2006 Newsletter Activities
- Celebrating Family Folkore
- Favorite Family Pets
- Share a Laugh or Two
- Celebrating Older Americans Month
- Remembering Train Travel
- Remembering Mom's Home Cooking
- Remembering Fair Time
- Honoring Our Grandparents
- Life On The Family Farm
- Music In Family Life
- Ringing In The New Year
- Let It Snow
CELEBRATING FAMILY FOLKORE
(January 2006)
Dad's fishing stories, Mom's special Thanksgiving recipes, Aunt Jane's memory quilts, Uncle Bob's silly songs, Grandma's home cures, Great-grandmother's heirloom jewelry. What kinds of folklore traditions are unique to your family? Family folklore includes family stories and tales, traditions or customs, special foods, sayings or expressions, heirlooms and family treasures, folk arts and crafts, songs, and more. Families create and pass on folklore to other family members, and it becomes a part of their identity. Celebrating family folklore is one part of preserving your family heritage. What special things have your ancestors given you? What things are reflective of your family's identity?
Author Alex Haley once stated: "In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future." Older adults, in particular, provide a unique connection to the past. As the oldest members of an extended family, they can share the experiences of three or four generations. They play an important role in passing on family heritage to younger generations. Because their lives are rich with memories, they are family historians or story collectors. Ask your group: What has been passed down through the generations in your family? What are the treasures of your heritage? Is it a family Bible, a special recipe, a piece of furniture, a wedding photograph, an immigration story about your great-grandparents, a birthday tradition? What do you wish to preserve and pass on to the next generation?
Spending some activity sessions on the topic of family folklore will help you get to know your group members. A good place to start is with an event from childhood. Invite participants to share a story that they heard their parents or grandparents tell again and again, often at a family gathering. Do other relatives in the family tell the same story in a different way? Next, ask participants to recall a family adventure that they enjoy repeating to their children and grandchildren. Encourage your group to share memories of their grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters, and other family members. Examples: Who was the oldest family member you can remember as a child? What was he/she like? Tell the story of how your parents met. Share a tale about playing a joke on a sibling.
Here are a few more introductory activities to help your group explore the topic of family folklore.
- Share stories of family history and ancestry. Ask: What people and events were important in your family's past? Does your family tree include immigrant ancestors? Invite group members to share a story about a special ancestor. Or, invite someone with a living relative who has an immigration story to share. Encourage participants to show vintage family photos and mementos. For photos, ask: Who are the people in the photo? How are they related? What are they doing? Describe their clothing. When and where was photo taken? Who took the photo?
- Recount the major historical events that affected your family. For props, display a 20th century timeline, historical photographs, and old newspapers. Use a news event as a talking point to share the story of a family member. Examples: The struggle through the Great Depression or a World War II experience.
- Explore the origin of your family name. Ask your participants: Is there a naming tradition in your family? For example: Did you name the first son after the father or grandfather? Who named you? Were you named for anyone? Does your name have significance within the family (religious or ethnic)? Are there traditional first names in your family? Have you ever had a nickname?
- Display family heritage scrapbooks with old pictures and memorabilia. Invite a scrapbook hobbyist to share a brief history of the scrapbooking tradition. Review scrapbooks of people from different generations. Libraries often have collections of early scrapbooks.
- "When I was little . . ."
- "The first time I . . ."
- "My mother said . . ."
- "On Sundays, we always . . ."
- "My favorite place was . . ."
You can share stories through books as well as family storytelling. People of all ages love tales. Invite participants to share a favorite reading memory. Ask: Did your father or mother read aloud to you? What kind of books did he/she read? Where did they read to you? Did your grandparents read or tell stories from a favorite rocking chair?
If you're looking for read-aloud stories that will provide a pleasurable listening experience for group members, use the new series titled The Rocking Chair Readers. Each volume of the series features true stories that reflect life in small-town America - stories that will evoke nostalgic, happy memories of family traditions, neighborly values, and community pride. Participants are sure to find inspiration from someone else's story. Use the books for group sessions as well as one-to-one visits.
Volume 1: Coming Home: True Inspirational Tales of Family and Community - More than 60 stories of small-town homecomings in close-knit communities such as Brownsville, PA; Clyde, ND; Felton, CA; and Rupert, ID.
Volume 2: Memories From the Attic: True Stories of Family Treasures Lost and Found - Family history is uncovered through the discovery of treasures such as an old wedding gown, military papers, a special photo, old buttons, and trophy.
Volume 3: Family Gatherings: True Stories of Celebration and Reunion - Heartwarming stories about the pull of family gatherings - from weddings to graduations and reunions.
Visit the local antique store for special props--handmade doilies, pocket watch, vintage hat, doll, teapot, candy dish, locket, baseball cards, old crocks and jugs, diary--to encourage reminiscing and discussion among your group. Is there a "story" to be told about one of the objects?
For memory-impaired adults, try the Family Video. This entertaining video, available in DVD and VHS, will uncover a lifetime of memories - times with family and friends. Nostalgic themes include Dating, Marriage, Babies, Child's Play, Little Ballerinas, Baseball, Birthdays, Family Vacations, Teen Years, and Graduations. Familiar family events are presented in photo collections, home movies, and personal stories from seniors, all set to period music. Enjoy songs such as "In the Mood," "Wedding March," "Love and Marriage," "Baby Face," Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "This Land is Your Land," "Round the Clock," "Auld Lang Syne," and more. Reminisce about a particular family milestone - for example, dating - with scenes from Big Band ballroom dancing and a personal story of "love at first sight." Also available: Family Memory CD, a soundtrack from the video. Great as background music for other activities.
Music is often a big part of the life of a family and can rekindle many fond memories. Ask: What was the first song you remember your parents or grandparents singing to you? What music, songs, or instruments did your family enjoy? Are there special songs your family sings when you have big family gatherings? Did you sing any silly songs or lullabies to your children?
You can gain a sense of family history by playing music from a particular era. A favorite among older adults: Big Band music. Ask participants if they grew up with the tradition of listening to Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians playing at New York's Waldorf Astoria on New Year's Eve. Did they tune in via radio and later television to hear Lombardo's rendition of the song "Auld Lang Syne"? Reminisce about one of America's top dance bands in the 1930s and beyond. Enjoy the compact disk The Best of Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians. Your group will hear the famous sweet sound of "Harbor Lights," "Tennessee Waltz," "Red Roses for a Blue Lady," "Sweethearts on Parade," "Fascination," and more.
Here are a few more activities for collecting stories and family folklore.
- Celebrate your cooking heritage by reminiscing about large family meals. What special recipes were passed through the generations? Talk about family heirloom cookbooks as a way to preserve family recipes. Invite a family member to prepare a special dish to share. Be sure to get the "story" behind the recipe. Ask: What is the origin of the recipe? When was it prepared? Who made it? Are there special ingredients? Has the recipe changed over the years?
- Special traditions, celebrations, and customs are also a part of folklore. Ask your group to think of a favorite holiday. How did your family celebrate it? Here's a way to help your participants share the "story" behind the holiday tradition. Example: St. Patrick’s Day. Describe the images you have of the holiday. What sounds were associated with the event? Are there special smells or odors that you remember? What kinds of foods did you enjoy tasting? What parts of the celebration did you inherit from your parents or grandparents? What new traditions did you add to the holiday?
- Does your family have a heritage of folk arts, like rug braiding, candlemaking, pottery, wood carving, basketmaking, quilting, bead work, or dancing? Handmade folk objects are often passed down from generation to generation. Display some family treasures or heirlooms with the intent of capturing a story that explains the object's significance to the family. For example, invite a quilter to explain the story behind the design on a memory quilt. Or, ask a German-American couple to talk about the custom of polka dancing at wedding receptions.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." ~ Victor Hugo
What's your prescription for the winter doldrums? Try sharing a heartfelt laugh with your group. Incorporate some jokes, anecdotes, and humorous stories into your activities program.
FAVORITE FAMILY PETS
(February 2006)
Last month's newsletter focused on the topic of passing on family folklore through storytelling. If you listen carefully to stories and tales told by senior adults, many involve a beloved member - the family pet! The unconditional love and affection of a four-legged friend is powerful. Millions of American households own at least one pet. You'll want to spend some time reminiscing about family pets with your group. Pet owners love talking about their animals! Ask: Did your "family" include a pet? What are some good first-time family pets? How did you select the right pet for your family? What are the benefits of owning a pet? What are some reasons pets make such good companions?
Invite participants to share a funny story about a childhood pet-fin, fur, or feathers! Here are some questions to consider with your group: How old were you when you got your first pet? What kind was it? How did you choose a name? What was the most unusual pet you or a neighbor/friend ever owned? Did you include your pet in holiday celebrations and other special occasions of family life - for example, did you ever buy your pet a Christmas gift? Did you celebrate your pet's birthday? Did you include your pet in family portraits? Did you carry your pet's picture in your wallet or purse? Did you ever travel with your pet? Have you ever been a pet sitter for a neighbor or relative? Did you buy clothes for your pet? What kind of tricks did you teach your pet? Did your pet eat special foods? What about a pet burial? Did your family ever attend a Blessing of the Animals ceremony, inspired by the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi?
Most family pets are cats and dogs, but smaller varieties such as fish, birds, and gerbils are welcome additions to a home. Pets have even lived on the White House grounds as part of the First Family. Talk about well-known presidential pets, such as FDR's Scottish terrier Fala, Caroline Kennedy's pony named Macaroni, or LBJ's beagles Him and Her. Show photographs of Theodore Roosevelt's large collection of pets at the White House. Chat about some of Calvin Coolidge's unusual pets.
Evoke memories of four-legged friends with some vintage photos: young boy with old farm collie dog or tom cat; suburban family with miniature poodle; Norman Rockwell prints of "A Boy and His Dog" collection; pictures of Rin Tin Tin or Lassie; photographs of World War II K-9 Corps Dog Program; society dog shows of the 1930s and 1940s; classic photos of dogs from the archives of Life magazine or from the American Kennel Club.
A 1960s bestseller by Charles Schulz is titled Happiness is a Warm Puppy. Families with young children often choose a puppy or a kitten for a pet. After all, we all like to enjoy the "small" things in life. Talk about the reasons why dogs and cats are such a familiar part of the American family. Ask your participants whether they prefer cats or dogs and why. For props, display leashes, collars, bowls, chewing toys, rawhide, and more. Challenge your group to a trivia quiz on "Dogs and Cats." You'll find a sample in ElderSong's newest book titled Everyday Life Trivia by Beckie Karras. Here are a few questions from the book for your group:
What type of dog was Rin Tin Tin?
What is distinctive about a Manx cat?
What dog breed is called the hot dog?
What is a mongrel?
The resource features 23 trivia quizzes on topics common to life in America in the mid-20th century: Baseball, Books, Everyday Household Items and Gadgets, Hair and Cosmetics, Mealtime, Motor Vehicles, Nicknames, Rooms, Toolbox, Working and more. The quizzes are fun and engaging, and many of the questions will bring back images of favorite people, places, and events. Be sure to allow time for reminiscing. The quiz format provides valuable mental stimulation and encourages friendly competition among participants.
Dogs have their own unique traits and personalities. Discover what they are in the DVD Puppy Tales, a humorous look into the minds of some of our four-legged friends. You'll giggle at the adventures of 13 breeds in sketches such as the following: Boston Terriers in "BoSox Detox," Cocker Spaniels in "Sleepover," Dachshunds in "Pumping Rawhide," Collies in "The Next Lassie," Old English Sheep Dogs in "The Quest," Pomeranians in "First Steps," and more. Enjoy the improv comedy of The Ironicals as they voice the thoughts of these precocious puppies. Chat about how to train puppies and dogs. Invite a speaker from a dog obedience school to talk about methods of training in basic behavior. Have the methods changed over the years?
Delight your group with some heartwarming canine tales. Read James Herriot's Favorite Dog Stories (St. Martin's Press) or listen to the audio version.
[Also available from ElderSong: The Love of a Dog, a relaxing video featuring photos and film of various dogs.]
You can also spend some time on show dogs and working dogs. Talk about purebred dogs and the history of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City. List jobs that are performed by dogs, e.g., seeing eye dog, police dog, guard dog, hunting dog, rescue dog, etc. Can participants name any heroic pets--for example, Balto and the Alaska diphtheria outbreak in 1925?
In need of a relaxing activity for your group? Cat lovers will enjoy the DVD Ambient Kittens. Participants will smile at the playful antics of seven breeds of cats, including Persians, Himalayans, Burmese, and Balinese. See them run, play, eat, sleep--all accompanied by soothing classical or contemporary music. Unwind as you watch the delights of kittenhood. For more feline fun, ask participants to guess the number of cat treats in a plastic jar. Read some poems for cat lovers. Example: T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, a book of poems on which the stage musical Cats is based. Share cat quotes (see Mark Twain) with your group and talk about the cat as a favorite house pet.
Here are more suggestions for exploring the topic of family pets with your group:
- Display books/magazines about caring for dogs and cats.
- Study folk sayings and proverbs that contain the words dog or cat, e.g., "curiosity killed the cat" or "let sleeping dogs lie."
- Watch funny pet tricks or animal antics videos.
- Work pet jigsaw puzzles.
- Investigate careers related to animals and pets, e.g., veterinarian, animal shelter professional, animal control officer, animal trainer or handler, dog breeder, animal writer or photographer, pet therapist, kennel owner, pet sitter.
- Discuss pets used in advertising, e.g., Taco Bell’s Chihuahua mascot, the RCA Victor dog named Nipper, or Morris the Cat.
- Invite a speaker from the Humane Society to address the topic of animal adoption.
- View samples of gifts for pet lovers, e.g., paw print mugs, pet calendars, pet T-shirts, animal greeting cards.
- Tell jokes about dogs and cats.
- Look at pet photography and pet portraits.
- Craft a frame for a favorite pet picture.
- Plan a pet lovers' party.
- Consult The Guinness Book of World Records for information about cats and dogs, e.g., the world's oldest cat or biggest dog.
- Read some folktales about cats and dogs.
- Display pet collectibles such as prints, figurines, pins, and plates.
- Read books about dogs and cats with young children. Invite children to bring their favorite stuffed toy.
- Laugh at dog and cat cartoons, e.g., Garfield and Peanuts.
- Compile a list of tips for being a responsible pet caregiver.
- Plan pet visits to your facility.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition." ~ William Arthur Ward
SHARE A LAUGH OR TWO
(March 2006)
Snicker, chuckle, giggle, chortle, hoot, and cackle - have you had a good laugh today? Laughter and humor appeal to people of all ages. Older adults, in particular, can attest to the value of a good sense of humor. It helps to keep life in perspective, and it's therapeutic. As Mark Twain once said, "Humor is mankind's greatest blessing." Ask your participants: How do you find humor in everyday life? Who/what has helped you learn to laugh at yourself and with others? Do you read the comics every day? What makes something funny? Did your extended family have any funny relatives? What is a dry sense of humor?
April is National Humor Month. You can begin the fun with your group by celebrating a traditional day for playing pranks and gags-April Fools' Day. Ask participants to share a favorite funny story, joke, or riddle. Encourage them to wear something silly-a crazy tie, mismatched shoes, an odd shade of lipstick, or a funny hat. Props add humor to the occasion. Pass around Silly Putty, magic tricks, big glasses and nose, funny horns, finger puppets, wind-up toys, smile stickers, buttons with funny sayings, and bubble blowers. Serve a funny food such as green eggs and ham or eat dessert first with a big spoon. Reminisce about gag gifts, practical jokes, childhood pranks, greatest hoaxes of all time, and general tomfoolery. Ask group members to share a time when someone "fooled" them.
Webster's defines humor as "the quality that makes something seem funny, amusing, or comical." People's words or actions often provoke a hearty laugh. Ask your group to name professionals or hobbyists who act, speak, write, or draw in order to make people laugh and have fun. (Examples: clown, mime, comedian, cartoonist, and caricaturist.) Get your group in the mood for some wholesome laughter with some Reader's Digest columns, "Laughter, the Best Medicine." Play the audiobook version one of humorist Erma Bombeck's bestsellers, e.g., If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? Read selections from Roy Blount's Book of Southern Humor. Look up the Prairie Home Companions’ Pretty Good Joke Book. Check your local library for other popular humor books.
Celebrate the gift of laughter with your group by sharing recollections of the following 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s humor and comedy. Whenever possible, read some humor samples, listen to audiotapes, or watch video clips of classic shows.
- Humorists - Will Rogers, Dorothy Parker, James Thurber, and Robert Benchley (Read selections from 19th century humorist Mark Twain as well.)
- Classic radio comedy shows of the 1930s and 1940s - Fred Allen, Abbott & Costello, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Burns and Allen
- Comedy films - Marx Brothers comedy classics, the slapstick comedy of The Three Stooges; "Road" pictures with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy; Walt Disney family comedies, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin
- Famous character clowns - Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp, Emmett Kelly's Weary Willie or Red Skelton's Freddie the Freeloader and Clem Kadiddlehopper
- Cartoonists/Comics - "Sad Sack" by George Baker, "Beetle Bailey" by Mort Walker, or "Popeye the Sailor"
- TV show comedy - I Love Lucy, The Jackie Gleason Show, Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, The Jack Benny Show
- Talk show hosts - Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Arthur Godfrey
- The Golden Age of Comic Books - Superman, Captain Marvel, Batman
- American GI sense of humor - Bill Mauldin's World War II cartoons with "Willie and Joe"; Bob Hope's one-liners and comedy skits in USO troop shows
Write funny captions for pictures. Hold a joke-telling contest. Spell words backwards. Share baseball humor, golf humor, or parenthood humor. Watch political satire by Mark Russell, listen to Garrison Keillor’s stories of the mythical Midwest town Lake Wobegon, or read Will Rogers' homespun political commentary.
Charlie Chaplin brought laughter to millions of people with his slapstick comedy. Fans of silent films will enjoy Charlie Chaplin Silent Movie DVD, Volume 1. Share a hearty laugh as you watch three of Chaplin's early short films: Easy Street, One A.M., and The Immigrant. Post a picture of Chaplin's "Little Tramp" character and discuss his unique brand of physical humor. Talk about the art of mime. Share recollections about another great mime, Buster Keaton. Play the old favorite party game, Charades, with your group.
You'll get a large dose of humor with The Original Amateur Hour DVDs. Enjoy memorable performances from the long-running radio and TV series, The Original Amateur Hour. You'll be entertained by singers, musicians, comedians, and hilarious novelty acts such as one-man bands, animal acts, impressionists, instrumentalists, glass and bottle players, and musical saw players. Giggle your way through a chicken playing the piano, a Chinese karate juggling act, a man playing three clarinets at one time, and a nail-driving act to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."
Invite an aspiring comedian, ventriloquist, magician, or impersonator to entertain your group. Or, organize a senior talent show for your group. Be sure to recruit for a stand-up comic!
The Best of Art Linkletter's Kids Say the Darndest Things DVD is sure to be a hit with your group. Art Linkletter's House Party was a fixture on CBS TV and radio for 25 years. A special daily feature of his variety show was his interviews with young school children. Art's innocent questions often produced hilarious responses from the kids. Join Art for two hours of fun as he conducts his famous TV interviews, "Kids Say the Darndest Things." Segments include fathers and housekeeping, favorite relatives, kids and politics, perfect vacations, favorite foods, and the Fourth of July. Here is a sample gem from the show: Did your dad tell you anything not to say? Yep - not to say what the neighbors think of us.
Ask your participants: What brings out the "kid" in you? What makes you giggle? Help your group discover the power of play. Try these intergenerational activities with your group: Read humorous poetry from Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss; hold a puppet show; act out humorous skits; watch a magic show; sing funny songs in rounds; or learn about clowning.
Conclude your sessions with a look at one of America's first humorists, Ben Franklin. Read witty sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack. ("Fish and visitors stink after three days." - it's good for a laugh or two!)
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." ~ e.e. cummings
Good, wholesome humor will enhance your activities sessions.
CELEBRATING OLDER AMERICANS MONTH
(April 2006)
May is Older Americans Month, a time to honor and appreciate a unique season of life. Many of us have benefitted from the wisdom and experience of older adults. Those generations born before 1945 lived through some unique life experiences: radio, the automobile, the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II, the GI Bill, the atomic age, and more. You can glean nuggets of wisdom about history and life as older adults share memories of raising a family, volunteering in the community, fulfilling a vocation, being a good neighbor, serving in the military, or holding a political office. Take the opportunity to celebrate the countless ways our lives have been enriched by the contributions of older adults. A few simple suggestions for intergenerational sharing are provided below. Encourage your group to share life stories so that others can draw inspiration and insight from their experiences.
- Ask participants what they would like to teach the younger generations about life. Compile a list titled "10 Lessons From the School of Life" to share with others.
- Display a 20th century timeline and old Life magazines or historic photographs. Choose an event from the timeline and ask participants to share what they learned from it, e.g., coping with the Great Depression.
- Ask participants to share a topic unique to their life circumstances, e.g., attending a rural school in the South in the 1930s or dealing with teen rebellion in the 1950s and 1960s. Or, members can provide an overview of a particular decade in which they lived, e.g., life in the suburbs in the 1950s or teen pastimes in the 1940s.
- Encourage your group to talk about the impact of an invention on American culture and family life, e.g., the advent of television in the 1950s.
- Honor the heroism and sacrifice of military veterans in your group. Encourage veterans to speak about serving their country. Invite veteran service organizations, such as the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) or American Legion, to talk about promoting patriotism and citizenship in the community.
- Ask your group to explore the emerging role of women in the 20th century: the right to vote, flappers, Rosie the Riveter, 1950s suburban housewife, Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique.
- Explore the importance of traits such as discipline, duty, honor, sacrifice, self-denial, hard work, responsibility, and teamwork to this generation of adults. What did they witness and experience that helped to cultivate these traits?
- Highlight the special gifts, natural talents, and learned skills of your participants through a talent show, sing-along, arts and crafts exhibit, bake sale, folk art craft demonstration, and more.
- Brainstorm family traditions and rituals that have made an impact on younger generations in the extended family, e.g., holding an annual family reunion. Explore the value of passing on family history and heritage.
- Celebrate the role of senior volunteer by sharing experiences with organizations such as Elks, Jaycees, March of Dimes, Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, Special Olympics, and Kiwanis.
One of the gifts of aging is becoming a grandparent. Celebrate this special role with your group. Read aloud some narratives from Yesterdays: A Collection of Short Stories, Nostalgic Photographs, and Related Programming Materials for Seniors. You'll find 20 endearing short stories written with the older adult in mind. Each 3-7 minute story presents an enjoyable plot related to memories of yesteryear. Included with each story are questions for discussion and reminiscence, related trivia games, and fun facts to share with the group. The 20 full-page nostalgic photographs that accompany the book will add visual stimulation. Of particular interest for this month are two short stories in the book. "On Aging" includes the reflections of an 85-year-old grandmother on age as a state of mind. The special bonds between a grandmother and her grandson are explored in "Joey and His Grandmother." Spend some time talking about the importance of intergenerational bonds in a family.
In honor of Mother's Day on May 14, plan a Spring Garden Party for your group. Serve some special desserts such as scones, petit fours, and cookies and a variety of herbal teas. Present each participant with a fresh bouquet of spring flowers. Reminisce with family photographs from each decade of the 20th century. The "fashion talk" will be fascinating! Play some vintage music in the background. You can use the CD Sentimental Favorites - 10 hits from the 1940s and 50s. Relax with "Night and Day" sung by Frank Sinatra, "That's Amore" by Dean Martin, "The Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page, "Come On-A My House" by Rosemary Clooney, and "Sentimental Journey" by Doris Day. These songs are sure to trigger memories of courtship and dating and life as newlyweds.
Celebrate the cherished love of grandmothers by reading some inspirational stories. Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul: Stories to Honor and Celebrate the Ageless Love of Grandmothers is an endearing collection of stories that will help the women in your group celebrate their unique role as grandmothers in an extended family. Enjoy recollections such as "A Grandmother Is Born," "A Teenager's Song for Gramma," "Go-Cart Grandma," "Gram's Garden," "Grandma's Attic Treasures," "Grandmother's Language of Love" and more.
. Hold a poetry contest with your group. Focus on the topic Gifts and Opportunities of Aging (e.g., patience, compassion, gratitude). Tap into the spiritual insights of your group with a biblical view of aging and maturity. Read from Jimmy Carter's book, The Virtues of Aging, about growing old gracefully. Encourage family members to write a letter of appreciation for an older person in their life.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
A special thank you for your commitment to serving older adults!
Don’t forget National Nursing Home Week: May 14-20, 2006
REMEMBERING TRAIN TRAVEL
(May 2006)
Warm weather and the sound of a distant train whistle will often evoke memories of America's past. Train travel was the nation's preferred means of transportation in the early 20th century. As teens and young adults in the 1930s and 1940s, many older adults were impacted by the days of railroading. Ask your group: How did the train change our nation? How did rail travel affect your community? Did you ever take a short or long trip on one of America's great passenger trains? Encourage participants to share "streamliner" stories from the golden age of rail travel. Your group will enjoy reminiscing about the heyday of railroading/passenger trains. Here are some activities to get you started.
- Display antique train memorabilia such as old train route maps, railroad signs, train tickets, train uniforms, conductor hats, dining car menus, wooden train whistles, and more.
- Encourage recollections about "riding the rails" during the Great Depression. What was life like for the many teenage hobos who hopped the freight trains looking for work?
- Show pictures of the famous streamliner trains of the 1930s, including the Burlington Zephyr and the Union Pacific M-10000. Ask your participants if anyone attended the 1933-1934 Chicago World's Fair. The trains were featured in the Century of Progress Exposition. Perhaps a participant toured the Zephyr as it traveled to cities across the Midwest in the summer of 1934.
- Examine old train ads, posters, and calendars. Examples: Chessie the Cat railroad advertisements from the 1930s -1940s or the Great Northern Railway's ad for a post-war vacation. Invite a hobbyist to talk about Lionel toy trains from the 1940s and 1950s or models from the American Flyer Manufacturing Company. Ask participants if Lionel trains were a part of their Christmas tradition.
- Rail fans will enjoy watching the 1934 movie The Silver Streak, which featured the Zephyr.
- Enlighten your group with Cecil B. DeMille's 1939 movie Union Pacific, about building the transcontinental railroad.
- Talk about the impact of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal on the railroad industry.
- Encourage your group to share recollections of train travel during World War II. Train travel gained popularity in the early 1940s due to the shortage of gas and rubber. Trains were also important to the war effort, transporting soldiers and equipment.
- Show historic photographs of FDR's funeral train procession from Warm Springs, Georgia to Washington, D.C. in 1945. Ask if any in your group witnessed the event.
- Sing or listen to old railroad/train songs of the early 1900s. Enjoy Johnny Cash's version of "Wabash Cannonball" and "Orange Blossom Special" or Arlo Guthrie's rendition of "City of New Orleans."
- Share memories of the 1947 American Heritage Foundation's Freedom Train, which traveled through 48 states with an exhibit of historical documents. Listen to a recording of Irving Berlin's song "The Freedom Train," sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. Ask participants about the 1976 American Freedom Train that carried artifacts from the 200-year history of our nation.
- Listen to audio recordings of Harry Truman's 1948 presidential campaign, a whistlestop tour in which he gave speeches from the rear platform of a train.
- Chat about past and present railroad employment, including engineers, conductors, porters, crew members, brake operators, track workers, and more. Ask your participants if they had a family member who worked on the railroad - with the Pullman Company, for example.
Other sample themes in the book include advice, babies, cooking, dating, fashion, hobbies, ice cream parlor, money, pets, radio, school days, shopping, sweets, weather, weddings, and more.
Old train stations and depots dot the American landscape. Show posters of New York City's Grand Central Station and talk about the custom of rolling out the red carpet for celebrities and politicians who rode the famed Twentieth Century Limited. Reminisce about other popular trains of the 20th century, including the Super Chief and City of New Orleans.
Now you're ready for some travel adventures with your group. The Great Trans-American Train Ride DVD will take your participants on a nostalgic journey aboard the last great passenger trains of the USA. Enjoy a coast-to-coast adventure on three of America's greatest trains: the Broadway Unlimited, the California Zephyr, and the Desert Wind. Explore some cities along the way-New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. The film includes some history of railroads and passenger trains as well as the birth of Amtrak. Filmed and narrated by Doug Jones, travelog producer.
Enjoy a rail journey across Canada with The Great Canadian Train Ride DVD. Take a breathtaking ride aboard the luxury passenger train, Canadian. The rail adventure will take you from Toronto to Vancouver. En route you'll see attractions such as the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper, and more. Reminisce about lounge cars, observation dome cars, and sleeping cars as you relive train travel on a real classic! This film includes footage of the laying of the tracks in Canada and early steam trains as well as the restoration of Canadian.
As you pass the time in a comfortable lounge, you can listen to some popular swing tunes. Swingin' to Swing's Greatest Hits. contains 36 Big Band swing songs from the 1930s and 1940s. Enjoy "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" performed by Glenn Miller's Orchestra. The swing tune was very popular during World War II with sales of more than one million. Hum along with one of the Duke Ellington Orchestra's most popular pieces, "Take the 'A' Train." Reminisce about Saturday night swing dancing, including the jitterbug. Encourage your participants to relive their days as young fans of the swing music craze! Other Big Band hits on the CD include "In the Mood," "Charleston Alley," "Boogie Woogie," "Begin the Beguine," "Stomping at the Savoy," "Rock-A-Bye Basie," and more.
Other train materials available from ElderSong:
Mind Joggers, Volume 3
Challenge your group to a fun trivia quiz from the section titled "Toonerville Trolley." Sample questions:
What is the largest railroad station in the world?
What is a monorail?
What is a railroad tie?
What president had the nickname "Railsplitter"?
What does it mean to "railroad something through"?
Yesterdays: A Collection of Short Stories, Nostalgic Photographs, and Related Programming Materials for Seniors
Enjoy the short story titled "Trains and Sleeping Cars" with your group. The main character, Josephine, takes a midnight train ride from Chicago to Springfield - one that she will never forget! Includes questions for discussion, fun facts about trains, match the train word with its definition, and train scenarios.
QUOTE FOR THE MONTH
"No man ever listened himself out of a job." ~ Calvin Coolidge
REMEMBERING MOM'S HOME COOKING
(June 2006)
Fourth of July picnics, backyard barbecues, and family reunions - summer is here! Sharing food with family and friends often evokes memories of Mom's home cooking. Ask your group to talk about the meaning of the phrase, "Just like Mom used to make!" Our earliest food memories often include watching Mother quietly work her magic in the kitchen or helping Mom add ingredients to a special recipe. Encourage your participants to share their memories of Mom's kitchen. Ask: What childhood cooking memories do you have? Was your Mom known for her love of "made from scratch" cooking? Did she learn to cook from her mother? What special family recipes did you enjoy as a child? Was the kitchen the heart of your family life?
Your participants will delight in remembering the special tastes and smells from Mom's kitchen. Talk about Mom's "comfort food." Were you served chicken noodle soup when you had a cold? Did you enjoy hearty beef stew on a cold, wintry night? How about a chocolate brownie when you were stressed or tired? Sample some simple comfort foods such as apple pie, rice pudding, macaroni and cheese, or bread with your group. Smells evoke good memories. Recreate the aroma of Mom's kitchen with some familiar spices and flavorings. Ask your group to identify smells such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Make some homemade bread in an electric breadmaker and enjoy the mouth-watering scent fill the air gradually.
Here are more suggestions for reminiscing about Mom's home-style cooking experiences. Share recollections about the following:
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Basic domestic skills such as how to cook. Did your family cook on a wood-burning stove, gas stove, or an electric range?
Vintage cookbooks of your mother's generation. From what cookbooks did you, your mother, or grandmother learn to cook? Examples: The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, The Joy of Cooking, The American Woman's Cook Book, The Good Housekeeping Cookbook, or Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook. Your culinary inheritance, including heirloom recipes passed from generation to generation. Example: Grandma's Prized Coconut Cake. Is there a picture and story associated with the recipe? Did your grandmother have a favorite recipe box? Food and hospitality. Examples: 1930s - Did your mother feed hungry men at the back door during the Great Depression? Did she serve a special dish for her women's club luncheon or tea? Wartime cooking. Did your mother/grandmother ever serve Depression or War Cake - eggless, sugarless, milkless? What casseroles and stews from icebox leftovers did she serve during World War II? What did you learn about rationing and budget-wise cooking from her? Food or cooking as a ministry - an act of love and service within the community. Examples: preparing a meal for a homeless shelter or for a sick parishioner. Family food traditions, such as Sunday dinner at Grandma's house, family reunions, or holiday meals with special family recipes. Example: oyster stew for Christmas Eve. Lessons learned by helping in Mom's kitchen or watching Mom cook. Example: Cooking is an expression of love for your family. Vintage aprons of the 1940s and 1950s, a sentimental favorite among a whole generation of housewives. Did you or your mother have a favorite apron pattern? The ritual of gathering around the dinner table every evening - the rule rather than the exception. Role of men in the kitchen. Is the kitchen a woman's domain only? When did your father or husband help with the cooking? Examples: outdoor barbecues, camping, or fishing trips. Cooking contests. Did your mother try new recipes often? Did she ever win a prize for her cooking skills? Reminisce about the first Pillsbury Bake-Off competition in 1949 at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Look at Grand Prize winners in the 1950s. Do any of the recipes sound familiar? Kitchen collectibles. Examples: old-fashioned kitchen scale, cast iron skillet, stove top coffee percolator, breadbox, wooden coffee grinder, apple peeler, Depression glass, glass milk bottles, and more. Table manners. Who taught you proper dining etiquette? Example: how to serve and eat spaghetti. Kitchen humor. Share a funny story about Mom's attempts to get her children to eat healthy foods. Example: Brussels sprouts. |
(Also available from ElderSong: The Special Needs Cooking Experience. by Marion Thomas. Over 60 recipes for low-functioning groups. Enjoy simple tasks such as measuring, stirring, and rolling to create tasty foods such as vegetable pizza, strawberry shortcake, and apple fritters.)
Here's a simple sensory stimulation program "designed for program participants of any age who have minimal responses to sensory stimuli." The Enrichment Sensory Program, 2nd Edition. will provide your group with over 50 different sensory activities related to the seasons. Special features for the newly revised edition include shopping lists for seasonal sensory items and a guide to developing personalized sensory kits for participants. Each activity uses simple, everyday objects related to the seasons and a ready-to-read monologue to provide sensory experiences in a relaxed format. For summer food-related sessions, try the following activities: Lemons and Lemonade, Barbecue Utensils, and Ice Cream Scoop. Stimulate pleasant memories as you explore familiar sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.
"Shake Awake Your Taste". is a simple game sure to generate a steady diet of fun and laughter in your group! Awaken taste buds as you discover the special food preferences of your participants. Game includes a single die and over one hundred memory cards. Sample questions:
Do you prefer dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Do you have a favorite candy bar?
Do you like fried fish or baked fish? Do you roll it in cracker crumbs?
Do you enjoy eating spaghetti with or without meatballs? Do you like to add Parmesan cheese?
Encourage participants to engage in some mealtime memories. The word "MOM" is sure to come up a time or two! Ask if food preferences have changed over the years.
QUOTE FOR THE MONTH
"Laughter is an instant vacation." ~ Milton Berle
REMEMBERING FAIR TIME
(July 2006)
The lazy, hazy days of summer are here. If you ask your group members to name favorite summer activities as a child, many would mention going to the county or state fair with their family. Fairgoers of all ages flock to this annual event to enjoy blue ribbon cakes, carnival rides, elephant ears, prized tomatoes, livestock competitions, and country and western music concerts. August is a good time to remember the fair with your group. Ask: What do you remember about attending the county/state fair as a child? What was your favorite attraction at the fair? What foods did you enjoy? Did you or a member of your family ever exhibit a project at the local fair, perhaps with 4-H or a Home Demonstration Club? Encourage participants to share recollections of fair events, exhibits and displays, competitions and contests, and music.
Here are some suggestions for remembering fair time.
- Get participants in the mood by watching the nostalgic musical film State Fair. Choose from one of three movie versions - 1933, 1945, or 1962. Enjoy the adventures of the Frake family as members take their annual trip to the state fair.
- Display vintage fair memorabilia and souvenirs, e.g., state fair billboard posters, fair ribbons, tickets, banners, fair programs, miniature farm collectibles, souvenir cups and mugs, 4-H signs, cowboy hats, badges, and more.
- Learn about the history of agricultural fairs in America, beginning in the 1800s. For example, did you know that the first state fair was held in New York?
- Survey your group for favorite fair foods, including corn dogs, funnel cakes, cotton candy, country ham, and more. Ask if anyone belonged to a group that rented a tent at the fair to sell food.
- Ask participants to list varieties of food-on-a-stick featured at state fairs, e.g., corn dogs, deep fried Twinkies, caramel apples, and chocolate-covered bananas on a stick.
- Show photographs of solid cow butter sculptures, a favorite fair tradition.
- Invite a local leader of a 4-H club or county extension agent to talk about youth projects at the fair. Ask participants if they ever belonged to an FFA club that exhibited livestock at the fair.
- Simulate an auction with your group. Gather simple items such as books, CDs, photos, and artwork to use as auction items. Provide members with "paper bucks" for the auction and invite an auctioneer to have some bidding fun with the group!
- Hold some fair demonstrations for your group, e.g., making pickles, arranging flowers, or spinning wool.
- Hold a best recipe contest, a fashion show, or a pet dress-up contest. Participants can play the role of judge and award ribbons for various categories.
- Reminisce about World's Fairs. Ask if anyone attended the popular Expo '67, Montreal's World's Fair. Show photographs of some of the cutting-edge technology displayed at previous fairs, e.g., RCA televisions at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
- Show old photos of early 20th century fairs in America, which often included airplane stunt shows.
- Chat about the fair midway, including amusement rides and games. Ask your group to name favorite rides, such as the Ferris wheel, swings, carousel, wooden roller coaster, or tilt-a-whirl. Did they ever get on a ride on a dare from someone?
- Challenge your group with some fun contests. Try pitching pennies, tossing rings on bottles, or a counting contest. Award simple donated prizes, such as small stuffed animals or a mug.
- Encourage other fair recollections about harness and horse racing, tractor pulls and antique tractor displays, auto races, fireworks displays, livestock shows, milking parlors, and more.
To create a festive fair atmosphere for your group, you'll want to provide some games and music. Bingo is the perfect game for older adults! Enjoy the song version of the classic game with ElderSong Bingo, a new product from ElderSong Publications. Challenge your group to recognize songs such as "Home on the Range," "My Bonnie," "Oh, Susanna!" "Pretty Baby," and "Yankee Doodle Boy." Cover the square with the matching song title - and BINGO! The game includes the following items:
- A compact disk with 20-30 second excerpts of 54 different songs. (The 54 song excerpts on the CD are taken from the four Sing-Along with ElderSong recordings.)
- 24 different bingo game cards with 16 large-print song titles on each card.
- Laminated list of songs for rapid check-off. Dry-erase pen included.
- Game instructions and adaptations.
You'll need some grandstand entertainment for your crowd. Country music lovers will enjoy a music show featuring the singing cowboy of western movies, Gene Autry. This new CD, Gene Autry's Greatest Hits, includes his first hit "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine" and other favorites such as "Back in the Saddle Again," "You Are My Sunshine," "Blueberry Hill," and "South of the Border." Many of the songs were popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Ask if anyone in the group ever saw Gene Autry perform at a state fair or rodeo. Did they enjoy his weekly radio show, Melody Ranch, which aired from 1940-1956? Perhaps they tuned in to see The Gene Autry Show on television or to watch one of his western films.
QUOTE FOR THE MONTH
"Love is the greatest refreshment in life." ~ Pablo Picasso
HONORING OUR GRANDPARENTS
(August 2006)
Senior adults have fulfilled many roles in life. Among the most cherished is that of grandparent. Grandparents are important members of our families and communities. They provide extended family support and encouragement and a link to family history, culture, and traditions. The bond between grandparent/grandchild creates a lifetime of memories. Many senior adults are now becoming great- grandparents, so their circle of influence is widening. Great-grandparents can share a wealth of wisdom and experiences about growing up in the 20th century.
September 10 is National Grandparents' Day. It's time to start planning some intergenerational activities with children, teens, and young adults in honor of their grandparents/great-grandparents.
Here are some activities that can be adapted to an intergenerational audience. They are intended to elicit stories of grandparents' own childhood and youth - and highlight the valuable things we can learn from a person born in another generation. You can modify them for use with foster or adopted grandparents as well.
- Host a Grandparents Tea Party, with sunflowers as a theme. Serve decorated cookies and a special tea punch that was popular in the 1930s and 40s. Present sunflower bouquets to grandparents who are present.
- Pass around family snapshot albums. Display a vintage Kodak "Brownie" camera and ask grandparents to talk about their first camera. Ask what kind of pictures they enjoyed taking. Provide disposable cameras for youngsters and let them take snapshots for a family photo placemat. Talk about today’s digital cameras.
- Teach the concept of "generation" to young children. Display multi-generation family portraits or photographs. Try to include four or (rare) five-generation family photographs, if available. Make a simple family tree, showing at least four generations of ancestors.
- Reminisce about Grandma's kitchen. Bake a batch of cookies from a recipe that your grandmother used when she was a child. Old-fashioned sugar cookies are always a favorite. Pass around some old cookie cutters and one of Grandma's favorite cookie jars.
- Help children make gift sachet packets using some of Grandmother's favorite scents, such as lavender and gardenia. Reminisce about Grandma's lilac bush and other garden favorites.
- Fill a piñata with penny candy from grandparents' childhood. Nostalgic candies: Mary Janes, BB Bats, Kits, Root Beer Barrels, Beemans chewing gum.
- Simulate an outdoor adventure - a family camping trip. Make s'mores, sing campfire songs, and tell tall tales.
- Encourage grandparents to share some childhood humor. A favorite from the 1930s: knock-knock jokes. Add more giggles with a bubble-blowing contest.
- Teach a lesson on good manners. Grandparents can share tips on table manners, for example. Demonstrate how to eat spaghetti properly or how to set the table for a four-course meal.
- Watch the beloved classic 1939 musical film version of The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland and Ray Bolger. Sing Garland's signature song, "Over the Rainbow" and chat about dreams, adventures, and home. Pass around Oz memorabilia.
- Play games from grandparents' childhood, such as jacks, marbles, Rook (card game), Go Fish, and Simon Says. Ring bells for the Good Humor Ice Cream Truck and sample some treats.
- Pass around props from grandparents' school days, e.g., McGuffey’s Readers or the Dick and Jane readers from the 1950s, jump rope, slate board, chalk, old report card, flag, and pictures of one-room schools. For some friendly competition, hold an old-fashioned spelling bee and a ciphering contest.
- Discuss the importance of family values. Ask grandparents: What were the most important values you were taught growing up? What values/virtues did you strive to teach your children when they were growing up? Highlight one virtue--e.g., resourcefulness--and explain how your parents taught you to deal resourcefully with problems This conversation would be a good opportunity to explain the impact of some historical events (e.g., Great Depression and World War II) on family life. For youngsters: Read stories from The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories, edited by William J. Bennett.
- Talk about family legacies, such as a love of reading or music. Share books from grandparents' childhood, e.g., Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit, Winnie- the- Pooh. Hold a book exchange with young children. Make a bookmark for family reading.
- Have some fashion fun. Ladies, young and old, can dress in hats and purses from the 1940s. Dig into Grandma's old jewelry box for some costume jewelry. Examine the charms on Grandma's favorite charm bracelet, and you'll hear stories of her loves and special interests. For the men, Grandpa can share some of his colorful ties and tie tacs and then offer a fun lesson on how to knot a tie.
- Bring in an old record player and favorite pop singer albums from the 1950s, e.g., Connie Francis, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, Ricky Nelson. Hold a lip-sync contest for teens. Older adults can serve as judges. Award prizes.
Grandparents are often great storytellers. Some, however, may need a little help and encouragement to share their life stories. An excellent resource for group members is Mary Borg's Writing Your Life: An Easy-to-Follow Guide to Writing an Autobiography. The book is filled with questions designed to stimulate memories on a variety of topics. For Grandparents' Day activities, use the chapters titled "Being a Child," "Everyday Life as a Child," "Being a Teenager," and "Everyday Life as a Teenager." You'll find out some fascinating information about grandparents' formative years - what they saw and experienced.
The resource can also be used for oral reminiscences with all age groups. Children can portray grandparents' family stories with a poem, skit, or song. Other book chapters include "Family Tree," "Romance, Love and Marriage," "Being a Parent," "Job and Career," "Leisure Time," "Retirement Years," "Turning Points," and more. The book is interspersed with autobiographical selections from ordinary men and women. You'll find helpful writing tips and reading suggestions as well. Focus on people, places, and events as you help your seniors map various stages of their life journey and reflect on its meaning.
The game Shake Loose a Memory. is a fun and easy way to help participants with impaired memories recall some simple life experiences - many from childhood. Stimulate lively conversation and encourage socialization among all age groups with 192 memory cards. Sample cards:
Keep this card if you have skated on a frozen pond. Remember putting on your skates?
Keep this card if you have ever owned a train set. Remember the cars running off the track?
Keep this card if you have ever eaten cotton candy. Remember it sticking to your fingers?
The radio greatly impacted this generation of senior adults. Music became a big part of their childhood and young adulthood. Here's the perfect gift for Grandparents' Day: Songs That Got Us Through World War II, Volume l. Grandma can listen to a collection of 18 popular songs relating to World War II. Enjoy "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" from America's wartime sweethearts, the Andrews Sisters. Relax to "I'll Be Seeing You" by Frank Sinatra or "Waitin' for the Train to Come In" by Peggy Lee. Other wartime entertainers: the Big Band orchestra sounds of Henry James and Jimmy Dorsey. Maybe teens can demonstrate jitterbug and swing dance steps for your group.
QUOTE FOR THE MONTH
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." ~ Mother Teresa
LIFE ON THE FAMILY FARM
(September 2006)
The growing season is winding down, and soon it will be time to celebrate the bountiful harvest of autumn. The fall season often evokes memories of life on the family farm. Many senior adults who grew up in the early 20th century come from a tradition of family farming. Survey your group members to see how many of them were raised on a farm. Ask participants to describe the change of seasons on the farm. What chores/activities did they do during the fall? Did they feel a special connection to the land and nature? Pass around farm prints from artists such as Grant Wood, Warren Kimble, Grandma Moses, and Currier and Ives. Ask your group to name the simple things in life they came to appreciate from their rural lifestyle. Talk about the concept of stewardship as it applies to farming.
During the harvest month, you can celebrate National Family History Month with some sessions on the family heritage of farming. Other special events in October include National 4-H Week, October 2-8, and Farmer's Day on October 12. We've highlighted a few resources from the ElderSong catalog to help you plan some activities related to the family farm. Check them out below.
There was a certain simplicity of life in the countryside during the early 20th century. Ask your senior adults to talk about life without electricity or television! Encourage them to reminisce about farm communities in the 1930s-1950s. Show vintage photos of a farmhouse, church, country store, and a one-room schoolhouse. What do participants recall about church potlucks and socials, Sundays with relatives, and going to town on Saturday nights? Did they have a favorite country doctor, rural schoolteacher, local veterinarian, or general store owner?
Stir nostalgic memories of growing up on the farm with the recently revised and updated version of Down Memory Lane, Second Edition. In the chapter titled "Farm Life," you'll find suggestions for gathering music (try "Turkey in the Straw" and "Wait for the Wagon") and props such as sunbonnets, straw hats, quilts, and photographs of country scenes. Activities related to farming include Country Life, Extension Homemakers, Fairs, Quilting Bee, and Wheelchair Square Dancing. You can also encourage conversation among participants with these questions:
--Did you grow up in the city or the country? If you have lived in both, which do you prefer? What are some of the differences between living in the city and the country?
--Did you belong to a close-knit farm community? What things did you share?
--Family farms are disappearing all over the country. What support do farm families need to keep farming? Are family farms vital to our country, or can large farm businesses fill our food needs? Other sessions related to farm life include "Seasons - Autumn," "Small Town Life," "Needlework," and "Cooking."
Down Memory Lane contains 65 themes for reminiscing and discussion. Each chapter has three sections for the topic under consideration. IN THE MOOD offers suggestions for music and visual aids. ACTIVITIES provides short answer and trivia quizzes, guest speakers, memory sharing, singing, hands-on activities, or listening activities. DISCUSSION stimulates further conversation and sharing of memories by participants.
For some fun word/trivia games, use the book, Mind Joggers, Volume 1. Farm-related quizzes include "Farm Activity" (Ex: Slop the...hogs; shear the...sheep; bale the...hay) and "Corn" (Ex: What is another name for Indian corn? Maize; A festive and social gathering of friends and neighbors for husking corn is what? Husking bee) Some sample questions from "Moo, Cow, Moo!" are included in the next section of this newsletter.
Volume 1 of Mind Joggers has 50 topics, including Fairs and Carnivals, Footwear, Kitchen Activity, The Sound of Bells, and Sweet as Candy. Also available from ElderSong: Volumes 2 and 3.
Country and gospel music are often a part of life on the farm. Enjoy radio excerpts from old country music radio shows such as The National Barn Dance and Grand Ol' Opry. Highlight instruments associated with country music, e.g., banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, or harmonica. Your participants will enjoy listening to some favorite hymns from childhood. The compact disk Best of Tennessee Ernie Ford Sacred Memories features 10 classic hymns and gospel songs. Sing along with "Sweet Hour of Prayer," "Old Time Religion," "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," and "I Love to Tell the Story." Ask your group if they watched the TV variety show, The Ford Show, which ran from 1956-1961. Tennessee Ernie Ford always ended the show with a hymn. Encourage participants to reminisce about parish life in a small country church and the music traditions associated with it.
Here are more suggestions for activities related to the family farm. Speakers such as a local farmer, farm extension agent, or staff from a local agricultural school would be valuable resources for some of the session ideas.
- Talk about the different types of family farms, e.g., crop, livestock, dairy, and poultry. Talk about the growing trend of hobby farms.
- Locate the farming "belt" regions, e.g., cotton, corn, dairy, wheat, on a U.S. map.
- Sample fall produce from farmers' markets and farm stands, e.g., apples, pears, grapes.
- Talk about changes in farming methods and technology over the past fifty years, such as organic farming.
- For hobbyists, pass around John Deere miniature farm toys; show pictures of old farm tractors and equipment.
- Talk about preparing for livestock shows and county/state fairs. Ask if anyone ever won the Grand Champion prize.
- Reminisce about the round of daily farm chores for boys and girls: haul water, weed garden, fill wood box, gather eggs, milk cows, feed livestock.
- Reminisce about simple pleasures on the farm: ice skating on the pond, riding the hay wagon, going fishing in the creek, making homemade ice cream. Share favorite props such as old skates, ice cream scoop, and fishing rod.
- Display copies of The Old Farmer's Almanac and magazines such as Farm Journal and Progressive Farmer. Talk about using the almanac for planting and weather information.
- Sample some recipes for country or "down home" cooking, e.g., pan-fried chicken, corn pudding, buckwheat cakes. Display old farm cookbooks such as Farm Journal's Country Cookbook, 1959. Chat about cooking on a wood stove.
- Show pictures of restored barns. Plan an old-fashioned hoedown or barn dance with square dancing and caller.
- Reminisce about the faithful farm dog, e.g., collie, sheepdog, or shepherd. How are farm dogs trained to guard and herd? List favorite names for farm dogs.
- Giggle at some simple country humor from the classic comedienne Minnie Pearl, Hee Haw television show, or the movie adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle. Watch the movie Summer Stock and see Judy Garland singing in bib overalls.
- For intergenerational fun, read children's books related to farm life, e.g., The Year at Maple Hill Farm and Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm, written and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. Snack on animal crackers and milk.
- Discuss the purpose of farm associations and organizations such as Farm Bureau and National Grange; for youth 4-H Club, FFA, and FHA.
- Share old photographs from the Farm Security Administration of farm life during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. What New Deal programs were established to aid farmers?
- Examine the history of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, established in 1862. Talk about changes in the USDA Food Guide Pyramid.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence." ~ Samuel Johnson
MUSIC IN FAMILY LIFE
(October 2006)
Today's generation of older adults grew up with an appreciation for family and home, neighbors and community. Traditions and rituals were important in family life. For instance, family members shared an evening meal at the end of each day. Later, they would often gather around the radio to listen to their favorite programs or play board games and cards around the kitchen table. These practices were especially important during hard times such as the Depression and World War II. Music was often associated with many of these family activities. Consider the following: Did Grandma hum Irish folk songs as she prepared a favorite ethnic dish? Did your uncle strum his guitar on the back porch on warm summer evenings? Did you stroll from house to house singing Christmas carols during the holiday season? Did you jitterbug at a local dance hall every Saturday night?
Music touches the lives of families in countless ways--in everyday life, at holidays, on special occasions, and through celebrations in the home, school, or community. Ask your participants: Were you exposed to different types of music and various artists at a young age? How did music impact the life of your family? Begin talking about music in the context of family life by asking participants to share memories associated with the following scenes.
- A school yard full of children singing "London Bridge"
- A family parlor filled with radio music from the Great Depression era
- A stadium full of Yankee baseball fans singing the national anthem
- A soda shop with a juke box playing the Big Band sound of Glenn Miller
- A convention hall full of FDR delegates clapping to "Happy Days Are Here Again"
- A USO canteen with teenage girls and soldiers dancing to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
- A front room with a pump organ around which a family is singing a favorite hymn
- A family station wagon resounding with the sound of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
- A radio station airing a live country music program from the Grand Ole Opry
- A movie house showing Bright Eyes with Shirley Temple singing "On the Good Ship Lollipop"
The three-part set includes the following resources:
- Compact disk with 20 tracks of musical excerpts and sound effects in a variety of styles
- 20 nostalgic black-and white photograph cards, one for each session topic
- An activity guide with 20 session outlines to accompany the CD. Each session features discussion questions, song and prop suggestions, and multi-sensory activity ideas for each of the 20 topics.
The activity guide's easy-to-use format makes planning a snap! Here's part of a sample lesson from the session titled "Radio."
- Sounds: Radio dial being adjusted; male crooner singing a few bars of an old song
- Photograph: Family listening to radio in their living room
- Discussion: What do you remember about listening to the radio when you were younger? What music programs did you like? What kind of music was your favorite on the radio (country, opera, popular, big band)?
- Songs (radio theme songs): "Back in the Saddle Again" or "Red River Valley"
- Props: variety of radios, new and old; photo of radio stars like Kate Smith or Bing Crosby
- Other Activities: Listen to an old radio show together, especially one that included some music, like The Jack Benny Show, that featured Dennis Day and Phil Harris.
I Hear Music is appropriate for individual and small group sessions in a variety of settings. You can easily adapt the material to participants' abilities and needs.
- BONUS SUPPLEMENT: Music trivia quizzes and jokes are included in the I Hear Music activity guide. They're perfect for warm-ups or fillers. You'll find some sample trivia questions later in the newsletter.
Enjoy a musical celebration of the season with the Reader's Digest video titled "An Old-Fashioned Christmas". Yuletide music includes 35 beloved contemporary and traditional holiday songs such as "White Christmas," "What Child Is This?" "O Christmas Tree," "Jolly Old St. Nick," "Silent Night," and more. Warm and familiar scenes of family life during the holiday season accompany the music.
Encourage participants to reminisce about Christmas dinner, tree trimming, Christmas gifts, and other special family holiday traditions. Ask: Why is it important for generations to get together and celebrate festive traditions? What annual holiday traditions had the deepest meaning for you and your family? Chat about favorite holiday traditions from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Has anyone in the group continued to watch holiday classics from the 1940s, such as It's a Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn, and Miracle on 34th Street? Did they have a favorite 1950s decoration - a flocked tree with blue ornaments? Serve hot apple cider and cookies as you talk about some icons of the season.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"Music is the universal language of mankind." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
(November 2006)
Resolutions, songs, confetti, parties, noise, and a little bubbly - soon it will be time to usher in a new year. A familiar expression of the season is "Ring out the old, ring in the new" from poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Ring a bell and ask your group of senior adults to share recollections of New Year's with family and friends. Ask: What was the most memorable New Year's Eve you ever celebrated? How did your family ring in the New Year? Did you enjoy quiet evenings at home, go out on the town, or spend the holiday abroad? Did you always stay up late to welcome the New Year? What traditions did you celebrate on New Year's Day? Did you ever host a New Year's Open House? Invite participants to make party hats, homemade noisemakers, and confetti for some special New Year's activities. Here are some suggestions for your group:
- Read or sing the poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" (from In Memoriam) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Invite a guest to talk about the hobby of bell ringing, a New Year's tradition.
- Talk about New Year's resolutions. Make a list of common resolutions and chat about how to develop new habits. What do phrases such as "turn over a new leaf," "wipe the slate clean," and "make a fresh start" have to do with a new year?
- Share remembrances and photos of New Year's family vacations. Name the 10 Best Places to Visit on New Year's. Ask if anyone ever enjoyed a colorful fireworks display in a foreign city such as Paris or Sydney.
- Enjoy the song "Let's Start the New Year Right."
- Offer a traditional New Year's Toast with some sparkling cider or ginger ale. Here's to . . .
- Display vintage collectible calendars, e.g., 1940s Coca-Cola calendars. Ask participants what they do with old calendars. Craft a new calendar for the upcoming year with your group.
- Sing a traditional song about friendship, "Auld Lang Syne," and reminisce about the "old gang."
- Display symbols associated with New Year's such as Father Time and Baby New Year. What do the images represent?
- Hang a silver disco ball. Reminisce about the dropping of the ball in Times Square, New York City, on New Year's Eve. Talk about NBC's live radio broadcasts from Times Square with announcer Ben Grauer or New Year's Eve TV broadcasts such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson or Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
- Learn to say "Happy New Year" in different languages, e.g., in Spanish - Feliz ano nuevo. Talk about New Year's customs around the world.
- Explore popular nonalcoholic community New Year's Eve celebrations for families, e.g., First Night, which began in Boston in 1976.
- Show photographs of favorite New Year's Day traditions, e.g., Tournament of Roses Parade, Mummers Parade, polar dips, college football games. Ask your group to name an unusual custom for the holiday.
- Treat your group to a special end-of-the-year meal. Try fondue cooking.
- Prepare a New Year's food associated with prosperity and good luck, e.g., the Southern dish of black-eyed peas and ham hocks or collards or the Pennsylvania’s sauerkraut and pork.
- Share some of Ben Franklin's wit and wisdom found in Poor Richard's Almanack. Which advice is timely for the beginning of a new year?
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
Many people enjoy the simplicity of a quiet evening at home with family and friends on New Year's. Promote conversation and connection among memory-impaired adults in your group with the popular Two-Lap book series. The second book, Happy New Year to You! A Read-Aloud Book for Memory-Challenged Adults, features colorful illustrations and easy-to-read text about each month of the year. There are comforting images such as making valentines in February, attending a wedding in June, going on a family picnic in August, and watching the leaves fall in October. You'll find conversation starters at the end of the book as well as suggested songs for each month. Read the whole book or concentrate on a page or two, and then reminisce, laugh, and sing as you celebrate each month of the year. Also available: The Sunshine on My Face, the first book in the series.
Many senior adults grew up with the tradition of listening to Guy Lombardo's New Year's Eve Party broadcasts from New York Times Square. The radio broadcasts began in 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel and continued with TV specials from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue in New York City. Ask your group to share their recollections of Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians playing their version of "Auld Lang Syne." Talk about the "sweet bands" of the 1930s/1940s and about Lombardo's slogan, "the sweetest music this side of heaven."
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians was one of the leading dance bands of the day. Show photographs of 1930s/1940s dance ballrooms. Ask participants if they ever learned ballroom dancing. Talk about the different styles, such as swing, fox trot, rumba, etc. Demonstrate a few basic steps as your group enjoys the compact-disc Best of Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians. Twelve favorites include "Auld Lang Syne," "Harbor Lights," "Tennessee Waltz," "Sweethearts on Parade," "Powder Your Face With Sunshine," and more.
Organize a "Family Fun Night" for your group. Playing games will add variety. Card, board, or word games are good choices. You can use More Mind Stretchers to stimulate conversation and interaction among group members. The resource offers a fun and challenging collection of activities to stretch the mind. You'll find questions in 14 different categories such as Who Are You? The Good and the Bad, Advice, Think About It, Silly Questions, Associations, and more. The resource is appropriate for an intergenerational gathering as well. Check out the sample exercise titled "Imaginings" later in this newsletter. Also available from ElderSong is the popular resource, Mind Stretchers.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"Write it on you heart that every day is the best day in the year." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
LET IT SNOW
(December 2006)
Many people look forward to winter and the season's first snowfall. Senior adults often have many happy memories associated with the "big" winter snows of their childhood. Plan some reminiscing activities related to wintertime, and you're sure to get a few snow stories. Ask: What is the biggest snowfall you can remember? How did the snowfall affect the community in which you lived? Did you ever walk in a winter wonderland? Describe the experience. What did you do when you played in the snow as a child? Did you go sledding on an old wooden sled with metal runners? Or, did you use a "homemade" sled? Did you enjoy building snowmen and adorning them with old clothes? Did you ever try ice-skating on a mill pond? Encourage participants to share a favorite memory involving snow and cold weather. Try to locate an American Flyer sled and a pair of metal skates for props. Listen to some mood music, such as the 1945 song "Let It Snow." Here are more winter-related activities for your group to enjoy.
- Listen to an audio recording of bird calls/songs. Talk about feeding and sheltering winter birds. Display various kinds of bird feeders. Make a pinecone bird feeder.
- Ask participants to list favorite comfort foods of the season. Pass around copies of Campbell's cookbooks from the 1940s and 1950s. Prepare a simple winter stew, casserole, or soup.
- Highlight the beloved New England poet Robert Frost, winner of four Pulitzer prizes for poetry. Be sure to read the favorite Frost poem "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening."
- Listen to the sound of old sleigh bells. Revisit family holiday traditions of yesteryear by showing pictures of horse-drawn sleigh rides. Pass around additional props: hand-knit cap, mittens, and wool blanket. Play a recording of "Sleigh Ride," composed by Leroy Anderson in 1948.
- Watch a travel video on the Swiss Alps. Plan a winter adventure at a popular snow resort.
- Post a sign "Welcome Snowbirds." Ask if anyone in the group ever dreamed of being a snowbird. Plan a winter "getaway" to Arizona or Florida in your recreational vehicle.
- Pass around branches of evergreens and identify the type of tree, e.g., cedar, fir, pine, spruce. Learn about life on a tree farm.
- List words and idioms associated with snow, e.g., snow boots, snow plow, snow job, Snow White, as white as snow.
- Enjoy snow crystal photography from the "Snowflake Man," Wilson Bentley from Jericho, VT. Cut out paper snowflake designs to hang.
- Talk about the Olympic tradition. Highlight the Winter Olympic Games held in the United States, e.g., 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, or 1980 in Lake Placid, New York. Show one of figure skater Sonja Henie's movies from the 1930s and 1940s, such as the musical comedy, "One in a Million."
- Evoke the winters of youth with vintage snow globes, a popular collector's item. Ask participants if their grandmothers owned a unique snow globe.
- Reminisce about winter fashions using old Sears catalogs. Did anyone have a favorite item, e.g., flannel shirt, cabin vest, wool scarf, earmuffs, wool gloves and mittens, corduroy jumper, Shetland wool cardigan? Pass around sample winter fabrics to compare.
- Show historical photographs and share recollections of presidential inaugurations with snow on the ground, e.g., John Kennedy in 1961.
- Explore the history of winter carnivals or festivals, which celebrate the season with activities such as ice carving, skating, skiing, snow sculpting, and dog sledding. Display different types of winter sports equipment.
- Enjoy a wintertime treat - a snow dessert, such as snow cream or snow pudding.
- Evoke nostalgic memories with paintings of winter landscapes-Currier & Ives, Thomas Kinkade, and others.
LET IT SNOW
Wintertime often brings family members closer to home. Ask participants to reflect on the meaning of "hearth and home" and why they like to retreat to the shelter of home on a cold winter day. Encourage them to reminisce about a snowbound day in their childhood home. Ask: What indoor activities did your family enjoy? How did you cope with cabin fever?
Sipping hot chocolate by a crackling fire might be on the list! Add some sentimental music for a delightful afternoon. Andy Williams' sweet crooning is always a good choice. Enjoy the Best of Andy Williams, with your group. This compact disk includes the original recordings of 12 early hits such as "The Hawaiian Wedding Song, "Lonely Street," "Canadian Sunset," "Butterfly," "How Wonderful to Know," and "Unchained Melody." Loyal fans of Andy Williams will enjoy reminiscing about his TV variety show, The Andy Williams Show, or his popular Christmas specials.
Stuck inside for too long? Need a sure cure for the winter blahs? Games will entertain your group. Try Shake Out the Truth, a fun game of observations. Participants decide whether a statement is true or false about other players by displaying the Yes or No side of a card. Examples: I remember my first kiss. I have worked a night job. I can read music. I have owned more than one dog at a time. Included in the game are cards describing life events or personal characteristics, "Yes/No" cards, and a single die.
You can always engage your group in some lively discussions with the newest volume of the popular series, You Be the Judge. Volume 5, features 40 true stories, often decided in a court of law. The stories are brief and easy to follow. You'll find controversy intermixed with humor. Read about the man who is fined for tossing an old household bill into a public trash can, or the woman who sued a department store for injuries sustained in a bargain- hunting frenzy. Then ask the question provided under "You Be the Judge" and add your voice to the debate! You can present and defend an argument for each case.
Sample cases in the fifth volume of You Be the Judge: The Call of Nature, Santa Lives Among Us, Candy Case, Facial Piercing, Moonlit Ride, Goosed by a Goose, Have a Snickerdoodle, The Nose Knows, and more.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
"A friend is a gift you give yourself." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
The ElderSong online newsletter is written by Sue Hansen.
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