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Reading Treks: A Long Walk to Water - TeachersFirst
Grades
5 to 8
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A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is based on a true story and alternates between the stories of two characters living in Sudan at different times. One ...more
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A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is based on a true story and alternates between the stories of two characters living in Sudan at different times. One narrative follows Salva Dut, an eleven-year-old boy forced to flee his village during the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1985, facing danger, hunger, and exhaustion as he becomes one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The second story follows Nya, a young girl in 2008 who spends hours each day walking to fetch water for her family. Their stories ultimately intersect as Salva helps bring clean water to villages like Nya's through his real-life organization Water for South Sudan, revealing the power of perseverance, hope, and community.
This Reading Trek includes interactive maps-available as both a Google My Maps link and a downloadable Google Earth (KMZ) file- that trace the characters' journeys and key locations from the story. There is also a downloadable teacher guide (PDF) to support classroom instruction and discussion.
This Reading Trek includes interactive maps-available as both a Google My Maps link and a downloadable Google Earth (KMZ) file- that trace the characters' journeys and key locations from the story. There is also a downloadable teacher guide (PDF) to support classroom instruction and discussion.
tag(s): africa (162), Reading Treks (56), water (105)
In the Classroom
Bring the story to life by having students trace Salva and Nya's journeys using the interactive Google My Maps or Google Earth file to help them visualize the vast distances traveled and Sudan's geography. As they explore each location, students can pause to research the historical and cultural context -- connecting the novel's dual timelines to the actual Sudanese Civil War and ongoing water access issues. The teacher guide's discussion questions and activities pair well with this map exploration, whether used for whole-class discussion, literature circles, or independent research projects on themes of resilience, survival, and access to clean water.
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