| Category | Details |
| Episode Number | 0056 |
| Season | Season 1 (1969-1970) |
| Air Date | January 26, 1970 |
| Primary Theme | Culinary Oddities and Animal Pairs |
| Letters of the Day | E, W, V |
| Numbers of the Day | 2, 3 |
| Concepts | In, Pairs, Body Parts, Daytime/Nighttime |
| Muppet Cast | Oscar, Kermit, Proto-Grover, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster |
| Human Cast | Gordon, Susan, Bob, Mr. Hooper |
| Celebrity Guests | Mahalia Jackson, Carol Burnett |
| Featured Animals | Great Horned Owl, Dorset Lamb, Lion Family |
| Literature | Dandelion by Don Freeman |
| Currency Lesson | 3 Dimes = 30 Cents |
| Visual Illusions | Outer space vs. Bowl of fruit |
| Sponsors | E, W, V, 2, 3, CTW |
Summary
Oscar spends 30 cents on a baked bean sundae. He counts out three dimes for Mr. Hooper. The sundae has chocolate ice cream and pickles. It has whipped cream and a radish on top. This meal shows that everyone has different tastes. Later on, Oscar offers Mr. Hooper a pizza made of licorice and jelly beans. Mr. Hooper feels sick at the thought. It's important to remember that what one person likes might not be good for another person.
Mahalia Jackson sings a song about the whole world. Her performance sets a serious tone for the neighborhood. Gordon then looks for the letter E. He finds the shape of the letter in the sticks of Big Bird's nest. He takes a big letter W and breaks it in half. The pieces look like the letter V. You learn to see letters in the objects and shapes around you.
Kermit the Frog teaches you the word in. A monster helps him by climbing into a box. This visual aid shows what the word means through action. Susan and Renee chat about things that come in pairs. They point to your eyes and ears. A film shows animals at the zoo traveling in pairs. You learn to group objects by twos.
Bob brings a live owl to the street. He shows you the bird's eyes. Most birds have eyes on the sides of their heads. An owl has eyes at the front of its skull. This helps the owl see depth while hunting. The owl can see just fine during the day and at night. It's pretty obvious how the body of an animal helps it survive.
Gordon reads a story called Dandelion. The book's message is pretty straightforward: be yourself. The day ends with a film of fruit. You hear John Glenn's voice from space. The camera shows close-ups of the fruit to make them look like planets. You learn that your perspective changes how things look.
Parent's Guide
Oscar the Grouch orders a baked bean sundae. It's got chocolate ice cream, pickles, and a radish. Mr. Hooper feels disgusted. Big Bird suggests strawberry ice cream would be the way to go. This story shows how subjective things can be. Kids often call things yucky. You can use this sundae to show that everyone has different preferences. Teach your child to say "it's not for me" instead of saying something is gross. This helps people learn to be more polite and understanding of other people's choices.
Bob shows you a live horned owl. He points to the eyes at the front of the head. He says that owls see during the day and at night. This is a lesson in biology. It's clear that animals have special tools for survival. Talk to your child about how owl eyes are different from human eyes.
Gordon shows a film with audio from a space flight. The images look like stars and planets. The camera pulls back to show fruit in a bowl. This exercise is great for honing your critical thinking skills. You learn that things aren't always what they seem. A camera can change your reality. Take a close photo of a sponge or a hairbrush you have at home. Ask your child to guess the object. This encourages them to look past the surface.
Gordon breaks a letter W in half. He shows you that it looks like two Vs. He also turns it over to show the letter M. You can see how letters are built from simple lines. This makes the alphabet feel like a puzzle. You can manipulate shapes to create new data.
