Feb6

Dragonwings

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Martha Rankin

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This week, we begin reading Dragonwings, an award-winning historical fiction novel by Laurence Yep.

Here are resources to increase your comprehension and enjoyment of this historical fiction novel.

Biographies of Feng Ru (AKA Fung Joe Guey)
Study Guide for Dragonwings
Summary of Dragonwings
Online resources to increase our background knowledge
Video interview with Laurence Yep, author of Dragonwings
Video A Tribute to the Chinese Immigrant
Vocabulary/Word Analysis Tests
- Vocabulary / Word Analysis and Writing Applications Test I (use with Summary)
- Vocabulary / Word Analysis and Writing Applications Test II (use with Summary)

Discover the major milestones in aviation with this aviation timeline.

See footage of San Francisco after the earthquake of 1906.

Just for fun, here are instructions on how to make your own kite.

About This Book

Moon Shadow is eight when he sails from China to join his father, Windrider, in America. Windrider lives in San Francisco’s Chinatown and works in a laundry. Moon Shadow has never seen him.

Moon Shadow soon loves and respects this father, a man of genius, a man with a fabulous dream. With Moon Shadow’s help, Windrider is willing to endure the mockery of the other Chinese, the poverty, and longing for his own country to make his dream come true.

Inspired by the account of a Chinese immigrant who made a flying machine in 1909, Laurence Yep’s historical novel beautifully portrays the rich traditions of the Chinese community as it made its way in a hostile new world.

Praise for Dragonwings

“[A]n unusual historical novel, unique in its perspective of the Chinese in America and its portrayal of early 20th century San Francisco, including the Earthquake, from an immigrant’s viewpoint.” — School Library Journal

1976 Newbery Honor Book
ALA Notable Children’s Books of 1971-1975
1976 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
The New York Times Outstanding Children’s Books 1975
School Library Journal Best of the Best 1966-1978

Interest Level Grades 6 – 8

Reading Level Grade level Equivalent: 6.1

Type of Book Chapter Book

Genre Historical Fiction

Themes/Subjects 1) Changes and New Experiences, 2) Immigration, 3) Chinese and Chinese American

from Scholastic.com

43 responses »

Max on February 25, 2014 at 9:09 am said:

I learned that the San Francisco earthquake damage was $350,000,000.

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- Daisy on February 25, 2014 at 9:20 am said:
  
  Cool that’s nice xD
  
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- steavie on February 25, 2014 at 9:21 am said:
  
  cool max nice xD :}
  
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- Leslie on February 25, 2014 at 9:25 am said:
  
  Awesome > _ <
  
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Ozzy on February 25, 2014 at 9:10 am said:

I learned that the horseless carriage ran 60 miles per hour!

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Misael on February 25, 2014 at 9:11 am said:

I saw the horseless carriage that ran 60 miles per hour, and now I kind of know how to make a dragon kite! 🙂

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Martha Rankin on February 25, 2014 at 9:11 am said:

One piece of interesting information that I learned in my research about the Chinese abacus is that it was invented in China in c3000 BC. For those of you who do not know what an abacus is, it is a counting device that makes calculations consisting of a frame mounted with rods along which beads or balls are moved. So cool!!! 🙂

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- Max on February 25, 2014 at 9:23 am said:
  
  Nice explanation, Ms.Rankin. You gave lots of information.
  
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  - Martha Rankin on February 25, 2014 at 9:25 am said:
    
    Thanks for your kind words, Max!
FLOR on February 25, 2014 at 9:11 am said:

Today I learned that it had been at least 6,000 years since the Dragons came to being into Earth land. : )

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- Martha Rankin on February 25, 2014 at 9:13 am said:
  
  Flor, where did you learn that piece of information?
  
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  - FLOR on February 25, 2014 at 9:18 am said:
    
    On the online resources on the bottom of Dragon almost to the bottom of the page.
  - Martha Rankin on February 25, 2014 at 9:25 am said:
    
    Thanks, Flor! 🙂
Edgar on February 25, 2014 at 9:11 am said:

THOMAS ALVA EDISON INVENTED THE ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB IN 1879.

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Angel on February 25, 2014 at 9:12 am said:

I learned that the San Fransico earthquake killed between 450 and 700. It left 250,000 and destroyed 25,000 buildings.

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Crystal on February 25, 2014 at 9:12 am said:

Today I learned that the San Francisco earthquake destroyed 25,000 buildings and it only lasted a minute.

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perla on February 25, 2014 at 9:13 am said:

I learned that the San Francisco damage was estimated at $500,000,000 in 1906 dollars.

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miguel on February 25, 2014 at 9:14 am said:

Today, I learn that the San Francisco earthquake was on April 15, 1906 at 5:15 and with two crazed men on the roof and told them to shoot them the presence was of 5,0000 people instead of letting them fall through the roof and burn alive.

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Daisy on February 25, 2014 at 9:15 am said:

I learned that The San Fransicsco Earthquake only lasted for a minute, but caused a lot of natural disasters.

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- FLOR on February 25, 2014 at 9:19 am said:
  
  REALLY !!!!
  
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  - Daisy on February 25, 2014 at 9:23 am said:
    
    Yes really 🙂 xD Cx
- Martha Rankin on February 25, 2014 at 9:20 am said:
  
  What types of natural disasters?
  
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  - FLOR on February 25, 2014 at 9:21 am said:
    
    I agree miss Rankin.
  - kennya on February 25, 2014 at 9:23 am said:
    
    really???????? 😉
kennya on February 25, 2014 at 9:15 am said:

I LEARN THAT THIS GUY WANT TO BE KILLED A HAD 20 BROTHERS (Adolphus Busch).

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- FLOR on February 25, 2014 at 9:20 am said:
  
  O.K??? ; )
  
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steavie on February 25, 2014 at 9:15 am said:

I learned that the San Francisco earthquake left 250,000 people homeless

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- Max on February 25, 2014 at 9:20 am said:
  
  good job Steven;)
  
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- Angel on February 25, 2014 at 9:22 am said:
  
  good job 🙂
  
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silvia on February 25, 2014 at 9:16 am said:

Today I learned that many Kites featured prominently in many art collections ! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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- Leslie on February 25, 2014 at 9:24 am said:
  
  that’s SO cool Silvia 😉 😀
  
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- magali on February 25, 2014 at 9:26 am said:
  
  good job silvia! 🙂
  
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Angel on February 25, 2014 at 9:16 am said:

I learned that the San Fransico earthquake killed between 450 and 700. It left 250000 homeless and destroyed 25000 builings.

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sofia on February 25, 2014 at 9:17 am said:

Today I learned about 2 different kinds of dragons: The western dragon, and the Chinese dragon, although they’re both dragons, and they both have a lot in common, the western dragon has more heads than the Chinese dragon which only has one…

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kennya on February 25, 2014 at 9:21 am said:

ALSO THIS ; quake awoke G.A. Raymond as he slept in his room at the Palace Hotel. He describes his escape:

“I had $600.00 in gold under my pillow. I awoke as I was thrown out of bed. Attempting to walk, the floor shook so that I fell. I grabbed my clothing and rushed down into the office, where dozens were already congregated. Suddenly the lights went out, and every one rushed for the door.
SO COOL

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Leslie on February 25, 2014 at 9:22 am said:

Today I learned was that the Calligraphy is still used in China 🙂 and I also learned was that the terrifying earthquake shattered in the early morning of San Francisco of April 18 at 5:15 AM the earthquake did last only a minute but it was the worst disaster in nations history in only just a minute 😮 ……. And that is what I learned about Calligraphy and The San Francisco Earthquake 🙂 😉

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mario on February 25, 2014 at 9:23 am said:

today I learned that the San Francisco fire and earthquake caused over 3,000 Casualties, It also destroyed 80% of San Francisco.

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Magali on February 25, 2014 at 9:23 am said:

Today I learned that in ancient China the kite was known as ‘Zhiyuan’! I also learned that the prominent ideologist Mo Zi spent three years constructing a wooden kite which failed after one day’s flight! 🙂 🙂 🙂

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Abner on February 25, 2014 at 9:23 am said:

I learned that the San Francisco’s earthquake was one of the most terrible earthquake and the military officer told his men to shoot them they shot them right through the head that was awful

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Jayson on February 25, 2014 at 9:24 am said:

Today I learned that Adolphus Busch wanted to get shot because he was pinned down under burning wreckage

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silvia on February 25, 2014 at 9:25 am said:

really 🙂 🙂 🙂 good job

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lesley H on February 25, 2014 at 9:26 am said:

I read The san Francisco Earthquake, in 1906.One interesting fact I found was that the maelstrom destroyed 490 city blocks , a total of

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kathy on February 25, 2014 at 9:26 am said:

I learned that The San Franciso Earthquakes happened in Apirl 18 at 5:15 and lasted a minute . it registered on the scale 8.25. In addition, it destroyed 490 city blocks. Also, it left about 250,000 homeless and killed about 450 to 700 people. I learned that the San Francisco earthquakes did great damage.

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