| Category | Details |
| Episode Number | 0592 |
| Season | Season 5 (1973-1974) |
| Air Date | February 5, 1974 |
| Primary Theme | Cold weather and trickery |
| Letter of the Day | I |
| Number of the Day | 3 |
| Weather Events | Exercise for warmth; An invisible guest; Oscar's fake blizzard; A real snowfall |
| Key Human Cast | Big Bird, Maria, Bob, Gordon, Mr. Hooper, Luis |
| Muppet Stars | Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Grover, Ernie, Bert, The Count |
| Street Games | Shaking/Hopping; Secret Spy "One of These Things"; Radio Hoax |
| Sponsors | I, 3 |
Street Scenes
Big Bird shivers in a cold breeze. He leads Maria and the kids through hopping and shaking exercises. These movements generate body heat. You can teach your child that physical activity warms the body during cold weather.
Bob and Maria act as secret spies under a street lamp. They use the rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle" as a secret code. Bob uses a British accent to play a game of One of These Things. Somebody who you can't see goes into 123 Sesame Street and closes the door. These scenes use your imagination to transform a familiar environment.
Oscar tries to spread misery with a fake blizzard warning. He uses a radio and a microphone to prank his neighbors. The neighbors traced the wires back to his trash can. Oscar doesn't give up on his plan. He sets up a fan and a block of ice to simulate a winter storm. He uses fake snow to pull off the trick.
The adults decide to go along with Oscar's joke and wear all their snow gear. They're acting like this winter storm is real. A real snowfall starts as the day ends. The joke lands on Oscar instead of the neighbors. You can use this story to show how reacting with humor can disarm a prankster.
Parent's Guide
Big Bird and the kids exercise to stay warm. They'll probably feel too hot from the movement soon. You should explain that the body acts like a heater. Exercise makes your skin produce more heat. This lesson encourages your child to stay active during cold weather.
Roosevelt Franklin tells a story about a duck. The duck thinks being a duck is bad luck. The story teaches the duck to have pride. You can use this example to help your child learn to accept themselves. Everyone has unique traits. Being different is something to celebrate.
Oscar uses a fan and fake snow to trick his neighbors. He declares a false alarm about a blizzard. The neighbors catch him, but they still wear their snow gear. The real snowstorm starts during the prank. This story is a good example of what they say about the boy who cried wolf. Constant tricks make it hard for others to believe the truth. You can also show how adults maintain a positive spirit by playing along with a child's imagination.
Bert sneezes and his nose falls off. Ernie puts the nose back in the wrong places to tease him. This silly moment shows a child how the body works. You could play a game at home by placing stickers in the wrong spots on a drawing. This practice helps your child understand spatial relationships and body parts through humor.
Bob sings a song to tell the kids they're beautiful. These simple affirmations help children feel valued. Try using positive words to help your child feel good about themselves. This focus on internal value ignores outward appearances.
The show compares a turtle, a bird, and a butterfly. This comparison shows the difference between small and smallest. You can use three different objects at home to teach scale. This activity helps your child master comparative language and superlatives.
