5 Themes of Geography

Location Tells us where a place is on the Earth’s surface Relative Location – location in relation to something else through travel, technology, or geography – RMS is next to RHS – Minnesota is across the Mississippi from Wisconsin Absolute Location – the EXACT location – ° N, ° W (latitude, longitude) ° N, ° W – rd St W, Rosemount, MN 55068

Latitude: Lines that run East and West, read as North/South Longitude: Lines that run North and South, read as East/West

Place Multiple characteristics of a location that make it different or unique from other similar places – Answers the question: “What is this place like?” *Physical Characteristics – Geography, Plants/Animals, Weather Human Characteristics – Language, Religion, Culture – Government, Population

Practice - Place Think about Minnesota… – What are the first 3 things your think of about Minnesota in terms of Physical/Human characteristics?

Human Environment Interaction (HEI) How people use their environment to meet their needs and the impact of our use How the environment impacts the way people live

Movement How and why people, ideas, and goods move Transportation Immigration Trade Communication

Region Areas unified by common characteristics – Human or Physical – Can be unified by boundaries