http://yucky.kids.discovery.com
As anyone who has heard a giggle at the mention of the word butterfly knows, kids can bring bathroom humor to any conversation. That's why they'll love this self-proclaimed “yuckiest site on the Internet,” which lets them explore topics such as eye gunk, vomit, and poop — and the science behind these ever-fascinating subjects.

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/frog
In more than 10 states, new laws require that schools provide alternatives to students who don't wish to participate in dissection of a real animal. While the Web-based options vary in quality, the interactive frog dissection available here serves as an excellent substitute (or pre- or post-dissection activity), featuring streaming video, quizzes, and great links.

www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/infection
This site combines high-interest material on germs, bacteria, and disease with skill-building games to practice reading comprehension, germy vocabulary, and more. Kids will have a blast scoping out the “bacteria in the cafeteria” and solving the “mixed-up microbe mystery.”

www.kidwings.com
Imagine being able to dissect the pellets of 11 different species of owl, examining and reassembling the bones found in each. It's either a dream come true or too disgusting for your taste, but at this site, students are sure to get a kick out of comparing the owls' diets and excrement.

www.uky.edu/agriculture/entomology
Munching on mealworms and crunching on crickets may seem unusual to you and your students, but it's a diet that's actually on the rise around the world. Here kids can learn about the nutritional value of this fare and other bug facts.

www.hhmi.org/coolscience/airjunk
This site brings the dust, animals, and other particles floating in the air together under one kid-friendly, science-ready subject: air junk. Kids will learn how to make their own airborne-junk detectors and are encouraged to answer provoking, critical questions about air quality.

www.kidzworld.com/site/p3234.htm
The Kidz World site is home to articles on all kinds of icky science, such as the one here on “wacky animal defenses,” which include a lizard that shoots blood out of its eyes and a beetle larva that covers itself in toxic poo. Note: While the information here is colorful and appealing to kids, the site is heavily advertiser-supported.

www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/mummy
First you pull out the brain matter ... then the intestines. Children will follow these steps and what comes next in order to learn how mummies were made. This site uses cool photographs, Egyptian artifacts, and X rays to explain the ancient science of embalming.

www.epa.gov/recyclecity
There's nothing yuckier than trash, and there's plenty of it in the virtual city of Dumptown, situated at this site. The stinky city was created by the Environmental Protection Agency to teach kids the importance of recycling. The challenge is for students to clean up Dumptown by taking advantage of various methods of recycling.

www.kidshealth.org
This site covers the icky basics, including earwax, boogers, and burps, but in a tamer, more sterile environment than some of the other online gross factories, which may be more appropriate for sensitive stomachs. Interactive games on body systems boost the educational value.

 
Hannah Trierweiler is the assistant editor of Instructor. This article was originally published in the March 2005 issue.