In Print: ‘Teaming With Insects: Entomology for Grades 3-12’

Publication title

Teaming With Insects: Entomology for Grades 3-12

Purdue authors

Natalie Carroll
Christian Oseto
Timothy Gibb

Publisher

Purdue University Press

Publication date

Dec. 15, 2025

About the book (from the publisher)

“Teaming With Insects: Entomology for Grades 3-12” is written for youth who enjoy learning about and studying science and nature. Insects have been around for millions of years and have evolved and adapted to many different habitats. Adaptations involving their anatomy, physiology and behavior are what make insects so diverse and interesting. More than 1 million species of insects are known to scientists, and there may be up to 40 million more yet to be discovered. Most people consider insects pests, and some insects do damage homes, plants, crops and stored foods. Others harm humans and animals by biting, stinging and spreading diseases. The vast majority of insects, however, are beneficial to our ecosystem, and a few, such as honeybees and silkworms, provide direct economic benefits to humans.

This book is divided into four easy-to-use sections, each of which is designed with a specific purpose in mind and is tailored to a particular grade level. The first section is geared toward students in third through fifth grade. It introduces young readers to the world of insects by examining their physical appearance and movement. Section Two, for students in sixth through eighth grade, shows how to make insect collection tools and expands on the basic concepts of biodiversity, invasive species, integrated pest management and forensic entomology. Section Three, for students in ninth through 12th grade, focuses on using the scientific method and supplying reference materials for personalized learning and further research. The final section, the facilitator’s guide, provides suggestions and answers to the youth activities as well as information about working with future entomologists.

About the Purdue authors

Natalie Carroll is a professor of agricultural and biological engineering. Her area of expertise is informal youth education in natural resources and the environment. Carroll received the Christian J. Foster Award for contributions to K-12 science, technology, engineering and math education from Purdue in 2016 and has served either as an investigator or collaborator on grants totaling more than $38 million.

Christian Oseto is an Emeritus 150^th Anniversary Professor of Entomology with more than 50 years of teaching experience. Oseto has received grants from the National Science Foundation and teaching awards from the United States Department of Agriculture, North Dakota State University and Purdue University.

Timothy Gibb is an emeritus professor of entomology with a specialty in insect diagnostics and integrated pest management. Gibb’s pioneering research in the areas of human health protection in public buildings and landscapes, including public schools, has earned him several awards, including the Governor’s Award of Excellence for protecting children’s health.

About the In Print series

To celebrate our faculty’s excellence in scholarship, Purdue Today’s weekly book series highlights faculty expertise across diverse subjects and disciplines. Find out more about the Purdue University Books Initiative and how to suggest a book for the In Print series on the Office of the Provost website. Purdue University’s Libraries and School of Information Studies’ authored books collection is available here.