“Wouldn’t it be amazing if chocolate grew on trees? Well, it does! Wouldn’t it be amazing if I said we were going to make some chocolate? Well, we are! And we’re going to discover even more amazing things about chocolate…”

This big idea sparked an exciting and meaningful learning journey for our Year 4 students at Bangkok Patana School last term, as they explored the curriculum unit on Chocolate. What began with a familiar and much-loved treat quickly unfolded into a rich, connected exploration of people, places and processes, all underpinned by our school values of Well-being, Learning and Global Citizenship.

The journey began with an immersive Chocolate Day entry point, designed to hook curiosity and invite children to learn through play, enquiry and the senses. Students rotated through a range of engaging experiences, including mindful chocolate tasting, blindfold flavour challenges, chocolate chip excavations, chocolate playdough sculptures and chocolate bar design. These shared moments delighted the children while encouraging careful observation, thoughtful discussion and reflection, laying strong foundations for the learning that followed.

Literacy

Literacy learning was thoughtfully woven throughout the unit, providing rich opportunities for pupils to read, write and think deeply across a range of genres.

Through the Power of Reading text Grendel, children explored the idea of wishes and consequences using drama, discussion and close reading, before crafting character descriptions, diary entries, letters of advice and ultimately their own stories with a clear moral. This narrative work was complemented by non-fiction writing in science, where pupils created imaginative explanation texts that followed an alliterative food character on a journey through the digestive system, blending accurate scientific vocabulary with engaging storytelling. Alongside this, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory provided a rich stimulus for developing sentence craft, descriptive language and narrative structure, allowing pupils to experiment confidently with imagery, dialogue and varied sentence openings. Across the term, literacy became a powerful vehicle for creativity, precision and purpose.

Science

Science lessons allowed pupils to deepen their understanding of teeth, digestion and states of matter, helping them explore how chocolate affects our bodies and why it melts. Practical investigations and enquiry-based learning encouraged children to think scientifically, make careful observations and draw conclusions, strengthening both subject knowledge and working scientifically skills.

Geography

Students travelled virtually to tropical regions where cacao trees thrive, investigating climate, biomes and chocolate as a global cash crop. They compared producer and consumer countries and began to understand how chocolate production and consumption varies across the world. These discussions naturally led to thoughtful conversations about sustainability, environmental impact and responsibility.

History

History lessons took the children back to the Maya and Aztec civilisations, where cacao beans were once used as currency. They explored how chocolate spread to Europe and how trade, exploration and cultural exchange have shaped the chocolate we know today. Through timelines, discussion and drama, students developed a growing appreciation of chocolate’s rich and complex past.

Design and Technology

Learning became hands-on and purposeful. Students explored the process of chocolate-making, experimented with ingredients and applied their mathematical skills to measure, scale and design packaging. Creating nets for chocolate boxes and wrappers allowed pupils to combine accuracy with creativity, reinforcing the real-world application of mathematics.

Global Citizenship

Global citizenship was woven throughout the unit as the children explored fair trade chocolate and other ethically sourced products. These discussions encouraged them to think critically about consumer choices and fairness, helping them develop empathy and a deeper understanding of their role in an interconnected world.

Across the term, Year 4 students demonstrated growth not only in their academic learning, but also in key personal skills such as enquiry, communication, adaptability and resilience. They were motivated, engaged and challenged to think deeply, showing just how powerful a familiar theme can be when learning is purposeful and connected.

Who knew there was so much to learn about chocolate? We did. As the term draws to a close, our Year 4 learners have journeyed from chocolate consumers to chocolate explorers, and now proudly stand as chocolate experts — with a sweet taste of learning that will linger long after the final bite.