestors, descendants, kin, generation, and heritage. Sing a song related to family ties, such as "I Want a Girl." Set up a table displaying old historic family photographs. Chat about ways to stay connected with extended family members.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Whether you're coaching, encouraging, or instructing, it's important to display a pleasant, good-natured attitude.
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." ~ William James
FDR AND HIS TIMES
(August 2005)
The year is 1932. America is in the throes of the Great Depression. Bank failures, farm and home foreclosures, and a host of unemployed people blanket much of the country. Citizens are looking for a new leader to deal with the economic crisis. They turn to the Democratic candidate, the governor of New York, who promises a "New Deal" for Americans. In November, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected the 32nd president of the United States, defeating Herbert Hoover in a landslide victory. Twelve years of history are in the making. This month's newsletter focuses on the theme of "FDR and His Times."
Sing FDR's 1932 campaign song, "Happy Days Are Here Again," with your group. Was this an appropriate song for Roosevelt to use, given the times?
From the beginning of his administration, FDR sought to calm fears about the Great Depression. In his First Augural Address in 1933, FDR reassured Americans that they had "nothing to fear but fear itself." The only president to be elected to four terms in office, Franklin Roosevelt had a profound impact on the lives of adults who are now over 75. Ask your group to share any recollections they have of FDR's evening radio talks. Listen to audio clips from his Fireside Chats. Talk about FDR's special gift of communication and his calming influence on the public. Ask: How did FDR use the medium of radio to restore confidence in government?
To help participants recall the times, pass around some conversation pieces from the 1930s and early 1940s: historic photographs of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, pictures from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, postcard of the Hoover Dam, Shirley Temple doll, pictures of classic vintage radios, Life magazine, The Saturday Evening Post (with Norman Rockwell illustrations), Superman comic, Rosie the Riveter poster, Parker Brothers' Monopoly game, Gone with the Wind, V-mail, Popeye comic strips, ration stamps, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books, Depression glass. Ask group members to share a memory or two associated with one of the items. Or, read headlines from the times, 1933-1945, and ask participants to share any recollections they have of the person, place, or event. Here's a sample:
- 1933: Prohibition repealed
- 1934: Dust Bowl begins on Great Plains
- 1935: Babe Ruth retires from baseball
- 1936: Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in summer Olympics
- 1937: Amelia Earhart lost at sea
- 1938: Orson Welles broadcasts The War of the Worlds
- 1939: New York World's Fair opens
- 1940: Congress passes the Selective Service Act
- 1941: Pearl Harbor is bombed
- 1942: Sugar, coffee, gas rationed
- 1943: Eisenhower becomes supreme commander of Allied forces
- 1944: FDR signs GI Bill of Rights
- 1945: FDR dies on April 12
Many Americans admired the president's strength of character. Ask: What did you learn from your parents about surviving hard times (e.g., stretching the budget)? What did you learn about resilience and resourcefulness as you faced the Depression and a world war? FDR once stated: "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Encourage your group members to share some experiences in which persistence paid off in their lives.
As an overview of FDR, look at his four presidential campaigns: 1932 against Herbert Hoover; 1936 against Alf Landon; 1944 against Wendell Wilkie; and 1944 against Thomas Dewey. Excerpts from many of FDR's well-known speeches provide insight into his philosophy of government. Chat with your group about how the role of government changed during FDR's administration. The film considers both domestic and foreign affairs, including FDR's reluctance to involve the U.S. in World War II.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so the saying goes. How did America "look" during the Great Depression? To gain a visual understanding of the times, use The Depression Years, As Photographed by Arthur Rothstein, one of the famous documentary photographers of the 1930s. This collection includes 120 historical photos with captions, showing Americans in every part of the nation-at work, at play, in urban and in rural settings, including small-town life. You can explore the Depression from the viewpoint of a particular group, e.g., challenges facing farmers in rural America. Or, ask your participants to assume the role of a person in a particular profession living in the Great Depression, e.g., merchant or banker. You'll find photos from every segment of society. Here are sample captions from the book:
- Farm family, St. Charles County, Missouri, 1939
- Postmaster Brown, Old Rag, Virginia, 1935
- Sharecropper's daughter, Arkansas, 1935
- Farm in the Dust Bowl, Oklahoma, 1936
- Child labor, New Jersey, 1937
- Oklahoma migrants, 1936
- Shoeshine man, New York City, 1937
- Butler at Fifth Avenue party, New York City, 1941
- Fisherman playing cards, Gloucester, Massachusetts, 1937
- Steel workers, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, 1938
- Army recruits, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 1941
- Barber shop, Florida, 1936
- General store, Blankenship, Indiana, 1938.
Serve your group a dessert selected from Irma Rombauer's The Joy of Cooking, published in 1936.
Not only was there music on the airwaves but also in dance halls. The jitterbug was a popular dance. Invite some dancers (in vintage clothing) to demonstrate the various types of swing dancing, including the jitterbug. Sing or hum some favorite songs of the 1930s and early 1940s. Examples:
- "Forty-Second Street"
- "Easter Parade"
- "We're in the Money"
- "Blue Moon"
- "Pennies from Heaven"
- "God Bless America"
- "Over the Rainbow"
- "You Are My Sunshine"
- "Chattanooga Choo Choo"
Be sure to end your sessions on a light note. Listen to an old-time radio comedy show of the 1930s, like "The Jack Benny Show." What were some of the comedian's favorite sayings and mannerisms? Or, show the 1938 comedy classic, You Can't Take It with You, starring Jean Arthur, Jimmy Stewart, and Lionel Barrymore.
Franklin Roosevelt was voted one of the most influential people in the last 100 years by Time Magazine in December 1999 (Time 100: People of the Century). He was a runner-up for the Person of the Century. The Roosevelts dominated American politics for 12 years. Talk about FDR's presidential legacy. Define legacy. What factors affect a president's legacy? How do historians evaluate a past president? Did FDR leave a strong presidential legacy?
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Have you had a few frustrating days at work lately? Eleanor Roosevelt had this insight:
"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
GERMAN OKTOBERFEST
(September 2005)
The end of summer is near and autumn is right around the corner. There is a bounty of activities to enjoy in the beauty of nature. Try this seasonal exercise:
- Brainstorm a list of outdoor fall activities with your group (e.g., enjoy a nature walk, go on a hayride, pick a pumpkin, navigate a corn maze, sample cider from a local mill, visit an apple orchard, thresh grain, chop firewood, gather nuts and acorns, buy produce from a farm stand, tend a fall garden).
- Pass around "natural" objects related to the activities. Items of interest: various kinds of apples, pears, and grapes; gourds and pumpkins; brilliant fall leaves; stuffed scarecrows; Indian corn; wheat stalks; fall vegetables such as kale, turnips, and beets; and colorful mums.
- Encourage your group to share any special "outdoor" memories related to the season.
The fall season is a good time to highlight a well-known German festival, Oktoberfest, with your group. The German state of Bavaria is home to the Oktoberfest, which is held in the city of Munich. The 16-day event is attended by millions of people from around the world. This year's event will be celebrated September 17 - October 2, 2005. Ask: What images come to mind when you think of celebrating the German Oktoberfest (e.g., drinking beer, eating sausages, listening to a polka band)? Talk about the history of the festival that began almost 200 years ago. Or, rent a videotape of a modern-day Oktoberfest from the public library to share with your group. Be sure to encourage recollections from anyone in the group who has attended the German festival in Munich.
Have a barrel of fun with your group! Sing the famous polka song "Beer Barrel Polka" (also known as "Roll Out the Barrel"). Serve a beverage that used to be kept in barrels: root beer or apple cider. Add some soft German pretzels with sweet mustard. Wunderbar!
Other activities: Highlight Bavarian folk life, which is unique within the German culture. Show slides of the city of Munich, including favorite attractions. Invite a local German history professor to share some insights about the modern-day German republic with your group.
Can't attend the fun-loving German festival? There are hundreds of local Oktoberfest celebrations in America, especially in cities with large German-American populations (e.g., La Crosse, Wisconsin). Or, host your own Oktoberfest party! The event is a good opportunity to showcase German heritage with your group.
CELEBRATE OKTOBERFEST - AMERICAN STYLE
Create the ambience of a traditional German-style Oktoberfest with some lively, entertaining activities. Here are a few suggestions to get your group in the mood. . Invite a German language class or German club to teach a few words/phrases to your group. Or, compose a list of familiar German words and ask participants to guess what they mean - e.g., auf Wiedersehen (good-bye) or Guten Tag (hello).
- Find German names among participants, e.g., Knopf, Schmidt, Weiss.
- Show pictures or pass around popular objects made by Bavarian craftsmen: puppets, woodwork carvings, nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, beer steins, M. I. Hummel figurines, teddy bears, handmade Bavarian dolls.
- Don some familiar Bavarian costumes such as dirndls and lederhosen. Pass out plastic green yodeler's hats with feathers for each participant to wear.
- Display instruments from a brass oompah band.
- Decorate in German theme with mini flags and travel posters of the Bavarian state and the city of Munich.
Food is a large part of any celebration. Share favorite German recipes from some vintage cookbooks. Of course, you'll want to sample some traditional Oktoberfest foods: sausages, sauerkraut, red cabbage, warm potato salad, or potato soup. Add a favorite dessert such as Black Forest cake or apple strudel.
For some merrymaking, invite an oompah band to play some traditional German music such as polkas, waltzes, and marches. Clap your hands, sing along, and dance to traditional German folk tunes. You may want to highlight lively polka music. Invite dancers in traditional costumes or instructors to teach basic polka steps and to talk about the history of the genre. Hold a polka-dancing contest with your group.
Participants may enjoy listening to some polka music. Try the CD "Bobby Vinton's Greatest Polka Hits of All Time." Sing along with hits such as "Pennsylvania Polka," "Beer Barrel Polka," and "Too Fat Polka." For added interest: Invite an accordion player to entertain your group.
For an intergenerational activity, listen to the German heritage song "The Chicken Dance" and invite children from a local dance studio to demonstrate the popular Chicken Dance, which has become a staple dance at Oktoberfests. It's a favorite for people of all ages. In Germany it is known as the Duck Dance. The dance was introduced in the U.S. in the 1980s at an Oktoberfest. Afterwards, sample a favorite German treat-chocolate!
For a grand finale, loosen up vocal chords and enjoy some traditional music of the region, Alpine-style yodeling.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Even though it's the harvest season, you can still plant "seeds." What kind of "seeds" have you sown today?
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
REVISITING THE FIFTIES
(October 2005)
Have you noticed today's nostalgic craze for the 1950s? Ask your participants what images come to mind when they think of the years 1950-1959. Did they name tail-finned cars, interstate highways, crew cuts, hula hoops, PTA, poodle skirts, rock 'n roll, fast food, or mothers in aprons?
In the 1950s, many of today's senior adults were newlyweds or parents of young children. The post-war baby boom was well underway, along with an explosion of new houses in the suburbs. Single-family homes furnished with new appliances and televisions became the norm. Chain supermarkets and shopping malls dotted the landscape. Increased prosperity spurred a wave of consumerism. The institutions of home, church, and community were an important part of the family-oriented Fifties.
Here are some activities to get your group started:
- Listen to Frank Sinatra sing "Love and Marriage." Talk about American home life in the 50s. Was the decade all about marriage, family, and children? Housekeeping and raising a family was the ideal female role. Were men just wage earners? What did the media say about gender roles? What visions of family life were portrayed in TV sitcoms such as "Leave It to Beaver" and "Father Knows Best"?
- How was conformity to standards of behavior and dress encouraged? For insight into good manners and the social graces of the day, read some questions from Amy Vanderbilt's Everyday Etiquette, published in the 50s. Ask participants to comment on questions such as: Can a girl telephone a boy for a date? Should a woman put on makeup in public? How do you get the attention of a waiter in a restaurant? Have etiquette rules changed?
- The American way of life in the Fifties centered on domesticity. The "happy homemaker" relished her time-saving appliances and convenience foods. Ask your group about the introduction of frozen TV dinners, sugar-coated cereals, Minute Rice, and fish sticks. Pass around period cookbooks and women's magazines such as Ladies' Home Journal and Good Housekeeping. Did anyone try recipes from Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book? Ask the men to talk about building an outdoor barbecue for entertaining. Did any of them use ideas from Better Homes and Gardens Handyman's Book? What other kinds of do-it-yourself home improvement projects did they attempt? How did the ladies decorate their ranch-style homes and cultivate a beautiful flower garden? invite a Tupperware dealer to talk about 1950s Tupperware Home Parties. Bring in vintage pieces of the popular plastic ware and share some coffee and conversation.
- For a touch of 1950s humor, read essays from Jean Kerr's 1957 bestseller Please Don't Eat the Daisies, on domestic life in suburbia. Or, read excerpts from the 1957 bestseller Art Linkletter's Kids Say the Darndest Things! The book was based on the TV series "Art Linkletter's House Party Show," which ran from 1952-1969.
With the end of Truman's administration, Americans were eager for a sense of normalcy and a return to leisure and prosperity. Your group will enjoy reliving the days of Elvis, Levittown, Thunderbirds, "I Love Lucy," and Ike and Mamie. Show the video The Fabulous 50s: The Fun and Feel of America's Dream Decade, an overview of the history and culture of America in the Fifties when television became the new medium of the home. Included is coverage of world and national events such as Truman and the Korean War, the elections of 1952 and 1956, McCarthyism, the death of Stalin, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, the marriage of John Kennedy, the opening of Disney World, and launching of Sputnik. You'll get a taste of the music during the decade. There are also celebrity appearances by TV personalities, sports heroes, and entertainers. Many of the clips will serve as memory triggers for your group, so allow plenty of time for discussion.
Couple the video with some familiar objects from the decade: Barbie doll, TV Guide, Peanuts comic strip, Slinky, saddle shoes, Sugar Pops, frozen TV dinner, roll-on deodorant, Corning ware, 45-rpm record, and a paint-by-number kit. Participants can share a memory related to one of the objects.
Conduct a taste test of various types of frozen pizza, which became very popular in the late 1950s. Take a vote for the most authentic taste. Serve Coke and reminisce about early fast food chains, including McDonald's and Burger King.
American society became consumer-oriented in the Fifties. Families were eager to buy goods beyond bare necessities: new homes, new automobiles, new televisions, new appliances, and even new clothing. Eager to make the transition from wartime clothing, middle-class Americans bought ready-to-wear clothes from national retailers such as Sears and J.C. Penney. Reminisce about what American men, women, and children wore, including clothes and accessories. Use Everyday Fashions of the Fifties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs for a review of the fashions of the day. Even though the Fifties was largely a time of conformity, many teens began to reject the conventions of their parents. Explore the teen culture of the 1950s with your group. Invite teens to model vintage 1950s clothing. Hold a hair and makeup session, with demonstrations of crew cuts, teased bouffants, ponytails, duck tails, and jelly rolls. Don't forget to include the Brylcreem, hairspray, and rollers.
Americans loved their big cars! Invite a classic car dealer to talk about some of the popular models of the decade. Show pictures of the Chevrolet Bel-Air, Ford Thunderbird, Pontiac Bonneville, Cadillac El Camino, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Studebaker Starliner, and Chevrolet Corvette. Ask group members to talk about what kind of car they drove in the Fifties. Describe the "car culture" of the decade. How did the automobile and the interstate highway system change society?
With more leisure time and new automobiles, people started going to the movies again. The drive-in theatre gained popularity among families and teens. Reminisce about an evening at the drive-in theatre with your group. What do participants recall about speakers for each car, concession stands or snack bars, and a playground for children? Why did they choose to attend a drive-in movie instead of an indoor theatre?
A great visual complement to this topic is Film-Star Portraits of the Fifties: 163 Glamor Photos. Take a look at the faces that lit up Hollywood movie screens in the 1950s, including Bette Davis, Eddie Fisher, Marilyn Monroe, Debbie Reynolds, Natalie Woods, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, and Kim Novak.
.
Even though the Fifties is most associated with the dawn of rock 'n roll, there were other types of enjoyable music. Share some of these with your group. Consider songs by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis, or Patty Page. Folk music by The Weavers and jazz by Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie are also possibilities.
For a Fifties finale: Watch the movie Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. Make root beer floats with your group and serve some tasty popcorn.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simple things - not the great occasions - that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness." ~ Bob Hope
What simple things can you do to help your senior adults have a happy day?
THE GIFT-GIVING SEASON
(November 2005)
Webster's defines the word gift as something given voluntarily and without compensation. Set a brightly wrapped Christmas gift on a table for your group to view. Ask: What makes a wrapped present a true gift? Did they mention that true gifts should come from the heart? Talk about choosing the ideal or "perfect" gift. Ask your participants how many of them take the time to learn about the gift recipient's needs, interests, or style before choosing an appropriate gift. For instance, is he/she an avid mystery reader? A fisherman? A cat lover? A chocolate connoisseur? A gourmet cook? Chat about ways to personalize your gift giving, such as theme gift baskets. Meaningful gifts don't have to cost big bucks. What kind of homemade gifts has your group given? How about gifts that money can't buy, such as a gift of talent or a coupon book of time/jobs?
For a fun activity, talk about gift ideas for a spouse, for long-distance relatives, for the person who has everything, anonymous gifts, intangible gifts, unexpected gifts, gifts for the boss, gifts for the teacher (add your ideas to the list)!
We all like to present our gifts with style. Hold a gift-decorating contest. Provide each participant with a small box. Offer an assortment of wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, tags, small ornaments, etc., and challenge participants to a Best Gift Wrap Design contest.
Celebrate the spirit of love and giving with some heartwarming stories. Here's a holiday keepsake to share: Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury: Holiday Stories to Warm the Heart . Stories are grouped under themes, including "The True Meaning of Christmas," "The Spirit of Giving," "Yuletide Memories," "Holiday Traditions," and "Boughs, Holly and Mistle. . .aneous." Humorous, sentimental, memorable-these stories will provoke some heartfelt discussion about the season. You can read, for example, O'Henry's classic tale of giving and receiving, "The Gift of the Magi." Or, enjoy "The Sharing Season" and learn the real meaning of the season from a homeless person. "Patches" recounts the story of a mother giving her pregnant daughter a beautiful patchwork quilt around Christmastime. Serve mulled cider and donuts to your group to enjoy while you read.
On the lighter side: Organize a holiday gift exchange for your group. Try a Secret Santa or White Elephant Gift Exchange. Talk about the practice of regifting.
There's no place like home for the holidays! Enjoy a musical celebration of Christmas with your group. View the Reader's Digest video titled "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" . Includes performances of 35 yuletide songs - well-known carols and popular Christmas songs. Titles include: "Jingle Bells," "Deck the Halls," "White Christmas," "Sleigh Ride," and "Joy to the World." Warm and familiar scenes of family life during the holiday season accompany the music. Reminisce about sleigh rides, caroling, tree trimming, toys, live nativity scenes, stockings, Christmas dinner, church services with hymns, bells ringing, and ice skating. Your group will rediscover the beauty of ordinary holiday activities. Encourage personal reflection on the meaning of the season as you talk about special family holiday traditions.
Christmas carols and hymns lift the spirit and evoke many feelings. Capture the peace and tranquility of the season with some beautiful piano renditions. Enjoy the compact disk "Silent Night". Pianist Henry Weins performs gentle arrangements of 12 beloved songs such as "What Child Is This?" "Infant Holy," "I Heard the Bells," and "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks." Talk about the history of some of the songs. For instance, "Silent Night" was first heard in the 1800s in a village church in Austria. You can also play the soft music in the background as you engage your group in a holiday activity such as card making. Create an assortment of greeting cards with heartfelt messages. Use holiday stamping blocks with stamp pads in various colors. The handcrafted cards are perfect for family and friends.
Consider how to reconnect the generations through gift giving. Compile a list of gifts older adults and young children can create together and give to others. For example, compose a family poem, craft an ornament, or organize a cookie swap. Read Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, a tale about sacrificial giving. Or, sing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and talk about the old custom of gift giving during the 12 days of Christmas. Share gift-giving customs around the world. ‘Tis the season!
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
We don't always remember what someone bought us, but we never forget personal acts of kindness.
"The greatest gift is a portion of thyself." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
CELEBRATING NATIONAL HOBBY MONTH IN JANUARY
(December 2005)
A hobbyist likes to engage in an activity for fun as opposed to profit. But some people have such a gift and passion for their hobby that they take it to a new level. Ask your group: How do amateur hobbyists turn into professionals? Do you know anyone who has successfully mastered a hobby and turned the pastime into a full-time job, a photographer perhaps? Name a hobby or two and some careers that are related to the hobbies (for example, devotees of cooking can becomes chefs, caterers, or cookbook writers). Why do people give up hobbies?
Popular hobbies often involve collecting items (coins, baseball cards, stamps); working with your hands (sewing, origami, embroidery); or performing an activity (clowning, hiking, dancing). A favorite hobby for older adults is arts and crafts. Here the focus is on creating something useful or a making a handcrafted item for decoration. Need some simple craft ideas for your older adults? Use Crafts Through the Year. You'll find 36 craft projects, three for each month of the year. This 90-page book includes list of supplies, leader preparation, directions, and templates. The projects range in difficulty level, from very simple, to simple, to intermediate. Photos of the finished crafts are included in the book. For January, choose from a watercolor wall hanging, glitter snowflakes, or cloth snowman. You can use the craft time to encourage discussion about the project and what it brings to mind. For instance, ask your group if any of them ever collected snowmen. How did they display them? Where did they find different kinds of snowmen? Did they ever craft snowmen as gifts for family and friends? Review the various kinds of arts and crafts-for example, cross-stitch, calligraphy, knitting, weaving, pottery, sculpture, woodworking, or doll-making - with your group and invite participants to share a simple memory or two about the activity.
Many people find a hobby in the arts-dramatics, for example. Seniors may enjoy acting, storytelling, play writing, costume creation, set design, and more. If you're searching for some creative skits for your group, try Jean Vetter's Skits for Seniors, Volume One: Humorous Plays . You'll find short humorous plots and interesting characters. Each play is 5-20 minutes in length and has 1-4 characters with no props or costumes required! Lighthearted dialogue is perfect for an afternoon of fun with your group. You can encourage friendly competition among your acting groups. Sample titles include "Bank Loan," "An Organ Recital," " Rules Is Rules," "Mr. Marcus' Bad Hair Day," "Cactus Juice Saloon," and more. Or, organize a senior theater. Choose a longer skit to perform for staff, family, and friends. Find a producer and encourage participants to create promotional materials, simple props, and costumes for the event. To highlight theatre and drama as a hobby, invite an acting troupe to entertain your group for the afternoon or offer acting classes for your group.
Relaxing with music is often a spare time activity. Singing in a choir, playing an instrument, attending concerts, collecting music tapes, or writing song lyrics are all ways to express a love of music. Organize a casual gathering for group singing. Invite your group members to a sing-along. Use the 3-CD set Mitch Miller and the Gang: 36 Sing-Along Favorites . Enjoy a classic set of songs that are meant for singing. Simple tunes include "That Old Gang of Mine," "Ain't We Got Fun," "My Darling Clementine," "You Are My Sunshine," "Jeepers Creepers," "Baby Face," and more. Reminisce about Mitch Miller's '60s musical variety show, Sing Along With Mitch.
Games have always been a popular pastime. Board and card games that exercise the mind and encourage socialization are favorites among older adults.
For more fun, encourage participants to teach others their favorite game. Chess, checkers, and mah-jongg are classics. Or, chat about another favorite pastime - watching TV quiz and game shows. You can reminisce about early radio and TV quiz shows such as Information Please, Quiz Kids, and The $64,000 Question. College Bowl, The Price Is Right, and Jeopardy are favorites as well.
You can plan more activities related to hobbies with these suggestions:
- Organize an intergenerational hobby show. Older adults can demonstrate various kinds of hobbies/skills for the youngsters.
- Talk about presidential hobbies, such as Franklin Roosevelt's stamp collection.
- Display books, videos, and magazines on various hobbies.
- Invite a speaker to talk about turning a hobby into a profession.
- Brainstorm about unusual hobbies such as collecting matchboxes or dumpster diving.
- Talk about how to use a hobby or interest to serve the community-for example, an exhibit of political memorabilia at the local library or a private collection of rare coins at a museum.
- Organize demonstrations of hobbies such as regional folk arts and crafts-basket weaving, wood carving, spinning, or decorative painting.
- Invite a club or organization to talk about the history of a particular hobby.
- Highlight a particular hobby, like bird watching, with slide shows and pictures. Display any equipment needed for the activity.
- Ask a collector to talk about the history of collecting and display various kinds of collections--glassware, comic books, teddy bears, etc.
- Compose poems on hobbies.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen." ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
National Activity Professionals' Week is January 22-27, 2006.
A sincere thank you to the dedicated activity professionals who minister to older adults in various settings throughout the year!
The ElderSong online newsletter is written by Sue Hansen.
Copyright © 2005,
ElderSong Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
| 1-800-397-0533 | (301) 829-0533
| fax 301-829-5249