| Category | Details |
| Episode Number | 0834 |
| Season | Season 7 (1975–1976) |
| Air Date | January 22, 1976 |
| Main Conflict | Oscar accidentally being "nice" while trying to be a Grouch |
| Big Bird's Solution | Cardboard box "shovels" |
| Key Muppets | Big Bird, Oscar, Grover, Kermit, Ernie, Bert, Lefty the Salesman |
| Human Cast | David, Maria, Bob, Jay |
| Classification Game | Empty vs. Full jars of marbles |
| Letter of the Day | F, W |
| Number of the Day | 4, 7 |
| Sponsors | F, W, 4, 7 |
Parent's Guide
Bob and David sang a song at Hooper's Store. They use jars of marbles to show the difference between empty and full. This activity is all about teaching kids about volume. You can use a jar with nothing in it to compare with a jar brimming with marbles to help build maths vocabulary. You can use kitchen containers to show your child these opposites.
Oscar the Grouch isn't a fan of clean snow. He reckons it hides the lovely dirt on Sesame Street. He throws furnace ashes on the ground to make a mess. He cleared the snow from the steps to move the piles around. The neighbours reckon he's being helpful. Jay thanks him for the traction from the ashes. Bob thanks him for clearing the path. Maria gives him a kiss for being sweet. This story looks at how we see things. It teaches kids that actions affect others, regardless of intent. Oscar tries to be grumpy, but he's actually helping the community. You can chat with your kids about how their behaviour affects other people.
Animations featuring an orange ball and a frog show different sizes. A cat, a bird, and a worm are used to show the idea of superlatives. The kids learn to rank three items in a series. This makes the point about comparing things. It's a key skill for getting your head around scale and sequencing.
Big Bird's been asking to play in the snow. He finds his shovel and sled buried under a drift. He gathers a bunch of kids to clear the neighbourhood. They realise they've got no tools. Big Bird's the team's cardboard box ploughing expert. This segment is all about coming up with creative solutions. It teaches kids that plans change a lot. It's a great way to get the job done. The most important tools are teamwork and a positive attitude.
A frog and a fly are celebrating the letter F, while the Alphabet Dancers are cheering for the letter D. These sketches are used to create a system of sounds that correspond to letters. Saying the same words over and over helps kids connect the shape of the letter to its sound.
Little Jerry and the Monotones sing a song about feeling down. A troll draws different faces on a mirror to show her moods. This lesson is all about building emotional literacy. The show is all about recognising that feeling blue is just part and parcel of life. It helps kids recognise their feelings. Moods are things that people can identify and change.
