Magic School Bus Explores Bugs Microsoft
WINDOWS ONLY
Ages 6-10
$19.99
Subjects: Science

I no longer worry when my eight-year old tells me, "I'm going bug collecting!" I look at his clean empty jars and smile, no more smelly half-dead insects. No more dirty clothes. No need to spray him with repellent. No need to inspect him for ticks. And the amount of knowledge he's learning has increased significantly. No more is he limited to backyards, vacant lots or city parks. Now he can roam from forest to jungle to meadow to fresh water pond without once getting muddy.

It all starts in Ms. Frizzle's classroom where there are many hot spots he can click on. All contain information about the good, the bad and the bizarre bugs. He can read, hear and see bug behaviors, social life, pollination, survival techniques, hunting skills, habitat and more.

There is closed captioning along the top of the screen if you want to read along. Or just turn it off and listen closely because your assignment is to find four missing bugs from the four different habitats and return them to the classroom. Go out the door and climb aboard. The Magic School Bus easily transforms itself into your personal transportation device.

Before you travel, you may want to update your driver's license. Mouth, eyes, nose, ears, hair, skin and background need to be decided upon. And then choose which of the four habitats you want to go to first.

Once there, you'll receive clues about the bug in question as you scan the ecosystem. Your supplies include a note-keeping clipboard, magnifying glass, net, and appropriate container. You earn a diploma for each bug caught. But what you may not realize is that you're also learning important facts. And when you successfully identify and catch all four bugs you're awarded the super sleuth certificate of achievement.

But don't worry if that achievement takes awhile. There are numerous places to look in on and stay awhile. Side trips include making eco-posters of habitats complete with your choice of type specific bugs. Find games in each of your destinations and bring them back to the bus to play. Or chill out as you listen to 'buggy' music. Perform bug experiments; change body parts with wing size and speed then see if your new creation will fly or fall. Or pair off two different bugs to see which defensive mechanism will defeat the other. Or watch in delighted horror as a kid morphs into the bug of your choice.

And each time you play either continue where you left off, or start with the challenge of finding four new bugs. And may all your beneficial bugs be bonafide!