Lesson Plan
The Magic School Bus Dries Up
For once, Arnold is prepared for a field trip! He's wearing desert survival gear. But the class discovers that desert animals have built-in ways of surviving.
- Grades: 3–5
Field Trip Notes
Can anyone do something about the weather? It's a hot, muggy day and a thunderstorm might help break the heat. Ralphie fantasizes being a superhero — Weatherman — who controls the weather. He gets to live out his daydream when the class rides the Magic School Bus into the clouds. As Weatherman, Ralphie makes wind, an updraft, clouds, and rain. Then a thunderstorm moves in and the Magic School Bus is caught in the middle of it! Can Weatherman save then day?
Where's The Water?
Going Hands-On
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For once, Arnold is prepared for a field trip! He's wearing desert survival gear. But the class discovers that desert animals have 'built-in' adaptations, or ways of surviving. One adaptation many desert animals have is the ability to get water from their food. Have children work in small groups to find out if foods they eat contain water.
What You Need
for each group:
- 4 bite-size pieces of different foods (Try apple, turkey, cheese, bread, chips.)
- 4 plastic sandwich bags that zip close
- gooseneck lamp with 75-watt bulb
- copies of WHERE’S THE WATER? Page
Talk About It
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Ask children if they think there is water in the food they eat. Why? Together, make a list of foods that kids think contain water.
What To Do
- Give each group the materials.
- Arrange a spot for kids to place bags about 20 inches under the lamp.
- Help kids discover if the foods contain water. Have them write their responses on the WHERE’S THE WATER? page. (The moisture from the food evaporates and condenses in the sandwich bag.)
Next Stop
Ask children: What foods would you want to take with you if you were going on a hike in the desert?
- Subjects:Deserts, Desert Animals, Water Cycle, Climate, Weather Forecasting
