A Long Walk to Water Activity & Water Scarcity Lesson - Water Walk and Tracking
Help students make real-world connections to A Long Walk to Water with this interactive lesson on global water scarcity. Inspired by Nya’s daily journey for water, this multi-part activity combines research, reflection, and action to help students understand the worldwide water crisis and its human impact. Students will explore key facts through a guided presentation, track their personal water use, and participate in a Water Walk simulation. This lesson also includes an optional extension project where students plan and host a Walk-A-Thon fundraiser to promote awareness and support for global clean water access.
This is included in a unit plan:
>>> A Long Walk to Water Unit Plan
Included in the A Long Walk to Water Global Water Scarcity Lesson, Water Walk & Awareness Activity:
➡️ Water Scarcity Presentation: Use this slideshow to introduce students to global water facts, causes of scarcity, and its effects on health, education, and daily life. Engaging discussion questions and visuals help students connect statistics to Nya’s experiences in the novel.
➡️ Water Usage Tracking Activity: Students log how much water they use in a typical day (showers, dishwashing, flushing, and more) to gain perspective on how water consumption differs around the world.
➡️ Water Walk Simulation & Reflection: Students take part in a Water Walk, carrying water over a set distance to simulate a smaller version of Nya’s daily trek. A guided reflection helps them process the experience and consider the emotional and physical impact of limited water access.
➡️ Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser Forms: Extend learning into action with printable pledge forms for a classroom or school-wide Walk-A-Thon, giving students a meaningful opportunity to raise awareness and support clean water initiatives.
How the A Long Walk to Water Water Scarcity Lesson, Water Walk & Awareness Activity Works:
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Begin with the presentation to define water scarcity, explore its causes (such as poverty, population growth, climate change, and pollution), and connect these issues to Nya’s story in A Long Walk to Water.
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Then, have students track their own daily water use and compare it to global averages to highlight inequalities in access and consumption.
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Organize a Water Walk where students carry containers of water over a set distance. Discuss how this exercise reflects the real challenges faced by millions around the world.
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Finally, guide students through the reflection prompts to help them process the experience, and optionally extend the lesson by inspiring community engagement through a Walk-A-Thon fundraiser that supports clean water access.
This activity is best used early on in the novel study to build background knowledge about global water scarcity and help students understand the real-world challenges that inspire Nya’s story.
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