The Geographer’s Craft Chapter 1 section 2 Test Monday, August 10 th Types, Themes, Uses, Skills, Tools, Research Methods, Related Subjects, Jobs

Geography and Geographers Geography is the study of the earth’s physical and human features and the interaction of people, places and environment Geographers look for patterns and try to explain how/why the patterns exist. Check BW definition List the two main types in the blank on the right hand side

Two Main Types of Geography Physical geography Cultural geography Create BW’s for what you think each mean

Physical Geography Focuses on the Earth’s physical features like climate, land, water, plants, animals and how they all interact with each other and humans. Also focus on natural phenomena that shape the Earth’s surface like volcanoes, hurricanes, and floods An example is climatology which is the study of weather, climate, and how this affects people and places. Examine ecosystems: –These are communities of plants and animals that depend on one another and their surroundings for survival –Study physical processes and human behavior that might change or support ecosystems –Look at the effects of people creating permanent features like homes, bridges, and dams.

Take out BW slip for Physical Geography Draw a picture Add/correct description if needed In blank on right hand side answer these questions: –What does this branch focus on? –What is an example?

Cultural Geography The study of human activities and their relationship to the cultural and physical environments Focus on things like government, religion, economy, population growth, urbanization, what people eat. Geographers look at how people compete with each other or cooperate to change or control something in their physical world to meet needs Historical geography is an example and is the study of places and human activities over time and the geographic factors that shape them

Take out BW slip for Cultural Geography Draw a picture Add/correct description if needed In blank on right hand side answer these questions: –What does this branch focus on? –What is an example?

5 Themes of World Geography Location Place Region Movement Human-environment interaction

Location This is a specific place on Earth Location is very important for geographers. (kind of like DATES are for historians) Absolute location is an exact position of a place on the Earth’s surface and is found where a line of latitude intersects with a line of longitude (Baton Rouge’s is 30 degrees 27 minutes N and 91 degrees 9 minutes W) Relative location is a place in relation to another place, landmark, direction, distance or time (ex: Baton Rouge is about an hour and a half from New Iberia) Its more common for people to use relative location to describe places then absolute. Guided Practice using text Site is a term used to refer to an absolute location of a place like the site that NISH was built is 1234 E. Admiral Doyle Drive Situation is a term that can used when describing a relative location. Basically it’s the position of a place in relation to another place,landmark, etc EX: NISH is situated near the new Wal-mart and the old Lowes

Place This is a particular space with physical and human meaning (we attach different emotions to a place based on our experience=school  ) Every place on Earth has its own unique characteristics determined by the surrounding environment and the people who live there Geographers attempt to understand and explain how places are DIFFERENT FROM and SIMILAR to one so they group them together into regions.

Region (BW) This is used to describe several places with similar characteristics that can be physical or human. Examples of defining physical characteristics that might group places into a region can be things like climate, landforms, soils, vegetation, or animal life Examples of defining human characteristics that might group places into a region: language, buildings, religion, political systems, economic systems, and population distributions. THREE TYPES OF REGIONS: –Formal: are those that are designated by official boundaries such as cities, states, parishes, or countries (ex: New Iberia) –Functional: a central place and the surrounding areas that have a connection to it. Ex: the functional region for Cox cable includes all the places it can provide service to –Perceptual: when popular feelings and images group several places into one region but have no formal boundaries the Holy land for many Christians and Muslims is a region in Israel the term the “Heartland” refers to a central area in which traditional values are believed to predominate

Movement This is the act or process of changing place or position People are constantly moving Movement of people, animals, and plants can affect ecosystems When people move to new places, they can also change existing cultures of the new places by bringing with them different ideas and practices that becomes part of the culture they moved to

Human-environment interaction This is the study of how people and their physical environment relate to each other Geographers examine –How people use/need their environment –How and why they change it –How they adapt to their environment –Consequences from these changes An example of physical environment effecting humans is when mountains and deserts serve as barriers to human movement/settlement An example of humans effecting environment is humans building a dam stopping the flow of a river NOTE: by understanding how the Earth’s physical features and processes shape and are shaped by human activity georaphers help societies make informed decisions.

The Uses of Geography It shows how physical features and living things developed in past and interprets trends to plan for future Governments, businesses, and individuals use geographic information in planning and decision making like building cities, bridges, buildings, etc. Information on physical features can help determine whether a site is suitable for people to live on or if it has resources worth developing Planners can decided whether to build new schools or highways based on pop growth or migration patterns Helps us plan and build a better future as we know more about people, places, and environment

Booklet Assignment on 5 Themes of World Geography& Its Uses

Take out BW slip on GEOGRAPHY –List the 5 main themes of world geography (will have to do so on test) –Essay question that will be on your test: Define geography. What are the two MAIN categories geography can be divided into? Which do you think you will prefer to learn about?Why?

Create BW for Region What is it made up of? What can define a region? Give some examples. List three types.

Take Survey to see if YOU would be a good geographer!

Skills for Thinking Like a Geographer Asking geographic questions Gathering geographic information Organizing the information you have gathered Analyzing the information to look for patterns, relationships, connections Answering geographic questions to help deal with real life situations and solve problems

Tools Used by Geographers Maps Globes Internet Remote sensing News media Direct observation Interviews Reference books Satellite images Historical records Field maps Databases Statistic tables Graphs diagrams Summaries Charts, GIS Spreadsheets Sketch maps Reports Research papers Oral or multimedia presentations

Based on the skills need and the tools used by geographers: Would you be a good geographer? Why or why not? In your answer show that you understand what skills a geographer must have and/or tools must use! Essay question on test!

Research Methods Geographers Use (CM)

Direct Observation Use this to study the Earth and patterns of human activities on its surface by visiting a place to gather information Like visiting the site of a volcano or the Amazon Rain Forest

Remote sensing Use aerial photographs or satellite images Like to locate mineral deposits or determine sizes of freshwater sources

Mapping very important for geographers Geographers are often also cartographers= mapmakers The art of designing/making maps is cartography Often maps show findings of geographers better than written reports Can take complex pieces of info and present them in a more understandable way Show location, features, patterns, relationships Can visually compare to other places/regions Ex: compare pop density maps of an area to determine where to build new school

Interviewing Sometimes have to dig a little deeper than what you see on the surface This is used to find out what people think or feel about certain places May examine how people’s beliefs and attitudes effect environment You choose a group of people to study and contact a select sample to represent the whole group

Analyzing Statistics Some information used by geographers is in numbers like temperature and or percentage of rainfall in an area Computers are used to organize these numbers, present info, and analyze data to find patterns and trends Ex: Census data can be used to learn about age and gender makeup of the population Statistical tests can be used to check patterns or trends to see if they are valid

Using Technology Geographers often use scientific instruments Satellites carry remote sensors, high tech cameras, and radar to get info and images related to environment, weather, settlement patterns, and vegetation GIS is computer software that processes and organize data and satellite images with other types of info that has been gathered This information can be used for urban planners, biologists, public safety officials, and mapmaking

Geographers often investigate other fields of study to help in their study of earth’s features. History Civics (Government/Politics) Sociology Anthropology Economics

Geography as a Career Geography skills are useful in a variety of JOBS & WORK ENVIRONMENTS. MORE THAN 100 jobs require geography skills These goods may be for the government, private businesses or in education. For example ecologists must know geographic characteristics in which they is study living organisms Travel agents need these skills to plan trips Teachers from elementary to college level need these skills There is demand for those with geography training throughout US

Specialized types of geographers soil scientist climate and weather expert environmental manager or technician and assess impact of proposed developments (this must be done before any construction can begin) Healthcare Transportation Population studies Economic development International economics As an urban planner for local and state govt agencies economic geography regional geography If you specialize in physical geography, you might find a job as a: If you specialize in cultural geography, you might find a job in:

Geographers can also find work as writers or editors for publishers of Textbooks Maps Atlases News magazines Travel magazines

PRACTICE/REVIEW FOR TEST PP 26-27