A Long Walk to Water Nonfiction Connection Activity to Thirst by Kristen Lewis
This A Long Walk to Water nonfiction activity pairs the novel with the informational article “Thirst” by Kristen Lewis to help students examine real-world issues related to water access. After reading about Nya’s daily walk for water, students are introduced to Natalia, a 13-year-old girl from Mozambique whose experiences with limited access to clean water parallel those in the novel. Students read the article closely, identify key details, and compare the challenges, health effects, and social consequences described in both texts. This assignment asks students to analyze similarities and differences, draw evidence-based conclusions, and connect fiction to real-world nonfiction in a structured and purposeful way.
This is included in a unit plan:
→ A Long Walk to Water Unit Plan
Included in the A Long Walk to Water Nonfiction Lesson - “Thirst” by Kristen Lewis:
➡️ Thirst and A Long Walk to Water Reading Questions: Students respond to guided reading questions designed to support comprehension and comparison. They identify important facts from the article, examine how contaminated water affects health and daily life, and compare Natalia’s experiences with Nya’s in the novel. Questions prompt students to cite evidence from both texts, explain similarities and differences, and reflect on the broader impact of limited access to clean water on education, family responsibilities, and community development.
➡️ Teacher Answer Key: This completed answer key provides sample responses aligned to each question. Teachers can use it to facilitate class discussion, to model how to incorporate text evidence from both fiction and nonfiction sources, and streamline grading.
This A Long Walk to Water nonfiction activity works well as a post-reading comparison after students have finished the novel or completed key chapters. It reinforces important themes while helping students see that the water crisis described in the story reflects ongoing global realities.
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