The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses, written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, is a great book for introducing science to children. The book is part of the Magic School Bus series, made famous with its engaging character Ms. Frizzle and her adventures with her class on the magic bus. In this story, Ms. Frizzle’s class jumps on the bus with the assistant principal as the driver. Not accustomed to the “magical” school bus, the assistant principal accidentally shrinks it with all the kids inside. The class, on a search for Ms. Frizzle, drive their shrunken bus through eyes, ears, brains, noses and finally the mouth of Ms. Frizzle herself. All the while the kids are learning about the five senses and how they react with the nerves in the brain with help from Ms. Frizzles class notes which made their way onto the bus.
Once again the Magic School Bus makes science fun and interesting by disguising the intricate facts with an action-packed plot line. In an excerpt, “‘We have to keep track of the Friz,’ said Ralphie. ‘Look for the part of the cortex,'” it’s easy to see how the lesson of the senses weaves throughout the storyline. Like the other books in the series, the Magic School Bus also includes detailed illustrations with many captions, labels and bonus facts about the topic. Each page of the plot is also bordered with illustrations of reports on the senses completed by Ms. Frizzle’s class. They add even more educational context in an easy to read, note-like format.
Curriculum Connections
This book can be used to open a lesson on the five senses or even a lesson on the science of the body. In Virginia it can relate to the kindergarten and 1st grade SOL for science investigation, learning about the senses and how we use them.
Additional Resources
- For further activities that correspond with the book check out the Scholastic website for games, printable worksheets and lesson ideas. See Gets and Earful.
- You should also check out the lesson plan about smelling and the nose with Ms. Frizzle’s class in The Magic School Bus Makes a Stink.
Book: The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses
Author: Joanna Cole
Illustrator: Bruce Degen
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Publication Date: 2001
Pages: 32 pages
Grades: Kindergarten and 1st
ISBN: 0590446983