Should We Eat Bugs?
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Biology, History, Health
Authors: The Kid Should See This, TED-Ed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video describes the history of entomophagy, the practice of eating bugs.
- Students will learn that eating nutrient-dense insects can improve global food security and reduce our reliance on modern agriculture.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource presents many sources of evidence that point to the benefits of eating insects, which could have measurable positive impacts on climate change.
- It may help students be more open-minded about global dietary practices.
Additional Prerequisites
- It might help for students to be familiar with the environmental impacts of agriculture before exploring this resource.
- The video description links to the video's TED-Ed page, which includes a multiple-choice assessment, discussion questions, and links to additional resources.
Differentiation
- History classes could discuss how the shift from foraging to agriculture in the Fertile Crescent shaped Western ideology. Students could then create a list of the benefits and disadvantages of agriculture-based societies.
- Language arts and writing classes could review the video's claims on the advantages of eating insects and then write persuasive essays about the benefits of entomophagy.
- Other resources on this topic include this video on fighting climate change with dietary choices and this interactive data tool that shows the environmental impacts of different foods.
As this video mentions, lobsters were once considered "not good enough to eat" and were tossed away when they were accidentally caught by fishermen. Today they are an expensive delicacy. If we are going to sustainably produce enough protein for the growing population, we need to rethink our relationship with insects. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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