Sign In
Sign In
Register for Free
PrimaryArt & DesignEnglish ...

The One and Only Ivan – KS2 book topic for exploring emotions and empathy

What's included?

Three-page PDF featuring cross-curricular activity ideas for KS2

Key Stage

KS2

Age

Years 3-6

Explore the complexity of being human, emotions and empathy with Katherine Applegate’s moving book inspired by a true story, in this free book topic from Johanna Robinson and Jonathan Rooke…

Every child wants to be Ivan’s friend. He’s a philosopher, an artist, a storyteller… and a gorilla. A gorilla without a real home.

Above all, Ivan is a gorilla with a sense of honour. If he makes a promise to a friend then he keeps the promise, no matter what the obstacles, no matter what the cost.

Taken from their mother and father as babies, Ivan and his twin sister Tag are put in a crate and shipped across the Atlantic to live with an unscrupulous circus manager in the United States.

After bringing him up like a human child, Ivan is put to work in a circus in a shopping mall as a curiosity.

He lives in a glass habitat and spends his time throwing dung balls, watching TV and painting. Ivan has learned to accept the cards life has dealt him but he longs to be understood and to be the gorilla he was born to be.

Katherine Applegate gives him a voice with calm dignity even though his circumstances are terrible. It’s when Ruby, a new young elephant, is brought to the circus that his life changes.

Honouring a promise made on the deathbed of his elderly elephant friend, he sets out to ensure Ruby has a better life and can live in freedom in a zoo. But how? His art and his intelligence will show him the way.

And it’s a true story – even though, as Stella the elephant would say, some of the facts are confused.

Applegate was moved when she saw reports about the real Ivan on TV. Her story gently unfolds, drawing the young reader in with short chapters, economic, stripped-back literary language and fully rounded characters.

The relationships are compassionate and complicated and leave plenty of room for children to explore emotions and empathise. It is moving and enables children to explore together the complexity of being human, to ask questions and to be inspired.

The book, like Ivan’s real life, has a happy ending.

Download includes

  • 3-page PDF full of activities related to the book.

DOWNLOAD A FREE RESOURCE!
The One and Only Ivan – KS2 book topic for exploring emotions and empathy
PrimaryArt & DesignEnglish ...

You'll also receive regular updates from Teachwire with free lesson plans, great new teaching ideas, offers and more. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Which sectors are you interested in?

By signing up you agree to our Terms & Conditions and privacy policy

Explore teaching packs

Pie Corbett Ultimate KS2 Fiction Collection
Pie Corbett Ultimate KS2 Fiction Collection
Fire up KS2 pupils' imagination with this collection of 20+ fictional stories, written by literacy expert Pie Corbett. Each ... more
20 x resources
Pie Corbett KS2 Non-Fiction Collection
Use Pie Corbett’s non-fiction texts to inspire your KS2 pupils to get writing. Each resource contains an original text in ... more
6 x resources
Pie Corbett KS2 Poetry Collection
Inspire KS2 pupils to be creative and express themselves with this pack of Pie Corbett poetry. Each of these Pie Corbett Tal... more
7 x resources
WAGOLL classroom resources
WAGOLL Packs from Real Authors
Peer inside the mind of award-winning children's authors and help pupils understand how to create engaging characters, capti... more
7 x resources
Art KS2 inspiring medium term plans
Art KS2 Inspiring Medium Term Plans
Get pupils' creative juices flowing with these expert medium-term art plans for KS2. Each resource consists of a full half-t... more
6 x resources
Magical Harry Potter Teaching Ideas
Magical Harry Potter Teaching Ideas
Spark pupils' imaginations with these inventive and exciting teaching ideas, all themed around the wonderful world of Harry ... more
11 x resources