This Bus Stops for Science

Seat belts, everyone. Two new field trips with “The Friz,” the star of the “Magic School Bus” series, are available on CD-ROM. The Friz is Ms. Frizzle, a wonderfully eccentric teacher who instructs her students by taking them on field trips in which their school bus turns into an air blimp, boat or other vessel.

The ninth and 10th installments of the “Magic School Bus” series are “Flight Activity Center” and “Whales & Dolphins Activity Center.” Although not as compelling as earlier versions in the series, the new titles deliver science information in an entertaining manner.

‘The Magic School Bus Discovers Flight Activity Center’

Children join Ms. Frizzle’s class on a field trip to the Walkerville Air Show. Upon arriving, children can explore the inside of the famous Magic School Bus or venture outside to see the air show.

There are four multilevel games to explore, two creative activities, two interactive science experiments, three short videos on various elements of flying and oodles of facts to learn. All relate to flight, animals that fly and aircraft.

Kids will find a game-show activity hosted by Amelia Airhead, a ditsy “California-girl” bird, which tests knowledge of flight. This game can be played with a friend or against the computer.

One of the interactive science experiments allows children to play with the forces of thrust, lift and drag in designing airplanes to carry a certain load. They can explore how wing, body shape and engine design affect a plane’s ability to carry weight. After designing a plane, children can then click to see whether it will fly carrying the load given.

Kids who tested this software particularly liked the two games found outside of the bus. In one, children control a firefighting plane; in the other, they maneuver a hot-air balloon to pick up passengers.

Overall, “Flight Activity Center” gives children a lot of information and presents it in a manner that is easy to understand.

‘The Magic School Bus Whales & Dolphins Activity Center’

This time the Friz is leading children on a field trip that dives into the ocean to learn about whales, dolphins and porpoises.

The setup is very similar to “Flight Activity Center” in that there are four games, two creative activities, two interactive activities, videos and lots of clickable facts.

Of note is an interactive experiment in which players compare the weight and size of four different whales with the weight and size of a cat, a child, a school bus and an elephant. Presenting information this way allows children to easily grasp just how big and heavy whales really are. Kids who tested the software were awed that the Blue Whale could carry a whole classroom of children on its back.

Another feature has players clicking a virtual camera to take pictures of whales popping out of the water. They earn points by taking photos of the featured whale, and not of others that happen along.

A poster-making activity allows children to use stamps of various whales, dolphins and porpoises to create a printable picture. They also can add their favorite pals from the “Magic School Bus” series, including Ms. Frizzle, Ralphie, Keesha, Arnold and Liz.

Both of these titles do a nice job of combining science experiments, art activities and games to teach children science concepts. They are a good fit for children interested in learning about science, and they do an excellent job of making that learning interactive. They do not, however, have a story line or a reward system to keep hesitant learners interested.

Whether children are flying high or splashing along, field-tripping with Ms. Frizzle and her class is an exciting way to learn science.

*

Jinny Gudmundsen is editor of Choosing Children’s Software magazine.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Skinny

“The Magic School Bus Discovers Flight Activity Center”

Price: $20

Ages: 6 to 10

Platform: PC/Mac

System requirements: On the PC, a Pentium 166 with 16 MB of RAM (32 MB for Windows Me) and 15 MB of available hard disk space. On the Mac, an iMac, iBook or PowerPC 233 with 32 MB of RAM (64 MB if using System 9 or later) and 15 MB of available hard disk space.

Publisher: Microsoft

The good: Lots of fun activities

The bad: Low replay value

Bottom line: A high-flying field trip worth taking

“The Magic School Bus Whales & Dolphins Activity Center”

Price: $20

Ages: 6 to 10

Platform: PC/Mac

System requirements: On the PC, a Pentium 166 with 16 MB of RAM (32 MB for Windows Me) and 15 MB of available hard disk space. On the Mac, an iMac, iBook or PowerPC 233 with 32 MB of RAM (64 MB if using System 9 or later) and 15 MB of available hard disk space.

Publisher: Microsoft

The good: Interactive experiments about whales and dolphins

The bad: Low replay value

Bottom line: An educational title