Thematic Unit

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Koko the Gorilla
Grades 3-5
Thematic Unit
-language arts -geography -social studies
-science -computers -art
-math -history
by Darcy Shaffer
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Koko
Gorilla
is the worlds only talking gorilla.
She can speak in sign language.
Koko has a better grasp of human language than
any other non-human in the world.
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Koko was born on July 4, 1971, at the San
Francisco zoo.
Her real name is Hanabi-ko, a Japanese word
meaning Fireworks Child.
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Penny and Koko
Koko was one year old when she met Penny.
Francine Penny Patterson was a student at
Stanford University. She wanted to study Koko as
a class project.
They have been good friends ever since.
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Koko was a scrawny, undernourished little thing
when Penny first met her.
But Penny took good care of her.
She fed her...
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She bathed her...
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and she taught her.
Penny teaches Koko the connection between images
and words.
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Penny taught Koko to speak in sign language.
Today, Koko can
-sign over 1000 words
-understand over 2000 spoken words
-construct 3 to 5 word sentences
-make up stories
-tell jokes
-make up rhymes
Koko has an IQ of between 70 and 95.
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When Koko was 5 years old, Michael came to live
with her.
Michael was 3.5 years old.
Penny hoped that Koko would choose Michael as her
mate.
She wants Koko to have a baby.
She has watched Koko try to teach her toy gorilla
to sign.

Penny wants to see if Koko would teach her baby
to sign.
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Michael grew up to be quite handsome.
He learned to sign over 600 words.
Koko liked him very, very much.
But she didnt choose him as a mate.
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Kokos friend, Michael
An intelligent and creative lowland gorilla from
Cameroon, Africa
Height 60 Weight 450 lbs.
Michael was found in Africa. He seemed to be an
orphan. When he learned to speak, Penny asked
him where his mother was. Michael signed, Men
Loud Mother Blood, and then he became withdrawn
and sullen. From this, it is believed that
poachers killed his parents.
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Koko plays with her pet kittens.
She named them herself.
Smoky
All Ball
Lips
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Koko is 30 years old now.
She is 5 feet 3/4 inches tall.
She weighs 280 pounds.
She still enjoys doing many of the same things
that you do.
Koko plays on her tube.
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Koko likes to watch television.
Her favorite television program is Wild Kingdom.
Her favorite movie is Free Willy.
Koko likes to look at her picture books.
Her favorite book is Kokos Kittens.
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She works on her computer.
She chats online.
You can visit her Website at www.koko.org
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Koko loves to write.
Kokos Handwriting
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Koko the Artist
Both Koko and Michael have done some wonderful
oil paintings.
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Kokos Artwork
PINK PINK STINK NICE DRINK
Inspired by a stream running through a flowered
meadow.
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Dinosaur
This is a picture of Michaels toy dinosaur.
To create the textured, spiny effect of the
dinosaurs back, -Michael
took the finished wet painting,
-turned it upside-down, -pressed it
into the floor, -then gently lifted it
up. This was completely his own idea.
by
Michael
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Dinosaur
This is a picture of Michaels toy dinosaur.
To create the textured, spiny effect of the
dinosaurs back, -Michael
took the finished wet painting,
-turned it upside-down, -pressed it
into the floor, -then gently lifted it
up. This was completely his own idea.
by
Michael
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There is some sad news...
On April 17, 2000, Michael died suddenly of heart
disease.
Koko misses him very much.
Koko is still in deep mourning.
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Silverback Gorilla
NDUME
20 years old
Height 6 0
Swahili for Male
Weight 400 pounds
Father of 3
Penny brought Ndume to live with Koko in 1991.
Penny hoped that Koko would choose him as her
mate.
His favorite activities are eating and sleeping
in the sun.
He is not well-behaved.
He doesnt know sign language.
Koko never had any interest in him.
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Ndume and Koko
However, since Michaels death, Koko is slowly
starting to bond with Ndume.
Maybe she will choose Ndume as her mate.
Will Koko have a baby?
If she does, will she teach it to sign?
The world waits to see.