Parents' Guide to

The Magic School Bus: Oceans

By Christopher Healy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Hooks kids with fun games and loads them with knowledge.

Game Nintendo DS 2011
The Magic School Bus: Oceans Poster Image

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Our review:
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The Magic School Bus: Oceans is perfectly designed to make kids feel like they're really part of this magical field trip to the depths of the sea. It's quite a feat, really. There are a ton of hard facts in here, not just generalized basic info. And yet, Oceans always feels like a game, never a homework session. Some of the activities are pure games, like steering a sideways-walking crab through a maze of rocks and seaweed. But others draw directly on the knowledge that kids should have picked up through their exploring time. It's a great strategy, because it forces kids to go back, re-read, and really absorb the information if they want to earn enough points to unlock the next level. This is a wonderful model for educational games.

Game Details

  • Platform: Nintendo DS
  • Subjects: Science: animals, ecosystems and the environment, life cycle
  • Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, collecting data, solving puzzles
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Scholastic
  • Release date: October 25, 2011
  • Genre: Educational
  • ESRB rating: E for N/A
  • Last updated: August 29, 2016

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