Understanding text structure can improve students’ comprehension of the text. Examples of informational text structures include compare/contrast, chronological, cause/effect, and problem/solution. Although Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fictional novel, it has a very unique structure. The frame story includes the adventures of Minli, her parents, and Dragon. The embedded stories give background information of characters like Dragon, Goldfish Man, and Wu Kang.
Students will select moments from the overarching story and identify the stories embedded into these moments. See the example grid storyboard below.
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Student Instructions
Provide students with a simple chart or storyboard template to visually map frame and embedded stories. This helps students see story connections and supports comprehension.
Ask students to read or listen to a chapter, then discuss which events belong to the main (frame) story and which are embedded tales. Highlight story transitions and character introductions.
Demonstrate summarizing an embedded story in 1–2 sentences, focusing on key details. Show how to connect the summary to the main plot or theme.
Invite students to draw or select images for each frame and embedded story. Use illustrations to reinforce understanding and make learning more engaging.
Have students share their organizers in pairs or small groups. Discuss similarities and differences in their story connections to deepen comprehension.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon uses a frame story structure, where the main narrative about Minli’s adventures is interwoven with embedded folk tales that explain character backgrounds and themes.
Embedded stories in the novel offer deeper context about characters like Dragon, the Goldfish Man, and Wu Kang, helping readers understand their motivations and the story’s themes more fully.
Students can identify frame stories by looking for the main plot events with Minli and her family, and spot embedded stories by finding tales told within the main narrative, often providing background or lessons related to the plot.
Have students compare and contrast a frame story event, such as Minli meeting the Goldfish Man, with its embedded story, like the tale of Lao-Lao, to explore how each adds to the characters’ development and the novel’s message.
Understanding text structure helps students recognize how stories are organized, making it easier to follow complex narratives and improve overall reading comprehension in upper elementary grades.