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Delightfully Disgusting Science

What is it about boogers, slime and offensive odors that attract young children like flies to the dump? There seems to be no end to the hilarity children can find in all things gross, disgusting and otherwise off-limits in polite company.

"Everybody loves something gross," says Audrey Campbell, operations manager for Mad Science of Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, "and everybody considers something different gross."

Mad Science has built a booming business with chapters throughout the country by making science accessible, enjoyable and entertaining for young kids and "Gross science" is among their most popular program categories. Activities with a high yuck factor including slime, oil, worms and more are a hit with both boys and girls during birthday parties and classroom demonstrations. The key, Campbell notes, is letting every child have a "hands-on" experience with the goo, grime and slime. "The whole idea of gross has to do with being able to touch it and play with it," she says.

Gross science experiments are easy to perform at home, although you might ask, "Why on Earth would I want to encourage that kind of behavior?" The key lies not in the "gross," but in the "science." Once you've enthralled your kids by the slimy, oozy, slithery activities, an education in science naturally follows. Consider the activities below, which combine kids' natural attraction to all things gross with important concepts in basic science. And best of all, you might rediscover your inner gross-loving child, too!

Bodily Functions
We don't want to teach our children that their bodies are disgusting, but let's face it: There are a few bodily functions that, while necessary and perfectly healthy, are never going to be glamorous. And it's not just the obvious odors and noises we're talking about. With Weird Science Body Works, your kids can make fake vomit, snot, poop, blisters, cuts and wounds, blood, eyeballs, brains and more. They can see the plaque on their teeth, simulate tooth decay, test for saliva digestion and make an ear wax detector. Disgusting? No doubt! Educational? Absolutely! After all, did you know that blisters are the body's way of protecting your skin, or that mucus helps keep germs out? Another favorite gross science kit is Disgusting Science, which guides young grossologists in growing "friendly" germs, mixing up coagulating fake blood, and creating a stinky intestine.

Slime Time
According to Campbell, slime is an all-time favorite with Mad Science audiences and presenters. It's such a standard that Mad Scientists create theme slimes for holidays and special events. At Halloween, for example, the slime is fluorescent green with plastic spiders and other spooky stuff inside. For Christmas, slime is made with sparkles for a festive shimmer. At a Mad Science "Young Wizards" party, kids create their very own "troll booger slime," including a special chemical that makes the fluorescent green mass coagulate into chunks. To create your own gooey slime creations, check out Slime Science. You can make jiggly slime, sticky slime, rubbery slime and more. One type of slime even changes from sold to liquid before your eyes.

Body Parts
As Campbell says, "Everybody considers something different gross." We consider the human body a masterpiece, but our kids often disagree. Consider for example the SmartLab Skull Model. It's brain-powered with glow-in-the-dark eyes, a movable jaw and pop-apart, clearly labeled brain hemispheres. For a truly disgusting anatomy lesson, you might opt for a Disgusting Anatomy Brain or Disgusting Anatomy Heart. Both offer realistic molds to create edible organs, and each includes a bonus eyeball kit for extended "ewwwwws!"

What a Mess!
Nothing says gross and disgusting louder than a good old-fashioned mess. Create your own scientific splatter and goo with Cool Chemistry Concoctions: 50 Formulas that Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze and Fizz Factor: 50 Amazing Experiments with Soda Pop.

Gross Games
Even game manufacturers have jumped on the gross science bandwagon with board games, puzzles and other playful packages focusing on the repulsive. How about SmartLab Weird & Gross Challenge, with 1,000 questions about the strangest, most disgusting science concepts you can imagine? Or, for a more hands-on approach, check out Spill Your Guts Human Body Game where student surgeons try to assemble a patient's organs without spilling his guts! There are even anatomy puzzles, skeleton bingo, and a challenging Skeletons in the Closet Game where players compete to be the first to assemble their skeleton accurately.

Gross Greenery
Animals (including humans) aren't the only ones with disgusting habits. Just set up a Carnivorous Creations Terrarium Kit to see exotic plants devour insects before your very eyes. Of course, you'll be the one feeding those pitiful creatures to their plant predators and enjoying the show! so who's really the gross one?

From her experience with Mad Science, Campbell has seen the nearly universal appeal of gross science. Children of all ages are engaged by these otherwise "off limits" topics, and the girls, she says, are as intrigued as the boys. "All the kids just love it!" says Campbell. There's no doubt that yours will, too. For more ideas, visit Gross Science and Anatomy at DiscoverThis.com

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