The Magic School Bus Television Series

Every weeknight before bedtime it's the same story. My six year old son puts on his jammies, grabs his pillow and stuffed animal and curls up next to me in bed. He takes the remote control, pulls up the DVR and plays the newest Magic School Bus taped that morning. He calls it "snuggle time". I call it a memory I'll cling to when he's a teenager. We've gone through many different television shows during snuggle time. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins have given way to Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman and now the Magic School Bus. And I have to admit...I watch them with almost as much interest as he does.

The Magic School Bus is an animated television show that was originally aired in 1994 and can currently be seen at 7:30 Central time, weekday mornings on Discovery Kids. The premise is based on a series of books, published by Scholastic, where a teacher takes her class on adventures with their classroom school bus. Which, of course, is magic!

Ms. Frizzle and her pet lizard, Liz, leads a class of eight students: Ralphie, Tim, Carlos, Arnold, Wanda, Phoebe, Dorothy Ann and Keesha. Each student had a distinct personality and the show uses their quirks and traits to teach lessons about relationships and feelings. But bigger than those lessons are the adventures!

On any given day, children may be treated to a lesson about digestion by joining Ms. Frizzle's class on a trip down Arnold's esophagus through his digestive system. And the show doesn't gloss over any detail. Along with my son, I learned just what happens to food in the lower intestines. Hint: it's the last stop before it leaves your system entirely. The next episode may feature a lesson in relying on partners, by turning the children into sea creatures in search of a lost pirate treasure. They learn that hermit crabs and sea anemones partner together to allow the crabs protection from octopuses and the anemones a means of transportation. The show includes several other sea partnerships, and ends with a lesson in copper and its effects on a coral reef.

I see my son's fascination with science increase every time he learns something new from his show. His favorite episode follows the life cycle of water. Yes, the life cycle of water is made into pure entertainment. The bus is able to shrink the class down to a tiny size where they then become water droplets and go through the process from evaporation back to water. Other lessons include wild animal habitats and living in a city, the internal components of a computer, electricity and how it works, how smell works, the principles of gravity, the life cycle of stars, molecules, and so much more. Concepts that go beyond a kindergarten level are explained and taught in a manner that is completely understandable to my son.

Each show has the perfect combination of science, fantasy, magic, humor and relationships. There are social lessons mixed with the scientific and all bundled together in an entertaining package. There were 54 episodes created and each one has enormous value. My son's interest in the Magic School Bus has spilled over into a love of discovering archaeology and geology. He has begun collecting the Magic School Bus books and they are equally as endearing and full of value as the television show. He was inspired to do an experiment this year at his school Science Expo and more than anything this stood as an example of the influence an excellent educational children's program can have.

If your cable or satellite dish has Discovery Kids and you can catch an episode or two of this fantastic show, I highly encourage you to do so! Ms. Frizzle and the kids will worm their way into your hearts and you'll see your children get tuned in to science that is levels above what you think they are ready to learn...yet taught in a way they will understand and enjoy. Join the class on their adventures, and watch your children's love of learning grow!