21/01/2013 Newsround

Hi, I'm Ricky and you're with Newsround - the place where there's

never a snow day to keep us away. Coming up... Fun in the big freeze,

as thousands of you get a day off school. And we meet the icy animals

trying to stay warm. So was it a school day or a snow day for you?

More than 5000 schools have been closed across the country as the

freezing weather continues. That's almost one in six. If you go to

school in Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Surrey, south Wales, the

Scottish borders or Northern Ireland, you've almost certainly

had a day off lessons. They're among the snowiest places in the UK.

But it's not just schools that are affected. Flights have been

cancelled, trains, too. And 20 primary schoolchildren had a lucky

escape when their bus skidded off a steep road covered in slush and

snow in South Wales. No-one was hurt. With all those lessons

cancelled, we sent Joe to check out snow day! Roadblock, planes

grounded and millions of people struggling to get around. Snow days

can be a serious business. They can also be quite fun as well! And it

doesn't get any more fun than when school is closed and you hear those

two magic words. Snow day. Are you enjoying your day? Do for that the.

We'd been sledging, snowball fights, rolling down the hill. How do you

feel about the kids who do have to go to school today and a day like

this? I feel really sorry for them because they are just doing maths

and horrible subject. There have been plenty of opportunities to

make the most of the snow around the UK. With thousands of schools

shut, kids have been set free to enjoy the snow. What makes a snowy

day A Snow Day? The teacher at the school has decided the playground

is far too dangerous for the kids to play around. You've also got to

find out whether the school is going to be hot enough. It is

expected to stay cold throughout the week, with the north-east of

England and eastern Scotland getting the most snow overnight. It

could fall heavily across the south-west of England and Wales and

the morning as well. With more snow forecast for tomorrow, it looks

like there's plenty of time to practise your sledging. This is

fast! And you guys have been It's not just us trying to stay

warm in the snowy weather. Zookeepers have been making sure

the animals don't get too cold. And it's not as simple as giving them a

pair of gloves and a hot chocolate! Nel's been to Chester Zoo. You will

be wrapping up warm if you are out and about in the cold today. I have

Tom, a scarf, may be some clubs. The animals at Chester Zoo don't

have that option. Right over there is where the rhinos should be

running around and playing, but they can't because of the snow.

What do the animals do when it's snowing this bad? How are these

animals are -- are going to cope with the snow? Many of them really

enjoyed the snow. They come out and explore it. But they've also got

access to a snug house. You've got a lot of baby animals at Chester

Zoo, are they affected by the snow very much? They are. We have to

take great care. The mother, the elephant, will go outside and

enjoyed the snow, so we have to make sure that their cards are kept

nice and snug in house. Thank you for all of this no pictures you've

been sending in. Check out Ollie in Dorset and his Snow-bot. Mo-bot -

geddit? Thanks, Luke, from West Sussex, for your cool igloo pic.

Vicky, Josh and Dan sent us this brilliant headstand snowman. Loving

this snow Dalek from Liam in Dudley. And this is Snuggles, enjoying the

snow in Leicester. OK, let's have a look at some of today's other big

stories. Barrack Obama's about to make a big speech to officially

kick-start his second term as US President. Thousands will watch the

inauguration ceremony, where Beyonce will sing the American

National Anthem. In Newsround at 6.50pm, we'll look at some of the

big issues he's got to face over the coming months. And is this the

bravest man on the planet? This British granddad on holiday in

Australia grabbed a shark by its tail and dragged it away from