The essential episodes of The Magic School Bus

Watch these 15 in order and you've got The Magic School Bus — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · September 10, 1994 · 26m

   Gets Lost in Space7.8

   Arnold's know-it-all cousin Janet drives the kids crazy when she joins Ms. Frizzle's class on a field trip and gets them lost in outer space!

2. 02

   S01E04 · Top rated · October 1, 1994 · 26m

   Gets Eaten8.0

   Arnold and Keesha are in trouble when they forget to bring in their assignment on "two things that go together."

3. 03

   S01E05 · Top rated · October 8, 1994 · 26m

   Hops Home8.0

   When Wanda's pet frog, Bella, jumps out an open window, Ms. Frizzle shrinks the bus into a mechanical frog and takes her now tiny class on a hop-along adventure.

4. 04

   S01E06 · Top rated · October 15, 1994 · 26m

   Meets the Rot Squad8.3

   It's "Accidental Science Project" day and the class has brought in marvelously rotten entries from the back of their refrigerators. With Ed Begley, Jr. as Larry Log-Away.

5. 05

   S01E07 · Top rated · October 22, 1994 · 26m

   All Dried Up8.5

   Always the caring soul, Phoebe goes on a crusade to save the animals and plants of the desert -- and discovers how well they take care of themselves.

6. 06

   S01E08 · Top rated · October 29, 1994 · 26m

   In the Haunted House8.5

   The class is thrilled about its upcoming concert at the Sound Museum -- until they discover the spooky mansion is more of a thrill than they bargained for. With Carol Channing as Cornelia C. Contralto.

7. 07

   S01E09 · Season 1 peak · November 5, 1994 · 26m

   Gets Ready, Set, Dough8.7

   It's Ms. Frizzle's birthday, and a field trip to the bakery seems perfect -- until the bus's shrinker-scope goes on the fritz and the class gets baked in a cake! With Dom DeLuise as the Baker.

8. 08

   S01E10 · Top rated · November 12, 1994 · 26m

   Plays Ball8.3

   Ms. Frizzle combines Dorothy Ann's physics and Ralphie's baseball into a "Frictionless Baseball Game."

9. 09

   S01E11 · Top rated · November 19, 1994 · 26m

   Goes to Seed8.3

   The class' garden is going to be featured on the cover of PLANT IT! magazine. But Phoebe's garden plot is glaringly empty. With Robby Benson as Mr. Seedplot.

10. 10

    S01E12 · Top rated · November 26, 1994 · 26m

    Gets Ants in Its Pants8.5

    The Magic School Bus goes into show business when Keesha directs a movie about social animals for the school science fair.

11. 11

    S01E13 · Top rated · December 4, 1994 · 26m

    Kicks Up a Storm8.3

    The Friz transforms the bus into a Weathermobile and -- in a wild ride through the skies -- Ralphie becomes the meteorological superhero of his dreams.

12. 12

    S02E08 · Season 2 peak · October 28, 1995 · 25m

    Revving Up8.5

    The school district’s Vehicle Maintenance Inspector, Junkett is about to condemn the Magic School Bus!

13. 13

    S03E08 · Season 3 peak · November 2, 1996 · 25m

    Goes Upstream8.0

    Ralphie wants to serve salmon at the annual school picnic, but he can’t find any at his favorite fishing spot. But when the kids are “Frizzled” inside a salmon-bus they have an uncontrollable urge to head upriver.

14. 14

    S04E01 · Season 4 peak · September 13, 1997 · 25m

    Meets Molly Cule8.0

    When Wanda’s favorite singer, Molly Cule comes to town and she chooses Ms. Frizzle’s class to wash her famous car, the kids discover how to clean the car down to the very last bit.

15. 15

    S04E13 · Series finale · December 6, 1997 · 25m

    Takes a Dive7.0

    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.