A Long Walk to Water Nonfiction Connection Activity to Thirst by Kristen Lewis

Deepen your students’ understanding of A Long Walk to Water with this paired nonfiction reading activity based on the article “Thirst” by Kristen Lewis. Students will meet Natalia, a 13-year-old girl from Mozambique whose struggle for clean water parallels Nya’s experiences in the novel. This lesson encourages students to think critically about global water access, health, and equality while strengthening their reading comprehension and analytical writing skills.

This is included in a unit plan:
>>> A Long Walk to Water Unit Plan

Included in the A Long Walk to Water and “Thirst” by Kristen Lewis Nonfiction Assignment:

➡️ Thirst and A Long Walk to Water Reading Questions: Students respond to reading questions that guide them in comparing Natalia’s and Nya’s experiences, examining the effects of contaminated water, and reflecting on the shared challenges faced by communities without reliable access to clean water.

➡️ Teacher Answer Key: Use the completed sample responses to support discussion, guide student understanding, and simplify grading.

This activity works well as a post-reading comparison that reinforces key themes from the novel and highlights the ongoing global importance of access to safe, clean water.

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