Passage to Freedom by Ken Mochizuki, with Afterword by Hiroki Sugihara The family of a Japanese diplomat living in Lithuania in 1940 is confronted by Jewish refugees asking for Japanese visas to escape the German Nazis. Without his country’s permission, the diplomat issues thousands of the visas. Even today, years after his death, Japanese and Jewish families alike honor Mr. Sugihara for his bravery.

Skill Lessons Genre Comprehension Words to Know Biography Comprehension Author’s Purpose (PB 63, 67, 68) Sequence (PB 66) Words to Know Vocabulary (PB 64) Dictionary/Glossary (PB 65) Research and Study Skills Parts of a Book (PB 69-70)

Genre A biography is the true story of a person's life, written by someone else.

Comprehension Author’s Purpose The author’s purpose is the reason or reasons the author has for writing. An author may write to persuade, to inform, to entertain, or to express himself or herself.

Comprehension Sequence Sequence is the order in which events happen in a selection. When you read, think about what comes first, next, and last. Several events can occur at the same time. Words such as meanwhile and during give clues that two events are happening at the same time.

Vocabulary Words Agreement Cable Diplomat Issue Refugees Representatives Superiors Visa

Agreement Harmony in feeling or opinion

Cable A message sent through wires, also called a telegram

Diplomat Person who manages relations between two nations

Issue To distribute officially to a person or persons

Refugees People who flee to another country for safety

Representatives People appointed or elected to act or speak for others

Superiors People who are higher in rank or position

Visa An official signature or endorsement upon a passport or document, showing it has been examined and approved

Dictionary/Glossary Dictionaries and glossaries provide alphabetical lists of words and their meanings. A dictionary is a book of words and their meanings, and a glossary is a short dictionary at the back of some books. An entry shows the spelling of a word and comes before the definition.

Parts of a Book The parts of a book include its cover, title page, copyright page, table of contents, chapter titles, captions, section heads, glossary, and index. Examining the parts of a book can give you clues about a book and assist you in learning as much as you can from it.

Daily Fix-It The childrens eyes were sad? Them fled from the nazis. The many travelers belongings were left behine. Thay could not save theirself.

Daily Fix-It Two mens' clothing stores had its windows broken. Brave citizens hided refugees in several house. The boy had no belt for he pantz.

Daily Fix-It If she had a pare of scisors, Mama would fix them. Poland was attacked, by the german army. Ain't it a shame people cant' get along?

Resources/Websites http://leeandlow.com/pdfs/passage.pdf Classroom guide to story http://ncta.osu.edu/japan/volkmann-jap.pdf Two lesson plans for story http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/gr6/gr6_th1_sel2.html http://www.heartwoodethics.org/docs/Curr_Passage.pdf http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/snpapp/login/login.jsp