SUBJECT
Science, Atoms and molecules

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 Meets Molly Cule

Field Trip Notes
When Wanda's favorite singer, Molly Cule, comes to town, she chooses Ms. Frizzle's class to wash her famous car. The kids clean the car top to bottom, but Molly insists they missed a spot. Only when they shrink small enough to see molecules can they clean the car down to the very last bit - but time is running out, and they need a molecular miracle to get the job done before Molly's concert begins.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

Going Hands-On

Time: 50 minutes
Group Size: 4

Ralphie discovers that soap and water slip grease and grime away because of the special characteristics of soap molecules. Your kids investigate some characteristics of oil, water, and soap.

What You Need

Dishpan of water
Paper towels
Liquid detergent
Copies of MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER page

For each group:

2 tumblers of water
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 tablespoon liquid detergent
Spoon

Talk About It

Pass around samples of oil, water, and liquid soap. Ask: What are some characteristics of water? Oil? Soap? List responses. Ask: Do the teeniest-tiniest bits (molecules) of these things determine these properties? (yes)

What To Do

Let kids touch the substances. Ask: How do they feel? Is how they feel a characteristic? (yes)
Have kids dip a finger in oil and then try to rinse it off with water alone. Ask: Does the oil come off? Hocould we remove it?
During the activity, students will discover that soap and water mix, while oil floats on top of water. Challenge kids: Can you mix oil and water? Record kids’ ideas. If possible, let them experiment with some of their ideas.
After kids add soap to the oil and water, ask: What did the soap do to the oil and water? (Soap mixes oil and water because on end of the soap molecule is water-loving, while the other clings to oil. Stirring in soap creates a cloudy suspension of tiny oil droplets surrounded by soap molecules - an emulsion.)
Ask: Why do soap and water clean oil and grime? (The oil-loving end of the soap molecule surrounds and lifts the oil; water rinses it away.)

Next Stop

Draw timelines of the kids’ rocks. Decide on a time scale, and let kids give their ideas for: where their rock was a very long time ago and what it looked like; where it was found; where it will be and how it will look a long time in the future.

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!

$12.79 You save: 20%
Hardcover Book | Grades 1-4

The Magic School Bus and the Science Fair Expedition

Grades 1-4 $12.79

Scholastic Store

The Scholastic Store

Magic School Bus World of Germs Science Kit

Ms Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the world of germs with these thrilling experiments. Young Scientists will grow bacteria and fungi, test antibiotics, make a fungus bubble, explore antibiotics, grow mold, wake up fungi, cultivate bacteria in yogurt, use yeast to inflate a balloon, and much, much more!

Seatbelts, everyone! Get ready to discover The World of Germs!

Based on the popular Magic School Bus book series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, this kit includes a colorful booklet featuring Ms. Frizzle and friends, along with all the tools needed to perform ten exciting, hands-on experiments.

Materials:

20-page booklet with complete instructions
3 measuring cups
3 test tubes
5 petri dishes
Test tube rack
Measuring spoon
Eyedropper
Agar
Chicken bouillon
Yeast
Antibiotic ointment
10 cotton swabs
One balloon

Note to parents:
We recommend that all experiments be performed under adult supervision.

$19.95
toys and games;activity and science kits;science kits and projects | Ages 6-10

Magic School Bus World of Germs Science Kit

Ages 6-10 $19.95

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