Grandfather’s Journey 1994 Caldecott Medal Winner Written and Illustrated by: Allen Say Visit the Author

Summary A young Japanese man leaves his home in Japan to explore North America. He falls in love with the amazing sights of the new land, but eventually misses his home. He moves his new family back to Japan but always thinks and shares stories of North America with his family.

Study Skills Genre: Historical Fiction Comprehension Skill: Sequence Comprehension Strategy: Graphic Organizers Comprehension Review Skill: Main Idea Vocabulary: Dictionary/Glossary

Genre: Historical Fiction Historical Fiction is set in the past. It is a story in which some of the details are factual but in which others are made up or are loosely based on history. Look for the factual details as you read. Click on Genre to learn more about different genres and Realistic Fiction.

Comprehension Skill- Sequence TE 66/67 and 87b Sequence means the order in which things happen. Dates, times, and clue words such as first, then, next, and last can help you understand the order of events. Sometimes two or more events happen at the same time. Words such as meanwhile and during can show this.

Comprehension Strategy – Graphic Organizers TE 66 Using a graphic organizer can help you to understand what you read. Examples of graphic organizers are webs, charts, and diagrams. A sequence chart can help you see the sequence of an article and often you can fill these charts in as you read.

Comprehension Skill Review – Main Idea and Details TE 75 Main idea is an important point about the story’s topic Supporting details give more information about a main idea.

Vocabulary Strategy Dictionary / Glossary Te 79/87c Some words have more than one meaning Sometimes readers need to check a dictionary or glossary to find the meaning that makes sense for the sentence.

Question of the Week TE 66m What can we learn about the United States as we travel?

Weekly Fluency Check - Fluency TE 87a Often text has many statements of facts and details, you will use a slower tempo and rate to help listeners understand it better. Practice reading page 81 using appropriate tempo and rate.

Literary Device – Paraphrase TE Pg. 87b Paraphrasing is putting something in your own words. Paraphrasing should keep the ideas and meaning of the original text, but be simpler to read. A paraphrase should not include the reader’s opinions.

Vocabulary- Say It! amazed bewildered towering longed still homeland sculptures

surprised greatly; struck with sudden wonder; astounded amazed surprised greatly; struck with sudden wonder; astounded

towering very high

to make or become calm or quiet still to make or become calm or quiet

completely confused; puzzled bewildered completely confused; puzzled

country that is your home; your native land homeland country that is your home; your native land

works of art created by carving, modeling, casting, etc. sculptures works of art created by carving, modeling, casting, etc.

wished very much; desired greatly longed wished very much; desired greatly

Full of hope, they left their homeland.

Full of hope, they left their homeland.

The English language and the new mix of customs in America bewildered them.

The English language and the new mix of customs in America bewildered them.

Deserts with rocks like enormous sculptures amazed them.

Deserts with rocks like enormous sculptures amazed them.

Towering buildings called skyscrapers soared into the sky.

Towering buildings called skyscrapers soared into the sky.

The new Americans longed for the sights and people they had left behind.

The new Americans longed for the sights and people they had left behind.

Having a better life did not still their feelings for their homeland.

Having a better life did not still their feelings for their homeland.

They seemed like sculptures that symbolized the power and promise of the new land.

They seemed like sculptures that symbolized the power and promise of the new land.

Day 2 - Question of the Day – Why do you think traveling in the United States made the grandfather long to see more?

Grandfather’s Journey p. 72-73 What did the grandfather do after the steamship landed in the New World? In what ways was North America different from the grandfather’s village in Japan? How do you know?

Grandfather’s Journey p. 74-75 Think about the grandfather’s personality and spirit. In what ways does he remind you of yourself or someone you know? What is the main idea of p. 75, paragraph 1? What details support this idea? How does the grandfather feel about North America? How can you tell?

Grandfather’s Journey p. 76-77 Why would the grandfather leave a place he loved so much? Why did the grandfather buy a large house in the city? Tell in order the important events in this story so far.

Day 3 - Question of the Day – Pg. What do you think the author of Grandfather’s Journey would say are some positive and negative effects of moving to a new place?

Grandfather’s Journey p. 78-79 What is the meaning of raised as it is used on p. 78, paragraph 3? Explain the meaning of this sentence from p. 79: “Bombs fell from the sky and scattered our lives like leaves in a storm.”

Grandfather’s Journey p. 80-81 What events could be listed on a time line for the narrator’s life? What does the narrator mean when he says, “I think I know my grandfather now”? Think about what you know about World War II. Why do they think this war prevented the grandfather from returning to the United States?

Day 4 - Question of the Day - Review What kind of travel information can you find using online reference sources?

Review Questions Why was grandfather amazed by the sights in NA? How can you tell grandfather liked traveling through NA? Why are songbirds important to grandfather? What is the main idea of this story?

Postcard TE 87g-h A postcard is a brief message, with a picture on one side, sent by mail to friends or family. Often a post card gives detail about a place you are visiting on vacation and describes your feelings about being there.

Writing Assignment Pretend that you are on vacation. Write a postcard to a friend or family member describing where you are. The place can be real or imaginary.

Spelling Words Long e and o sweet each three least freedom below throat float foam flown

Spelling Words Long e and o greet season croak shallow eagle indeed rainbow grown seaweed hollow

CHALLENGE Halloween speedometer underneath seacoast cocoa

Research/Study Skill – Electronic Media TE 87L Electronic media includes any resources that require electricity There are two types of electronic media, computer and non-computer sources.

Research/Study Skill – Electronic Media TE 87L Computer sources: CD-ROMs, DVDs, and the Internet (including online sources such as Web sties, encyclopedia, newspapers, and so on). Non-computer sources: audiotapes, videotapes, DVDs, films, filmstrips, television shows, and the radio.

Fun Stuff Skills Review Webquest More Fun Stuff Japan for Kids