Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest [Old Version]

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00002S96K
• Item model number: 420-00067
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 10, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,358 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #46 in Software > Children's Software > Science & Nature
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"

Another solid Magic School Bus title, this one is set in the rain forests of Costa Rica. Ms. Frizzle and class must explore the environs, following clues to find certain inhabitants. When they locate the requested creature or element, they can "clone" it with a special device and then bring it back to the classroom. When four creatures have been found, the classroom itself is magically transformed into a rain forest. The program has many strengths. The graphics are rich, and the format encourages exploration of the plentiful ecological content. Children encounter interesting stories and multimedia reports, and as they travel, snapshots are automatically entered into their journal (which they can write in as well). To help them learn more about the Understory, Treefall Gap and Canopy of the rain forest, children are given a set of investigative tools. There's a microphone, for instance, for listening to different sounds that animals make and a telescope that allows them to see what's happening in the distance. On the downside, many of the 14 games that children find embedded in the program are little more than arcade-style pursuits. While children weren't bothered by this, some adults felt that these activities could have had more learning value. One game, for example, has children using the arrow keys to move a beetle around to catch flowers and avoid rain. A more educationally sound game is the Habitat Build activity that asks kids to experiment with temperature and rainfall to create various habitats. On the whole, our testers loved the program. When asked what they thought of it they responded, "There's lots to do" and "It's easy to use."
Teaches: ecology of the rainforest, problem solving, geography
Age Range: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue

Amazon.com Product Description

Kids jump on board The Magic School Bus for another one of Ms. Frizzle's interactive field trips--this time to explore the Costa Rican rain forest. You'll explore seven ecological zones in the rain forest as you collect samples for the class science project. Watch videos, play games, check out multimedia reports, and hear fun facts about the rainforest. (Ages 6-10)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest, December 10, 2002

By 

Darrell Nungester (Floyds Knobs, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

I really like all of the Magic School Bus series. Kids can learn a lot about a subject and the dialog is very amusing.

11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Games have proved particularly entertaining, May 1, 2000

By 

Michael Gering - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

The magic school bus series is a great series. Once again Ms. Fizzle takes the children on a fun packed adventure.

We have never been to a rain forest, but my five year old found the games on this Microsoft School Bus product particularly entertaining.

A great CD from a great series.