| Category | Details |
| Episode Number | 0600 |
| Season | Season 5 (1973–1974) |
| Air Date | February 15, 1974 |
| Theme | Snow Logistics / Forward and Backward |
| Letter of the Day | Y, C |
| Number of the Day | 11 |
| Key Muppets | Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Cookie Monster, Ernie |
| Human Cast | David, Maria, Gordon, Bob, Susan, Luis |
| Inventions | Oscar's "Dial-a-Grouch" phone line |
| Street Lessons | The states of matter (Melting); Sounding out words |
| Sponsors | C, Y, 11 |
Street Scenes
Maria tells the story as David, Gordon, and Big Bird leave footprints in the snow. Big Bird wants to mail a winter surprise to his cousin in Florida. Maria reminds him that the snowball he mailed before melted. Big Bird says he's wiser now. He decides to mail a long, frozen icicle instead. He doesn't realize that ice will also turn to liquid in the Florida sun.
Oscar the Grouch starts a phone service called "Dial-a-Grouch." He wants people to call and hear miserable messages. Since he doesn't have a recording, he answers the calls live to complain. David and Maria call the service to vent their own problems. They're feeling a lot better after talking to Oscar. Oscar's bummed out because he accidentally helped his neighbors. He shuts down the service to keep everyone miserable.
Bob shows viewers how to pronounce words. He says the word "snow." A giant pile of snow falls on his head from above. Bob tries to sound out the word "flowers" to get a better result. He's buried in snow again. A voice tells him that there's only snow in stock during the winter. David builds a snowman in fast-motion. He pulls children on a sled while Oscar announces the sponsors.
Parent's Guide
Grover faces a test in the story of Cutie and the Beast. He's got to pass the Ordeal of What-Happens-Next. He looks at paintings to predict how each scene ends. Grover wins the princess by using logic. You can practice this skill during your nightly reading routine. Ask your child to predict what happens next. Use the pictures as clues to help you figure out the answers. This activity gets your thinking going.
Oscar starts a phone service called Dial-a-Grouch. People love to hear miserable stories. David and Maria call in with their own problems. They're listening to Oscar talk about how terrible his life is. They realize their situations are better. They're on the phone, feeling good. Venting helps a child process frustration. You use this example to talk about perspective. A bad day is only temporary.
There are segments featuring a figure skater and the Muppets that teach direction. They show the difference between forward and backward. These concepts help build spatial awareness. Knowing about movement can help keep you safe. You play a game called Directional Walk at home. Give your child commands to move forward or backward. This links verbal cues to physical action.
Big Bird tries to mail an icicle to Florida. He remembers his snowball melted in the mail. He thinks ice will stay solid. Maria explains the mistake. This scene shows what matter is made of. You talk about how temperature changes solids into liquids. Use an ice cube to show this change.
Gordon's showing off his moves with a bunch of different boots. The set includes tiny toddler boots and giant yellow pairs. This game is all about size comparison. Working on matching pairs helps kids develop key math skills. You could ask your child to sort shoes at home by size. This practice helps you think logically.
