SUBJECT
Science, Habitats and Ecosystems

GRADE
Pre-K-2

AGE
4-8

The Magic School Bus: Science Fun Activities
Lessons designed to help you use Scholastic's The Magic School Bus as a supplement to your curriculum. The activities provided build on children's interest in The Magic School Bus and offer lots of opportunities to engage them in hands-on learning. Remember what Ms. Frizzle says, "Get out there and explore!"

The Magic School Bus Gets Swamped

Field Trip Notes

The debate is intense: Should Walkerville get rid of the swamp by the river and replace it with a fantastic new shopping mall, or build the mall somewhere else? Carlos, representing his class, is given the thankless task of persuading the town council to keep the smelly old swamp. And if he loses the debate, he loses to...Janet! The kids discover that the swamp is an important habitat and a natural water filter. But the council is not convinced to keep it until...FLOOD!

Settle Down

Going Hands-On
Time: 40 minutes
Group Size: 4

Ms. Frizzles class discovers that wetlands help clean polluted water. Your students investigate how wetlands filter dirty water.

What You Need Wetland Pollution Fighters: by Carlos

Pail of sand and soil
Clock with second hand
Copies of SETTLE DOWN page

For each group:

Glass of water
Tablespoon
Cookie sheet
Bowl

For half the groups:

2 damp (not wet) sponges

Talk About It

Ask: Which carries more dirt - moving water or calm water? (Moving water; dirt settles out in calm water.)

What To Do

Supervise as groups make glasses of muddy water. Make an extra to serve as a control.
Let kids investigate how dirt settles out in Dirt Drop.
For the Muddy Water Race, give each group a cookie sheet and bowl. Give half the groups damp sponges to represent wetland plants.
Hold races between sponge and nonsponge teams. Each team needs a Pourer, Timekeeper, Water Catcher (to collect water running off the cookie sheet), and Recordkeeper.
Compare the amount and muddiness of the collected water. Use the control to ask: Is the water as muddy as the dirty water we made? How are the sponges like wetland plants? How are they different?

Next Stop

What kinds of wetlands are near you? Create an Our Wetlands bulletin board of plants and animals that live in local wetlands.

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

Rookie Read-About®Science - Habitats and Ecosystems: Life in a Pond

by Allan Fowler

Fun, factual, and fascinating - who says science has to be dull? The natural world comes alive for young readers with Rookie Read-About Science®! Striking, full-color photos and just the right amount of text guide young readers through the fascinating world around them.

$4.95
Paperback Book | Grades K-2

Rookie Read-About®Science - Habitats and Ecosystems: Life in a Pond

Grades K-2 $4.95

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

The Magic School Bus and the Science Fair Expedition

It's the 20th Anniversary of The Magic School Bus! Celebrate this groundbreaking series with the Friz's class as they meet some of history's greatest minds and learn what it takes to be a scientist. The class heads to the Walkerville Science Museum to see the exhibit on GREAT SCIENTISTS THROUGH THE AGES, where, suddenly, Galileo comes to life! He is about to make a great discovery, but he needs a ride home. Thank goodness Ms. Frizzle knows the way!

$15.99
Hardcover Book | Grades 1-4

The Magic School Bus and the Science Fair Expedition

Grades 1-4 $15.99


UNIT PLAN	Winter's Tail: Lessons & Printables Explore the world of dolphins with science and vocabulary lessons. Students will learn about dolphin biology and marine life through quick language...

ONLINE ACTIVITY	Research Starters: Rainforests Use this guide to great Web sources to discover the amazingly rich wildlife and mysterious climate of one of the most valuable ecosystems.