will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. 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. Students reading the book will not only share the adventure, but will learn much about traditional values in Chinese culture. 24 142-49 Dragon meets the stone lions, who The page had been treasured by the kings of the city for generations. In order to find the Old Man, the pair must find the Never-Ending Mountain. He takes Minli there, and she tries to give him the one copper coin she has left. Explain what you mean by each value and show how it is illustrated in one of the embedded folk tales. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). Read more than you ever thought you wanted to know about the backstory of the book! There, he meets the first dragon he has ever seen, a female dragon with bright orange skin. (Teachers do not have to assign all the stories.). It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. (Teacher Resource: Plot Outline can serve as suggested answers. As a pre-activity, ask students to list the challenges Minli had to face (for example: living in poverty; being threatened by the monkeys; overcoming her fear to climb the bridge of string). https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/where-the-mountain-meets-the-moon-by-grace-lin/characters, This Storyboard That activity is part of the lesson plans for. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. I really think you should read it! Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. I LOVED it! How does this character interact with the main character. En route she befriends a dragon who joins her quest. [Ripping a page from the Book of Fortune will not change one's fate.] (If the class has already studied the concept, teachers may want to point out that this is an excellent example of a. Determine the Age of the Dragon (using peach math) 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. Imagine how much more those books would have meant to me, she wrote later, if they had been books of substance, if they had reflected my life with more accuracy and heart, addressed concerns and struggles and triumphs that really affected me. She also loved the books of Chinese folktales that her mother gave her, in spite of their being too simply told. Summarize this character Subjects: English Language Arts, Reading, Vocabulary Grades: Not Grade Specific Types: Then ask what they think of when they see each of these words and phrases: crowded; faded brown; coax the rice; tramping and stooping; dried mud. She refused to let it rain anymore, thus leaving the people of the earth to suffer and starve. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Teachers may opt to lower the security if they want to allow sharing. In a poignant essay entitled Why Couldnt Snow White Be Chinese? Lin discusses her sense of otherness and states that as a child, she found her dual identity to be a burden. Consider the traits of that particular character. Frightened for her new-found friend, Minli goes for help and finds two twins: A-Fu and Da-Fu. Another main theme idea of this story is friendship. The old man instructs her to remove a rock from Dragon's head, which has been preventing him from flying. Da-Fu and A-Fu lead Minli to Never-Ending Mountain, where the Old Man of the Moon is said to live. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON is a fantasy-fiction story where Chinese Folklore is engraved throughout the story. Log in here. I brought my pet into school. Ba smiles and says that Minlis return is the best fortune of all. After students have completed the first draft of their story, conduct a peer-editing session in your usual manner (or a self-editing session if you think any of the stories cover sensitive material that the students would be uncomfortable sharing). For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. Distribute Worksheet 3 and go over the directions with the students. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. The kite magically transforms itself into a rope bridge, but it is too thin to carry Dragon. Think About Your Own Answers (with a reading guide) In the first part of the lesson, students read each of the embedded folktales as they cover the main narrative. Minli's mother is very dissatisfied with the family's situation. I loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. their work. One exceptionally effective way of conducting a critical discussion is by the Socratic seminar method which is increasingly popular. Seeing her mothers unhappiness, the daughter grew discontented and went away to try to change her familys fortune. Have students complete the worksheet. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary. Together, the two fly back to Minlis village, so she can return to her parents. The boy finds out that the king is supposed to appear in the Market of Green Abundance. 1. Then photocopy the sheet to have students keep in their binders. This strikes Minli because The Old Man is what she thought, only a character from her father's stories. This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 132pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials. She said there will be a movie released on 11/21/2020, however the movie was never made. She notices that he is wearing a piece of golden dragon jewelry, and she follows him. My father came down the stairs and asked what I was doing down there. All rights reserved. She realizes that her family cannot afford to feed a pet. 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. This Study Guide consists of approximately 29pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Back in their hut by Fruitless Mountain, Ma tells Ba a story. Depending on the ability level of the class and the time available, teachers may assign the book for independent reading at home; have students read independently or in reading groups in class as you work with individuals; have students read it aloud in class; or use a combination of these methods. . Before each set of chapters, distribute the questions that students should answer and make sure that they understand what they are looking for. This time, it says, You only lose what you cling to. After thinking this over, the king decides that giving the paper to Minli is the only way to avoid losing it. An editor Try to elicit the feelings about the life of Minlis village that these words convey. 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. date the date you are citing the material. Two destinies at stake. Ba tells the first such story. 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. (For example: ReadWriteThink's, Each student should have a notebook or composition book with a dedicated section for. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. What is a true friend? Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery), (You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.). Neither is sure which line is the one they need, so they decide this is another question for the Old Man of the Moon. Click here for a PDF outlining an optional second activity. Work on the first sentence together. It must have at least one character, a setting, and a plot or series of events that occur. The main character of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is Minli, a young girl who lived in China many years ago. 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. Knead the dough a few times so that the vanilla extract can distribute evenly. How does this character change over 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. He planned on doing whatever he could to marry his son to a member of the Imperial Family. Remind them to include vivid language. The next day, the family works hard in the rice paddies as always. Remind them that to be a narrative, a story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Assess the second copy of Worksheet 2 for completeness, accuracy in recalling details of the story, and mechanics of writing. He indulges Minli with numerous Chinese folktales including stories about the Old Man of the Moon and the Never Ending Mountain. She grows up on tales of magical people and places from Ba, her father. Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. What are three things you can do to make your narrative even better? I went down to the cellar the other day. Minli is a young ten-year-old girl with a fast and eager spirit, and is constantly ready for adventure. After a brief discussion of types of challengesphysical, emotional, economic, etc.students read the entire book, focusing on the main narrative. Part 2. On the journey, Dragon tries to protect Minli from a poisonous Green Tiger but gets injured in the process and would have died had Minli not sought help from a nearby village of Moon Rain. When her parents find out she is gone, they try to look for her, but are stopped by the goldfish seller, who tells them to trust Minli. 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. Much to the displeasure of Ma, Minli spends her precious money on a goldfish. There are several forest and rivers and a peach grove. Suddenly understanding what she needs to do, Minli asks the Old Man why Dragon cannot fly. thissection. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Lesson Plans, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Ma and Ba say that Minli is too little to do such a thing. These characters are the parents of the heroine. What words do you think make the description colorful? Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. 2. What challenges does this character face? well as challenges the characters face. How important is magic in the story? Word Count: 2124. Written by people who wish to remainanonymous. More books than SparkNotes. Chinese Lesson (write the Chinese characters for mountain and moon) *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed), This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides. Characters included in the character map are: (These instructions are completely customizable. Minli realizes what is truly important in life and is thankful for her family. In this activity, students return to the novel to analyze the folktale embedded within it. You can find this storyboard in the following articles and resources: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon characters in a Character Map. Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character. As you read, take notes on the characters by answering the questions. Using the borrowed line of text and the line of destiny, the adventurers stitch a kite that stretches into a bridge, and Minli goes on alone to meet the Old Man of the Moon. When he lands, he says that he feels like he is home. They keep journals to record the challenges Minli faced, and how she met the challenges. The text of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is interspersed with many short legends. 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. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. GradeSaver, 5 February 2018 Web. With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon characters in a Character Map Minli Wishes to find Old Man of the Moon in order to change her family's fortune.Has Where the Mountain Meets the Moon characters in a Character Map Minli Wishes to find Old Man of the Moon in order to change her family's fortune.Has Recursos Precios Crear un Guin Grfico While Minli has this adventure, Dragon waits outside the city. If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. Minlis determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human. publication online or last modification online. Under house have students brainstorm as many words as they can for house: mansion, shack, apartment, rancher, hut, etc. The "rock" turns out to be the coveted Dragon's Pearl, which brings enormous wealth to her village. This beautiful book is bound to become a classic. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. With the help of a buffalo boy, Minli tracks down the King. This is a good book but it is kinda slow. Students plan and then write a personal narrative about a challenge they have overcome using vivid descriptions of persons and places. Still, real life faces everyone with difficult challenges that require courage and ingenuity. The goldfish man asks a child in the street to direct him to Minlis house. Curious, she follows it and finds a red dragon crying a river of tears. Man of the Moon The angry magistrate tore a page from the Old Man of the Moon's book, which was the paper with the secret of happiness. Put the character's name in the title boxes and choose a character and scene to represent each one. JOIN GRACES MAILING LISTYoull receive her Author Newsletter in your email inbox! by Grace Lin Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character List These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. (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.) Let students investigate online resources for folktales from China. 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? It is at this point she asks the Old Man in the Moon Dragons question. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Add (B) and use a fork to stir it. . It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. Slides or photos of challenges for Activity 1. *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. This summer I finally able to purchase the book and re-read it a third time. Minli (her name means "quick thinking") is the main character. According to the goldfish, the wise man can answer Minli's question on how to bring good fortune to her family and the village. Unable to believe her luck, Minli accepts the paper from him. Have students read with the method and at the pace you find best for your class. It turns out the goldfish can talk when people want to hear it. Not understanding that she was rich in love, the womanwho is clearly Ma herselfonly felt bitter about her poverty. 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. [1] [2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor [3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. 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. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy - adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. As an optional activity, they may make a bulletin board or wall display that shows the embedded stories within the frame of the main narrative. Have them compare their experience with Minlis adventure. When he was a teenager, he learned that he was going to die young. ), If you wish, divide students into pairs. The Question and Answer section for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great 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. Go over the worksheet to be sure that students understand it. The main characters are Minli, Ba, Ma and Dragon. Have students write a paragraph or more using the following prompt: Your values are your principles, the things that you hold to be important in life. Youre always wishing to do impossible things! 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. Choose a character to represent each of the literary characters. Minli's mother, Ma, instead despises the stories that Ba tells, feeling that they are simply "nonsense." This is the god character who knows the future and permits the heroine to ask him a single question. It is late at night when Minli tiptoes into her familys hut and crawls into bed. This character visits the Village of the Fruitless Mountain early in the book and at the very end. You may value money, friends, family or ideals like honesty, generosity, and faith. Jade Dragons four children took pity on the people and transformed their bodies into great rivers to nourish the land. Inspired by her fathers stories and dedicated to her family, Minli decides to leave and seek a more prosperous future for them all. 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. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Grace Lin introduces Minli, the main character well, as a girl who wants to change their fortune when her mom repeatedly talks about how poor they are. "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" Grace Lin CHARACTER TRAITS WORKSHEET by Northeast Education $1.50 PDF CHOOSE A CHARACTER1. The Old Man of the Moon. The elder of the family gave up the secret readily. Ask them what qualities she showed as she overcame these challenges (for example: courage, cleverness, persistence). She can either ask him to fix her familys fortune, or she can ask him to help Dragon fly. At the top of the bridge, Minli finds the Old Man of the Moon sitting in the center of a large room full of small clay figures. Write The house was on the hill on the board. Ma blames Ba, saying that his stories put foolish ideas in Minlis head. The goldfish man says that Minli, too, may be able to change her fortune. The two then meet and after relating their adventures, set off once again, puzzled as to which is the real borrowed line. Dragon realizes that this must be the borrowed line, so he tells them about Minli. It was even better than I remembered! In the morning, she sneaks out of the house and releases the fish into the river. She decides to let it go because of how bitter it made Ma. A stage adaptation based on Lin's book was performed at Wheelock Family Theater in Boston, in April 2014. Day 2. While some may say there are too many pages, I think the amount of pages doesn't matter anyways, although I like the amount, and reading more pages is a great challenge. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? Finding Identity through Childrens Books, Dont Judge a Book by Its Character (Even If It Is Chinese), The Extra Adjective: How I Came to Terms with Being a Multicultural Book Author, Folktales and Ecology: Animals and Humans in Cooperation and Conflict, Helpful Animals and Compassionate Humans in Folklore, "Cinderella" Folk Tales: Variations in Character. The blooms of the flowering trees also provide the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon. Each figure tied to the next with the fine red thread of fate. 3. After each assignment, review the journal questions in a class discussion or individual reading group discussions. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. Finally, see if students can come up with a vivid verb to replace was: sat, clung, perched, etc. Think about how important the telling of stories was to Minli and Ba. They travel all through the night, searching. For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. She's dutiful, empathetic, curious, and resourceful. eNotes.com Without even asking the Old Man of the Moon, Minli has come to understand why people like the buffalo boy and A-Fu and Da-Fu seemed so happy: they are thankful for what they have rather than bitter about what they do not. Her mother, Ma, complains that these stories are foolish and harmful. A Newbery Honor book in 2010, this novel moves on from the ordinary lives of Asian Americans in her other books to a fantastical adventure in a timeless, traditional China. This is the god character who knows the future and permits the heroine to ask him a single question. Character Analysis. Since then, she has traveled to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, learning more about her own heritage. 4 Mar. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. . She looks up to her father, the optimist, and clashes with her mother, the cynic. Determined to change her familys fortune, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, urged on by a talking goldfish who gives her clues to complete her journey. In returning to Fruitless Mountain, Dragon also meets his mother, Jade Dragon. Minli is restless and never content with her lot in life. Plus, there is barely enough rice to feed the people there, causing Minli to develop a wish for good fortune. One day I thought I would surprise my friends. Many children are gathered there, and Ba is about to tell the story of Minlis adventures. My mom and I first read it as part of my Sonlight curriculum and we loved it. Wishes to find Old Man of the Moon in order to change her family's fortune.Has to choose which question to ask Old Man in the Moon. See Preparation and Resources.)]. Minli is a strong character and a positive role model. What words bring it to life? Minli's father is a storyteller. Use your hands and roll the dough into small balls (about 1 tsp. Grace Lins website includes a number of essays that could meet nonfiction reading requirements while giving students more insight into her motivation, inspiration, and writing process. 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. Tell them the novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is like the picture frame, with one main frame story holding many other stories within it. Personification is a literary device that give human traits to nonhuman objects. *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. This made Jade Dragon regret her selfishness. 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. Minli rescues Dragon and includes him in her quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. Meanwhile, as Dragon waits outside of the city, he receives a string of destiny from one of the Guardians of the City. Questions to ask during the editing process: EDSITEment is a project of theNational Endowment for the Humanities, Grace Lin: Sharing Asian Traditions with Young Readers, Member of Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team, Chinese Dragon: A Powerful Metaphor in Chinese Cultural History", Lions, Dragons, and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year, Why Couldnt Snow White Be Chinese? This outline can serve as a reference for the teacher for the entire lesson.). Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Study Guide, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Grades 3-6. He is tied up with some ropes, so Minli cuts him free. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. When the magistrate heard about this, he decided that the family must have been trying to trick him. Give them time to legibly recopy (and edit!) 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. (Something that takes great physical or mental effort to do successfully) Show students photos of types of challenges (see Preparation and Resources) and discuss the types of challenges shown. As the novel ends, the goldfish man glimpses Minli in a courtyard, looking up at the place where the Mountain meets the moon., "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Extended Summary" eNotes Publishing What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Even though you can determine the scene in your head, Grace Lin adds sharp details making the scene more vivid. Do you like books with magical elements? Perfect for Moon Festival celebrations or Mother-Daughter Book Clubs, this kit provides an invite, posters and instructions for the journey-like game. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis. This book has many pages, yet it is the perfect amount for me. eNotes Editorial. With nothing else to occupy them in the evenings, Minlis father spins tales of the Old Man in the Moon and the Jade Dragon. Soup of the Day at Jama Rattigans Alphabet Soup, Book of Color Pick of the Day at Galley Cat. In August 2015, Lin revealed that the film rights for the book had been bought. Dragon cannot fly. Those eye-opening visits made the folk tales and fairy tales her mother had shared with her as a child seem more alive. Ask students to think of and share other types of challenges they have seen or experienced. Despite her mothers 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. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. Ed. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. Every day, the family works in. 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. Near a mountain region. The game is an age-appropriate series of puzzles; kids are rewarded at Get Started Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. publication in traditional print. Ask them to tell the groups how they felt after dealing with this challenge. While folktales often include recognizable character types, and certainly we can identify some stock traits here (clever, wise, whiny, kind and poor, greedy, etc.) All storyboards and images are private and secure. [1][2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor[3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. The principal told me that was not a good idea. 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. When Minlis parents discover that she is missing, they run after her. Lin has fleshed out this . That is, does it have a beginning, a middle, and an end? Why did Minli also learn to be content? What do you think is the secret of happiness? Minli realizes she has to go on alone, but before she leaves, she promises to ask Dragons question for him.