With the help of a buffalo boy, Minli tracks down the King. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary. 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. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Since then, she has traveled to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, learning more about her own heritage. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. At the end of the story, Ba says that he thinks nobody is meant to find Minli, just as the magistrate was not meant to find the paper that explained the secret of happiness. Minlis parents desperately hope she can change the familys fortune. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Using a classroom map, show students the location of China and ask them what they know about it. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. Ed. 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. They identify the friends and mentors who helped her, and the character traits that led to her success. Assess the second copy of Worksheet 2 for completeness, accuracy in recalling details of the story, and mechanics of writing. Read more 2009 Grace Lin (P)2020 Hachette Audio Listening Length 4 hours and 58 minutes Author Summarize this character Subjects: English Language Arts, Reading, Vocabulary Grades: Not Grade Specific Types: Minli rescues Dragon and includes him in her quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. Then do the same for high ground: mountain, hill, crag, and slope. Identify (4) Traits for this character and supply evidence2. The text of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is interspersed with many short legends. Meanwhile, as Dragon waits outside of the city, he receives a string of destiny from one of the Guardians of the City. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. It was a boring day, and I tried to figure out what to do. Because of what seemed like a personal sacrifice in favor of helping a friend, Minli and her family receive all they ever hoped for and more. This character visits the Village of the Fruitless Mountain early in the book and at the very end. Be sure to use evidence from the story to support your ideas. publication in traditional print. The elder of the family gave up the secret readily. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. (The first column of Teacher Resource: Plot Outline provides a summary for the suggested answers. When they reach their destination, Minli and Dragon are devastated to discover they cannot climb it. This beautiful book is bound to become a classic. Add (B) and use a fork to stir it. Think about how important the telling of stories was to Minli and Ba. Use evidence from the text to argue who is the most generous character in the book. His fortune is even poorer than hers, but he does not seem discontent. To her surprise, the fish speaks and says that it has swum every river of the world except the Jade Riverthe one Minli has brought her to now. Here are some questions to extend students' understanding of the novel. The "rock" turns out to be the coveted Dragon's Pearl, which brings enormous wealth to her village. Jade Dragons four children took pity on the people and transformed their bodies into great rivers to nourish the land. It is late at night when Minli tiptoes into her familys hut and crawls into bed. Even though you can determine the scene in your head, Grace Lin adds sharp details making the scene more vivid. After each assignment, review the journal questions in a class discussion or individual reading group discussions. Still following the goldfishs instructions, Minli sets out for the City of Bright Moonlight. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a juvenile fiction novel by Grace Lin, author of The Year of the Dog. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Relive your favorite parts, test your memory and pretend to be on the journey yourself! The kite magically transforms itself into a rope bridge, but it is too thin to carry Dragon. Get Started Students will provide *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. How important is magic in the story? When he arrives, he is amazed to be greeted as an old friend. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. It says the word thankfulness over and overand nothing else. It is a mystical dragon, born from a painting that was supposedly owned by the evil Magistrate Tiger (who serves as the villain of the book). My father came down the stairs and asked what I was doing down there. 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. He speaks to a stone statue of a lion, who explains that he is the Guardian of the city. As they search, they come upon the goldfish man, who listens to their troubles and tells them his story. I think it has a good message for readers and Minli is a good role model. More than half of the characters and scenes do not match the characters in the book. In the book "Games at Twilight", what details do you notice that show this story is not taking place in the United States? That afternoon, she meets a man who sells goldfish. 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? Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. If there are three dates, the first date is the date of the original 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. With nothing else to occupy them in the evenings, Minlis father spins tales of the Old Man in the Moon and the Jade Dragon. You may wish to use these tales for additional literature or composition study. Frightened for her new-found friend, Minli goes for help and finds two twins: A-Fu and Da-Fu. Think About Your Own Answers (with a reading guide) They continue the journey together. Word Count: 2124. Day 2. 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. 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 Why did Minli also learn to be content? They travel all through the night, searching. detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as While waiting in the Market of Green Abundance, Minli spends her coin buying a peach for a beggar. 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. Minli is a young ten-year-old girl with a fast and eager spirit, and is constantly ready for adventure. He warns her that he only has time to answer one question. Is your story really a narrative? 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. She does not like for Ba to tell the stories to Minli because she thinks he is filling her head with ideas. More books than SparkNotes. Then the twins, and their grandfather A-Gong, nurse Dragon and lead the travelers to Never-Ending Mountain. Themes. 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. Have them write three sentences about this challenge in answer to these questions: What qualities did you have to show to meet this challenge? He is tied up with some ropes, so Minli cuts him free. Ba explains that the mountain will remain fruitless until Jade Dragon is reunited with one of her children. For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. Website design by Mira T. Lee of MIRA T. CREATIVE. Give them copies of Worksheet 1 or assign questions from the worksheet as the class progresses. The following day, Minli then sets out, freeing the goldfish so as not to burden her parents further, and leaves the village to find "the old man of the moon". Distribute copies of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. A couple years after we sold that curriculum, I borrowed it from our local library and read it again. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. . The boy laughs and refuses to accept it. If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. Grades 3-6. Far away from here introduces the suggestion of an exotic location and/or time; The Jade River suggest China, which is known for jade. ), If you wish, divide students into pairs. Making Fruitless Mountain bloom! See Preparation and Resources.)]. 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. Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. She spent all her time wondering why she did not have more money and better food and prettier clothes. Then, my mind suddenly shouted, How about that book from the library? I bolted to get the book and started to read. The setting is somewhere in China. She looks up to her father, the optimist, and clashes with her mother, the cynic. When her parents find out, Ma is angry. The effort is enormous, and they grow barely enough to feed themselves. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Lesson Plans, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. I went down to the cellar the other day. I really think you should read it! From the beautiful design and the breathtaking full-color illustrations throughout, to the gentle humor and touching prose, this book is truly a gem. Illustrate this character3. This is quite a minor character. ", Grace Lin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. They have a line of red thread that was once given to them by the Old Man of the Moon, who told them to keep it until it was needed. Why or why not? They stop at the City of the Bright Moonlight to meet the King. Minli befriends a dragon along the way. As you look at the embedded folk tales in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, what are three values that seem to be important? 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. Minli's restlessness is her central conflicted character trait. An editor Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. You may value money, friends, family or ideals like honesty, generosity, and faith. the end with a mysterious gift. Classroom world map or map of Asia (It would be ideal to have a printed or projected map.) 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. You may use Worksheet 4: Narrative Rubric provided for both student self-assessment and your own final assessment. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. It is not as adventurous as I thought it would be. Youre always wishing to do impossible things! Then photocopy the sheet to have students keep in their binders. The next day she finds a stream, but it is salty. You can find this storyboard in the following articles and resources: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon characters in a Character Map. Minli is a strong character and a positive role model. What an engaging book! Use vivid language to construct their own personal narrative. As you read, take notes on the characters by answering the questions. Click here for a PDF outlining an optional second activity. Symbols & Motifs. Anonymous "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters". Summary. 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. He says they bring good fortune, so Minli buys one using one of only two copper coins she owns. I cannot say enough good things about this book. well as challenges the characters face. Minli and her parents live in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where they toil endlessly. When Minlis parents discover that she is missing, they run after her. She refused to let it rain anymore, thus leaving the people of the earth to suffer and starve. (Teacher Resource: Plot Outline can serve as suggested answers. Character map is unfinished and/or disorganized. Not affiliated with Harvard College. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? 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. 4 Mar. Minli is a strong and lovable hero that boys will enjoy as much as girls. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Also there are many villages. 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. Minli realizes she has to go on alone, but before she leaves, she promises to ask Dragons question for him. 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. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). What words bring it to life? Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. (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.) The second is the date of Put the following sentence on the board: There was a mountain near the village. Then have students turn to the first sentence of. date the date you are citing the material. Meanwhile, Minli sleeps for the night in the forest, only to wake up to find a trapped dragon, which she saves. 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. Back in their hut by Fruitless Mountain, Ma tells Ba a story. 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. Two destinies at stake. The depth of Minlis affection for Dragon is put to the test, as is her loyalty to her family. (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. 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. During her journey, she comes across many challenges. This character was a cruel ruler of the land in which all the main landmarks (save the moon) were located over a century ago. Richly hued illustrations reinforce the Chinese folk theme. She said there will be a movie released on 11/21/2020, however the movie was never made. This is the god character who knows the future and permits the heroine to ask him a single question. Soup of the Day at Jama Rattigans Alphabet Soup, Book of Color Pick of the Day at Galley Cat. 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. Consider the traits of that particular character. Dragon also reveals that he was born from a painting and came to life when his eyes were painted. While Lin tells the tale of the courageous Minli, she also imbeds other story vignettes that weave together and connect in complicated ways. Photo: Alan Bradley, courtesy ofgracelin.com. Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. Minli watches him go, feeling puzzled that he is so happy. 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. I LOVED it! The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. En route she befriends a dragon who joins her quest. Write the word challenge on the board and ask students to define it. publication online or last modification online. For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. A-Fu and Da-Fu, twins who are a bit younger than Minli, explain that a vicious magistrate once planned to kill the whole family out of jealousy over their happiness. Encourage students to consider why Grace Lin chose those particular words to describe the mountain. Collect the second worksheets for assessment purposes when they have finished. Each figure tied to the next with the fine red thread of fate. Both Minli and Dragon have unique character traits and well-thought character development. I think this story was okay but it was lacking adventure and it was hard to follow along. This first activity introduces the book and requires students to read it and keep a journal. She does so, and immediately Dragon can fly. 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. Under house have students brainstorm as many words as they can for house: mansion, shack, apartment, rancher, hut, etc. All storyboards and images are private and secure. How can students use Where the Mountain Meets the Moon as a mentor text to write a personal narrative with vivid language? Find Symbols in the Story (learn about Chinese symbolism) The two unlikely allies travel together in search of the Old Man, coming upon many different places along the way. Another main theme idea of this story is friendship. Character Analysis. Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing. This book is great, I recommend if you want great light reading. (If the class has already studied the concept, teachers may want to point out that this is an excellent example of a. This is quite a minor character. Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. The last date is today's Have you explained how you felt when you had met the challenge? Map Your Own Connections (with red threads) Thus she spent much of her childhood trying to ignore her Asian heritage in order to fit in better with her peers. As they work, hold writing conferences with individual students in need of assistance. [4] She decides to let it go because of how bitter it made Ma. 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* date the date you are citing the material. One day I thought I would surprise my friends. However, she is still not sure if the film will be made or if it will not be made. Design a costume for the character. 8-12), Reading level: Ages 8-12Pages: 288 pagesPublisher: Little, Brown Young ReadersLanguage: English ISBN: 0316114278, 978-0316114271. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Ba smiles and says that Minlis return is the best fortune of all. GradeSaver, 5 February 2018 Web. How does this character interact with the main character. The main character of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is Minli, a young girl who lived in China many years ago. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. Ask students to think of and share other types of challenges they have seen or experienced. 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. The goldfish man says that Minli, too, may be able to change her fortune. *, Can u describe the character 'talking goldfish'. Have a Feast (recipes to enjoy with the book). Minli is a strong-willed, young Chinese girl who lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain. Minli upsets her parents, who are frightened about what will happen to her. Most of the information of the notes is correct. Minli realizes what is truly important in life and is thankful for her family. They rush to make her breakfast, and then Ba sees the bump from Dragons head, which Minli has brought home with her. I definitely recommend this book! Optional Activity Grade Level Standard. Choose a character to represent each of the literary characters. Are all your sentences complete and correctly written? It is not too scary. As the Get Where the Mountain Meets the Moon from Amazon.com. I brought my pet into school. Magistrate Tiger/Green Tiger. 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. 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. 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. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a juvenile fiction novel by Grace Lin, author of The Year of the Dog. Chinese Lesson (write the Chinese characters for mountain and moon) The child of immigrants from Taiwan, Grace Lin was born in the United States in 1974 and grew up in New York State. My mom and I first read it as part of my Sonlight curriculum and we loved it. With her lively and impulsive spirit, Minli emerges a stalwart female role model who learns the importance of family, friendship and faith during her amazing journey. StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The line written there has changed again. Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon. 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. Slides or photos of challenges for Activity 1. "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary". Knead the dough a few times so that the vanilla extract can distribute evenly. eNotes.com 24 142-49 Dragon meets the stone lions, who The authors writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. 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. thissection. 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. 3. While Lin tells the tale of the courageous Minli, she also imbeds other story vignettes that weave together and connect in complicated ways. The blooms of the flowering trees also provide the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon. Teachers can view all of their students storyboards, but students can only view their own. The second part of the lesson has students return to the book to explore how the folktales enhance Minlis story. . 2023 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved. Ask students: Suppose Grace Lin had just written Their village was dirty and their work was hard. How is this paragraph different? Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. 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. Every day, the family works in. Keeping a Reading Journal. Minli remains silent, absorbing this new information. Read more than you ever thought you wanted to know about the backstory of the book! 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. Even so, Minli is a happy and vibrant child who eagerly listens as her father, whom she calls Ba, tells stories every night. 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. Comment on the use of imagery in "Games at Twilight.". JOIN GRACES MAILING LISTYoull receive her Author Newsletter in your email inbox! The art is absolutely beautiful. 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.