Collect the second worksheets for assessment purposes when they have finished. Have you added vivid details about how you met the challenge? The elder of the family gave up the secret readily. When Minlis parents discover that she is missing, they run after her. The new book was published on October 4, 2016. Lin deftly incorporates elements from Chinese folk- and fairy tales to create stories within the main story and provide context for Minlis quest. Then photocopy the sheet to have students keep in their binders. 8-12), Reading level: Ages 8-12Pages: 288 pagesPublisher: Little, Brown Young ReadersLanguage: English ISBN: 0316114278, 978-0316114271. This book is great, I recommend if you want great light reading. Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. Give students a few minutes to survey the book and look at the pictures. Not affiliated with Harvard College. When they reach their destination, Minli and Dragon are devastated to discover they cannot climb it. Have students pay close attention to the Minli is a young girl, the only daughter of her mother, Ma, and father, Ba. Why did Minli also learn to be content? After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). This allows him to fly, and he takes Minli back to Fruitless Mountain. 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. The main character of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is Minli, a young girl who lived in China many years ago. Curious, she follows it and finds a red dragon crying a river of tears. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. How does this character change over time? Frame Stories in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Remind them that to be a narrative, a story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Back in their hut by Fruitless Mountain, Ma tells Ba a story. 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. Once again, she has created a charming, engaging book for young listeners. It is late at night when Minli tiptoes into her familys hut and crawls into bed. 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 the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, How did Magistrate Tiger plan on making his wish come true. 24 142-49 Dragon meets the stone lions, who [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". These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. 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. Jennifer Rothschild from School Library Journal stated in her review: "The author's writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. She endeavors on a journey to find the Old Man of the Moon who will answer her question of how to find her family's fortune. Together, the two fly back to Minlis village, so she can return to her parents. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original They travel onward, and after an encounter with a vicious tiger, they meet the family that used to be famous for its perfect happiness. Frightened for her new-found friend, Minli goes for help and finds two twins: A-Fu and Da-Fu. Read More Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters Visual Vocabulary Theme Answer the Prompt Figurative Language Text Structure Create a Storyboard Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. What benefits did they get from the stories? The goldfish man asks a child in the street to direct him to Minlis house. 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. Many children are gathered there, and Ba is about to tell the story of Minlis adventures. One day I thought I would surprise my friends. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. You may wish to use these tales for additional literature or composition study. Minli rescues Dragon and includes him in her quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. You may value money, friends, family or ideals like honesty, generosity, and faith. The questions focus exclusively on the frame story of Minlis travels, giving students first-hand experience with frame story analysis. Define a frame story and explain the complex way that subsidiary stories are embedded within the novel, Identify different types of challenges in the story. The people and the houses look happy and prosperous. Remind them to include vivid language. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. She looks up to her father, the optimist, and clashes with her mother, the cynic. Ask students: Suppose Grace Lin had just written Their village was dirty and their work was hard. How is this paragraph different? This first activity introduces the book and requires students to read it and keep a journal. Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing. Ma and Ba say that Minli is too little to do such a thing. The Question and Answer section for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a great He tells her that she must hurry up and ask what she wants to know. JOIN GRACES MAILING LISTYoull receive her Author Newsletter in your email inbox! Distribute Worksheet 3 and go over the directions with the students. The principal told me that was not a good idea. Essay Topics. In the first part of the lesson, students read each of the embedded folktales as they cover the main narrative. (From a Christian perspective, it also had a surprising theme of providence in it.) Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. 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). She grows up on tales of magical people and places from Ba, her father. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. Design a costume for the character. They become friends, and Dragon offers to be her steed for the journey, despite the fact that he cannot fly, unlike other dragons. Dragon also reveals that he was born from a painting and came to life when his eyes were painted. Since then, she has traveled to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, learning more about her own heritage. This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 132pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials. Website design by Mira T. Lee of MIRA T. CREATIVE. This outline can serve as a reference for the teacher for the entire lesson.). Character Analysis. The two then meet and after relating their adventures, set off once again, puzzled as to which is the real borrowed line. I loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Suggested techniques: If students are interested in folktales in general, the. Try to elicit the feelings about the life of Minlis village that these words convey. Even so, Minli is a happy and vibrant child who eagerly listens as her father, whom she calls Ba, tells stories every night. She says they make Minli dream instead of focusing on the reality of the familys poor fortune. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. 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. Andrew Medlar, School Library Journal*Starred Review* Gr 3-6 Living in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, Minli and her parents spend their days working in the rice fields, barely growing enough to feed themselves. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a juvenile fiction novel by Grace Lin, author of The Year of the Dog. Summary. This summer I finally able to purchase the book and re-read it a third time. Chapter 1 Summary. Goldfish 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. These characters are the parents of the heroine. Comment on the use of imagery in "Games at Twilight.". Assess the second copy of Worksheet 2 for completeness, accuracy in recalling details of the story, and mechanics of writing. 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. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how she can change her familys fortune. This is quite a minor character. The meaning of that gift can only be revealed by reading the book. The authors writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. I enjoyed every moment if this book and could not put it down!! 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!) . CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.2:Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. In August 2015, Lin revealed that the film rights for the book had been bought. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a wonderfully crafted tale with great messages on gratefulness, contentedness, self-sacrifice, faith and love. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. 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. She said there will be a movie released on 11/21/2020, however the movie was never made. Personification is a literary device that give human traits to nonhuman objects. 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. However, at the last moment, the Old Man of the Moon transported the family magically to a new home, where they continue to livepoor but contenttoday. However, he informs her that she can ask only one question. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. 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. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. They keep journals to record the challenges Minli faced, and how she met the challenges. 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. . The effort is enormous, and they grow barely enough to feed themselves. Another main theme idea of this story is friendship. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. Minli is a strong and lovable hero that boys will enjoy as much as girls. At the end of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and in her essays, Lin shares photos and drawings and discusses how she came to use and adapt elements of Chinese culture in her stories. Meanwhile, Minli sleeps for the night in the forest, only to wake up to find a trapped dragon, which she saves. Reunited with her son, Jade Dragon transforms Fruitless Mountain into Fruitful Mountain, allowing it to grow again. Minli and her parents live in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where they toil endlessly. Suddenly understanding what she needs to do, Minli asks the Old Man why Dragon cannot fly. Ma and Ba camp in the forest, and Ba tells the story of a greedy magistrate who tried to steal the secret of happiness from a poor but otherwise perfect family. A variety of online maps of China can be found in. Explain what you mean by each value and show how it is illustrated in one of the embedded folk tales. Also there are many villages. One exceptionally effective way of conducting a critical discussion is by the Socratic seminar method which is increasingly popular. Then do the same for high ground: mountain, hill, crag, and slope. Summarize this character Subjects: English Language Arts, Reading, Vocabulary Grades: Not Grade Specific Types: The grandfather, A-Gong, gives Dragon medicine that doubles as tea. (p19) In the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, What is contained in the old man in the moon's book of Fortune? 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). 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. (authors note) (Fantasy. As they work, hold writing conferences with individual students in need of assistance. Inspired by her fathers stories and dedicated to her family, Minli decides to leave and seek a more prosperous future for them all. Richly hued illustrations reinforce the Chinese folk theme. Get Where the Mountain Meets the Moon from Amazon.com. This is the god character who knows the future and permits the heroine to ask him a single question. 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. Lin's love of Chinese culture is evident in her creation of vivid new folktales that are built into the narrative in such a way that they become a seamless part of the story and their messages are thus relevant and meaningful. Write the word challenge on the board and ask students to define it. In thanks, the fish tells Minli how to travel to Never-Ending Mountain to find the Old Man of the Moon, who may know how Minli can change her familys fortune. She can either ask him to fix her familys fortune, or she can ask him to help Dragon fly. 2023 . Minli thus begins a traditional quest. He resolved to kill them for this impertinence, but when he and his army arrived at their house, they had mysteriously disappeared. Her mother, Ma, complains that these stories are foolish and harmful. Spurrier, Leslie. At the onset of the quest, she meets Dragon. The main character, Minli, is a young Chinese girl scraping by with her poor parents in the village at the base of Fruitless Mountain. Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. Illustrate this character3. Minlis determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human. 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. (For example: ReadWriteThink's, Each student should have a notebook or composition book with a dedicated section for. 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* If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. An editor These characters are the parents of the heroine. Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. eNotes.com 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. The rock that Minli removed from Dragons head turns out to be the coveted Dragon Pearl. Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery), (You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.). GradeSaver, 25 April 2017 Web. A stage adaptation based on Lin's book was performed at Wheelock Family Theater in Boston, in April 2014. The "rock" turns out to be the coveted Dragon's Pearl, which brings enormous wealth to her village. Ma blames Ba, saying that his stories put foolish ideas in Minlis head. But the stories that the dad told I did like and it added more fun to the book and made me want to finish it. Classroom world map or map of Asia (It would be ideal to have a printed or projected map.) When she explains that she needs something called the borrowed line, the king shows her a magical sheet of paper his family has owned for generations. All rights reserved. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. The blooms of the flowering trees also provide the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon. [4] Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy - adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. While Lin tells the tale of the courageous Minli, she also imbeds other story vignettes that weave together and connect in complicated ways. What are three things you can do to make your narrative even better? This is the god character who knows the future and permits the heroine to ask him a single question. 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. Jade Dragons four children took pity on the people and transformed their bodies into great rivers to nourish the land. Minli's mother is very dissatisfied with the family's situation. This strikes Minli because The Old Man is what she thought, only a character from her father's stories. She is supposed to find the citys Guardian and ask for something called the borrowed line. She assumes that the Guardian is the king, so she leaves Dragon in the forest outside the city and goes in alone. *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed), This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides. One year later, the goldfish man returns to the town at the base of Fruitless Mountain, and he cannot believe how much it has changed. (If the class has already studied the concept, teachers may want to point out that this is an excellent example of a. After high school, Lin attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned a BFA in illustration. 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. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Activity 2. Minli watches him go, feeling puzzled that he is so happy. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. 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. Have students explain how they grew or changed because of this experience. [1][2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor[3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. Minli's mother, Ma, instead despises the stories that Ba tells, feeling that they are simply "nonsense." 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. No one else can view anything. The author of where the Mountain Meets the moon is Grace Lin. publication online or last modification online. Because of Minli's sacrifice to help a friend, she and her family receive everything they could ever have hoped for. They identify the friends and mentors who helped her, and the character traits that led to her success. In this activity, students will depict the characters of the story using a character map. [7] I think this story was okay but it was lacking adventure and it was hard to follow along. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. Students will provide "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" Grace Lin CHARACTER TRAITS WORKSHEET by Northeast Education $1.50 PDF CHOOSE A CHARACTER1. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. Now the woman can see that she had fortune all along, but that she lost it when she lost her daughter. well as challenges the characters face. When Dragon and Minli reunite, each is surprised to learn that the other has found a borrowed line. While Minli has this adventure, Dragon waits outside the city. The text of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is interspersed with many short legends. 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. That is, does it have a beginning, a middle, and an end? Encourage students to consider why Grace Lin chose those particular words to describe the mountain. 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. 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. Written by people who wish to remainanonymous. Minli (her name means "quick thinking") is the main character. Which gives the reader a better understanding of the village? She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.This is a wonderous novel with an epic journey and memorable characters in the tradition of The Wizard of Oz. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon By Grace Lin Chapters 1-4 Before you read the chapters: The protagonist in most novels features the main character or "good guy". 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. While waiting in the Market of Green Abundance, Minli spends her coin buying a peach for a beggar. publication in traditional print. Rewrite one of the following passages to make it more vivid, using specific language and concrete details. 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. Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. Minli is a strong character and a positive role model. With the help of a buffalo boy, Minli tracks down the King. Photo: Alan Bradley, courtesy ofgracelin.com. Eventually she decides to run off on a quest to change her family's fortune. Are all your sentences complete and correctly written? Here are some questions to extend students' understanding of the novel. 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. Why did Ma change from being envious of other peoples wealth to being content? I brought my pet into school. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Lesson Plans, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. He alone recognizes it as a dragons pearl, a treasure worth as much as the Emperors fortune. Have you described the setting, the place where the events of the story occur, in clear and specific language? She realizes that she cannot ask Dragons questionunless she chooses not to ask her own. Word Count: 2124. By a bare mountain, where the Jade River runs through, lies a poor, mud-covered village known as the Village of Fruitless Mountain, where the protagonist, Minli lives. who have not yet read the book get excited and ALL have a great time! the end with a mysterious gift. They continue the journey together. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Soup of the Day at Jama Rattigans Alphabet Soup, Book of Color Pick of the Day at Galley Cat. Have you described the characters in the story with enough vivid detail so that the reader can picture them and understand their actions? Ma and Ba. Assign students the task of thinking of a time when they had a challenge to meet. Find Symbols in the Story (learn about Chinese symbolism) For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. physical and character traits of both major and minor characters. Amazed, Ma observes that the fortunes of the family have changed. young girlflowing black haircaringadventurousgenerous. Read more 2009 Grace Lin (P)2020 Hachette Audio Listening Length 4 hours and 58 minutes Author Worksheet 2. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. He scoops some plain rice out of his bowl for the fish to eat. Neither is sure which line is the one they need, so they decide this is another question for the Old Man of the Moon. The second is the date of The art is absolutely beautiful. If preparing a "Gallery" for the Optional Day 2. This beautiful book is bound to become a classic. 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". Optional Activity Grade Level Standard. Let students investigate online resources for folktales from China. So Mini decides to leave and set off to find the Old Man of the Mountain. Two destinies at stake. Under house have students brainstorm as many words as they can for house: mansion, shack, apartment, rancher, hut, etc. Far away from here introduces the suggestion of an exotic location and/or time; The Jade River suggest China, which is known for jade. For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. The twins befriend Minli and want to help her. This character was a cruel ruler of the land in which all the main landmarks (save the moon) were located over a century ago. their work. They travel all through the night, searching. You may use Worksheet 4: Narrative Rubric provided for both student self-assessment and your own final assessment. In the morning, her parents are overjoyed that she is home. Have them write three sentences about this challenge in answer to these questions: What qualities did you have to show to meet this challenge? Part 1. Finally, see if students can come up with a vivid verb to replace was: sat, clung, perched, etc. Go over the worksheet to be sure that students understand it. Minli's brave, clever, kind, and earnest character is utterly endearing. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. Ask students to write one final paragraph in which they compare themselves with Minli. She obeys and almost immediately, Dragon can fly. 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 life's questions. [Ripping a page from the Book of Fortune will not change one's fate.] date the date you are citing the material. The child of immigrants from Taiwan, Grace Lin was born in the United States in 1974 and grew up in New York State. 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. Ask students to think of and share other types of challenges they have seen or experienced. My teacher said she was really surprised and she told me how she felt about my pet. 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? He planned on doing whatever he could to marry his son to a member of the Imperial Family. Ask students to choose a page at random and read aloud the most vivid sentence they can find to the class. 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.