Bridgette Bielawski

Did You Know Bingo

Sources:
Florida Health Care Association. (n.d.). The Global Deterioration Scale for Assessment of
Primary Degenerative Dementia. Retrieved from: https://www.fhca.org/members/qi/clina
dmin/global.pdf
Icebreakers (n.d.). Did You Know Bingo. Retrieved from: https://www.icebreakers.ws/get-to-
know-you/did-you-know-bingo.html
Myself

Equipment Needed:
- Computer/Laptop
- Microsoft Word 2016 (This activity was analyzed using Microsoft Word version 2016
specifically—although all versions of the Microsoft Word software contain the “insert table”
action, the instructions to do so may differ).
- Printer
- Pens/Pencils

Activity Description:
Prior to initiating the activity, the recreational therapist (RT) will prepare bingo sheets by:
accessing Microsoft Word on a computer → selecting “blank document” → selecting “insert” →
table → selecting “4 x 4” → highlighting the 4 x 4 table → and changing the font size to 100,
which will increase the box size. After having created the blank bingo sheets, the RT will print
the appropriate amount of copies anticipated per group size. The RT will then use a pen/pencil to
write A, B, C, and D respectively above each column and 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively next to each
row. The RT will divide participants into two equal groups, distribute the bingo sheets as well as
pens/pencils, and explain the rules of the activity to participants; the RT will call out a random
column/row combination, such as “A, 1” followed by a personal fact or experience—such as, “I
speak more than one language”—that participants may or may not identify with. The objective of
the game is to have participants gain the signatures of those within their respective groups who
identify with the statement in the stated box. Once a participant receives a diagonal, horizontal,
or vertical row of four signatures, the participant will shout “BINGO” and score a point for their
group. The activity will finish once all participants have completely filled all of their bingo sheet
boxes with signatures. The winner of the game is the group with the most points.

Primary Interaction Pattern:

Intergroup; action of a competitive nature between two or more intragroups. I chose this
interaction pattern in order to promote communication, socialization, and teamwork amongst
groups as they work together whilst learning more about one another through active
participation; working within teams during this activity will provide incentive to communicate
and socialize with one another in order to gain points, thereby establishing bonds among
participants as they share experiences and reminisce.

Adaptation:
Participants with primary degenerative dementia—particularly Stage 4 (Moderate Cognitive
Decline) of the Global Deterioration Scale—exhibit deficit in memory of personal history,
therefore, the RT facilitating this activity will walk by and observe both groups after having
called out a column/row combination and fact/experience, gauging if any difficulty is had in
recalling such experiences, and providing verbal cues, as needed, to assist participants
(Ex: “I have flown in an airplane”. The RT—upon observing resident Ellen within her group
having difficulty recalling if she has—will ask, “Ellen, when you went on vacation last year, how
did you get to your destination?”).