I DREAM OF WATER

Thank you for your download. By using this resource, you have joined a
community of people working to improve the lives of children around the
world through the power of education.

This packet includes everything you need in order to teach memorable and
impactful lessons with little prep! This bundle includes:

A digital copy of I Dream of Water by Shawn Small

Discussion questions
Differentiated lessons, activities, and printables
Links to helpful resources to extend student learning

Please contact Carrie Ward at carrie@waterisbasic.org if you have any

questions about this resource. Thanks again for your support.

I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A FREE HARDCOPY OF THIS

BOOK! IF YOU WOULD LIKE ONE, PLEASE DROP ME AN
EMAIL.
MATERIALS
I Dream of Water by Shawn Small (digital version included)
Differentiated discussion questions
Activity printables
Access to YouTube, Vimeo, and www.waterisbasic.org

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Begin by introducing I Dream of Water to students. This can be
accomplished through a picture walk, a short discussion, or by making a
connection to your lesson.
2. Read the book or have students watch the video read aloud.
3. Use the discussion questions to help students grasp a deeper
understanding of the book.
4. Choose one or more of the activities included in this bundle to extend
student learning.
5. Review this bundle on Teachers Pay Teachers.
What what was the main problem in the story? What other problems did
it cause?
What was the solution to the main problem?
How do the illustrations help you better understand the story?
What would the story be like without the illustrations?
How do you think the main character felt before there was a well in her
village? Why?
How do you think she felt after her village had a well? Why?
What were the monsters in the water? Why did boiling the water kill the
monsters?
Why does the main character dream of water?
Why can’t the main character go to school?
How does the well change the main character’s life? Who else does it
affect?
Why is school important if you want to reach your dreams?
“Water is Basic. Water is Life.” What do you think this means?
Do you think it would be difficult to have to find water for your whole
family? Why?
Why do people need clean water?
 LESSON PLANS

ACTIVITY 1

PreK - 5th
ACTIVITY 1: JERRYCAN ILLUSTRATIONS
Art

I Dream of Water is a book full of stunning illustrations. They help tell the main
character’s story in a visual way. After reading the book, ask students:

How do the illustrations help the reader?

What would the reading experience be like if there weren't any
illustrations?
What do the illustrations help you learn about the main character?
Are the illustrations always “real”?

Discuss with students what illustration they might want to add to the book. Show
them the jerrycan template and have them create their illustration inside of it.

To enter to win 2 hard copies of I Dream of Water for your classroom and school
library, post a picture of student artwork (covering any student identifying
information) to Instagram using the hashtag #WIBJerryCanArt. If your post is
chosen, Water Is Basic will contact you!

NOTES:
 ACTIVITIES

JERRY CAN
ILLUSTRATION
 LESSON PLANS

ACTIVITY 2

PreK - 5th
ACTIVITY 2: READING BUDDIES
Reading

Have students from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade pair up with students in grades 2 and

under as reading buddies. The older students should read to the younger

students. Students can then complete an activity for their grade-level, creating a

huge opportunity co-learning across grade levels and across campus. Each and

every participant can share in the same book, while exploring it further through

their own scaffolded learning experience.

NOTES:
 LESSON PLANS

ACTIVITY 3

3rd - 5th
ACTIVITY 3: RU: WATER IS LIFE
Reading, Writing

Skills: Compare and contrast the ways people meet their basic needs. Identify and
explain the problem and the solution in a story.

After reading I Dream of Water, students can watch the 18 minute short
film, RU: Water Is Life. This is a documentary that shows the real struggle
of a girl named Jina, of whom I Dream of Water was based. It puts into
greater perspective the reality of millions of people’s lives in South Sudan.
https://www.waterisbasic.org/ru-water-is-life

Students can create a compare and contrast chart, where they explore the
differences and similarities between:

The book and the film

The way they get water vs the way the main character gets water
The main character’s life before and after the well is installed
And anything else you and the class was to compare and discuss from the
book and the film

NOTES:
 LESSON PLANS

ACTIVITY 4

2nd - 5th
ACTIVITY 4: COUNTING STEPS
Science, Math, Social Studies

Skills: Ask, predict, plan, collect data, and communicate findings // Using maps
and scales // Addition and subtraction

In the book, it takes the main character 8,000 steps to get to and from the
waterhole. She makes this journey three times each day. In this activity,
students will calculate how many steps it takes them to get to and from
their classroom door to the farthest source of water in the school (such as
the cafeteria or a water fountain).

Students will use the worksheet to predict how many steps it will take to reach
the water source. You will measure the distance for accuracy and time how long it
takes. They will need this data to complete their worksheet. Once they return to
the classroom, they will compare their steps and distance to that of the main
character’s. They will communicate their findings through reflection questions.

NOTES:
 ACTIVITIES

COUNTING STEPS

Question: How many steps does it take to get to the farthest source of
water in my school?

Predict: Predict how many steps it will take for you to get to the water
source.

I predict it will take me steps.

Data: It took me steps to get to the water source and back to my

classroom. This number of steps was (more or less) than my
prediction.

Answer the questions:

How many more steps did the main character walk than you?

How far did you travel to get to your water source?

How long did it take you to travel to your water source?

Compare and contrast your journey with the main character’s journey.
 LESSON PLANS

ACTIVITY 5: HOW TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS 3rd - 5th

A COMMUNITY Science, Social Studies

Skills: Impact of scientific breakthroughs and new technology on various

communities. // Identify examples of nonprofit and/or civic organizations and
explain how they serve the common good.

The bore well is a massive breakthrough technology that communities rely on for
safe drinking water. These wells are drilled by nonprofit organizations, such as
Water is Basic and Water For South Sudan. Students will watch Drilling In South
Sudan to grasp a technological understanding of how a bore well is created and
how it works. They can also watch 60 Meters in 60 Seconds for another start-to-
finish view of the process. Students will use the worksheet to plan technology
they want to create to meet a need in their community.

60 METERS IN 60 SECONDS

DRILLING IN SOUTH SUDAN

NOTES:
 ACTIVITIES

HOW TECHNOLOGY

IMPACTS A COMMUNITY

Think of a problem in your community. Think of what you could create or

invent that would help solve this problem.

List the problem:

Plan your invention/technology:

 ACTIVITIES

HOW TECHNOLOGY

IMPACTS A COMMUNITY

Answer the questions:

How does the technology you created help solve a problem in your
community?

How does it work?

How did the people in the village use their environment to survive before
there was a well?

What new technology helped them adapt and survive? How?

How do organizations, such as Water Is Basic, serve the common good of

people?
 LESSON PLANS

ACTIVITY 6

3rd - 5th
ACTIVITY 6: THE WELL AND THE WATER CYCLE
Science

Skills: The Water Cycle // Supply and demand

The waterhole in I Dream of Water is affected by the water cycle, which

has a huge impact on the people who depend on it. Students will label the
image of the dirty waterhole and draw how the water cycle affects its
levels, how clean it is, and what it needs to continue the cycle. Students will
then reflect using the questions provided, which will also explore how supply
and demand plays into a small natural waterhole.

NOTES:
 ACTIVITIES

Directions: Look at the picture of the waterhole below. Draw a diagram of

the water cycle of this waterhole next to the picture and explain how the
waterhole is affected by each stage. Then, answer the questions below.

What effect does the water cycle have on a natural waterhole such as this
one?
 ACTIVITIES

THE WELL AND

THE WATER CYCLE

Answer the questions:

If the waterhole dries up in the summer, how does this affect the supply
and demand of water in the village?

Is the bore well affected by the water cycle? Why or why not?

How does the well affect the people who need drinking water?
 LESSON PLANS

ACTIVITY 7

ACTIVITY 7: HELP CHILDREN IN SOUTH SUDAN! PreK - 5th

Skills: The Water Cycle // Supply and demand

Extension activity and real-world application

After learning more about the need for clean water in South Sudan, your
class may feel compelled to raise money to help children in South Sudan.
Schools have previously raised between $300 to $8,000. If you are
interested in fundraising and helping your children help other children, visit
Making A Difference.

NOTES:
Water is Basic was founded in 2006 after leaders from across all of Sudan
(now South Sudan) came together with one goal in mind: to provide clean
water as quickly as possible to as many people as possible. Water is Basic
was formed as a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization to support these efforts. We
catalyze local, sustainable solutions to the local water crisis, providing
clean, safe water in the villages where people live. It's really that simple.
When children don't have access to clean water, they suffer both physically
and emotionally. One of the most tragic realities they miss out on is a
proper education.

At Water is Basic, we are motivated to change the reality for those children.
We invest our time, creativity, and resources to help families find clean
water close to home. In Africa, mothers spend a combined 200 million hours
every day looking for clean water in hopes that their children won't miss
out. Water is Basic is dedicated to giving mothers back to their families by
ending that terrible waste of time.

Since 2006, school children at every grade level have helped us bring
solutions to moms and their kids in Africa. Whether you're a classroom
collecting loose change, a school engaging in a run for water, or setting up
an art show to raise money, your student or class can make a difference
today.

Water really is basic.

www.waterisbasic.org

Follow @waterisbasic on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

 Special thanks to Coeli Lawhead for creating this resource.
Coeli is an educator with over 10 years of experience working with
children around the world.

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