Hannah loves gorillas but has never seen one. Her father’s too busy to take her to the zoo – or for anything else come to that. For her birthday, Hannah asks her father for a gorilla but is disappointed when she discovers that the gorilla she’s got is just a toy one. But then something extraordinary happens … the toy turns into a real gorilla, who puts on her father’s hat and coat and takes her off for a magical visit to the zoo.

This magical story forms the springboard for our entire study theme this half term as we explore the power of imagination and the fascinating world of gorillas. In English, we will dive into Browne's rich storytelling alongside other animal tales , while in Art, we'll analyze his unique style and paint our own monochrome acrylic gorillas. As Scientists and Geographers, we will study 'Animals including humans' and map out world continents to examine human land use and the impact of deforestation on gorilla habitats. Our cross-curricular links stretch across every subject, from exploring musical interaction and Spanish phonic names for instruments to creating animation in Computing and making sustainability pledges as Climate Changemakers.  All of this wonderful learning, culminating in a Fantastic Finish where children will present their own dream creations enhanced by virtual gorilla encounters!

For more detailed information, please take a look at our study theme web and knowledge organisers, which can be found below.