96 pages 3 hours read

Healer of the Water Monster

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2021

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Reading Context

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about the history and culture of the Navajo people? Where is the Navajo Nation, and how many people live there? What are some of the strengths and struggles of the Navajo community today?

Teaching Suggestion: Students can draw from their prior knowledge to answer the first question, but they may need to conduct research before answering the rest. You might ask students to pause after answering the first question and then give them time to consult the sources below or similar resources before attempting to answer the remaining questions.

To provide context for this short-answer question and the resources below, it might be helpful to explain to students that the novel they are about to read is about a young Navajo boy who visits his grandmother on the reservation.

  • This brief article provides information about the history, population, and culture of the Navajo Nation.
  • This concise article provides details about Navajo history and the struggles faced by contemporary Navajo people.

2. What can individuals do to conserve water? What factors make water scarce or unsafe? How many people lack running water in the United States today?

Teaching Suggestion: This question connects to the theme of The Importance of Respecting Nature. Students may already have ideas about how to conserve water based on their prior knowledge and personal experiences, but they might benefit from time to consult resources before attempting to answer the remaining questions or checking their speculations. After providing their individual responses to the short-answer question, students might work together to generate a list of possible water conservation methods and discuss why it is important to respect this resource.

  • This webpage presents infographics and videos about the number of people who lack access to running water and explains what the Navajo Water Project is doing to address this issue.
  • This tip sheet from the Environmental Protection Agency suggests ways for individuals to conserve water.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What do you think it means to be a hero? Who is one of your heroes, and why do you admire this individual? Use specific adjectives and examples to show what makes this person a hero.

 

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt connects to the theme of Finding the Hero Within. If students struggle to identify an example of a hero in their own lives, you could ask them to discuss a fictional character or historical figure whom they consider heroic instead. In addition, you might consider giving students time to share their responses and identify patterns in the qualities they look for in a hero.

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