Activity Overview
A theme is a central idea, subject, or message in a story. Many stories have more than one important theme. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate the themes in A Long Walk to Water.
Examples of Themes in A Long Walk to Water
Survival
All of the characters in this novel struggle to survive without the basic need of clean water. Other aspects that impact the characters’ survival are food, war, sickness, and heat.
Family
It is clear that family and community are the most important things to Salva. He experiences an extreme feeling of loss when he cannot find his real family, and when his tribe abandons him. The thought of possibly reuniting with his family motivates Salva to never give up.
Friendship
Salva makes a few friends along his journey, and his ties to them are as important to him as his family.
Perseverance and Courage
The obstacles that Salva faces are simply unimaginable: starvation, thirst, loneliness, endless walking, crocodiles, and so much more. It is unbelievable that he never gave up and never turned back, even when he truly wanted to at times.
War and Society
This novel shows us just how horribly war affects society. Because of war, Salva had to flee his country and live for years on the run. The war in Sudan was so terrible, that women and children were being killed for no reason, and no one was safe from danger.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in A Long Walk to Water. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Identify the themes from A Long Walk to Water you wish to include and write them in the headings.
- Create an image for an example that represents this theme using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples.
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Theme(s) | All themes are correctly identified as important recurring topics or messages in the story. | Some themes are correctly identified, but others are missing or do not make sense with the story. | No themes are correctly identified. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified themes. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified themes. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified themes. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes. |
How To Facilitate a Discussion on Major Themes Present in “A Long Walk to Water” in Class
Identify the Themes
Help the students get familiar with the concept of themes and central ideas present in a narrative and teach them different methods through which they can identify multiple themes present in a story. Read and analyze A Long Walk to Water in class and ask the students to apply their previously learned and practiced knowledge regarding themes and identify the major themes of this short book.
Talk About Perseverance, Survival, and Family
Some of the main themes present in the narrative are related to family, perseverance, and survival. Ask the students how these themes are extracted from the book and back their insights with the help of text from the book. Discuss each theme through the context of Salva’s journey and the lesson that the author is trying to impart with the help of these themes.
Discuss Portrayal in Other Narratives
Once the students have identified the main themes present in A Long Walk to Water, they can look for other narratives with similar central ideas and themes to conduct a comparison. Students can see how similar themes and be portrayed in different narratives and even get some inspiration for their own creative writing projects.
Connect With Reality
Since Salva’s journey and story are real and not fictional, teachers can ask the students to deeply reflect on how these themes are portrayed in reality and how people facing challenges in real life deal with their problems. Students can also share their own experiences and learn from the experiences of their classmates and friends.
Encourage Questioning and Discussion
Use Socratic questioning strategies to direct the conversation. Using a series of thoughtful questions, encourage students to investigate the topics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Themes in “A Long Walk to Water”
What are some primary and secondary themes present in the book?
Survival, resiliency, and the effects of war are some primary themes whereas, lack of water, cultural differences, and the importance of education are among the secondary themes present in "A Long Walk to Water". Salva and Nya, the two major protagonists, have perspectives and journeys that incorporate these concepts and ideas.
Do the themes present in the book have any relationship with real-world events?
Yes, the topics of "A Long Walk to Water" are directly related to contemporary problems like the conflicts in Africa, the lack of water in developing nations, and the improvement of lives via education. Through the prism of the novel, readers may comprehend and relate to world concerns. Salva and Nya’s journey of resiliency also portrays important themes that can be used to overcome challenges in real life.
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