A Long Walk to Water:Building Background Knowledge|Water Scarcity in South Sudan

A Long Walk to Water: Building Background Knowledge | Water Scarcity in South Sudan

Help students build the real-world background knowledge they need to better understand A Long Walk to Water with this no-prep Water Scarcity in South Sudan lesson for Grades 6–8.

Students investigate why access to clean water is difficult in many parts of South Sudan and explore how climate, seasonal rainfall, geography, limited infrastructure, and the effects of conflict combine to create water-access challenges. They also examine current efforts to improve access and discover why water scarcity is a complex problem involving both natural and human-made factors.

Students Will
- Investigate the causes of water scarcity in South Sudan
- Distinguish between natural and human-made factors
- Explore climate, rainfall, geography, infrastructure, and conflict
- Build cause-and-effect chains showing how water challenges affect people
- Analyze how different causes of water scarcity are interconnected
- Consider possible responses and improvements
- Compare South Sudan with another region experiencing water-access challenges
- Use research evidence to build a Water Access Investigation

Included
- Teacher Directions
- Background Overview & Mini Research Questions
- Group Activity: Water Access Investigation
- Understanding the Water Problem student research page
- When One Challenge Leads to Another cause-and-effect analysis page
- Build Your Investigation planning page
- Water Scarcity Today global comparison
- Free online research resources
- Color and printer-friendly black-and-white student pages

Perfect For
Grades 6–8 • A Long Walk to Water Novel Study • Building Background Knowledge • South Sudan • Water Scarcity • Water Access • Geography • Human-Environment Interaction • ELA & Humanities • Social Studies • Research • Sub Plans
Designed for approximately 1–2 class periods of 45–60 minutes each.

Book Disclaimer
This resource does not include the novel A Long Walk to Water or reproduce text, illustrations, or cover artwork from the book. It is an independently created educational resource designed to build background knowledge. It is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by Linda Sue Park, the publisher, or the copyright holder of A Long Walk to Water.