Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science (Forum Locked Forum Locked)
 4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Subject Topic: Magic School Bus Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
3ringcircus
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: Dec 15 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 420
Posted: Nov 02 2012 at 4:11pm | IP Logged Quote 3ringcircus

Is this series as good as the reviews say? Amazon is offering a pretty good deal right now (maybe just today). My kids can't get enough science as it is.

link

__________________
Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
Back to Top View 3ringcircus's Profile Search for other posts by 3ringcircus
 
Claire F
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: Sept 14 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 272
Posted: Nov 02 2012 at 4:27pm | IP Logged Quote Claire F

Wow, that is a good price. I haven't seen the show, but my kids enjoy the books.

__________________
Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
Back to Top View Claire F's Profile Search for other posts by Claire F
 
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
Posted: Nov 02 2012 at 5:08pm | IP Logged Quote Becky Parker

We love Magic School Bus for the younger kids. It's entertaining enough for the littles and the middle aged kids learn quite a bit. I think it would be great to have them watch the movie and then read the books that go along.

__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
Back to Top View Becky Parker's Profile Search for other posts by Becky Parker
 
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
Posted: Nov 02 2012 at 7:01pm | IP Logged Quote guitarnan

The science is rock-solid. Both of my children learned tons of science from MSB and remember what they learned to this day.

The series is entertaining, but the focus really is on the science!

__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
Back to Top View guitarnan's Profile Search for other posts by guitarnan Visit guitarnan's Homepage
 
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 6:28am | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

My kids love MSB still. They are 8 and almost 10.
They will go through spurts of wanting to watch nothing but MSB - which is fine with me, since it's all about science. Lots of fun-

I am thinking St. Nick might have to bring this to our house, so we can stop checking them out from the library all the time. All 50 episodes... my kids will be in heaven. Thanks for posting this!



__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)


SQUILT Music Appreciation
Back to Top View SeaStar's Profile Search for other posts by SeaStar
 
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 2:56pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

Adding to cart! That is a GREAT deal!Thanks!

__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
Back to Top View lapazfarm's Profile Search for other posts by lapazfarm Visit lapazfarm's Homepage
 
Claire F
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: Sept 14 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 272
Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 3:29pm | IP Logged Quote Claire F

I went ahead and sprung for it. Great joint present for my boys! Thanks again for sharing!

__________________
Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
Back to Top View Claire F's Profile Search for other posts by Claire F
 
mamaslearning
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Nov 12 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 927
Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 4:21pm | IP Logged Quote mamaslearning

Thanks for this link! I'm considering this for our science program!

__________________
Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
Back to Top View mamaslearning's Profile Search for other posts by mamaslearning
 
CatholicMommy
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2007
Location: Indiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1254
Posted: Nov 03 2012 at 5:11pm | IP Logged Quote CatholicMommy

If you really want videos, I think these would be great - but definitely find books on similar topics. Not all of the videos have a specifically corresponding book - but that is nice because it helps you branch out.

Then, check out the MSB science kits if you can find a good deal on them ($10 or less a kit - usually have to buy a bunch at once to get that price, but at the price they are very worth it). Again, the topics don't correlate with SPECIFIC books, but again it is a bonus because it helps pull together a few topics - then you go read more about it and it branches out again - showing how everything is connected ;)

We watched a few of the videos free online in various places - can't remember if we found some on Netflix or not. My son enjoyed them - then made comparisons with the books they were supposed to match.

For the BOOKS: I prefer the original books that the shows were based on; I do not prefer the books that were based on the shows. I feel like a lot was left out and because it was entirely the same author, the style is very different.

Just a thought :)

__________________
Garden of Francis
HS Elementary Montessori Training
Montessori Nuggets
Back to Top View CatholicMommy's Profile Search for other posts by CatholicMommy Visit CatholicMommy's Homepage
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: Nov 05 2012 at 2:22pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

I am so happy you posted this! Dh agreed, perfect joint gift for Christmas. Thank you!

I am a reluctant user of MSB. I was turned off by the cartoon-y aspects. But the books were appearing in the library bag, we checked out one video and the avalanche began. Like Nancy said, it's solid science. Both my boys are eating it up.

They have checked out every MSB book our libary has, and have applied all this science to everyday life. I'm constantly hearing science being batted around and when I ask where they learned it, most of the time it's "Magic School Bus".

My husband took notice and we actually bought the science kits for the year from Homeschool Buyers Co-Op. http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ I'm weak in science and they LOVE it, it's fun and convenient to have these little science experiments.

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
Posted: Nov 05 2012 at 4:35pm | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

I got mine today- sheesh, that was fast. They come as a boxed set with a really cool 3-D picture on the front of the box. My dc are going to be two happy campers....

__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)


SQUILT Music Appreciation
Back to Top View SeaStar's Profile Search for other posts by SeaStar
 
margarita
Forum Rookie
Forum Rookie


Joined: July 02 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 55
Posted: Nov 05 2012 at 7:31pm | IP Logged Quote margarita

I'm just going to dissent here....

We do love the books, most of them. The picture books are great; the chapter books I don't like as much but I have no real problem w/ them, and my kids have enjoyed reading them on their own.

As far as the videos go, they seem to be very modern in that they go fast and they play loud, and it's all rather chaotic and discordant to me. Kind of like a lot of the shows on PBS Kids now. (I am comparing what I see today to the more serene-paced shows that my older kids watched in the late 90's.) And PBS is a few steps below other "kid TV," which we just don't watch at all.

About a year ago I watched a couple of episodes of Magic School Bus and I just couldn't take it, there is background music playing the whole time. That sort of thing. A lot going on, a lot of "attention grabbing" kinds of gymnastics.

So nothing really "wrong" with them, just that they are too busy and hectic, not peaceful at all, for my taste.

__________________
Married young and happy, chasing after a variety!
Two now in school: G-16, B-14
Two at home: G - 6.5, B - 2.5
One arriving February 2013
Back to Top View margarita's Profile Search for other posts by margarita
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: Nov 05 2012 at 8:27pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

It's funny to me, Margarita. I have found MSB a relief to Bill Nye. It's not ideal, but better for my head.

My personal favorite is Mr. Wizard. I want shows that go about Mister Rogers Neighborhood speed and calm and quiet.

So, I would agree the QUALITY isn't fabulous, but have my boys enjoyed it and learned a lot, yes indeedy!



__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
Posted: Nov 05 2012 at 9:06pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

Ha! I'm laughing because I actually find the books busy and unattractive but I love the show!
Different strokes!

__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
Back to Top View lapazfarm's Profile Search for other posts by lapazfarm Visit lapazfarm's Homepage
 
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
Posted: Nov 05 2012 at 9:57pm | IP Logged Quote guitarnan

That's for sure! My kids loved Bill Nye AND MSB books and videos. I think they just love science, really, and always will. MSB books and videos helped them to understand that science can help explain the things around them that they naturally want to understand.

I am happy about this; God's world and His universe are so totally fascinating. When children discover that science can show them how the world and the universe work, it's a pretty amazing thing.

I think Dancing Daughter and I both secretly want to watch all the MSB episodes with my nieces...



__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
Back to Top View guitarnan's Profile Search for other posts by guitarnan Visit guitarnan's Homepage
 
3ringcircus
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: Dec 15 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 420
Posted: Nov 06 2012 at 4:00pm | IP Logged Quote 3ringcircus

My LOs watch documentaries and Nat. G specials pretty often, and I love that they are slower paced. More isn't always more when it comes to these shows (and books) that try to cram so many little factoids into the mix. That being said, I had the chance to try a MSB episode last night though, and G loved it. He watched it 3 times. We just finished studying microbes in Noeo Science, and it fit perfectly.

__________________
Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
Back to Top View 3ringcircus's Profile Search for other posts by 3ringcircus
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: Nov 10 2012 at 7:42am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

BTW, I was at Costco yesterday and saw this same complete set at $27.99.

$8.00 difference for those who are trying to watch their pennies.

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
Posted: Nov 10 2012 at 10:51am | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

I wish I could find a similar deal for all the Schoolhouse Rock dvds...

__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)


SQUILT Music Appreciation
Back to Top View SeaStar's Profile Search for other posts by SeaStar
 
jawgee
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 02 2011
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1415
Posted: Nov 10 2012 at 11:40am | IP Logged Quote jawgee

SeaStar wrote:
I wish I could find a similar deal for all the Schoolhouse Rock dvds...


Here!! Only $13!

__________________
Monica

C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
The Catholic Cup on Facebook
Back to Top View jawgee's Profile Search for other posts by jawgee
 
jawgee
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 02 2011
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1415
Posted: Nov 19 2012 at 9:59am | IP Logged Quote jawgee

Bumping this thread because the set is now $29.99 on Amazon!

__________________
Monica

C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
The Catholic Cup on Facebook
Back to Top View jawgee's Profile Search for other posts by jawgee
 

Page of 2 Next >>
  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com