In this unit, students will explore problem solving using the four operations. Students will master how to solve multi-step word problems using the four operations; represent word problems solved using letters within equations to represent the unknown quantity; and use mental computation and estimation strategies to determine the reasonableness of answers.

Students will notice how Allen Say’s word choices develop Grandfather’s character in this lesson and consider how the words he chooses to repeat deepen the reader’s understanding of Grandfather and the choices he makes. Students will also review the illustrations and words in Grandfather’s Journey to identify a central message in the text as they build a deeper understanding of the essential question, “How do stories help us understand immigrants’ experiences?”