'National Egg Day', June 3

National Egg Day – CST Activity Session

Today we are celebrating National Egg Day, a chance to explore one of the world's most familiar and versatile foods. Eggs have been part of our diets for thousands of years and feature in cooking, stories, songs, sayings, advertising and childhood memories. They are inexpensive, nutritious and can be prepared in countless different ways. For many people, eggs bring back memories of family breakfasts, baking cakes, collecting eggs from hens, Easter celebrations and favourite nursery rhymes.

This session combines reminiscence, discussion, language, music and fun quizzes, making it ideal for Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) groups.

Facts About Eggs

Before we begin our National Egg Day activities, let's take a look at some fascinating facts about eggs. From the hens that lay them to the many ways we cook and enjoy them, eggs have been an important part of everyday life for generations. This slide highlights some surprising facts and memories that may spark discussion about farming, food, family meals and favourite egg dishes. 🥚🍳🐔

Egg Idioms & Sayings

We begin by exploring some of the many sayings and expressions that include eggs. These colourful phrases have been part of everyday language for generations.

Examples include:

• Don't put all your eggs in one basket

• As sure as eggs is eggs

• Walking on eggshells

• A good egg

• Egg someone on

• Nest egg

• You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

• Teach your grandmother to suck eggs

Discuss what these sayings mean and whether participants have used them in everyday conversation.

Go To Work On An Egg

Many participants may remember the famous British advertising campaign: "Go To Work On An Egg"

Launched in the 1950s by the British Egg Marketing Board, it encouraged people to start the day with a healthy breakfast. The slogan became one of the best-known advertising campaigns in British history and remained familiar for decades.

Discussion points:

• Do you remember the adverts?

• Did you have eggs for breakfast growing up?

• What was your favourite way of eating eggs?

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty is one of Britain's best-loved nursery rhyme characters. Many people assume Humpty Dumpty was an egg, although the rhyme never actually says so. Over the years he has become one of the most recognisable characters in children's literature.

Invite participants to recite the rhyme from memory.

The Goose That Laid The Golden Eggs

This famous Aesop's fable tells the story of a farmer whose goose lays a golden egg every day.

Wanting to become rich quickly, he kills the goose hoping to find a treasure inside. Instead, he loses everything.

The moral of the story is: Greed can destroy something valuable.

Ask participants if they remember hearing the story as children and whether they can think of similar tales with a moral lesson.

The Cadbury Creme Egg Mystery

In 1983 Cadbury launched one of Britain's most famous treasure hunts. The competition, called Conundrum, challenged players to solve clues hidden in a book. Twelve certificates were buried around the British Isles and could be exchanged for magnificent gold Cadbury Creme Eggs created by Garrard, the Crown Jewellers.

The hunt captured the imagination of the nation and became one of the most ambitious competitions ever run in the UK.

Discussion:

• Did anyone buy the book and try to solve the puzzles??

• Have you ever taken part in a treasure hunt?

Name As Many Egg Dishes As You Can

A fun group challenge. How many egg dishes can participants name?

20 examples are pictured, but participants may be able to think of some more.

How To Boil An Egg

Boiling an egg may sound simple, but everyone seems to have their own preferred method! Whether you like your yolk soft and runny or firm and fully cooked, boiled eggs have been a breakfast favourite for generations. Many people remember egg cups, soldiers made from buttered toast, and the familiar ticking of a kitchen timer while waiting for the perfect egg. This slide shows the basic steps for boiling an egg and may spark memories of family breakfasts, school dinners and favourite ways to enjoy this simple but much-loved food.

Discussion Questions:

• How do you like your boiled eggs – soft, medium or hard?

• Who remembers eating "egg and soldiers" as a child?

• Did you use an egg timer or simply guess when the egg was ready?

• What saying do you remember: "As sure as eggs is eggs"? What does it mean? 🥚⏳🍳

CST Song Of The Day - How D'Ya Like Your Eggs In The Morning?

Dean Martin & Helen O'Connell (1951)

This cheerful novelty song became a favourite on both sides of the Atlantic.

Interesting facts:

• Written by Bob Hilliard and Bob Merrill.

• Reached the UK charts in the early 1950s.

• Celebrates the simple pleasure of breakfast and companionship.

• Its catchy chorus makes it easy to sing along to.

Ask:"How do you like your eggs in the morning?"

Other Egg Songs

Continue the musical theme with some egg-related favourites & have a singalong:

• Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken (Lay A Little Egg For Me) – Harry Reser

• Hey Little Hen (When, When, When?) – Donald Peers

• The Funky Chicken – Tom Jones

• Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens – Louis Jordan

• I Am The Walrus ("I Am The Eggman") – The Beatles

Invite participants to discuss which songs they remember and whether they kept chickens or bought eggs from local farms when they were younger.

Session Aims

This activity encourages:

• Reminiscence and life-story sharing

• Language and vocabulary skills

• Group discussion and social interaction

• Musical engagement and singalong opportunities

• Memory recall through familiar stories, songs and advertising

A simple egg can open the door to a surprising number of memories, making National Egg Day an excellent topic for a fun and engaging CST session. 🥚🐣