After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" Grace Lin CHARACTER TRAITS WORKSHEET by Northeast Education $1.50 PDF CHOOSE A CHARACTER1. size). This character was a cruel ruler of the land in which all the main landmarks (save the moon) were located over a century ago. He scoops some plain rice out of his bowl for the fish to eat. In order to find the Old Man, the pair must find the Never-Ending Mountain. 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. Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character. . 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. The Old Man explains that, once every ninety-nine years, someone comes to ask him a question. Much to the displeasure of Ma, Minli spends her precious money on a goldfish. [1] [2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor [3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. The boy finds out that the king is supposed to appear in the Market of Green Abundance. The line written there has changed again. In this activity, students will depict the characters of the story using a character map. We walked down the hall and into the classroom. 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. These characters are the parents of the heroine. What words do you think make the description colorful? everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. The grandfather, A-Gong, gives Dragon medicine that doubles as tea. Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. These characters are the parents of the heroine. Spurrier, Leslie. Also there are many villages. The blooms of the flowering trees also provide the antidote to the Green Tiger's poison, which saved Dragon. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a juvenile fiction novel by Grace Lin, author of The Year of the Dog. 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? The performance starred Caroline Workman as Minli, Michael Tow as Storyteller/ Minli's Ba, and was directed by Jane Staab. Have students read with the method and at the pace you find best for your class. In the book Where the Mountain meets the Moon, How did Magistrate Tiger plan on making his wish come true. They travel onward, and after an encounter with a vicious tiger, they meet the family that used to be famous for its perfect happiness. Activity 2, Key Scenes: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, follow the directions at the beginning of Day 2. 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. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis Minli Minli is the protagonist and hero in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. The twins befriend Minli and want to help her. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5: Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. Every day, the family works in the mud growing rice. Think back on some of your favorite characters from past novels you have She decides to let it go because of how bitter it made Ma. Show students a collage picture frame with multiple photos or draw one on the board. Minli is a young girl, the only daughter of her mother, Ma, and father, Ba. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Have students read the second paragraph. She walks deep into the forest and travels all through the night, stopping to sleep at first light. While folktales often include recognizable character types, and certainly we can identify some stock traits here (clever, wise, whiny, kind and poor, greedy, etc.) Ba smiles and says that Minlis return is the best fortune of all. She notices that he is wearing a piece of golden dragon jewelry, and she follows him. What benefits did they get from the stories? Back in their hut by Fruitless Mountain, Ma tells Ba a story. More books than SparkNotes. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the morning, her parents are overjoyed that she is home. Minli's mother, Ma, instead despises the stories that Ba tells, feeling that they are simply "nonsense." However, when a few people complained that they preferred sunshine, Jade Dragon grew angry. As they work, hold writing conferences with individual students in need of assistance. 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". 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. The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. Have you described the setting, the place where the events of the story occur, in clear and specific language? Explain to students that they have been working mostly with the story of Minli and her quest, and that now they are going to look at the other stories that are woven into the main story. The effort is enormous, and they grow barely enough to feed themselves. Get Started He is tied up with some ropes, so Minli cuts him free. You may value money, friends, family or ideals like honesty, generosity, and faith. When she arrives to find the Old Man of the Moon, he offers her what seems to be a Spartan gift: she can only ask him a single question. After high school, Lin attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned a BFA in illustration. Jennifer Rothschild from School Library Journal stated in her review: "The author's writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Together they fly home to Minli's village. Word Count: 2124. This book is great, I recommend if you want great light reading. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. The protagonist Minli, like one of Joseph Campbells archetypal heroes, leaves her home, sets out on a quest, has to pass through many crucial tests to reach her goal, and returns to her village bringing back the aid that the villagers and her family need. Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. The Jade Dragon reunites with one of her children, Dragon, and transforms Fruitless Mountain to Fruitful Mountain. 8-12), Reading level: Ages 8-12Pages: 288 pagesPublisher: Little, Brown Young ReadersLanguage: English ISBN: 0316114278, 978-0316114271. Select colors and a pose appropriate to story and character traits. Have a Feast (recipes to enjoy with the book). JOIN GRACES MAILING LISTYoull receive her Author Newsletter in your email inbox! their work. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Lesson Plans, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. The cellar was dark and kind of creepy. Give students a few minutes to survey the book and look at the pictures. Through their cunning, they trick Green Tiger into falling down a well. I went down to the cellar the other day. Have them compare their experience with Minlis adventure. [11], Renee Greenfield and Jennifer Rabold. I brought my pet into school. 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. Minli watches him go, feeling puzzled that he is so happy. When they have finished, have them compare the results with a partner to see what different effects they get when they use vivid language. Meanwhile, as Dragon waits outside of the city, he receives a string of destiny from one of the Guardians of the City. 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. date the date you are citing the material. Website design by Mira T. Lee of MIRA T. CREATIVE. 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!) They rush to make her breakfast, and then Ba sees the bump from Dragons head, which Minli has brought home with her. Be sure to include evidence from the text in their answers. A battle between the Green Tiger and Dragon ensues, and Dragon is mortally wounded. View all Lesson Plans available from BookRags. They become friends, and Dragon offers to be her steed for the journey, despite the fact that he cannot fly, unlike other dragons. He planned on doing whatever he could to marry his son to a member of the Imperial Family. There were a lot of things down there. 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. Let students investigate online resources for folktales from China. Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. It is late at night when Minli tiptoes into her familys hut and crawls into bed. Lin deftly incorporates elements from Chinese folk- and fairy tales to create stories within the main story and provide context for Minlis quest. When they reach their destination, Minli and Dragon are devastated to discover they cannot climb it. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary. 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. As you read, take notes on the characters by answering the questions. Students plan and then write a personal narrative about a challenge they have overcome using vivid descriptions of persons and places. The principal told me that was not a good idea. Ask them what qualities she showed as she overcame these challenges (for example: courage, cleverness, persistence). Fruitless Mountain Village. 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. It is at this point she asks the Old Man in the Moon Dragons question. Using a classroom map, show students the location of China and ask them what they know about it. Be sure to use evidence from the story to support your ideas. How can students use Where the Mountain Meets the Moon as a mentor text to write a personal narrative with vivid language? While Lin tells the tale of the courageous Minli, she also imbeds other story vignettes that weave together and connect in complicated ways. 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. The text of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is interspersed with many short legends. Minlis determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human. Frame Stories in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. She returns to Dragon and, following the Old Mans instructions, helps him pull a big, heavy bump off the top of his head. You may use Worksheet 4: Narrative Rubric provided for both student self-assessment and your own final assessment. who have not yet read the book get excited and ALL have a great time! . Design a costume for the character. It is not too scary. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. . It was even better than I remembered! Eager for adventure, Minli sets out alone seeking advice from the Old Man of the Moon. 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. 1. The twins explain that their village's name is due to raining seeds that fall from the moon every night, allowing flowering trees to bloom there. My mom and I first read it as part of my Sonlight curriculum and we loved it. Minli remains silent, absorbing this new information. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. Her mother, Ma, complains that these stories are foolish and harmful. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis. 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. Anonymous "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters". Put the character's name in the title boxes and choose a character and scene to represent each one. Youre always wishing to do impossible things! Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. In the first part of the lesson, students read each of the embedded folktales as they cover the main narrative. The objective of her quest is to find the Old Man of the Moon who possesses the power to change a persons fortune. This brings enormous wealth to Minlis village which alters her familys fortune dramatically. 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. They will also appear in Google search results. Is your story really a narrative? Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Finally, see if students can come up with a vivid verb to replace was: sat, clung, perched, etc. They identify the friends and mentors who helped her, and the character traits that led to her success. Read more than you ever thought you wanted to know about the backstory of the book! What is the setting of "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai? She invites them to come with her to see the Old Man, but they laugh and say, Why would we want to change our fortune? Minli is left to ponder these words as she flies a kitemade of both the paper and the thread from the City of Bright Moonlightinto the sky. For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. Make two copies for each pair of students to use in analyzing the embedded stories. The second date is today's He resolved to kill them for this impertinence, but when he and his army arrived at their house, they had mysteriously disappeared. 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. How important is magic in the story? 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). What are three things you can do to make your narrative even better? CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. One day I thought I would surprise my friends. She grows up on tales of magical people and places from Ba, her father. Emphasize that Minlis story is a fantasy; in the real world, it is dangerous for children to run away from home, and naturally it is impossible for them to scale a ladder to the moon. Now the woman can see that she had fortune all along, but that she lost it when she lost her daughter. All storyboards and images are private and secure. Here are some questions to extend students' understanding of the novel. Minli is a strong and lovable hero that boys will enjoy as much as girls. Students will provide
Worksheet 2. After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Log in here. Lins own full-color drawings open each chapter. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. 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. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. She supported herself designing for a party company, two years contributing to the worlds landfills as she puts it, until her first book was published. After a brief discussion of types of challengesphysical, emotional, economic, etc.students read the entire book, focusing on the main narrative. 3. Readers of the book get to relive the story of Minli's journey, readers (Teachers do not have to assign all the stories.). The kite magically transforms itself into a rope bridge, but it is too thin to carry Dragon. Go over the worksheet to be sure that students understand it. Minli is a strong-willed, young Chinese girl who lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. Ma blames Ba, saying that his stories put foolish ideas in Minlis head. 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. She obeys and almost immediately, Dragon can fly. Thus she spent much of her childhood trying to ignore her Asian heritage in order to fit in better with her peers. GradeSaver, 5 February 2018 Web. Day 2. Identify (4) Traits for this character and supply evidence2. Explain what you mean by each value and show how it is illustrated in one of the embedded folk tales. I was glad to see a few things from when I was younger and I started to play with them. Personification is a literary device that give human traits to nonhuman objects. 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. Relive your favorite parts, test your memory and pretend to be on the journey yourself! Slides or photos of challenges for Activity 1. This allows him to fly, and he takes Minli back to Fruitless Mountain. Meanwhile, at the Village of Fruitless Mountain, Ba and Ma have decided to return home and wait for Minli, and during this time, Ma feels remorse for having been so discontent when she already had her own precious treasure: her daughter. Do you like books with magical elements? 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). 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. 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 wonderfully crafted tale with great messages on gratefulness, contentedness, self-sacrifice, faith and love. So Mini decides to leave and set off to find the Old Man of the Mountain. He speaks to a stone statue of a lion, who explains that he is the Guardian of the city. When the magistrate heard about this, he decided that the family must have been trying to trick him. Mix well, a soft dough should form. They continue the journey together. Did they show the same qualities that she did in her quest, or did they use different qualities to meet the challenge? publication online or last modification online. 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. I read it when I was around 7, and I thought it is AWESOME! [Optional activity: Show them the first 1:40 minutes of Al Rokers interview with Grace Lin in which she covers much of the same material. However, she is still not sure if the film will be made or if it will not be made. From the beautiful design and the breathtaking full-color illustrations throughout, to the gentle humor and touching prose, this book is truly a gem. He indulges Minli with numerous Chinese folktales including stories about the Old Man of the Moon and the Never Ending Mountain. I loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. 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. thissection. Summary. Add (B) and use a fork to stir it. (authors note) (Fantasy. I would recommend this book for children from age 9 to 99. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. 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. However, what she especially enjoys are her father Ba's stories, which are often told at the dinner table. He says they bring good fortune, so Minli buys one using one of only two copper coins she owns. 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. 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? Character Analysis. Have students explain how they grew or changed because of this experience. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. All of the villagers, along with Minli's family, are also very poor, as farming is difficult in the hard and dry land due to Fruitless Mountain being the broken and lonely heart of the immortal Jade Dragon, a dragon that once brought rain to the Earth.