This activity was created for Assisted Living and Memory Care residents to play while seated, but it could also be adapted for children to develop motor skills and socialization (with age-appropriate musical selections).

Materials needed include a large inflatable ball; a sound device that can access either Spotify or YouTube and be heard clearly (e.g., smart TV with sufficient volume, phone paired with an external speaker, etc.); and the visual handout, preferably printed in color.

Here are the steps involved: 

1. Arrange participants so they are seated and facing one another in a circle.

2.  Briefly explain to kick the ball while the music is playing and to stop when the music stops.

3. Begin playing "Twist and Shout" and kick the ball into the circle. Encourage participants to kick the ball when it comes to them and to tap their feet the rest of the time.

4. The participant who is closest to the ball when the music stops will choose the next song (each song can either play until the end or be paused). Utilize the visual handout when offering each of the choices. If someone has already had a turn to choose, allow someone near them who has not had a turn to decide.

   • Begin with "Twist and Shout"

   • First choice: "The Twist" or "Johnny B. Goode"

   • Second choice: "Surfin' U.S.A." or "Rock Around the Clock"

   • Third choice: "Blue Suede Shoes" or "At the Hop"

   • Fourth choice: "Folsom Prison Blues" or "Take Me Home, Country Roads"

   • End with "You Are My Sunshine"

5. The activity can be extended by returning to the "First choice" round after the "Fourth choice" round, allowing different participants to choose the songs, then continuing through the other rounds as desired and ending with "You Are My Sunshine" as the final song.

Below is a visual aid for each decision participants will make.