Background Information
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER’S GOURD
THE SETTING OF OUR STORY IS IN A DESERT
WHAT ARE SOME PROBLEMS
OF LIVING IN A DESERT?
DESERTIFICATION
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER’S GOURD
Because our story this
week takes place in a
desert, water is scarce
and very precious.
 The town has just
gotten a new pump that
will bring water to the
people during a
drought.

MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER’S GOURD
Fatima is our main
character. She lives in
the village with her
family and she is very
excited about the new
pump.
 Fatima becomes
confused when she
learns that not
everyone feels the
same.

BAOBAB TREE

Another important element of our story is the
baobab tree.
BAOBAB TREE

Thanks to Disney, we know the baobab tree as
the “Tree of Life” from the Animal Kingdom.
BAOBAB TREE
The African baobab tree is also called the "tree
of life" as it can store water during the drought
season which is sometimes vital to the rural
population.
 Large baobab trees could contain more than
30,000 gallons of water, and to get to it,
Kalahari bushmen use hollow pieces of grass
like a straw to suck the water out.

BAOBAB TREE
Because of their size, people have been storing
supplies in old hollow trunks or have been
living inside a Baobab Tree.
 Natural medicine uses the bark of the Baobab
to lower fevers, chewing a leaf, you apparently
ingest some of the tartar powder that helps
with stomach aches.
 Rafiki (the baboon) from "The Lion King" lives in
a Baobab Tree.

BAOBAB TREE
COMPREHENSION STRATEGY
 Good
readers think about what they have
read and think about what they know from
their own experiences to understand what
the author is trying to say.
 As you read about Fatima and the baobab
tree, think about how different her life and
neighborhood is from yours.
COMPREHENSION STRATEGY
 It
will also be important to understand
Grandmother’s point-of-view about
the progress the pump provides the
village.
 If you can see it from her eyes, you
will understand why she is unwilling to
change and accept the new pump.
AUTHOR’S MESSAGE
Finally, after you read, think about what lesson the
author was teaching you by telling this story.
 What did the village learn?
 What did Fatima learn?
 How were the characters different at the end of
the story?
 These questions will give you help in
understanding what you were to learn from this
story.
