Summative Assessment - Menu Board Project

To close out the A Long Walk to Water unit, students will choose a project option from the ALWtW Project menu board. This assessment allows students to select something that leverages their unique skills and abilities; as this unit is usually the first of the year, it also allows the teacher to build understanding of students' abilities and learning preferences. The specific state standards achieved vary depending on the project option; the larger goal is to measure overall comprehension of the text. I typically budget several (3-4) class days for students to work on their projects.

ALWtW Project:

Project #1: Map of Salva's Journey

A Long Walk to Water includes a map of Salva's journey in the beginning pages of the novel. For this project, you will create a larger, more detailed version of that map. You will chart, label, and illustrate the following key events in Salva's journey:

Leaving his village, Loun-Ariik
Being left behind in the barn and/or meeting Auntie
Meeting Uncle Jewiir
Marial being eaten by the lion
Crossing the Nile River
Crossing the Akobo Desert
Uncle Jewiir dying
Spending five years in the Itang refugee camp
Leading 1500 boys to Kenya
Leaving the Ifo refugee camp for America
Meeting Nya

Project #2: Alternative Dust Jacket

For this project, you will design a new, original dust jacket for A Long Walk to Water. The cover art must be designed, drawn, and created by you. Your cover should reflect the characters, setting, theme, and/or events of the novel. It cannot be a copy of the existing cover.

In addition to the cover art, you will also be responsible for writing:

a blurb summarizing the novel without spoilers on the inner flap of the front cover
a short paragraph about the author, Linda Sue Park, on the inner flap of the back cover
three short key quotes from the book that preview the contents for potential readers on the back cover

These sections may be typed, printed, and pasted onto your book cover, but they should be meaningfully integrated into the design of the dust jacket.

Project #3: Salva's/Nya's Diary

We learn the story of A Long Walk to Water from Linda Sue Park's narration. What more might we learn if we heard the story from Salva's perspective or Nya's perspective?

For this option, choose either Nya or Salva. Then, pick four events from their story and write at least two paragraphs about each event (at least eight paragraphs total) as if you were that character. Integrate vivid details from the book and imagine their thoughts, feelings, and emotions during each event.

Project #4: Comic Book

We read Salva and Nya's stories in A Long Walk to Water, but some people like to have a visual companion to their reading.

For this option, create a comic book retelling the events of the book. You may choose to retell the entire book or focus on just one key scene or chapter. Your comic should be detailed and attractive and evidence understanding of the text.

Project #5: Water for South Sudan

For this option, you will pretend that you are a representative for Salva's charity, Water for South Sudan. You will create either a public service announcement video that could air on television (at least two minutes in length) or an informational brochure. You should integrate information from the foundation's website in your project.

Project #6: Salva's Playlist

For this project, you will make a playlist to represent five major events in Salva's journey.

Travelling to the Itang refugee camp as a child
Five years spent at Itang
Trip to and life in the USA
Reuniting with his family
Meeting Nya and building wells

Your project must include a list of the songs and artists. Additionally, you will write two RACECE Paragraphs explaining the connection between events and the songs, using quotes from the songs' lyrics and the text.

Project #7: Choose Your Own Adventure

Have an idea for a project that doesn't fit within these options? You may propose a different project to complete and submit. Think of something that highlights your unique skills and interests — just make sure it reflects a similar amount of time and effort to the options above. You must get your idea approved by the teacher in advance if you are choosing this option.

⚙️ Modifications

Teachers may provide challenge and extension by allowing students to complete an additional project for extra credit.