A Long Walk to Water:Building Background Knowledge Bundle-12 Pre-Reading Lessons

A Long Walk to Water: Building Background Knowledge Bundle12 Pre-Reading Lessons + Group Research Projects | Grades 6–8

Give students the historical, geographic, cultural, and real-world background they need to better understand A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.
This 12-lesson No Prep Plans bundle takes students from the geography and history of South Sudan through civil war, the Lost Boys, refugee camps, water scarcity, health, and community development. Each lesson combines accessible background information with research, analysis, and a group investigation or project so students actively explore the context surrounding the novel rather than simply reading about it.

The first 11 lessons work especially well before or alongside the novel, while Lesson 12 is a great post-novel project that brings the learning together through an investigation of the real Salva Dut and his impact.

Lessons Included
- South Sudan Geography & Mapping — Explore the location, physical geography, neighboring countries, and spatial context of South Sudan.
- Sudan & South Sudan History — Investigate the historical events that shaped the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan.
- The Sudanese Civil War — Examine major causes and effects of the conflict that forms an important backdrop to Salva’s story.
- The Lost Boys of Sudan — Trace the experiences, journeys, dangers, and displacement of the Lost Boys.
- Dinka & Nuer Peoples — Build cultural background knowledge about two groups central to the novel and the history of South Sudan.
- Life in a Refugee Camp — Explore how refugee camps function and the challenges of providing shelter, food, water, healthcare, education, and safety.
- Water Scarcity in South Sudan — Investigate why access to clean water is difficult and the geographic and environmental factors contributing to scarcity.
- Water, Health & Disease — Examine the connection between unsafe water, disease, public health, and vulnerable populations.
- The Hidden Cost of Collecting Water — Analyze how collecting water affects time, education, work, safety, and opportunities for families.
- Wells That Change Communities — Explore how wells are planned and built and how reliable water access can transform communities.
- Refugees & Resettlement — Investigate the resettlement process and the challenges refugees may face while starting over in a new country.
- From Refugee to Changemaker: Salva Dut — A great post-novel project in which students investigate Salva Dut’s real-life journey, the work of Water for South Sudan, and how his experiences developed into lasting action and community impact.

What’s Included
Each lesson is designed to be ready to use with minimal teacher preparation and includes teacher directions, a student-friendly background overview, mini research questions, a structured group research activity or investigation, and student pages that move students from understanding the topic to deeper analysis and application. Student materials are provided in color and printer-friendly black-and-white versions.
Activities incorporate mapping, timelines, cause and effect, research, evidence analysis, problem solving, planning, real-world connections, and collaborative projects.

Perfect for: Grades 6–8 • A Long Walk to Water Novel Study • Pre-Reading Activities • Building Background Knowledge • South Sudan • Refugees • Lost Boys of Sudan • Water Scarcity • Human Geography • African History • ELA • Humanities • Social Studies • Research • PBL

Why Use This Bundle?
Students encounter many complex ideas in A Long Walk to Water. This bundle gives them the context to understand where the story takes place, why people were displaced, what refugee life can involve, why water access matters, and how these issues connect to Salva Dut’s real-life work. The final post-novel project then gives students an opportunity to bring those ideas together after reading.

Disclaimer
This is an independently created educational resource designed to support the study of A Long Walk to Water. It does not include or reproduce the novel, its text, illustrations, or published cover artwork and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Linda Sue Park, the publisher, Water for South Sudan, or the copyright holder of the novel.