A rare and extraordinary event has taken place in Alaska’s Alpine lakes, where an ice rescue instructor and his wife were able to skate on a once-in-a-decade phenomenon known as an “ice window.” Luc Mehl, the instructor, captured footage of this incredible experience. The ice on Rabbit Lake had frozen in such a way that it became transparent, allowing them to see through it. This unique occurrence was made possible by the weather conditions, which involved an unusually cold and dry transition into winter.

The video footage shows the couple gracefully gliding across the ice, surrounded by the stunning beauty of the frozen landscape. Mehl, who is also an outdoor educator, described the experience as both exhilarating and surreal. The “ice window” provided a rare opportunity to witness the hidden world beneath the frozen surface of the lake.

This natural phenomenon is incredibly rare and only occurs once every ten years. It is caused by a combination of specific weather conditions that create a thin layer of ice that is transparent. This allows people to skate on the lake while still being able to see the depths below. The “ice window” is a breathtaking sight that showcases the wonders of nature and the beauty of Alaska’s wilderness.

The video has garnered attention and awe from viewers around the world, who are amazed by the stunning visuals and the rarity of the event. Many have expressed their desire to witness such a phenomenon firsthand and have marveled at the skill and bravery of the couple who were able to skate on the delicate ice.

This extraordinary experience serves as a reminder of the incredible wonders that nature has to offer. It is a testament to the power and beauty of the natural world and the importance of preserving and appreciating these rare occurrences. The “ice window” in Alaska’s Alpine lakes is a true marvel that will be remembered for years to come.

Original news source: Skating on a once-in-a-decade ‘ice window’ in Alaska (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students pair up and take turns summarizing the article to each other, aiming to capture the main points in under two minutes. Encourage them to mention the “ice window” phenomenon, the location, the people involved, and the rarity of the event.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Place a line of tape on the floor to represent a spectrum of opinions from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” Read out statements related to the article such as “The ‘ice window’ phenomenon in Alaska is one of the most fascinating natural occurrences” or “Skating on such a rare and delicate ice formation is irresponsible.” Students position themselves along the line according to their opinion and discuss their reasoning with their neighbors.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article on slips of paper (e.g., “ice window,” “transparent,” “exhilarating,” “surreal,” “phenomenon”). Students take turns drawing the words for their team to guess without speaking or writing any letters or numbers.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students discuss in small groups what they predict might happen in the future regarding natural phenomena like the “ice window.” They should consider climate change, tourism impact, and preservation efforts. Each group can then share their predictions with the class and provide reasons for their thoughts.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write down a list of words from the article (e.g., “rare,” “extraordinary,” “stunning,” “bravery,” “wonders”). Students work in pairs or small groups to come up with at least two synonyms for each word. This activity will enhance their vocabulary and encourage them to think of alternative ways to express the same idea.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the “ice window” phenomenon that occurred in Alaska’s Alpine lakes?
2. Who is Luc Mehl and what role did he play in the event?
3. How did the weather conditions contribute to the formation of the “ice window”?
4. What did the video footage show about the couple’s experience on Rabbit Lake?
5. How often does the “ice window” phenomenon occur?
6. What are the necessary weather conditions for the “ice window” to form?
7. How have viewers around the world reacted to the video of the “ice window”?
8. What does the author suggest the “ice window” experience serves as a reminder of?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A rare and extraordinary event has taken place in Alaska’s Alpine (1)______, where an ice rescue instructor and his wife were able to skate on a once-in-a-decade phenomenon known as an “ice (2)______.” Luc Mehl, the instructor, captured footage of this incredible experience. The ice on Rabbit Lake had frozen in such a way that it (3)______ transparent, allowing them to see through it. This unique (4)______ was made possible by the weather conditions, which involved an unusually cold and dry transition into winter.

The video footage shows the couple gracefully gliding across the ice, surrounded by the stunning (5)______ of the frozen landscape. Mehl, who is also an (6)______ educator, described the experience as both exhilarating and surreal. The “ice window” provided a rare opportunity to (7)______ the (8)______ world beneath the frozen surface of the lake.

This natural phenomenon is incredibly rare and only occurs once every ten years. It is caused by a combination of specific weather conditions that create a thin layer of ice that is (9)______. This allows people to (10)______ on the lake while still being able to see the depths below. The “ice window” is a breathtaking sight that (11)______ the wonders of (12)______ and the beauty of Alaska’s wilderness.

The video has garnered attention and awe from viewers around the world, who are amazed by the stunning visuals and the rarity of the event. Many have expressed their desire to witness such a phenomenon firsthand and have marveled at the skill and (13)______ of the couple who were able to skate on the delicate ice.

This extraordinary experience serves as a reminder of the incredible wonders that nature has to offer. It is a testament to the (14)______ and beauty of the natural (15)______ and the importance of preserving and appreciating these rare (16)______. The “ice window” in Alaska’s Alpine lakes is a true marvel that will be remembered for years to come.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your definition of a natural phenomenon, and can you share an example you have experienced or heard of?
2. How would you feel if you had the opportunity to skate on transparent ice like the “ice window” described in the article?
3. Do you like engaging in winter sports, and if so, which ones are your favorites?
4. Do you think you would be brave enough to skate on ice that is so thin you can see through it? Why or why not?
5. What are some rare natural events that occur in your home country, and have you ever witnessed any of them?
6. How important do you believe it is to preserve natural wonders like the “ice window” for future generations?
7. What is the most surreal experience you’ve ever had in nature, and how did it make you feel?
8. Do you think experiences like skating on an “ice window” can change a person’s perspective on the environment? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever seen a video of a rare natural event that made you want to visit the location where it was filmed?
10. What safety precautions would you consider necessary before attempting an activity like the one described in the article?
11. Do you think that climate change might affect the frequency of events like the “ice window”? Why or why not?
12. What role do you think social media plays in spreading awareness about rare natural occurrences?
13. If you had the chance to document a rare event in nature, how would you go about doing it?
14. Do you think the rarity of events like the “ice window” adds to their beauty and allure? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the experience of the couple in the article would differ from skating on a regular frozen lake?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. event
2. instructor
3. transparent
4. footage
5. occurrence
6. conditions
7. opportunity
8. wilderness

Meanings:
(a) Able to be seen through; clear
(b) The circumstances or factors affecting a situation
(c) A chance or favorable time for doing something
(d) An uncultivated, uninhabited, and wild area of land
(e) A person who teaches or trains others
(f) A rare and extraordinary happening or incident
(g) Something that happens or takes place
(h) A recording of a particular event or scene
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the rare phenomenon that occurred in Alaska’s Alpine lakes?
(a) A frozen landscape
(b) A transparent lake
(c) A thin layer of ice
(d) An “ice window”

2. What allowed the couple to see through the ice?
(a) The couple had special goggles
(b) The lake was shallow
(c) The ice froze in a transparent way
(d) The weather was warm

3. How often does the “ice window” phenomenon occur?
(a) Once every ten years
(b) Once every year
(c) Once every five years
(d) Once every month

4. What is the video footage of the couple skating on the ice described as?
(a) Boring and uneventful
(b) Both exhilarating and surreal
(c) Dangerous and risky
(d) Disappointing and underwhelming

5. What has the video footage of the “ice window” garnered from viewers?
(a) Attention and awe
(b) Disinterest and boredom
(c) Confusion and skepticism
(d) Fear and concern

6. What does the article say about the skill and bravery of the couple?
(a) They were reckless and foolish to skate on the ice
(b) They were unskilled and lucky to skate on the ice
(c) They were cautious and hesitant to skate on the ice
(d) They were skilled and brave to skate on the delicate ice

7. What does the article say about the wonders of nature?
(a) They are boring and unimportant
(b) They are dangerous and should be avoided
(c) They are incredible and should be preserved
(d) They are unimpressive and overrated

8. How will the “ice window” in Alaska’s Alpine lakes be remembered?
(a) For a few months
(b) For years to come
(c) For a couple of weeks
(d) It will be forgotten quickly

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. An ice rescue instructor and his wife were not able to skate on an “ice window” in Alaska’s Alpine lakes.
2. The “ice window” phenomenon occurs more frequently now.
3. This extraordinary experience serves as a reminder of the incredible wonders that nature has to offer.
4. The weather conditions involved an unusually warm and wet transition into winter.
5. The ice on Rabbit Lake had frozen in such a way that it became transparent.
6. The video has garnered attention and awe from viewers around the world.
7. The “ice window” provides a rare opportunity to witness the hidden world beneath the frozen surface of the lake.
8. The video footage shows the couple clumsily stumbling across the ice.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is an “ice window” and how often does it occur in Alaska’s Alpine lakes?
2. Who captured the footage of the couple skating on the transparent ice, and what is his profession?
3. Can you describe the weather conditions that led to the formation of the “ice window” on Rabbit Lake?
4. How did Luc Mehl, the ice rescue instructor, describe his experience of skating on the “ice window”?
5. What has been the public’s reaction to the video footage of the “ice window” phenomenon?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the “ice window” phenomenon that occurred in Alaska’s Alpine lakes?
The “ice window” phenomenon is a rare occurrence where the ice on a lake freezes in a transparent state, allowing one to see through it to the world beneath the frozen surface.

2. Who is Luc Mehl and what role did he play in the event?
Luc Mehl is an ice rescue instructor and outdoor educator who captured footage of himself and his wife skating on the transparent ice of Rabbit Lake, showcasing the “ice window” phenomenon.

3. How did the weather conditions contribute to the formation of the “ice window”?
The weather conditions that contributed to the formation of the “ice window” were unusually cold and dry, which facilitated the transition into winter and the creation of the thin, transparent layer of ice.

4. What did the video footage show about the couple’s experience on Rabbit Lake?
The video footage showed the couple skating gracefully across the clear ice, providing a surreal experience as they were surrounded by the beauty of the frozen landscape and could see the depths of the lake below them.

5. How often does the “ice window” phenomenon occur?
The “ice window” phenomenon occurs about once every ten years.

6. What are the necessary weather conditions for the “ice window” to form?
The necessary weather conditions for the “ice window” to form include a combination of cold temperatures and dry weather that results in a thin layer of transparent ice.

7. How have viewers around the world reacted to the video of the “ice window”?
Viewers around the world have reacted with amazement and awe to the video of the “ice window,” expressing their admiration for the stunning visuals and the rarity of the event, as well as their desire to witness such a phenomenon themselves.

8. What does the author suggest the “ice window” experience serves as a reminder of?
The author suggests that the “ice window” experience serves as a reminder of the incredible wonders that nature has to offer, the power and beauty of the natural world, and the importance of preserving and appreciating these rare occurrences.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) lakes
(2) window
(3) became
(4) occurrence
(5) beauty
(6) outdoor
(7) witness
(8) hidden
(9) transparent
(10) skate
(11) showcases
(12) nature
(13) bravery
(14) power
(15) world
(16) occurrences
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. event
Answer: (f) A rare and extraordinary happening or incident

2. instructor
Answer: (e) A person who teaches or trains others

3. transparent
Answer: (a) Able to be seen through; clear

4. footage
Answer: (h) A recording of a particular event or scene

5. occurrence
Answer: (g) Something that happens or takes place

6. conditions
Answer: (b) The circumstances or factors affecting a situation

7. opportunity
Answer: (c) A chance or favorable time for doing something

8. wilderness
Answer: (d) An uncultivated, uninhabited, and wild area of land
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the rare phenomenon that occurred in Alaska’s Alpine lakes?
Answer: (d) An “ice window”

2. What allowed the couple to see through the ice?
Answer: (c) The ice froze in a transparent way

3. How often does the “ice window” phenomenon occur?
Answer: (a) Once every ten years

4. What is the video footage of the couple skating on the ice described as?
Answer: (b) Both exhilarating and surreal

5. What has the video footage of the “ice window” garnered from viewers?
Answer: (a) Attention and awe

6. What does the article say about the skill and bravery of the couple?
Answer: (d) They were skilled and brave to skate on the delicate ice

7. What does the article say about the wonders of nature?
Answer: (c) They are incredible and should be preserved

8. How will the “ice window” in Alaska’s Alpine lakes be remembered?
Answer: (b) For years to come
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. An ice rescue instructor and his wife were not able to skate on an “ice window” in Alaska’s Alpine lakes. (Answer: False)
2. The “ice window” phenomenon occurs more frequently now. (Answer: False)
3. This extraordinary experience serves as a reminder of the incredible wonders that nature has to offer. (Answer: True)
4. The weather conditions involved an unusually warm and wet transition into winter. (Answer: False)
5. The ice on Rabbit Lake had frozen in such a way that it became transparent. (Answer: True)
6. The video has garnered attention and awe from viewers around the world. (Answer: True)
7. The “ice window” provides a rare opportunity to witness the hidden world beneath the frozen surface of the lake. (Answer: True)
8. The video footage shows the couple clumsily stumbling across the ice. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧