| Category | Details |
| Episode Number | 0083 |
| Season | Season 1 (1969-1970) |
| Air Date | March 4, 1970 |
| Primary Plot | Big Bird moving heavy birdseed bags to his nest |
| Letters of the Day | A, H, T |
| Number of the Day | 10 |
| Geometric Focus | Triangle vs. Square |
| Key Muppets | Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Kermit, Proto-Grover |
| Human Cast | Susan, Bob, Mr. Hooper |
| Celebrity Guests | Burt Lancaster, James Earl Jones |
| Animal Guests | Piglet, Hedgehog, Bees, Alligator |
| Key Concepts | In, Over, Around; Heavy vs. Light; Parts of a Wagon |
| Musical Numbers | "Everyone Likes Ice Cream," "Jazzy Triangle Song" |
| Educational Film | Jennifer visits a farm/garden |
| Sponsors | A, H, T, 10, CTW |
Summary
Big Bird is standing in front of his birdseed bags. He needs to move them to his nest. The bags are too heavy for him to lift. Mr. Hooper gives Big Bird a box. The birdseed is still too heavy to lift. You see the physical limits of one person.
Susan ties a jump rope to the box. She pulls the rope. Friction keeps the box from moving. The weight creates resistance against the ground. Bob hooks up the wheels to the box. He makes a wagon. Wheels reduce friction. This mechanical change lets Big Bird move the load. Big Bird pulls the wagon too fast. He crashes into something. Bob explains how axles work. You can see how dangerous it is to speed without paying attention.
Then the scene shifts to the letter A. Ernie's using a machine. The machine produces the letter A. Mr. Hooper and Bob build a capital A using wooden boards. You'll identify the three lines of the shape. Burt Lancaster recites the alphabet. There's a cartoon of an alligator. An alligator eats a man. This makes the sound of the letter stronger.
James Earl Jones counts to ten. He speaks slowly. You can hear each number perfectly. A bear counts ten bees. These segments show the decimal system. You see a triangle and a square. The triangle moves with a jazz rhythm. The square stays put. You'll learn the properties of these polygons.
Susan and Lily are working in the kitchen. They chat about where food comes from. Jennifer stops by a garden. She sees vegetables growing in soil. You see the connection between the earth and the store. Bob shows a live hedgehog to the kids. Take a look at the spikes on the animal. The people who live on the street are saying goodbye.
Parent's Guide
Big Bird moves the heavy birdseed bags to his nest. Mr. Hooper puts the bags in a box. Susan attaches a rope to the box. It's still a bit of a challenge to pull the load. Bob adds wheels to the box. This creates a wagon. The wheels reduce friction against the ground. It's pretty amazing how simple machines can make work a breeze. Do a push test at home. Have your child slide a heavy box across the floor. Just place the box on a skateboard. The child can feel the difference in effort.
Susan plays a matching game with Robbie and Tracy. They connect animal heads to the correct tails. There's a film that shows real animals with different tail shapes. This exercise is all about building visual logic. You help your child identify parts of a whole. Point to a dog and ask about its tail. Compare the dog's tail to a bird's tail.
The letter A can be seen in many different forms. Ernie uses an A-machine. Mr. Hooper and Bob built a capital A out of wood. There's a cartoon that shows an alligator eating a man. These segments use sight and sound to teach the letter. You see the letter and hear its name. Have your child build letters using sticks or dough. This physical activity helps the brain store the shape.
A yellow guy stole words starting with H from a red guy. The red man draws a hole. The yellow guy falls inside. He shouts, "Help!" It uses humor to teach phonetic sounds. The letter H needs a breath of air. Shouting it out makes the sound clear.
Susan and Lily chat about where food comes from. Jennifer goes to a garden to pick some vegetables. This film is all about the connection between the grocery store and the earth. You show your child how to grow. Why not try planting a small pot of herbs at home? This teaches your child about biology and patience.
Kermit gives a lecture on positions. Buddy and Jim are trying to put shoes into boxes. Tennis shoes fit easily. Heavy boots are too big for the containers. They learn about spatial reasoning and volume. You turn clean-up time into a logic game. Hey, could you ask your kid if a big toy would fit in a little bin? This helps them understand their physical limits.