THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410120205
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HEIDI GLICK, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
About 20 third-graders from Kingston Elementary watched television recently while trying to ignore the surrounding video cameras, television producers, ceiling-high lights and microphones.
Some of these youngsters fought back giggles by covering their mouths with their hands as a camera crew from WHRO, the local PBS station, filmed them watching an episode of Ms. Frizzle's school-bus adventures for a promo on the ``The Magic School Bus'' series.
The promo also included a question-and-answer session with the students asking Angel Dibbs, who was dressed up like the zany teacher, preplanned questions on the solar system.
The adventures of Ms. Frizzle, an eccentric Victorian teacher who takes her students on incredible field trips - throughout the solar system - can be found in a series of six children's books, created by Scholastic.
And just last month WHRO started airing these animated science-oriented adventures.
The promo is aimed at encouraging children to read the books, watch the episodes on TV and, at the same time, learn about science, according to Ann High, a representative with Scholastic Book Fairs.
High said officials chose Kingston Elementary as the site for filming because of timing. The school is hosting a book fair, sponsored by Scholastic and featuring ``The Magic School Bus'' series, all next week.
Officials at WHRO said the promo should be running within a few weeks but don't know just when.
During the filming, the children sat in front of a television for about 10 minutes as cameras filmed them from the front and back. Then about 10 of the children took turns raising their hands and asking ``Ms. Frizzle'' questions about the solar system, like ``What makes night and day?'' and ``How big is the sun?''
A couple of students asked ``Ms. Frizzle'' if she was a movie star and if her red hair was real.
When it came to asking the science questions, the little actors looked sincere and behaved professionally.
``I thought I was going to be nervous and have butterflies in my tummy, but I wasn't,'' said student Lindsey Drye. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
A camera crew from WHRO-TV, the PBS station in Hampton Roads,
photographs Kingston Elementary students watching ``The Magic School
Bus'' program.
Angela Dibbs, who plays Mrs. Frizzle on ``The Magic School Bus,''
talks to Kingston Elementary students.
by CNB