It turns out he is not a beggar at all, but the king in disguise. Suddenly understanding what she needs to do, Minli asks the Old Man why Dragon cannot fly. Keeping a Reading Journal. The page had been treasured by the kings of the city for generations. This character was a cruel ruler of the land in which all the main landmarks (save the moon) were located over a century ago. The depth of Minlis affection for Dragon is put to the test, as is her loyalty to her family. What benefits did they get from the stories? Another main theme idea of this story is friendship. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. The Old Man instructs Minli to remove a rock on Dragons head it has been keeping Dragon from flight. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Important Quotes. This is a good time to show students how to use a print or online thesaurus, but remind them only to use words that they are comfortable with; a fancy word is not necessarily the best word. StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Have students explain how they grew or changed because of this experience. He says they bring good fortune, so Minli buys one using one of only two copper coins she owns. When Minlis parents discover that she is missing, they run after her. Emphasize that Minlis story is a fantasy; in the real world, it is dangerous for children to run away from home, and naturally it is impossible for them to scale a ladder to the moon. Anonymous "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters". In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. Dragon cannot fly. After each assignment, review the journal questions in a class discussion or individual reading group discussions. Grades 3-6. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a middle grade fantasy fiction novel that takes inspiration from Chinese folklore and details the journey of a young girl, Minli, as she embarks on a hero's quest to improve her family's circumstances. Interwoven with Minlis quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. Do you like books with magical elements? Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Character Map It was even better than I remembered! Frame Stories in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Minli is a strong-willed, young Chinese girl who lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain. These characters are the parents of the heroine. Symbols & Motifs. Give each student a complete copy of worksheet 1 at the beginning. Give students time to reread and analyze their stories and fill in the results on Worksheet 2 as you circulate to answer questions and give assistance. So Mini decides to leave and set off to find the Old Man of the Mountain. The next day, the family works hard in the rice paddies as always. Ma and Ba say that Minli is too little to do such a thing. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis. Did they show the same qualities that she did in her quest, or did they use different qualities to meet the challenge? Frightened for her new-found friend, Minli goes for help and finds two twins: A-Fu and Da-Fu. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Study Guide: Analysis Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon begins with a description of a small girl, Minli, and her parents, who live in a poor village at the base of Fruitless Mountain. Chapter 1 Summary. It also suggests something valuable; The black mountain seems ominous and threatening; The fact that the mountain cut the sky like a jagged piece of rough metal suggests that it is harsh and perhaps dangerous. If the boys in the class seem likely to find it difficult to identify with a female protagonist, suggest that they imagine a twin brother accompanying her on her journey. It blends an adventure narrative with a female hero, a collection of traditional and invented folktales, and an array of Chinese-style paintings and woodcuts into an appealing and challenging reading experience. How can the links between the frame story and the embedded Chinese folktales be represented to show how they reinforce the underlying themes of courage and generosity? The goal of this activity is to have students engage with the text through a series of focused questions listed by chapter and page in Worksheet 1. Themes. She realizes that she cannot ask Dragons questionunless she chooses not to ask her own. Website design by Mira T. Lee of MIRA T. CREATIVE. Students will provide At the onset of the quest, she meets Dragon. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. That afternoon, she meets a man who sells goldfish. What an engaging book! It is not too scary. When he was a teenager, he learned that he was going to die young. His fortune is even poorer than hers, but he does not seem discontent. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Lesson Plans, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Minli befriends a dragon along the way. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Summary and Study Guide CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2.d:Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Give each student or pair a story to work with from the following list or let them choose one themselves, being sure that no two are working on the same story. Chinese Lesson (write the Chinese characters for mountain and moon) Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | NEH-Edsitement characters - where the mountain meets the moon The goldfish man asks a child in the street to direct him to Minlis house. She has written over a dozen books, many of them using Asian American child characters, in an effort to help Asian American children appreciate their heritage and to create the kind of books she wished she had been able to read when she was growing up. Minli is restless and never content with her lot in life. After learning about the concept of the frame story, pairs of students take one of the folktales to analyze and then illustrate a key scene from it. The second date is today's "[6], Andrew Medlar from Booklist said: "Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine & mystical land [] children will embrace this [] story"[6], A companion, titled Starry River of the Sky, was published on February 11, 2014. This is a good book but it is kinda slow. Jennifer Rothschild, Prince Georges County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD, Kirkus Reviews*Starred Review*To change her familys fortunes, a poor Chinese girl embarks on a fantastical quest to discover she already has everything she needs to be happy. Minli realizes she has to go on alone, but before she leaves, she promises to ask Dragons question for him. The next day she finds a stream, but it is salty. Write the definition of a frame story on the board (a main story which has other stories contained within it) and have them copy the definition in their notebooks. The cellar was dark and kind of creepy. In the final activity and summative assessment, students plan and then write a personal narrative about a challenge they have overcome, using vivid descriptions of persons and places. 1. With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. Try to elicit the feelings about the life of Minlis village that these words convey. Map Your Own Connections (with red threads) Minli watches him go, feeling puzzled that he is so happy. Minli and her parents live in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where they toil endlessly. Make two copies for each pair of students to use in analyzing the embedded stories. How important is magic in the story? When she does so, the goldfish tells her directions to Never-Ending Mountain, where a wise immortal known as the Old Man of the Moon lives. This first activity introduces the book and requires students to read it and keep a journal. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis Trying to come to terms with her own identity, she searched for and treasured books that featured Asian American characters, even when their portrayal was oversimplified or stereotyped. As she works, Minli wishes she could change her familys fortune. Minli is restless and never content with her lot in life. Because of Minli's sacrifice to help a friend, she and her family receive everything they could ever have hoped for. This allows him to fly, and he takes Minli back to Fruitless Mountain. How does this character change over time? Give them time to legibly recopy (and edit!) . Still, real life faces everyone with difficult challenges that require courage and ingenuity. The old man instructs her to remove a rock from Dragon's head, which has been preventing him from flying. Now the woman can see that she had fortune all along, but that she lost it when she lost her daughter. Using a classroom map, show students the location of China and ask them what they know about it. Characters included in the character map are: Minli Ma Ba Goldfish Man Dragon Buffalo Boy King Da-A-Fu A-Gong & Amah Green Tiger Rabbit Old Man of the Moon Copy Activity* [1][2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor[3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. The Jade Dragon reunites with one of her children, Dragon, and transforms Fruitless Mountain to Fruitful Mountain. With nothing else to occupy them in the evenings, Minlis father spins tales of the Old Man in the Moon and the Jade Dragon. What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? Give students a clean copy of Worksheet 2 and tell them that their classmates will be reading their work. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.5:Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem. In the story that the girl told the Great Green Tiger she stated that another tiger had taken her brother to be his slave for life. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary | GradeSaver I LOVED it! Then ask them to share their best sentence with the class. Classroom world map or map of Asia (It would be ideal to have a printed or projected map.) Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. by Grace Lin Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character List These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. [11], Renee Greenfield and Jennifer Rabold. Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. Distribute Worksheet 3 and go over the directions with the students. Also, she is full of bitterness and resentment due to their poverty. Personification is a literary device that give human traits to nonhuman objects. Think back on some of your favorite characters from past novels you have Outside the city, Dragon also obtains a red string of destiny that is used to tie people destined to meet and marry together, which he believes is the borrowed line. Most of the information of the notes is correct. This strong-willed, young Chinese girl lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain and decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. For years, she and her siblings were the only Asian American children in her school and she was the only one in her class. eNotes Editorial. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a Chinese fairy tale about an adventurous girl who searches for the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of changing the fortune of her poor family. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary, Read the Study Guide for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, View Wikipedia Entries for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Lin has fleshed out this . Minli's brave, clever, kind, and earnest character is utterly endearing. Perfect for Moon Festival celebrations or Mother-Daughter Book Clubs, this kit provides an invite, posters and instructions for the journey-like game. These characters are the parents of the heroine. The single line of text upon it is usually unreadable, but sometimes during historically important moments, the words are intelligibleand they always say something different. Every day, the family works in. She ultimately meets the king, and he willingly gives up the borrowed line, which is revealed to be a page from the Book of Fortune, a legendary book that tells of fates and can be read only by immortal folk. The objective of her quest is to find the Old Man of the Moon who possesses the power to change a persons fortune. Bitter and resentful, Minlis mother complains when her husband fills Minlis imagination with enchanting tales of Never-Ending Mountain and the Old Man of the Moon. Distribute copies of Worksheet 2. What words do you think make the description colorful? Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing. Numerous collections of Chinese folktales can also be accessed through the library. Already a member? While Lin tells the tale of the courageous Minli, she also imbeds other story vignettes that weave together and connect in complicated ways. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - amazon.com I brought my pet into school. The protagonist Minli, like one of Joseph Campbells archetypal heroes, leaves her home, sets out on a quest, has to pass through many crucial tests to reach her goal, and returns to her village bringing back the aid that the villagers and her family need. The authors writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. All storyboards and images are private and secure. My mom and I first read it as part of my Sonlight curriculum and we loved it. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon begins with a description of a small girl, Minli, and her parents, who live in a poor village at the base of Fruitless Mountain. Have them write three sentences about this challenge in answer to these questions: What qualities did you have to show to meet this challenge? Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a juvenile fiction novel by Grace Lin, author of The Year of the Dog. Character Analysis. Determine the Age of the Dragon (using peach math) Not affiliated with Harvard College. He spoke to the Old Man of the Moon, who changed the Book of Fortune to give him ninety-nine years of life instead of nineteen. One day, after a goldfish salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family. En route she befriends a dragon who joins her quest. Optional Activity Grade Level Standard. After contemplating her choices, Minli chooses to ask Dragon's question for him: Why can he not fly? When Minli finds Dragon, it cant fly and is caught up in some ropes. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Study Guide, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Summary. Far away from here introduces the suggestion of an exotic location and/or time; The Jade River suggest China, which is known for jade. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a wonderfully crafted tale with great messages on gratefulness, contentedness, self-sacrifice, faith and love. In order to find the Old Man, the pair must find the Never-Ending Mountain. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous Where the Mountain Meets the Moon tells of a classic journey with a young duo, Minli and Dragon, working to find their way to the mountain that leads to the moon. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Character Map - Storyboard That Add (B) and use a fork to stir it. Read the Study Guide for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, View Wikipedia Entries for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. She describes a poor woman who was blessed with loving husband and a beautiful, happy daughter. They travel all through the night, searching. He scoops some plain rice out of his bowl for the fish to eat. After a brief discussion of types of challengesphysical, emotional, economic, etc.students read the entire book, focusing on the main narrative. The Question and Answer section for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great 2023 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved. When this story is finished, Minli asks to hear another, but Ba refuses, not wanting to displease Ma. Along the way, they encounter selfish monkeys, whom Minli manages to trick into letting them pass, and together they enter the City of Bright Moonlight, where Minli leaves Dragon in a cave and takes refuge in a boy's home. If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. Minli's mother is very dissatisfied with the family's situation. Ask them to tell the groups how they felt after dealing with this challenge. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON is a fantasy-fiction story where Chinese Folklore is engraved throughout the story. Have students pay close attention to the She walks deep into the forest and travels all through the night, stopping to sleep at first light. I loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. A battle between the Green Tiger and Dragon ensues, and Dragon is mortally wounded. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5: Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. Amazed, Ma observes that the fortunes of the family have changed. In the morning, her parents are overjoyed that she is home. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. Identify (4) Traits for this character and supply evidence2. 3. She does not like for Ba to tell the stories to Minli because she thinks he is filling her head with ideas. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. (Teacher Resource: Plot Outline can serve as suggested answers. This character visits the Village of the Fruitless Mountain early in the book and at the very end. All of the villagers, along with Minli's family, are also very poor, as farming is difficult in the hard and dry land due to Fruitless Mountain being the broken and lonely heart of the immortal Jade Dragon, a dragon that once brought rain to the Earth. Minli is a strong character and a positive role model. They learn the new concept of a frame story and explore how the embedded stories enrich and amplify and reflect the main story. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Buy It Now In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. well as challenges the characters face. I was glad to see a few things from when I was younger and I started to play with them. Along the way, she finds excitement, danger, humor, magic, and wisdom, and she befriends a flightless dragon, a talking fish, and other companions and helpmates in her quest. Ba tells the first such story. In the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, How did Magistrate Tiger plan on making his wish come true.