Hancock Health Boomerang Issue 23 April 2023

ISSUE #23 | APRIL 2023

OUR PLANET EARTH Understanding weather, climate, landforms, and more!

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IN THIS ISSUE 04 THE ICE AGE IMPACT ON INDIANA? 08 UNDERSTANDING THE CLIMATE CHANGE 10 CLIMATE VS. WEATHER...WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE 12 CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH THESE RECIPES PLUS: 14 SCIENCE EXPERIMENT: GREEN HOUSE GAS 16 WORD SEARCH 17 BOOKSHELF

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LANDFORMS: WHERE DID THEY COME FROM, WHAT WAS THE ICE AGE, AND WHERE CAN WE FIND IT’S REMNANTS IN INDIANA?

HAVE YOU EVER STOOD LOOKING UP AT THE SKY, WONDERING HOW EVERYTHING GOT TO BE HERE? The land masses on our Earth literally keep us grounded ... without them we would live on a vast and infinite ocean! But how did such large land masses form and have they always looked the way they do now?

IT ALL STARTED WITH VOLCANIC ENERGY Scientists can’t travel back in time, so they must instead come up with theories as to why the land masses on Earth are in their current locations and how they formed. Most scientists believe that landmasses formed on Earth billions of years ago. It was a process that began with thousands of quick volcanic eruptions one after another, causing a buildup of what we call the crust of the Earth. At the same time, clouds had formed that were sending down rain to fill the Earth’s oceans.

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About 70-80% of the Earth’s crust is made up of granite, which scientists believe is made by these quick eruptions and subsequent cooling.

These giant slabs of rock that formed did not stay in place, but instead shifted in relation to one another, something scientists have named Plate Tectonic Theory.

Imagine what the globe looks like today. It appears that all the land masses and continents are in one steady location, yet they are shifting slightly each year. Plate tectonics are responsible for earthquakes and what caused the formation of a giant landmass, named Pangea, millions of years ago, as well as its separation into all the different land masses we see on a globe today. If you want to see it for yourself, CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO that concentrates a billion years of continental movement into 40 seconds!

Fast forward to the Ice Age Earth hasn’t always looked the way it does now. When landmasses first formed, Earth’s climate was overall warmer, creating a literal hotbed for all sorts of plant and animal species to emerge.

But, because climate naturally changes over time, our Earth eventually began to cool and what we now know as the Ice Age began. This is when glaciers, or giant landmasses made of ice, covered large portions of the globe.

But the “Ice Age” doesn’t mean the whole earth was cold the entire time. Instead, the climate flip flopped between glacial and interglacial periods of time. When glaciers were more prominent, they would move around the Northern latitudes of the Earth, creating different land masses such as valleys, giant rock formations and moraines. During the interglacial periods, on the other hand, the climate of Earth was like our climate today. In fact, some scientists hypothesize that WE ARE

Find some Ice Age clues right here in Indiana!

The Ice Age’s last glacial period ended in Indiana a mere 15,000 years ago. As glaciers formed and moved, they shaped Indiana’s landscape in significant ways, flattening hills, burying rivers, digging out new lakes and forming piles of rock called moraines.

Northeastern Indiana was particularly changed by glacial movement and formation.

Chain O’Lakes and Pokagon State Parks are great places to see remnants of the Ice Age in land formations such as kettle hole lakes (when chunks of glaciers melted into giant puddles), kettle depressions, glacial kames, eskers, and glacial erratics. Check out this activity including maps of each state park and keys to where you can find some awesome evidence of Ice Age glaciers!

Keep reading to learn more about our Earth’s climate and how humans are changing things up in big ways!

STILL EXPERIENCING THE ICE AGE and that today we are simply in an interglacial period!

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CLIMATE CHANGE: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU? The seasons of the year:

However, you may have heard that our planet’s climate is in trouble.

spring, summer, fall and

The good news? You are a smart kid reading this e-zine and you can

winter, are all important in

do something about it. But first we need to learn why climate

their own ways. They help our

is important and what it means when scientists use the term “climate

food to grow, our plants and

change.”

animals to feel nourished and in rhythm with nature

WHAT IS CLIMATE?

and even help us (hello, snow

Climate refers to weather patterns over an extended period. Climate

days and summer break!). The

usually remains very steady for hundreds of years or more. Here in

yearly changes we experience

Indiana, some characteristics of our climate include snow during the

here in Indiana and globally

winter, hot sunny summer days, and soaking rains in spring. In other

make up our Earth’s climate.

places, such as Florida, however, the climate is different, with warmth

And we are lucky indeed

almost all year round. Climate varies all over the globe and depends

that our Earth has a pretty

on many factors.

human-friendly one.

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? Climate change refers to the rising in our Earth’s average temperature. It is only rising by a few degrees, which may lead you to wonder what all the fuss is about. But that measly 1.8 degrees F over the past hundred years is leading to some big problems for many of our plant, animal, and human friends, not to mention the planet itself.

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HUMANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GLOBAL WARMING

WHY IS THIS SO BAD? When the Earth’s temperature

I AM JUST A KID, WHAT CAN I DO?

Think of all the little things you

warms, it causes the ice at

Here is the best news ... kids

do in a day that include using

the north and south poles to

can do quite a bit to change

our Earth’s resources: plugging

melt. The melting of these

the world! In fact, here are

in your phone or iPad, riding in

landmasses goes far beyond

some things you can do to

the car or bus to school, eating

taking homes and food away

start helping today:

meals that include food that

from our polar bear and

had to be packaged somewhere

penguin friends. All the water

far away...that’s a lot of energy

that was trapped in the glaciers

and reuse items you

we are using powered by coal

will be headed back out into

already have as much

and other fossil fuels!

the ocean ... and that’s a lot

as possible.

of water! In fact, it’s enough

1.

Reduce your consumption

2. Unplug appliances such

All of us are contributing to

to raise the ocean’s levels and

global warming through our

destroy some coastal areas.

as TVs, lamps, and

use of these fossil fuels that

It can also destroy things like

electronics chargers when

power our electricity, heat

forests, which provide us fresh

not in use.

and automobiles and cause

oxygen. A decrease in our

a release of CO2 into the

air quality could mean more

atmosphere. This, along with

diseases for us and our animal

hang your towel back

other greenhouse gases such

friends.

on the rack to signal to the

3. When you visit a hotel,

cleaning staff that you

as methane, traps warmth at the Earth’s surface so that it

A change in the Earth’s

don’t need it cleaned every

can’t escape. Thus, creating the

temperature will wreak havoc

time you shower.

warming of the planet.

on our weather patterns.

Stronger storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes, harsher droughts and shifting wind and ocean patterns are just some of the things that have scientists worried. Here in Indiana, because of our milder climate, we might not be as heavily impacted in the near future as those who live in more at-risk places on our planet, such as coastal areas, but that doesn’t mean we should do our part to help!

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4. Dress appropriately for the weather so you can turn

GREENFIELD, IN

your heat down in the winter and the A/C down in the summer.

5. Eat more veggies and less meat (raising livestock causes the release of methane into the atmosphere).

6. Walk or bike instead of driving when you can.

7. Consume local and in season produce when you can.

8. Hang your clothes to dry when it is nice outside

good for our planet and our

Climate vs.

Weather: What is the Difference?

climate is also good for YOU!

Right now, we are experiencing a lovely Midwest

instead of using the dryer.

9. Learn as much as you can and spread the word to friends and family!

You can be a climate warrior, just by doing these simple things. Best of all? What is

spring, full of blooming flowers and the return of that If you want more information

warmer sunshine you may have been missing all

about climate change and how

winter. But that doesn’t mean that every day is sunny

you can help the Earth,

and that temps keep getting warmer. In fact, spring

check out The Climate Reality

can feel downright confusing sometimes, with cold

Project: Kids!

and warm days all mixed up together.

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How are you supposed to know what to wear to school?

What does this mean for climate change?

Knowing the difference

is made up of the weather

between weather and climate

patterns measured over time,

can help you understand more

climate tends to stay relatively

about what you can expect

stable. Until now. Scientists

right here in Indiana throughout

are seeing trends of climates

the year.

warming up. So even though

The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time...

Since the climate of a place

places like the arctic are still getting snow and are still cold many days, the weather is averaging warmer temps, therefore changing the climate.

What in the heck does that

This means it also changes the

mean? Well, weather is the way

way all living things interact

the atmosphere is behaving

within the many ecosystems

(and affecting us humans)

and climates of our planet.

during a short time frame. If

A warmer climate, for instance,

you know that it is going to

means less ice for the polar

rain today, for instance, that is

bears to live on and less of

the weather. However, climate

a chance for them to find the

describes what the weather is

food they need.

like over a long period of time in a certain location. How much

Keep reading this issue of

rain we get in Indiana every

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summer, for instance, is

about climate change and

a description of our climate.

what you can do to help our

In other words ...

planet!

CLIMATE IS WHAT YOU EXPECT, WEATHER IS WHAT YOU GET. Still confused? Check out our chart to get a grasp on the difference between these important terms.

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The atmospheric conditions at a certain place and time.

Atmospheric conditions measured over time that characterize a place.

"Today it is raining and humid. "

"In general, Indiana springs bring rain and humidity."

Changes every day.

Stays consistent over centuries.

Tells you what to wear today to school.

Tells you what clothes to have in your closet for the season.

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SNACK IDEAS

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Hooray for Earth Day (April 22)! Our planet is very important to us because it provides all the things we need to survive. Earth is also home to billions of other animals who all count on the same fresh air, water and food to survive. That is a lot of living things!

Let’s celebrate the bounty we can find right here on our home planet by whipping up some fun Earth Day snacks!

CELEBRATE EARTH’S SOIL WITH DIRT PUDDING This is a fun dessert to make AND to eat. You can follow this recipe or ask your adult to help you with the following steps: 1.

Make a box of instant chocolate pudding using regular or dairy-free milk

2.

Crumble up some chocolate sandwich cookies by filling a plastic ziploc bag and smashing the cooking around inside of it with your hands.

3.

Fill clear, reusable cups or jars halfway to three quarters with chocolate pudding. Then add a thick layer of crumbled cookies and top with plenty of sour gummy worms.

BECOME AN EARTH DAY SUPER HERO WITH THIS GREEN SMOOTHIE Getting plenty of healthy food is a great way to fuel your body so you can become a superhero! This smoothie recipe makes a great breakfast, snack, or even dessert!

You will need: •

1 cup plain yogurt

•

½ cup coconut water

•

2 bananas

•

1 cup frozen mango

•

1 cup frozen strawberries

•

2 cups kale

Add all your ingredients into a blender, sip and save the Earth!

MAKE THOSE SNACKS EXTRA EARTH FRIENDLY! Want to do something even better for planet earth? If you are having an Earth Day gathering, make sure to serve snacks and drinks in reusable or compostable containers. You can even use cloth napkins and fold them into fun shapes! And tell your adult to buy organic produce when possible so we can take care of our Earth AND our bodies by eliminating unhealthy toxins.

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CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE EXPERIMENT: THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT Want to know about climate change? As a kid in today’s modern world, you have probably heard about problems with “greenhouse gases,” but what the heck are they, and how does it make the climate here on Earth change? We are here to answer your burning questions and even give you a chance to see it for yourself in action.

WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GASES? Carbon dioxide (or CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted from us humans here on planet Earth. CO2 and other greenhouse gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide and more, are gases that trap the Earth’s heat inside its atmosphere.

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When the sun shines its beautiful rays down to us here

LET’S SEE IT IN ACTION!

on Earth, only some of that

We are going to see climate change in action with this

heat is supposed to hang out

experiment. All you need is a glass or clear plastic container

before getting mostly released

and two thermometers. Here is what you do:

at nighttime. Greenhouse gases are dangerous because

•

Place one thermometer in a sunny spot (like a windowsill)

they trap more heat than what

•

Place the other thermometer right next to it, but inside

is supposed to remain, causing temperatures here on Earth to rise. That is why you hear about the ice caps melting in the Arctic and polar bears being in danger. It is because of these temperature increases that our climate is beginning to change.

WHAT CAUSES GREENHOUSE GASES? The short answer is human activity. We are the main cause of the overabundance of greenhouse gases in our

of the container •

Leave the thermometers for 20 minutes

When you went back, what did you see? Did they both have the same temperature reading? What you may have found was that the thermometer in the container had a higher temperature than the one that was just sitting in the sun. That is because you used the container to trap the heat, much like greenhouse gases trap heat here on Earth. The climate inside of your container was much hotter, right? Now you know how climate change works!

WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT? Read through the rest of this issue of Boomerang for more information on how you can help the planet!

atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels for heat, electricity and to power our cars is the biggest cause because these activities emit CO2 into the atmosphere.

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I C U X T A R D I R T A G H E O O H E A T P S N O M T E M R X N H N O C E A N R C T R E U Y S P O A G L A E E A O T R T G E O N L E M

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F E T A A E R L R N E C C I D R I

H T R N V L A N A T L

N R E H T A E W A U R L O C A A N R I

D Y P E T T G T N

L E A M T R T A M R I

I C T

T H G U O R D I T E T O O D I C E L P D O R N A T E N N E R N

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G R E E N H O U S E W O L N

EXPLORING EARTH WORD SEARCH 02 16 14Boomerang 02 Boomerang Boomerang

WEATHER | DROUGHT | DIRT | EARTH | WIND AIR | OXYGEN | ICE | CLIMATE | POLLUTION | GAS LANDFORM | CONSERVATION | GLACIER | HEAT GREENHOUSE | OCEAN | TEMERATURE

BOOMERANG BOOKSHELF HERE ARE SOME BOOKS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT YOU MIGHT ENJOY THIS MONTH! EYEWITNESS CLIMATE CHANGE

BY JOHN WOODWARD THE LAST BEEKEEPER

BY PABLO CARTAYA THE FLOODED EARTH

BY MARDI MCCONNOCHIE PLANET EARTH IS BLUE

BY NICOLE PANTELEAKOS EMILY WINDSNAP AND THE TIDES OF TIME

BY LIZ KESSLER SUBMITTED BY: NICOLE STICHTER, YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN, HANCOCK COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Become the healthiest generation ever!

When you know more about your health and how to take care of it, you can be more, do more and have more fun — starting now!