“Cal, His Classmates and The Magic VW Bus”
It was a sunny morning in Ms. Rivera’s classroom, and the students buzzed with excitement. A special announcement was on the board in big, colorful letters:
“Happy International Volkswagen Bus Day! 🎉 Field Trip Today!”
“What’s a Volkswagen Bus?” asked Cal, tilting his head.
“It’s like a van from the olden days,” said Mia, flipping open her tablet to look up pictures. “People used to travel all over the world in them—camping, surfing, adventuring.”
Just then, a honk echoed from the school parking lot.
“Class,” said Ms. Rivera with a grin, “meet your ride!”
They all rushed outside to find a bright teal and white Volkswagen Bus waiting for them. It had shiny round headlights like big curious eyes and a friendly face painted on the front.
“Is this our field trip van?” asked Kayla.
“Not just any van,” Ms. Rivera winked. “This is Benny the Bus.”
As soon as they climbed aboard, something magical happened. The seats shimmered, and the windows glowed. Benny’s engine hummed like a happy tune, and with a whoosh, they weren’t in the school parking lot anymore.
“Where are we?” whispered Tommy.
Out the window, they saw beaches with surfers, mountain roads lined with pine trees, and even a desert with cacti wearing sunglasses (or so it seemed!).
Benny the Bus took them on a whirlwind adventure around the world. In each place, Ms. Rivera told stories of how the Volkswagen Bus had been a symbol of freedom, friendship, and fun since the 1960s. They even met other magical buses from different countries — one that made pizza in Italy and another that turned into a camper in Australia.
After the journey, Benny brought them gently back to the school just in time for lunch. The students filed out with wide eyes and bigger imaginations.
“Was that real?” asked Cal.
“I’ll let you decide,” Ms. Rivera smiled. “But don’t be surprised if you see a VW Bus wink at you one day.”
From that day on, whenever the class saw a Volkswagen Bus, they waved and shouted, “Hi Benny!” — just in case.
🚌 The Magic VW Bus – Classroom Activity Pack
1. Comprehension Questions
Objective: Test understanding and recall of the story.
Instructions: Answer the questions below after reading the story.
- What special day was being celebrated in Ms. Rivera’s class?
- How did the students react when they saw the Volkswagen Bus?
- What made Benny the Bus magical?
- Name three places the students visited on their journey.
- What lesson do you think Ms. Rivera wanted the students to learn?
2. VW Bus Design Challenge
Objective: Encourage creativity and expression.
Instructions:
Design your own Volkswagen Bus using the template below (or draw your own!). Think about:
- What colors will it be?
- What decorations will you add? (peace signs, flowers, waves?)
- What magical powers will your bus have?
📌 Bonus: Write a short story (5–6 sentences) about where your bus goes and what it does!
3. “Where Did Benny Go?” Map Activity
Objective: Reinforce geography and global awareness.
Instructions:
Using a world map, mark the possible locations Benny the Bus visited in the story. Examples:
- A beach (maybe Hawaii or California?)
- A mountain road (perhaps Colorado or the Alps?)
- A desert (like the Sahara or Arizona?)
Then, draw a route showing Benny’s travel path!
4. VW Bus Fun Facts Match
Objective: Learn about the real Volkswagen Bus.
Instructions: Match the fact with the correct description:
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| A. First made in 1950 | 1. The nickname of the VW Bus. |
| B. Also called a “hippie van” | 2. People used it for travel, camping, and adventures. |
| C. Loved for its big space and windows | 3. The year it was first produced. |
(Answers: A–3, B–1, C–2)
5. Class Discussion Prompt
Objective: Develop speaking and listening skills.
Question:
“If you could take a magical trip anywhere in the world with Benny the Bus, where would you go and why?”
Let students share their answers in a circle or write a short journal entry.
Optional Materials You Can Add:
- Printable VW Bus coloring sheets.
- A playlist of retro road trip music to play during art time.
- Photos of real VW Buses for inspiration.
Download the Cal, His Classmates and The Magic VW Bus Story and Activity Sheet…