This book is very descriptive for children on the topic of the Ocean. Mrs. Frizzle takes her class down to the deepest depths of the ocean. One of the best features about this book is the kids in her class write papers on the sides of the pages about different sea animals and objects in the ocean levels.This book would be perfect for any age level of elementary grades. It incorporates 3 of the process skills prediction, observation, and classification. For example, when the book classifies the levels of the ocean floor. Another great feature of the book is the illustrations. The authors did a great job at adding great imagery for the story line.

This book would greatly connect to the virtual tour on http://www.field-trips.org/tours/sci/... . Students could ask and answer questions on what makes the oceans unique. This tour would even connect with health ! Students get an up close picture of vertebrates and invertebrates. They even learn how far a diver can dive ! Have the students then write a report on their favorite part of the ocean. Students could write about animals or the depths the ocean floor. Also have them bring in a model of their favorite part and teach their reports to the class. ( )

The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole is a subject of non-fiction in a fictional classroom. The children think they are going on a trip to the beach to spend the day but Ms. Frizzle keeps on going right into the ocean. This book is packed full of information from the rise and fall of tides, tide pools, the continental shelf, living creatures in the sea, and currents. At the end of the book the children made a chart of the ocean and classification of the different sea lives. This book is a great representation of the ocean and everything that is involved in it, with additional activities at the end to further the students learning and comprehension. While doing our lesson, I would have a live streaming video of a coral reef, http://www.fisheyeview.com/FVCamLive....
After reading the book with the children, a great lesson will be to have them explore a virtual tide pool, http://montereybay.noaa.gov/visitor/T... There are animals in the tide pool, when clicked on the animal information is given about that specific animal. The children will be required to use their interactive notebooks to write and draw a scientific sketch with 2 important facts about each animal within the tide pool. Next, I would have the children explore the coral reefs and the many different sea animals that live there, http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biom... The children will give me 3 facts about coral reefs. There will also be a station with different types of shells for the children to investigate with different tools and to do scientific sketches. Finally, at the end of the week the children will write a 3 to 4 paragraph about everything they have learned. These will be posted on the outside bulletin board with the title, “Our Adventure Under the Sea.” ( )

This is a good example of a modern fantasy book with an educational and informative twist. It is a fantasy because the bus would not be able to go into the ocean and survive and because some of the animals talk. It is also very informative because they learn characteristics about the ocean and some of the animals in it. There is a lot of truth in the story as the teacher is telling them a lot abou the ocean and so it is possible to follow the story and understand it.

Media: pen and ink, watercolor, color pencil, and gouache ( )

Ms. Frizzle takes her class on another field trip and this time she drives the school bus in the ocean where they end up laning on the ocean floor. The class explores and learns about the ocean floor and what it consists of. I really enjoy the magic school bus and every book is full of adventure! ( )

Ms. Frizzle takes her class on another wild field trip. When she drives the school bus straight into the ocean another adventure begins. The class explores the ocean floor, coral reefs, and a hot water vent. I love the magic school bus collection because there a great series of interesting books about a crazy teacher that takes her class on all these different feild trip so they can get a better learning experience. I definitely recommend this book for younger grades! ( )