When Wanda discovers that one of Ms. Frizzle’s ancestors was Redbeard the Pirate, she naturally wants to follow the treasure map he left. The map leads the class to a coral reef, where they learn firsthand that life there is risky.
City Critters: Ms. Frizzle’s class is visiting the zoo, which is, according to Tim, the only place in the city where wild animals can survive. To test this idea—ZAP!—Ms. Frizzle turns the class into possums, foxes, and falcons!
Ms. Frizzle’s class opens the school for Mr. Ruhle. But there’s so much to do! “There must be a way to do these chores without actually doing them,” says Carlos. Enter Mr. Ruhle’s new computer and Mikey, Carlos’ whiz kid brother!
It’s Valentine’s Day and the class is selling lightbulbs. When they stop at Ms. Frizzle’s house to sell her one, they find that her battery-operated doorbell doesn’t work.
Flora Whiff, the famous expert on smell—whose “nose knows”— comes to school to judge the First Annual Smell Search. Ms. Frizzle’s class creates a unique smell that is bound to take first prize.
Phoebe is chosen to give a slam-dunk exhibition during the big basketball game. When she finds she can’t jump high enough because gravity is “pulling on” her, Ms. Frizzle takes the class into space and turns the Bus into a planet—with adjustable gravity!
When the kids see Horace Scope (Dabney Coleman) on the Star Shopping Network, they decide to buy Dorothy Ann a real twinkling star for her birthday.
Should Walkerville get rid of the swamp and replace it with a great new shopping mall or build the mall somewhere else? The class learns that the swamp is an important habitat and natural water filter, but the town council’s not convinced until... FLOOD!
Ms. Frizzle’s “Uncle Shelby” wants the class to look after his beachfront property. The kids soon discover that this “luxurious” accommodation is only a tiny spot on the shoreline.