Cross-Curriculum Novel Study: 'A Long Walk to Water' for ELA & History
Learners will read 'A Long Walk to Water' to learn more about the world's newest country: South Sudan. A comprehension analysis study guide is provided to learners with additional videos and articles about life in the Sahel region.
Striving Students Towards Success, LLC.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(242)
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Learners will be tasked with reading the novel, defining unknown vocabulary terms, and completing the literary element study guide with comprehension questions.Letter Grade
1 after class completionClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 9
Hello! I am very excited for learners to read one of my favorite young adult historical fiction novels. 'A Long Walk to Water' is based on the true story of Salva Dut who survived Sudan's civil war in the 1980's. While Salva's story is true, the author added an additional fictional character to create the story's irony. Learners will receive a comprehensive analysis study guide that has 3-5 questions for each chapter. In the lesson videos, I model writing short answer responses using textual evidence. As a certified English Language Arts and Special Education teacher, I used this novel to assist learners in interpreting historical fiction. Along with the teacher recorded lesson videos, learners will be provided with videos that discuss Sudan's climate, geography, culture, conflicts, and more. 'A Long Walk to Water' by Susan Parker is recommended for learners between ages 10-12 and grade levels 5-7. The novel consists of 18 chapters and is 128 pages in length.
Learning Goals
Students will answer 3-5 comprehension analysis questions for 18 chapters of 'A Long Walk to Water'.Learners will identify the literary elements and devices used by Linda Sue Park to create a central idea for 'A Long Walk to Water'.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Salva's Life Before the War
Learners will read chapters 1-4 of the novel. Learners will identify the narration, point of view, setting, and conflict while answering comprehension analysis questions. Lesson 2:
Salva Begins Walking
Learners will read chapters 5-11 of the novel and answer comprehension analysis questions that identify the story's literary devices. Lesson 3:
A Long Walk to Water
Learners will finish reading the novel. Lesson 4:
After Reading
Learners will explore possible central ideas of the story after completing the literary element study guide and comprehension questions. Other Details
Parental Guidance
This novel is set during Sudan's Civil War and there is discussion about famine and malnutrition during the course. There are scenes of war in the novel so some parental guidance is advised depending on your child's historical knowledge. I have given this course a PG13 rating and if you are concerned with your child being exposed to material that could be graphic (regarding the civil war in Sudan) then please alert me and I will provide assignments with a cross content focus on the environmental science aspect of the region which is still equally as rigorous.
Supply List
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined May, 2020
4.9
242reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a teaching certificate
New York Teaching Certificate in Special Education
New York Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
1 teacher has a Graduate degree
Master's Degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University
1 teacher has a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature from State University of New York at Oswego
The course discusses the civil war in Sudan. As a Special Education and English teacher, I have taught a diverse group of global learners for over ten years. I am very experienced in teaching sensitive cultural and global topics through the use of novels.Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$12
weekly or $45 for all content4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 6 learners
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Ages: 10-14
