Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis Read More Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters Visual Vocabulary Theme Answer the Prompt Figurative Language Text Structure Create a Storyboard Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary | GradeSaver I think this story was okay but it was lacking adventure and it was hard to follow along. (Most students will say it is very big and has a huge population; a few may be able to bring up current events involving China.) En route she befriends a dragon who joins her quest. It will take more than a goldfish to bring fortune to our house, she says. Tell students that they are going to read the book and keep a reading journal; explain how you would like them to proceed, i.e., how many pages or chapters to read and which journal questions to answer. I really think you should read it! This Study Guide consists of approximately 29pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - The Old Man explains that, once every ninety-nine years, someone comes to ask him a question. 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. The "rock" turns out to be the coveted Dragon's Pearl, which brings enormous wealth to her village. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin 4.30 45,753 ratings5,600 reviews In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. Numerous collections of Chinese folktales can also be accessed through the library. Have students complete the worksheet. 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? As their quest continues, Minli and Dragon face the vicious Green Tiger, who is the On their way towards the mountain, Dragon and Minli encounter the evil Green Tiger, the reawakened spirit of Magistrate Tiger. (Teachers do not have to assign all the stories.). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. When her parents find out, Ma is angry. (authors note) (Fantasy. Dragon also reveals that he was born from a painting and came to life when his eyes were painted. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. As she debates what to do, she looks down at the Book of Fortune on the Old Mans lap and sees that he has added in the paper she received from the king. The blooms of the flowering trees also provide the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon. Jade Dragons four children took pity on the people and transformed their bodies into great rivers to nourish the land. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. Each version of Storyboard That has a different privacy and security model that is tailored for the expected usage. Have you described the setting, the place where the events of the story occur, in clear and specific language? The grandfather, A-Gong, gives Dragon medicine that doubles as tea. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. [4] Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. While her mother worries and complains about their lot, her father brightens their evenings with storytelling. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? Da-Fu and A-Fu lead Minli to Never-Ending Mountain, where the Old Man of the Moon is said to live. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. With each photo, ask students to identify what is happening in the picture, what kind of challenge is presented, and what kinds of skills or abilities the subjects need to be successful. Minli (her name means "quick thinking") is the main character. Minlis determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon, who knows the answers to all of lifes questions. She decides to let it go because of how bitter it made Ma. Part 2. Use your hands and roll the dough into small balls (about 1 tsp. Every night, Minlis father tells her stories about the Jade Dragon that keeps the mountain bare, the greedy and mean Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man of the Moon who holds everyones destiny. I think it is good for many different ages, from 7-year-olds to 12-year-olds. Ask students to write one final paragraph in which they compare themselves with Minli. [10], According to Journal of Education, Grace Lin is the "best-selling author of The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat". size). 24 142-49 Dragon meets the stone lions, who This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. Word Count: 2124. Tell students that before they write the story, they are going to practice the skill of using vivid language. Stop believing stories and stop wasting your time. date the date you are citing the material. After each assignment, review the journal questions in a class discussion or individual reading group discussions. 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. (From a Christian perspective, it also had a surprising theme of providence in it.) Have them copy each days assignment into their notebooks; Make a photocopy of Worksheet 1 for each student and cut off a strip for each daily assignment for students to paste at the top of the notebook page; Cut off each assignment strip and paste it onto a sheet of lined paper. The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. Give students a few minutes to survey the book and look at the pictures. BildungsromanShelf ElfPaper TigersMotherReaderCharlottes LibraryWrite for a ReaderThe Mommy FilesThrifty Minnesota Mama Creative MadnessAbby the Librarian, And EVEN more!Review at BookpageCareer, Craft & Cheer on CynsationsSoup of the Day at Jama Rattigans Alphabet SoupSeven Impossible Things Before BreakfastBook of Color Pick of the Day at Galley Cat, Make a Compass (like Minli!) How does this character change over time? What an engaging book! Suddenly understanding what she needs to do, Minli asks the Old Man why Dragon cannot fly. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Have students explain how they grew or changed because of this experience. The Old Man of the Moon. With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Minli befriends a dragon along the way. "[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. The stone lion gives the thread to Dragon. Writing the narrative of their own challenge gives students a chance to reflect on the themes (courage, persistence, imagination, resourcefulness) of the Lin novel from the first two lessons as they see them enacted in their own experience. Frightened for her new-found friend, Minli goes for help and finds two twins: A-Fu and Da-Fu. Distribute copies of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. What do you think is the secret of happiness? She meets an orphan boy who lives alone with only a water buffalo for company, and she tells him that she needs to see the king. This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 132pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials. 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. No one else can view anything. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. Minli watches him go, feeling puzzled that he is so happy. Go over the worksheet to be sure that students understand it. who have not yet read the book get excited and ALL have a great time! Tell students that they are going to use their three sentences as a basis for writing a kind of story called a personal narrative. This is quite a minor character. Youre always wishing to do impossible things! Then ask them to share their best sentence with the class. eNotes.com Perhapsyou need to trust her, the goldfish man says. 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. *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed), This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides. Let students investigate online resources for folktales from China. Have a Feast (recipes to enjoy with the book). Try to elicit the feelings about the life of Minlis village that these words convey. Interwoven with Minlis quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. Grace went on a blog tour for her book. That is, does it have a beginning, a middle, and an end? Determine the Age of the Dragon (using peach math) Under house have students brainstorm as many words as they can for house: mansion, shack, apartment, rancher, hut, etc. Now the woman can see that she had fortune all along, but that she lost it when she lost her daughter. I cannot say enough good things about this book. The kite magically transforms itself into a rope bridge, but it is too thin to carry Dragon. The dragon explains that he does not know how to fly and wants to learn, so Minli invites him to come with her to see the Old Man of the Moon, the only person who might be able to tell him how. Create a character map of the characters in the story. The principal told me that was not a good idea. The effort is enormous, and they grow barely enough to feed themselves. He remembers a story he has recently heard about a family from the area giving a dragons pearl to the king of the City of Bright Moonlightwho responded by bestowing the familys whole town with generous gifts of seeds and equipment for farmers. Using a classroom map, show students the location of China and ask them what they know about it. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character Descriptions [7] Making Fruitless Mountain bloom! She spent all her time wondering why she did not have more money and better food and prettier clothes. Did they show the same qualities that she did in her quest, or did they use different qualities to meet the challenge? In the book, what were many suggestions about the word that was written on the paper the Magistrate wantedthe secret of happiness. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin | Puddle Reader Find Symbols in the Story (learn about Chinese symbolism) Have students read the second paragraph. 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. He scoops some plain rice out of his bowl for the fish to eat. This made Jade Dragon regret her selfishness. Also, she is full of bitterness and resentment due to their poverty. With nothing else to occupy them in the evenings, Minlis father spins tales of the Old Man in the Moon and the Jade Dragon. She realizes that her family cannot afford to feed a pet. I was glad to see a few things from when I was younger and I started to play with them. Use evidence from the text to argue who is the most generous character in the book. Do you like books with magical elements? Grace Lin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Despite her mother's disapproval of stories and dreaming, Minli gathers her courage, her resourcefulness, and her openness to new people and places, to take a remarkable journey to accomplish the impossible. Are all your sentences complete and correctly written? The Question and Answer section for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great When Minlis parents discover that she is missing, they run after her. It says the word thankfulness over and overand nothing else. From the beautiful design and the breathtaking full-color illustrations throughout, to the gentle humor and touching prose, this book is truly a gem. Eventually she decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. How important is magic in the story? Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. In moments, he disappeared from view into the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, and if it wasn't for the goldfish Minli had in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon study guide contains a biography of Grace Lin, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. 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. Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. After some collaboration, they realize they can use their lines (the line of text and the line of destiny) to form a kite and fly up to the moon.