Title: The Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest

Publisher: Scholastic

Date Published: 1997

Platform: Windows

Price: $34.95

Installation: The software comes in the form of a CD.  You must have Microsoft Windows on your computer.  Installation is very easy.  Just insert the CD and the instructions come up on the screen.

Content Area: The primary content of the program is information about the rainforest.  It includes a lot of science curriculum such as climate, animals, insects, and plants.

Range of Grade Levels: The software is recommended for children ages 6-10.  This is the recommended age range but the program can be fun to use for ages beyond 10.

Content Description: This program includes tremendous amounts of information packed into a bright, colorful, interactive game.  The purpose of the program is to teach children about rainforests by focusing on the rainforest of Costa Rica.  There are so many choices and paths to take that each time you play, you learn something new.  There is no way you can make a mistake in this program.  The first thing you see when you turn it on is a classroom with children and tons of projects and pictures on the wall.  There are class pets and toys and lockers and books.  Each of these things can be clicked on and, depending on the object, it may move or reveal an interesting fact about rainforests.  Mrs. Frizzle appears and explains that everyone should pile in the van and go on a trip to the rainforest.  She also says that the class has a box that must be filled with specific things from the rainforest.  You may then proceed into the Magic School Bus and take a trip to Costa Rica.  The bus is totally interactive and you can choose from three locations to visit.  In the rainforest, children learn facts about climate, animals, plans, insects and many other wonders of the rainforest.  While exploring, there are games to be played and objects to collect.  I was never able to complete the game because it is very time consuming and best played over a long period of time.  This program could be used with small groups or individually.

Strengths/Weaknesses: This piece of software is very easy to operate and navigate.  The best quality is the wonderful graphics.  The colors are amazing, the characters are friendly and real and there are so many things to click on and discover.  The program includes real pictures and information about rainforests.  The games that are included throughout are fun and informative.  The one thing that was confusing to me was the “tool box”.  There is a mission in the game to find specific things in the rainforest and place them in the toolbox to bring back to the classroom.  I could never figure out how to transfer the objects to the toolbox.  I did what the directions explained and nothing happened.  In addition, the rainforest had so many things going on in it that it became a bit overwhelming.  However, this can also be the appeal.  There is complete freedom in how you navigate the game and most children like that.

Rating: I give this software an 8.  It is completely interactive and there is so much to discover and learn.  The graphics and characters pull you in and get you hooked on the rainforest.  The only thing it could use is better directions.

User Comments: One parent said this of the Magic School Bus programs: I “made the mistake of introducing the program to the kids an hour before dinner time”.  “They naively expected their children to come willingly to the table.”  http://www.superkids.com  (review of Magic School Bus Explore Inside the Earth)

Links: http://place.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/index.htm
 -This site offers information on the Magic School Bus books, television show and software.  Everything you need to know is at this site!