This week, we learned about Koko and read Koko's Kitten by Francine Patterson. Koko is a 41 year old lowland gorilla who has been trained to use sign language. We watched a few videos of this amazing gorilla and learned about her intelligence and gentle nature. The children then compared Ivan and Koko. We asked the children to think about the similarities and differences between these two gorillas:
SIMILARITIES
They both like to draw. They both lost someone they love. They both are gorillas. They both have stuffed animals. They both take care of somebody. They both have friends. They are both shy and gentle. They are both nice. They both understand human words. They are both lowland gorillas. They are not wild gorillas.
DIFFERENCES
Ivan had a sister. Koko had a kitten. Koko knows sign language. Ivan lives in a cage at a shopping mall. Koko lives in a trailer. Ivan is a silverback. Ivan is male and Koko is female. Koko is trained.
SIMILARITIES
They both like to draw. They both lost someone they love. They both are gorillas. They both have stuffed animals. They both take care of somebody. They both have friends. They are both shy and gentle. They are both nice. They both understand human words. They are both lowland gorillas. They are not wild gorillas.
DIFFERENCES
Ivan had a sister. Koko had a kitten. Koko knows sign language. Ivan lives in a cage at a shopping mall. Koko lives in a trailer. Ivan is a silverback. Ivan is male and Koko is female. Koko is trained.