Search for Resources

A Long Walk to Water

Middle

Description

This moving story intertwines the lives of Salva and Nya, two young children struggling to survive in an unforgiving landscape.  Orphaned Salva becomes one of the many Sudanese people displaced by civil war in the 1980’s and forced to trek thousands of miles to the tenuous safety of refugee camps.  As one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”, Salva eventually resettles to the United States where he overcomes his early struggles to become a young adult determined to give back to his people.  Nya’s family existence is structured around the availability of water which she must find and collect every day.  In 2008 her life dramatically changes, and as she thanks the stranger who brought a precious resource to her village, Nya and Salva become connected through their shared hope for the future.

Click here for more information regarding the author's books, school visits, or teaching resources.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This book supports middle school learning related to equality, human rights, world issues and other cultures.  Access to clean, safe drinking water is a challenge faced by millions of people on a daily basis.  In regions like Sudan the role of finding and collecting water often falls upon young girls.  Students could examine this issue by exploring the role of empowerment in improving the lives of girls in developing countries. 

A simple well can bring opportunities for education, income and health to impoverished people.  A class could learn valuable citizenship skills by creating and implementing a project to raise funds to bring fresh water to a community through an organization like World Vision Canada  http://www.worldvision.ca

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

  • Step 1Select a province
  • Alberta
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
    • Grade 7
    • Grade 8
  • British Columbia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Issues and Governance: Complex global problems require international cooperation to make difficult choices for the future.
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens
    • Grade 8
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Issues and Governance: Complex global problems require international cooperation to make difficult choices for the future.
    • Grade 7
    • Grade 8
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Ontario
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language: Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • People and Environments: Canada's Interactions With The Global Communty
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language:Comprehension : Understanding and Responding to Texts
    • Grade 8
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language: Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
      • Geography
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Inequalities: Economic Development and Quality of Life
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • To read and Listen to Literary, Popular and Information -based texts
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Reads and listens to written, spoken and media texts
    • Grade 8
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Reads and listens to written, spoken and media texts
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Issues and Governance: Complex global problems require international cooperation to make difficult choices for the future.
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens
    • Grade 8
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.

Themes Addressed

Human Rights (3)

  • Gender Equality
  • Refugees and Immigration
  • War and Peace

Water (1)

  • Water Quality

A project of LSF Newsletter Sign-up