The people who live in a high place called Ladakh in India are worried because the weather is changing. It’s getting harder for them to live like they used to because there isn’t enough water for their farms and animals. Some people are even leaving their homes to find different jobs. The weather is strange now, with less snow and more floods, and it’s making life tough for them.

A smart man named Sonam Wangchuk has thought of a special way to save water when it’s cold. He makes big ice towers that look like cones and they melt slowly when it’s warm, giving water to the people. These ice towers are very tall and help the people a lot, but Sonam says that this alone won’t fix everything. Everyone needs to work together to help stop the weather from changing too much.

Ladakh’s problem is not the only one like this. Big countries like India, China, and Pakistan are all having trouble because the weather is changing. It’s very important that people and countries help each other to stay strong and find ways to live without hurting the earth. The story of the people in Ladakh shows us that we need to do something fast to take care of our world.

Original news source: Climate change: The villagers building 100ft ice towers (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Have them take turns summarizing the article to their partner in their own words. Encourage them to include the main points and key details. After they have finished, have them switch roles and summarize the article again.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think the weather is changing in your country? Why or why not?” or “What do you think people can do to help stop the weather from changing too much?” Have the groups discuss the questions and write down their answers. Then, have each group share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board, such as “farms,” “animals,” “floods,” “towers,” etc. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a piece of paper and a pen. One student from each group should choose a word from the list and draw a picture to represent it. The other students in the group should try to guess the word based on the drawing. The first group to guess correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words until all the vocabulary has been practiced.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a piece of paper and a pen. Have them brainstorm the pros and cons of the ice towers that Sonam Wangchuk has created. They should consider the benefits and drawbacks of using the towers to save water. After they have finished, have each group share their ideas with the class and facilitate a discussion on the topic.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the students to imagine what the world will be like in 50 years if the weather continues to change. Have them think about how this might affect their own lives, as well as the lives of people in different parts of the world. Encourage them to be creative and think about both the positive and negative aspects. Then, have the students share their predictions with a partner and discuss their ideas. Finally, have a few students share their predictions with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are the people in Ladakh worried?
2. What is happening to the weather in Ladakh?
3. Why are some people leaving their homes?
4. How does Sonam Wangchuk save water when it’s cold?
5. What do the ice towers look like?
6. Why does Sonam say the ice towers alone won’t fix everything?
7. Why is it important for people and countries to help each other?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The people who live in a high place called Ladakh in India are worried because the weather is (1)______. It’s getting harder for them to live like they used to because there isn’t (2)______ water for their (3)______ and animals. Some people are even leaving their homes to find different jobs. The weather is strange now, with less snow and (4)______ floods, and it’s (5)______ life tough for them.

A smart man named Sonam Wangchuk has thought of a special way to save (6)______ when it’s cold. He makes big ice towers that look like cones and they melt slowly when it’s warm, giving water to the people. These ice (7)______ are very tall and help the people a lot, but Sonam says that this alone won’t fix everything. Everyone needs to work together to help stop the weather from changing too much.

Ladakh’s problem is not the (8)______ one like this. Big countries like (9)______, China, and Pakistan are all having trouble because the weather is changing. It’s very (10)______ that people and countries help each other to stay strong and find ways to live without hurting the earth. The story of the people in Ladakh (11)______ us that we (12)______ to do something fast to take care of our world.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Ladakh?
2. How would you feel if you had to leave your home to find a different job?
3. Do you like the idea of making big ice towers to save water? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for people to work together to stop the weather from changing too much? Why or why not?
5. What do you think might happen if the weather keeps changing in Ladakh?
6. How do you think the people in Ladakh feel about the strange weather?
7. What are some other countries that are having trouble because of changing weather?
8. How do you think people and countries can help each other in times of trouble?
9. Why do you think it’s important to find ways to live without hurting the earth?
10. What are some things that we can do to take care of our world?
11. How do you think the people in Ladakh feel about their situation?
12. Do you think the story of the people in Ladakh can teach us something important? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Ladakh
2. weather
3. water
4. farms
5. animals
6. ice towers
7. cones
8. earth

Meanings:
(a) Living creatures like cows and chickens
(b) Tall structures made of frozen water
(c) A liquid that people need to drink
(d) Places where people grow food
(e) The condition of the air and sky
(f) A high place in India where people live
(g) Shapes that are pointed at the top and round at the bottom
(h) The planet we live on
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where is Ladakh located?
(a) China
(b) India
(c) Pakistan
(d) Russia

2. Why are the people in Ladakh worried?
(a) There are too many floods.
(b) The weather is too cold.
(c) The ice towers are melting too quickly.
(d) There isn’t enough water for their farms and animals.

3. What does Sonam Wangchuk make to save water?
(a) Big ice towers
(b) Small ice cubes
(c) Metal towers
(d) Wooden cones

4. How do the ice towers help the people in Ladakh?
(a) They melt slowly and provide water.
(b) They keep the weather cool.
(c) They make the floods go away.
(d) They make the farms and animals grow faster.

5. What does Sonam Wangchuk say is needed to fix the weather problem?
(a) They need to build more ice towers.
(b) Everyone needs to work together.
(c) They need to move to a different place.
(d) They need to wait for the weather to change.

6. Which countries are also having trouble with changing weather?
(a) France, Germany, and Italy
(b) Russia, Japan, and Australia
(c) India, China, and Pakistan
(d) Brazil, Mexico, and Canada

7. What is the main message of the article?
(a) The weather in Ladakh is getting colder.
(b) The ice towers are the only solution to the weather problem.
(c) People and countries need to help each other and find ways to live without hurting the earth.
(d) Ladakh is the only place in the world with changing weather.

8. What does the story of the people in Ladakh show us?
(a) We need to build more ice towers.
(b) We need to move to a different country.
(c) We don’t need to worry about changing weather.
(d) We need to take care of our world quickly.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The people in Ladakh are worried because the weather is changing and it’s affecting their way of life.
2. Sonam makes small ice towers that quickly melt and provide water to the people.
3. The ice towers alone won’t fix everything, and everyone needs to work together to help stop the weather from changing too much.
4. Other big countries like India, China, and Pakistan are also having trouble with changing weather.
5. Sonam Wangchuk has not come up with a special way to save water in Ladakh when it’s cold.
6. Some people are staying in their homes in Ladakh to find different jobs.
7. The weather in Ladakh is becoming strange, with less snow and more floods.
8. There is enough water for the farms and animals in Ladakh.
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 problem that the people in Ladakh are worried about?
2. Why is it getting harder for them to live like they used to?
3. What is Sonam Wangchuk’s special way to save water when it’s cold?
4. How do the ice towers help the people in Ladakh?
5. Why is it important for people and countries to help each other with the changing weather?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are the people in Ladakh worried?
The people in Ladakh are worried because there isn’t enough water for their farms and animals.

2. What is happening to the weather in Ladakh?
The weather in Ladakh is changing. There is less snow and more floods.

3. Why are some people leaving their homes?
Some people are leaving their homes because they can’t find enough water for their farms and animals. They are looking for different jobs.

4. How does Sonam Wangchuk save water when it’s cold?
Sonam Wangchuk makes big ice towers that slowly melt when it’s warm. This gives water to the people.

5. What do the ice towers look like?
The ice towers look like cones. They are very tall.

6. Why does Sonam say the ice towers alone won’t fix everything?
Sonam says the ice towers alone won’t fix everything because everyone needs to work together to stop the weather from changing too much.

7. Why is it important for people and countries to help each other?
It is important for people and countries to help each other because they can find ways to live without hurting the earth. They can stay strong and take care of our world together.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) changing
(2) enough
(3) farms
(4) more
(5) making
(6) water
(7) towers
(8) only
(9) India
(10) important
(11) shows
(12) need
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Ladakh
Answer: (f) A high place in India where people live

2. weather
Answer: (e) The condition of the air and sky

3. water
Answer: (c) A liquid that people need to drink

4. farms
Answer: (d) Places where people grow food

5. animals
Answer: (a) Living creatures like cows and chickens

6. ice towers
Answer: (b) Tall structures made of frozen water

7. cones
Answer: (g) Shapes that are pointed at the top and round at the bottom

8. earth
Answer: (h) The planet we live on
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where is Ladakh located?
Answer: (b) India

2. Why are the people in Ladakh worried?
Answer: (d) There isn’t enough water for their farms and animals.

3. What does Sonam Wangchuk make to save water?
Answer: (a) Big ice towers

4. How do the ice towers help the people in Ladakh?
Answer: (a) They melt slowly and provide water.

5. What does Sonam Wangchuk say is needed to fix the weather problem?
Answer: (b) Everyone needs to work together.

6. Which countries are also having trouble with changing weather?
Answer: (c) India, China, and Pakistan

7. What is the main message of the article?
Answer: (c) People and countries need to help each other and find ways to live without hurting the earth.

8. What does the story of the people in Ladakh show us?
Answer: (d) We need to take care of our world quickly.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The people in Ladakh are worried because the weather is changing and it’s affecting their way of life. (Answer: True)
2. Sonam makes small ice towers that quickly melt and provide water to the people. (Answer: False)
3. The ice towers alone won’t fix everything, and everyone needs to work together to help stop the weather from changing too much. (Answer: True)
4. Other big countries like India, China, and Pakistan are also having trouble with changing weather. (Answer: True)
5. Sonam Wangchuk has not come up with a special way to save water in Ladakh when it’s cold. (Answer: False)
6. Some people are staying in their homes in Ladakh to find different jobs. (Answer: False)
7. The weather in Ladakh is becoming strange, with less snow and more floods. (Answer: True)
8. There is enough water for the farms and animals in Ladakh. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧