The Magic School Bus

The Magic School Bus: Inside a Beehive

Cole, J., & Degen, B. (1996). The magic school bus: Inside a beehive. New York: Scholastic.

When Tim delivers the last of the season's honey to his grandfather's customers, the jars get broken. Tim's beekeeper Grandfather has the sweetest honey in town. Tim's solution is simple. They must get more honey from some bees. As per usual, Ms. Frizzle turns her class into bees so they can visit a hive and learn how raw honey is processed firsthand.But Ms. Frizzle sweetens the idea by turning her class into bees and showing them a beehive up close and personal. During the field trip, the students learn how and where honey comes from and how much work is involved getting the sweet treat. Once again, the students find themselves in a sticky situation and must find a way to get the honey for Tim's grandfather.


Although this may not be the nonfiction we always think of, I consider this non fiction because the information being presented. The information is factual, therefore I would classify this series as narrative nonfiction because the factual information is presented in story format.  

I love the Magic School Bus series! The books and T.V series provide valuable lessons that engage the children. I would obviously use this in a unit or lesson about plants or bees. The illustrations in the book provide a good model for how honey is created and extracted. My first grade classroom last semester did a unit on bees. The students read this book, researched bees, and met a bee keeper. With this book in mind, I would like to do something similar. 

Here are some potential activities!