A Long Walk to Water Unit Plan - Novel Study Reading Unit - Digital Print Bundle
This comprehensive digital and print unit plan includes everything you need to teach A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park with confidence and purpose. With over 250 pages and slides in both digital and print format, this ready-to-use resource will help your students explore the novel’s powerful themes and historical significance. From comprehension checks and vocabulary activities to figurative language practice and literary analysis, each resource is designed to create a meaningful learning experience while saving you hours of planning time. You’ll find both Google Slides and PowerPoint presentations, as well as print and digital assignments to suit your teaching needs.
This is a BUNDLE of my print and digital versions of the A Long Walk to Water Unit Plan. Click the links below if you do not require both options:
Included in the A Long Walk to Water Digital/Print Unit Plan:
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Introductory Presentation: This 17-slide PowerPoint and Google Slides presentation is the perfect way to introduce A Long Walk to Water to your students. The slides build crucial background knowledge on the Sudanese Civil War, the Lost Boys of Sudan, and author Linda Sue Park, while encouraging reflection through engaging pre-reading questions and activities.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Chapter Summary Cards: These 18 printable and digital summary cards outline the key events and themes from each chapter. They’re ideal for text-based discussions, quick reference, or supporting students who need scaffolding while tracking Salva’s and Nya’s storylines.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Quizzes: Assess comprehension with four section-based quizzes, each including six multiple-choice questions and two short-answer quote analysis prompts. Detailed answer keys with explanations are included for each quiz, and the digital versions are self-grading in Google Forms for easy assessment.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Video Clip Journal Prompts: Help students make meaningful text-to-self and text-to-world connections with these reflective video journals. Each video is connected to a major theme, such as perseverance, leadership, or access to clean water, and is paired with a thought-provoking writing prompt to deepen engagement and foster empathy.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Vocabulary Booklet and Slides: Strengthen students’ understanding of key vocabulary through context-based practice. Students encounter new words in quotes from the novel, infer meanings using context clues, and verify their definitions. Both digital and print booklets are organized by chapter section, and the included PowerPoint and Google Slides presentations make review simple and interactive.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Questions and Answers: Guide students through each section of the novel with a blend of comprehension and analysis questions. This resource includes digital and print response sheets, as well as PowerPoint and Google Slides presentations featuring evidence-based model answers for class discussion and review.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Figurative Language Assignments: Students analyze examples of figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia) using four fully digital and printable assignments organized by chapter section. Each includes detailed answer keys for quick grading or class discussion.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Historical Context Notes: This 27-slide PowerPoint and Google Slides presentation provides the historical and cultural background essential for understanding A Long Walk to Water. Organized by chapter section, it explores topics such as the Dinka and Nuer tribes, the Second Sudanese Civil War, refugee camps, and humanitarian aid efforts, helping students connect the novel to real-world events.
➡️ A Long Walk to Water Analysis Notes: This 36-slide Google Slides and PowerPoint presentation explores the novel’s literary depth through theme, symbolism, tone, conflict, and characterization. Organized by chapter section, it includes examples and discussion prompts that guide students toward critical thinking and text-based analysis.
The A Long Walk to Water Digital and Print Unit Plan also includes creative assignments and activities for each reading section. Digital and print versions are included for all activities. You can learn more about what's included below:
Chapters 1–5:
➡️ Digital Water Crisis Lesson & Water Walk Challenge: In A Long Walk to Water, Nya’s daily walk for water reveals the harsh reality faced by millions around the world. In this multi-part activity, students learn about global water scarcity, track their own water use, participate in a Water Walk simulation, and take part in a Walk-A-Thon fundraiser to raise awareness for clean water access.
➡️ Water Symbolism Assignment: Water carries symbolic meanings throughout the novel, from survival and hardship to hope and transformation. In this activity, students analyze how the symbolism of water changes over the course of the novel by selecting key quotes and explaining what water represents in each moment.
Chapters 6–10:
➡️ Lost Boys of Sudan Digital WebQuest: In this WebQuest, students explore the real events that inspired Salva’s story. Through videos, maps, and articles, they learn about the Lost Boys of Sudan, including their long journey across Africa, life in refugee camps, and resettlement in new countries. This background helps students better understand the historical and human context behind Salva’s experiences.
➡️ “Thirst” Nonfiction Response: Students read Kristin Lewis’s nonfiction article “Thirst” to explore the real-life story of Natalia, a 13-year-old girl from Mozambique whose struggle for clean water mirrors Nya’s in A Long Walk to Water. Through structured response questions, students compare both experiences, analyze the impact of contaminated water on their families, and reflect on the global significance of access to safe, clean water.
Chapters 11–14:
➡️ Human Rights Lesson & Analysis: This lesson challenges students to think critically about human rights and how they’re denied in times of war, poverty, and crisis. After studying the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, students connect its core principles to A Long Walk to Water, analyzing how Salva’s and Nya’s stories reveal violations of rights to safety, education, equality, and access to clean water.
Chapters 15–18:
➡️ Nya’s Letter to Salva Digital Writing Activity: In this digital writing task, students take on Nya’s voice to write a reflective letter to Salva, connecting the novel’s dual narratives in a meaningful way. They may express gratitude, describe how access to clean water has transformed life in their village, and imagine Nya’s hopes for the future, strengthening empathy, voice, and understanding of the novel’s themes.
➡️ “I Kept Walking” – Salva Dut Speech Activity: After watching Salva Dut’s inspiring TED Talk, students reflect on the power of perseverance, hope, and leadership. Using discussion task cards, they analyze key quotes from his speech, connect his words to events in A Long Walk to Water, and respond to one prompt in depth, exploring how Salva’s message of “keeping walking” continues to impact lives today.
➡️ Front Page Digital Newspaper Article Project: Stepping into the role of a journalist, students write a headline news story about Salva Dut’s inspiring work at the end of A Long Walk to Water. Using details and quotes from the novel, they craft a lead paragraph, supporting details, and a conclusion that highlight Salva’s achievements and the global impact of his well-building mission.
© Presto Plans
➡️ Want 10 free ELA resources sent to your inbox? Click here!