A Long Walk to Water: Building Background Knowledge | Water, Health & Disease

A Long Walk to Water: Building Background Knowledge | Water, Health & Disease

Build the real-world background students need to better understand A Long Walk to Water with this no-prep Water, Health & Disease lesson for Grades 6–8.
Students investigate the connection between unsafe water and disease, explore why children are especially vulnerable to water-related illnesses, and examine how access to clean water affects families and entire communities. Students then use their research to create a Clean Water Case File supported by evidence.

Students Will
- Explore how contaminated water can lead to illness
- Investigate water-related illnesses and health effects
- Examine why children can be especially vulnerable
- Trace cause-and-effect connections from unsafe water → illness → wider community impacts
- Analyze ways water-related illness can be prevented
- Research current prevention efforts
- Investigate a real organization working to prevent water-related illness
- Build an evidence-based Clean Water Case File

Included
- Teacher Directions
- Background Overview & Mini Research Questions
- Group Activity: Clean Water Case File
- Tracing the Health Connection student investigation
- From Problem to Prevention analysis activity
- Build the Clean Water Case File planning page
- Public Health Today real-world connection
- 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 • Water, Health & Disease • Clean Water • Public Health • South Sudan • 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.