WORD HUNT!
In the article, find:
- 7 adjectives that mean cold
- 1 phrase that means to be too scared to do something you planned to do
- 1 simile that compares two things using like or as
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Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP Images
Would You Do This?
Why people around the world jump into icy water on New Year’s Day
By Alex Winnick
From the December 2023/January 2024 Issue
Bianca Alexis
Author Alex Winnick is a Storyworks editor!
It was a brilliant, sunny day at the beach. My friends and I zigzagged through crowds of people as we made our way across the sand. Lifeguards blew their whistles. Seagulls squawked in the sky.
Sounds like a normal day at the beach, right? Not quite!
It was January 1, 2023. The air was a chilly 30 degrees Fahrenheit. And I was about to run into the frigid ocean.
I know what you’re thinking: Why???
An Old Tradition
I was taking part in a New Year’s Day tradition called a polar bear plunge. On January 1, thousands of people around the world jump into icy water to welcome the new year.
The first polar bear plunges took place about 120 years ago in Boston, Massachusetts, and Coney Island, in New York City. The event I attended was in Coney Island. As my friends and I lined up on the sand, I shivered in my bathing suit. I felt excited . . . and a little nervous. But I couldn’t get cold feet now. It was time for the plunge!
Together, we rushed into the ocean and dove under a wave. The water hit me like a million tiny icicles.
“Woo!” I shouted as I leapt back up into the crisp air.
Staying Safe
Jumping into cold water or staying in it for too long can be dangerous—especially if you're alone. To stay safe, it's important to be with other people and change into warm, dry clothes right afterward.
A Fresh Start
I stayed in the stone-cold water for just a few seconds. Then I sprinted back to the sand to bundle up in dry clothes.
Even as I warmed up, my mind and body were still shocked by the cold. But I also felt full of energy and satisfaction. And that’s exactly why many people take part in this tradition. Diving into frosty water feels like a fresh start for the new year ahead. Others think the water washes off last year’s bad luck.
I don’t know about bad luck. But research does suggest that swimming in freezing water, as long as you do it safely, can benefit both your health and your mood. It can help your heart pump blood and calm your mind. Some people love the feeling so much that they take a cold swim every day!
That’s too much for me. But this year, I’ll definitely return to Coney Island for another plunge. See you there?
PARAGRAPH POWER!
Write a paragraph to explain why you would or wouldn’t do a polar bear plunge.
This article was originally published in the December 2023/January 2024 issue.
Multimedia
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(1)
Mini Read: Would You Do This?
December 2023/January 2024
Mini Read: Would You Do This?
Mini Read-Aloud (600L-700L)
(03:27)
Mini Read-Aloud (500L-600L)
(02:49)
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