STEM experts join school pupils in North Yorkshire for ground-breaking debate on what really is the most important animal of all?
The Most Important Animal of All was inspired by the 2008 Earthwatch debate at the Royal Geographical Society, after which the audience voted and it was decided that bees were the most invaluable species on the planet. Now eight Yorkshire primary schools have teamed up with eight academics and other local experts to recreate that debate based on the book The Most Important Animal of All.
Copyright © 2021 Mama Makes Books Ltd Artwork © 2021 Hannah Bailey
“We will discover amazing things and....I’d like you to decide which animal is the most important of them all.”
With supporting grants from The Royal Society, each school has been paired with an animal expert and from January 2022 started learning about their chosen animal in a range of activities, projects and experiences.
On 14 June 2022, as part of the Great Science Share, the school groups and their STEM experts will come together at the brand new conference facilities at The Education Exchange, Knottingley to debate the most important animal of all.
“From the establishment of a bee colony to dung beetle safaris, the children are going to love it, and I hope their experts enjoy the experience too.”
Meet the schools, their animals and their STEM experts:
© EsfilPla
Bats: Maggie Brown, Chair of West Yorkshire Bat Group with Riverside Community Primary School, Tadcaster
Bees: Dr Elizabeth Duncan, Associate Professor of Zoology, from the University of Leeds’ School of Biology paired with Saxton Church of England Primary School
Dung Beetles: Dr Filipe França, University of Bristol, and Dr Ali Birkett, Lancaster University, with Monk Fryston CE Primary School
Earthworms: Professor Mark Hodson, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York and Sherburn Hungate Primary School
Tigers: Kim Wilkins, Carnivore Team Leader, Yorkshire Wildlife Park with Kirk Fenton CE Primary School
Sea Stars: Intertidal Expert, University of Hull, and Sophie Wilson, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with South Milford Primary School
Sharks: Dr Bryce Stewart, University of York and Kellington Primary School
Krill: Dr Magnus Johnson, University of Hull and Brayton Primary School
“The children will remember this experience for the rest of their lives. I cannot wait for the Great Science Share for Schools event in June 2022 and to hear about their investigations!”
Inspired? Find out how to share your science here:
The Most Important Animal of All
by Penny Worms, illustrated by Hannah
Bailey, consultant Alex Morss et al.
Endorsed by the British Ecological Society
Published 27 January 2022
The Most Important Animal of All is a positive and enriching non-fiction picture book, fully endorsed by the British Ecological Society, introducing seven super-animals that help keep the world in balance.
9781838138141 | £7.99 | Paperback
9781838138134 | £12.99 | Hardback
Designed to encourage inquiry, discussion and critical thinking, in this informative book a teacher challenges her class to come to their own conclusions about who is the most important animal of all. Seven children champion a different keystone species for the top spot. Is it …
• Bees as master pollinators, vital for plant reproduction and food for all
• Beavers as ecosystem engineers that shape their wetland habitats
• Bats as pollinators, seed dispersers and night predators, they keep insect populations in check
• Elephants as ecosystem engineers and seed dispersers
• Krill as a foundation species, bottom of the food chain and vital for marine species
• Sharks and tigers as apex predators, keeping their food webs balanced and, in doing so, enabling greater species diversity?
Using a unique mix of illustrations and photographs, the information is brought to life providing a gentle and positive introduction to the concepts of ecosystems and interconnectedness. The Most Important Animal of All promotes caring not worrying and curiosity not fear, for children aged 5 to 8 years. Includes a glossary, further information and an index.
Accompanying Cross-Curricular Teacher Resources available at:
the author:
Penny Worms has 30 years’ experience writing, editing and packaging children’s books.
The Illustrator:
Hannah Bailey is a talented young illustrator who is gaining a reputation for her beautiful children’s picture books. Her book, When the Whales Walked (Words & Pictures) won the UK’s School Library Association Children’s Choice Awards for 7-12s, and in the US was a 2019 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students.
The Consultant:
Consultant Alex Morss is an ecologist, educator and writer, who has written several picture books for this age group, including Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story (Words & Pictures).
The Royal Society’s Partnership Grants scheme funds schools up to £3,000 to run
investigative STEM projects in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or
industry.