Do you use Magic School Bus books?

Jen72386 · **Do you use Magic School Bus books?** 04-01-2008, 06:48 PM

I was just curious how many of you find yourselves incorporating The Magic School Bus books and/or videos and/or PC software into your curriculum? And for what grades?

Tatum · **Magic School Bus.** 04-01-2008, 06:56 PM

I teach 4th. I have used the Magic School Bus inside the Human Body. Here is what I did with it. We of course read out of our boring Science books first about the organ systems. Then I read aloud the Magic School Bus Inside the Human body. I also showed the video. We created life size bodies by tracing ourselves onto big white paper, then we drew and cut out the organs and placed them in the correct place and labeled them on the paper. We also wrote stories called Microscopic Me. We imagined that we got shrunk down to mini size and went exploring in the human body. These were published pieces that I laminated for the kids and we placed them in the classroom library. The kids still read them while they have free time or silent reading. This book and video enhanced thier learning as well as being cute.

The other one I used was the Beehive one. We learned about bees/flowers. The kids did several assignments including making a styrophoam(sp) model of a bee and labeling the parts ...some kids wanted to make a model of a flower so I allowed them to do that and label the parts of that, too.

Jen72386 · 04-01-2008, 06:59 PM

I am student teaching and trying to absorb as much as possible so I LOVE these ideas!! Thanks! Anyone else have input?

hmccourtie · 04-01-2008, 07:13 PM

I teach 2-3-4 combo and I love to incorporate Magic School Bus videos in our science curriculum. We just finished doing the solar system in 3rd grade so we used the "In Space" DVD. We have learned about the water system and used one of the DVDs too. On a rainy day or when the teacher needs a break from teaching 3 grades, I put on a DVD because I feel they are fun and educational.

Ms. Science · **I use them** 04-01-2008, 07:49 PM

Believe it or not, they are full of information. I use them for middle school. The students take notes while watching. (A skill they are learning) The kids love them.

P.S.: They watch them with the door to the Science lab closed!

Sam5 · **Magic School Bus** 04-01-2008, 08:20 PM

I teach fifth. I love using the one about the digestive system when we study that in science. I use the books in my content area reading work station.

Jen72386 · 04-01-2008, 09:13 PM

ok great! I seem to be drawn to this series so I am glad it is useful in the curriculum. Has anyone ever used any of the PC software of the Magic School Bus? Thanks for the input