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Task Cards

A Long Walk to Water

to enhance classroom discussions

created by: Katie Jones

1.1

“The teacher droned on with a lesson about the Arabic

language.” Use context clues to determine the meaning of

the word droned.

1.2

1.3 1.4

A Long Walk to Water A Long Walk to Water


Describe Salva as a student. How is his behavior similar and/or different from your

classmates?

Why does Salva’s teacher urge the boys to “run into the bush”? What would you

have done if you were Salva?

In your opinion, why does the author use different

print styles and different time periods in the same

chapter?

1.5

Describe Salva’s family and home life. How is his life the

same and different from your life?

1.6

1.7 1.8



“Others helped to clean and dress the animal.” What does the word dress mean in this

sentence?

Imagine you were in class with Salva when he hears the gunfire. What emotions do

you think Salva and his classmates are feeling?

“But the words were blocked by the wild thumping in his throat.” Identify the figurative language used in this phrase and explain what it means. Have you ever

experienced this feeling? What caused it?

2.1

How does Nya spend her days?

2.2

2.3 2.4



Do the rebels consider Salva a man? How do you know?

Who are the rebels? What is happening around Salva as he runs away from

school?

2.5

There are 3 questions that have taken over Salva’s

thoughts. What are these 3 questions? What do these questions tell you about

Salva? 2.6

2.7 2.8



“...this thought straightened him enough to keep him from collapsing in terror.” Think about what the word terror means. Have you ever felt this emotion? If so, when?

“Flames darted out of its base.” What does darted

mean?

When the people organize by the village, what does Salva

discover?

3.1

Describe what is going on in Salva’s life. Why doesn’t he

return to school?

3.2

3.3 3.4



Describe the history between the Nuers and the Dinka

tribe.

Why must the old woman move along without Salva?

Why is Salva insulted to be an orphan?

3.5

“She shook her head in sympathy.” Think of a time

you had sympathy for someone; tell me about that

time.

3.6

3.7 3.8



How do the different tribes tell themselves apart from

one another?

Why do you think the author always tells Nya’s story

first?

“He could tell by her clothing that she was not Dinka, not of his tribe.” What does the

word tribe mean?

Why do you think the author is telling two different

stories within each chapter?



“Salva saw the doubt on the people’s face.” What is

something you have doubted before?

Why doesn’t the group want Salva to come along?

Why type of figurative language is “walking to nowhere”? What does it

mean?

4.1 4.2

4.3 4.4

4.5

Describe what Nya is thinking when her mother tells her to take Akeer with her when she goes

to the pond.

4.6

4.7 4.8



Why do the boys, Buksa and Salva, fall behind?

“This night, they would feast.” Explain what a feast

is.

What does Buksa do that causes excitement among the

group?

“It was worth it, Salva thought, as he touched his

eye gingerly.” What does the word gingerly mean?



Why is Salva sad to hear his group is heading to Ethiopia?

What does Salva and Marial have in common?

“When they walked side by side, their strides were exactly the same length.”

What are strides?

5.1 5.2

5.3 5.4

Describe the Atuot people? Would you be afraid of them?



What causes Salva to be speechless at the end of the

chapter?

Analyze and explain how water dictates Nya’s life

every day.

What happened when Salva and the group tried to get the honey from the hive?

Was it worth it?

5.5 5.6

5.7 5.8

Compare and contrast Nya and her mother’s views

toward the camp.



Identify this figurative language and describe what it means: “A cold fish seemed to

grip Salva’s heart.”

Describe the story structure the author uses in this book.

Salva and the rest of the group become very sick.

What causes this sickness?

6.1 6.2

6.3 6.4

“As he opened his eyes, he heard wailing.” Use context clues to determine what the

word wailing means.



At the beginning of the chapter, something good

happens to Salva. What is this? How does this change

Salva’s mood?

“But these hopes were dashed as soon as Uncle spoke.”

What does the author mean? Explain what the word dashed

means in this sentence.

Make an inference. At the end of the chapter, Salva

wakes up and hears someone crying. What has happened?

6.5 6.6

6.7 6.8

If you had to switch places with Nya or Salva, who would

you choose? Explain.



What happened to Marial? How does the group know

this?

Why is the group building canoes?

“Uncle spoke to him all morning in a steady, low

voice.” What does the word steady mean?

7.1 7.2

7.3 7.4

What is the secret of making canoes?



“Salva staggered forward with yet another enormous load of reeds in his arms.”

What are reeds?

The death of Marial has a large impact on Salva. How

do we know this?

Explain what is wrong with Akeer. What decision is the family faced with? How do you think Akeer’s family is

feeling?

7.5 7.6

7.7 7.8

How does the group get food without any money?



Salva’s uncle shares something very valuable with

Salva. What is it?

What do the fishermen know about the night that the group does not? What

happens to the group at night?

“He kept himself awake by counting the strokes of

Uncle’s paddle and trying to gauge how far the canoe

traveled with every twenty strokes.” What does the

word gauge mean?

8.1 8.2

8.3 8.4

“As the sun touched the horizon, the fishermen

abruptly went into their tents.” Use context clues to

determine what abruptly means.



What caused Akeer’s sickness? Why does Akeer’s mother have worry in her

eyes?

Ahead lay the most difficult part of their journey: the Akobo desert. Why is this

considered the most difficult part of the journey?

“It was like music, the sound of Akeer’s laugh.” What does

the author mean?

8.5 8.6

8.7 8.8

What do you think the visitors want with Nya’s

village?



Describe the conditions the group is facing as they cross

the Akobo desert.

As they cross the desert, Salva notices the rocks up

ahead seem to be moving. He realizes they are not rocks.

What are they?

“The fierce heat sent up shimmering waves that made

everything look wobbly.” What does fierce mean?

9.1 9.2

9.3 9.4

“After that, a long acacia… another clump of rocks… a

spot bare of everything except sand.” Use context

clues to determine what the word bare means.



A woman tells Salva not to give the motionless men water. Why does she say

this? Would you give the men water?

“Each minute of walking in that arid heat felt like an hour.” What does the word

arid mean?

“His lips became cracked and parched.” Use context clues to

determine the meaning of parched.

9.5 9.6

9.7 9.8

What do the men want from Nya’s chief? How could this

change the village?



“Like a miracle, the small amounts of water revived them. Explain the context

clues you used to determine the meaning of revived.

“As they trudged through the heat, Salva finally...” What

does trudged mean?

“When he looked back again, his face was solemn.” Use context clues to determine

the meaning of solemn.

10.1 10.2

10.3 10.4

10.5

What happened to the village of Lou Ariik?

10.6

10.7 10.8



“Early that afternoon, they came across the first

evidence that the desert was receding.” What does

receding mean?

Why do the six men take Uncle away from the group?

What happens to Uncle?

When the men are moving among the group, Salva

realizes it is good to be the smallest and youngest. Why

does he feel this way?

11.1

What will it mean if water is not found in the land between

the trees?

11.2

11.3 11.4



“Out of respect for him, the group walked no more that day, but took time to mourn the man who had been their leader.” What does mourn

mean?

What happened to uncle? How does this affect Salva?

What does the orange scarf mean to Salva?

11.5

“Beneath his terrible sadness, he felt stronger.”

Why do you think Salva feels stronger after his Uncle

passes away?

11.6

11.7 11.8



How does the group’s attitude toward Salva change? Why do

you think the group is treating Salva differently

now that Uncle is gone?

“But now that he was at the camp, he felt restless –

almost as if he should begin walking again.” Use context clues to determine what the

word restless means.

“It seemed that they had all forgotten that, for Salva

now had to beg for scraps, which were given

grudgingly.” What does grudgingly mean?

12.1

“The clangor of machinery and hammer greeted Nya

each time she returned from the pond-” What does the

word clangor mean?

12.2

12.3 12.4



Salva realizes his entire family is gone. How does he

feel?

“Swollen by the rains, the Gilo’s current would be

merciless.” Use context clues to determine what merciless

means.

What is the red, iron giraffe?

12.5

Explain why the refugee camp is closing.

12.6

12.7 12.8



Describe the atmosphere of the camp immediately after

the orders are given to leave Ethiopia.

“Swollen by the rains, the Gilo’s current would be

merciless.” What does the word merciless mean?

“The rain, which was falling in torrents, added to the uproar. Explain what the

word torrents means.

13.1

“The soldiers were forcing some of them into the water,

prodding them with their rifle butts…” What does

prodding mean?

13.2

13.3 13.4



The crew experiences many difficulties when drilling.

What encourages the crew to keep working?

Despite the dangerous conditions, many people are

plunging into the water. What makes the river extra

dangerous?

“Every group had stories of terrible peril…” What does

peril mean?

13.5

A young boy clings onto Salva, but is killed soon after. What saves Salva

from being shot?

13.6

13.7 13.8



How does Salva become a leader? What do you think is going through Salva’ head?

“Salva would talk to them, encourage them, coax and persuade them.” What does

coax mean?

“Every group had stories of terrible peril: boys who had

been hurt or killed by bullets or bombs, attacked by wild animals, or left behind because they were too weak or sick to keep up.” Use

context clues to determine the meaning of peril.

14.1

“Kakuma had been a dreadful place.” Describe why life was dreadful at Kakuma.

14.2

14.3 14.4



Why is the village celebrating? (Nya’s story)

“There was nothing to do but wait – wait for the next

ration of food…” What does ration mean?

“A rumor was spreading throughout the camp.”

Explain what the word rumor means.

14.5

Why did Salva want to get on “the list”? What is this list used for? What are some of the criteria for getting on

this list?

14.6

14.7 14.8



Salva starts to spend a lot of time with Michael. Explain

why.

“A rumor was spreading through the camp. It begin as a whisper, but soon Salva felt as if were a roar in his

ears.” Identify the figurative language used and

explain the meaning.

“After two years of misery at Kakuma, Salva left the camp.” What does the word

misery mean?

15.1

Why are the boys told not to drink the water coming out

of the hole?

15.2

15.3 15.4



Why are the boys being called The Lost Boys?

The frigid air hit Salva’s face like a slap.” What does

the word frigid mean?

“Once the plane was safely aloft, Salva stared at the

scene outside the small window.” Use context clues to

determine the meaning of aloft.

15.5

Salva is 22 years old when he travels to America. Do you

think this journey would have been easier or harder for Salva if he was younger?

Explain.

15.6

15.7 15.8



When Salva arrives in New York, “he thought his lungs

would surely freeze solid and stop working.” Explain why Salva has these thoughts.

What was Salva’s trip to America like? How do you think he was feeling during

this voyage?

Do you think Salva will ever find his birth family? Use

evidence from the story to support your opinion.

16.1

What do you think the men are building in Nya’s village?

16.2

16.3 16.4



The first several weeks of Salva’s new life were so bewildering that he was grateful for his studies.

What does the word bewildering mean?

Salva gets very excited in this chapter. What causes

him to get excited?

Explain some of the risks involved with Salva looking

for his father.

16.5

“At times Salva felt almost frantic at the delays and frustrations.” What does

frantic mean?

16.6

16.7 16.8



What did Salva decide to study in college? Why do you

think he decided this?

At the end of the chapter Salva arrives at the

makeshift hospital his father is believed to be at. What thoughts do you think are going through Salva’s head

when he arrives?

“He had a vague idea that he would like to return to Sudan someday, to help the people

who lived there.” Use context clues to determine the

meaning of vague.

17.1

What building is being put up in Nya’s village? How will this change the life of the

people in the village?

17.2

17.3 17.4



Why do you think Nya asked if girls would be allowed to

go to school too?

Describe the reunion of Salva and his father.

“Years of drinking contaminated water had left

Mawien Dut’s entire digestive system riddle with guinea

worms. Use context clues to determine the meaning of

contaminated.

17.5

Make a prediction. What is Salva’s idea to help people?

17.6

17.7 17.8



“The speakers behind him let out a dreadful screech.”

What does dreadful mean?

Salva said he had to raise money for his project. Why would people want to help

him?

“Would he ever be able to turn his idea into reality.” What does reality mean?

18.1

Describe what the men in the village start doing after the

first spray of water?

18.2

18.3 18.4



How is this well going to change Nya’s life?

Were you surprised by the ending of the book? Explain your reaction to the last line

of the story.

“Nya knew from listening to the grownups that the crew

leader had made arrangements concerning the well.” Explain the definition of the word arrangements.

18.5

“They were drinking that lovely water, or waiting in

line for more, or talking and laughing. It was a

celebration.” Explain why it was a celebration.

18.6

18.7 18.8



Nya asks, “Why would a Dinka bring water to us?” Answer her question by stating your own opinion.

Why wasn’t the leader initially identified as being

Dinka?

“Other villagers, including Nya’s uncle, would resolve any disputes that arose.” Explain the meaning of

disputes and arose.

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