A very big piece of ice from the bottom of the world has started to move after being stuck for a long time. This big ice, called A23a, broke off from a cold place called Antarctica in 1986. It was not moving because it was stuck on the bottom of the sea. But now, it is moving fast and going away from Antarctica. This ice is very, very thick, even thicker than a very tall building in a place called London.

People who study ice say that the big ice is moving not because the water is warmer, but because it got smaller and could not stay stuck anymore. The wind and water are pushing it around the bottom of the world. Soon, it will go into a place where many ice pieces move called “iceberg alley.” Big pieces of ice like this can be dangerous for animals and people, but they also help feed tiny things in the water when they melt.

Original news source: A23a: World’s biggest iceberg on the move after 30 years (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. “big ice,” “Antarctica,” “moving fast”). One student from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking, while the others guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students read the article silently. Then, ask them to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. They can do this individually or in pairs. Afterward, have a class discussion to compare and discuss their summaries.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. ice, Antarctica, stuck, moving, wind). Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it, while the others guess what word it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a timer or set a time limit (e.g. 2 minutes). One student from each pair will summarize the article to their partner within the time limit. Afterward, they can switch roles and summarize again. Encourage them to use their own words and not read directly from the article.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Create a spectrum on one side of the classroom, with “strongly agree” on one end and “strongly disagree” on the other. Read out statements related to the article (e.g. “Big pieces of ice are dangerous for animals and people”). Have the students stand in the position on the spectrum that represents their opinion on the statement. Then, ask a few students to explain their reasoning.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the big piece of ice that is moving?
2. Where did the big ice come from?
3. Why was the big ice not moving before?
4. What is making the big ice move now?
5. Where will the big ice go next?
6. Are big pieces of ice dangerous for animals and people?
7. What happens to the ice when it melts?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A very big piece of ice from the (1)______ of the (2)______ has started to move after being stuck for a long time. This big ice, called A23a, broke off from a cold place called Antarctica in 1986. It was not moving because it was (3)______ on the bottom of the sea. But now, it is moving fast and going away from Antarctica. This ice is very, very thick, even (4)______ than a very tall building in a place called London.

People who study ice say that the big ice is (5)______ not because the water is warmer, but because it got smaller and could not stay stuck anymore. The wind and water are (6)______ it around the bottom of the world. Soon, it will go into a place where many ice pieces move called “iceberg alley.” Big pieces of ice like this can be dangerous for animals and (7)______, but they also help (8)______ tiny things in the water when they melt.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Antarctica?
2. How do you think the big ice called A23a got stuck on the bottom of the sea?
3. How would you feel if you saw a very big piece of ice moving?
4. Do you like ice? Why or why not?
5. What do you think happens when ice melts?
6. Do you think it is dangerous for animals and people when big pieces of ice move? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever seen a big piece of ice? Where?
8. How do you think the wind and water can push the big ice?
9. What do you think happens when ice gets smaller?
10. Do you think it is important to study ice? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever seen an iceberg? Where?
12. What do you think tiny things in the water eat when big pieces of ice melt?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. ice
2. Antarctica
3. move
4. stuck
5. water
6. thick
7. animals
8. melt

Meanings:
(a) A clear liquid that you drink and swim in
(b) Living things that are not people
(c) A very cold place at the bottom of the world
(d) Very cold, hard water that is not a liquid
(e) To become a liquid because of heat
(f) Not able to move or get free
(g) To change position or go from one place to another
(h) Very fat or wide
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the big piece of ice called?
(a) A23a
(b) Antarctica
(c) Iceberg alley
(d) London

2. When did the big ice break off from Antarctica?
(a) 1996
(b) 2006
(c) 2016
(d) 1986

3. Why was the big ice not moving before?
(a) The water was warmer
(b) The wind was blowing it away
(c) It was stuck on the bottom of the sea
(d) It was too heavy to move

4. What is pushing the big ice around?
(a) Animals and people
(b) Wind and water
(c) Iceberg alley
(d) Antarctica

5. Where is the big ice moving away from?
(a) Iceberg alley
(b) London
(c) A23a
(d) Antarctica

6. What happens when big pieces of ice melt?
(a) They help feed tiny things in the water
(b) They become dangerous for animals and people
(c) They get stuck on the bottom of the sea
(d) They move faster

7. What is thicker than the big ice?
(a) Iceberg alley
(b) Antarctica
(c) A very tall building in London
(d) Water

8. Why is the big ice moving now?
(a) The water is warmer
(b) It got smaller and could not stay stuck anymore
(c) The wind is blowing it away
(d) It is too heavy to move

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The wind and water are pushing the ice around the bottom of the world.
2. The ice is not moving because the water is warmer, but because it got larger and couldn’t stay stuck anymore.
3. The ice is thinner than a very tall building in London.
4. The ice broke off from Antarctica in 1986 and was stuck on the bottom of the sea.
5. Big pieces of ice can be dangerous for animals and people, but they also help feed tiny things in the water when they melt.
6. The ice will soon go into a place called “iceberg alley” where many ice pieces drift.
7. There is a big piece of ice from Antarctica that has started to move.
8. The ice is now moving slowly and getting closer to Antarctica.
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 the big piece of ice called?
2. How long was the big piece of ice stuck for?
3. Why is the big piece of ice now moving?
4. Where will the big piece of ice go next?
5. What happens when big pieces of ice melt in the water?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the big piece of ice that is moving?
The big piece of ice is called A23a.

2. Where did the big ice come from?
The big ice came from Antarctica.

3. Why was the big ice not moving before?
The big ice was not moving before because it was stuck on the bottom of the sea.

4. What is making the big ice move now?
The wind and water are pushing the big ice and making it move now.

5. Where will the big ice go next?
The big ice will go into a place called “iceberg alley” next.

6. Are big pieces of ice dangerous for animals and people?
Yes, big pieces of ice can be dangerous for animals and people.

7. What happens to the ice when it melts?
When the ice melts, it turns into water.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) bottom
(2) world
(3) stuck
(4) thicker
(5) moving
(6) pushing
(7) people
(8) feed
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. ice
Answer: (d) Very cold, hard water that is not a liquid

2. Antarctica
Answer: (c) A very cold place at the bottom of the world

3. move
Answer: (g) To change position or go from one place to another

4. stuck
Answer: (f) Not able to move or get free

5. water
Answer: (a) A clear liquid that you drink and swim in

6. thick
Answer: (h) Very fat or wide

7. animals
Answer: (b) Living things that are not people

8. melt
Answer: (e) To become a liquid because of heat
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the big piece of ice called?
Answer: (a) A23a

2. When did the big ice break off from Antarctica?
Answer: (d) 1986

3. Why was the big ice not moving before?
Answer: (c) It was stuck on the bottom of the sea

4. What is pushing the big ice around?
Answer: (b) Wind and water

5. Where is the big ice moving away from?
Answer: (d) Antarctica

6. What happens when big pieces of ice melt?
Answer: (a) They help feed tiny things in the water

7. What is thicker than the big ice?
Answer: (c) A very tall building in London

8. Why is the big ice moving now?
Answer: (b) It got smaller and could not stay stuck anymore
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The wind and water are pushing the ice around the bottom of the world. (Answer: True)
2. The ice is not moving because the water is warmer, but because it got larger and couldn’t stay stuck anymore. (Answer: False)
3. The ice is thinner than a very tall building in London. (Answer: False)
4. The ice broke off from Antarctica in 1986 and was stuck on the bottom of the sea. (Answer: True)
5. Big pieces of ice can be dangerous for animals and people, but they also help feed tiny things in the water when they melt. (Answer: True)
6. The ice will soon go into a place called “iceberg alley” where many ice pieces drift. (Answer: False)
7. There is a big piece of ice from Antarctica that has started to move. (Answer: True)
8. The ice is now moving slowly and getting closer to Antarctica. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧