Getting kids interested in educational activities is not the easiest task in the world, but we’ve found it helps if you make things sound as gross as possible. The boffins at the Science Festival know this too, and have created five events designed to make your stomach churn – and your darling little ones’ faces light up with glee.

Dr Bunhead’s Poo and Goo Show

Television’s infamous ‘stand-up scientist’ returns with a gross-out show featuring fart-powered rockets and the world’s biggest bogey.
George Square Theatre, Sat 23 & Sun 24 Mar.

Pongy Potions

Chemistry event in which kids get to create the worst smells possible before turning their hands to sweet-smelling perfumes. In that order, hopefully.
City Art Centre, Sat 23 Mar–Sat 6 Apr (not Mon).

Dung Days at the Zoo

Identify animals by their droppings and find out what the Zoo does with all the mountains of poo it produces. Our money’s on sledging.
Edinburgh Zoo, Mon 25–Thu 28 Mar.

The Blood Bar

Daily drop-in event where you can create your own scabs and blood clots and even touch a real heart. They had us at ‘create your own scabs’.
City Art Centre, Sat 23 Mar–Sat 6 Apr.

Splat-tastic

Another chemistry outing, this one allowing you to create your very own slime and then test its viscosity and stickiness using the festival’s patented ‘Splat-o-Meter’.
City Art Centre, Sat 23 Mar–Sat 6 Apr (not Mon).