The Five Themes of Geography

DEFINITION OF GEOGRAPHY ge·og·ra·phy 1 : a science that deals with the description, distribution, and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface Source-Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary

Geography is the study of the earth and everything on it. IN PLAIN ENGLISH Geography is the study of the earth and everything on it.

What is Geography? Geography is the study of the earth and the way people live on it and use it.

THE FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY Location Place Human-Environment Interaction Movement Regions

WHERE DID THE 5 THEMES COME FROM? The 5 Themes of Geography originated by the National Geographic Society to fulfill a need for geographers (people who study the earth and everything on it) categorize everything they learn.

What are the five themes? Tools geographer’s use to study features on earth. Location Place Movement Region Human Environment Interaction

Location Includes ABSOLUTE and RELATIVE location Absolute location is a places point on a globe or map Relative location is the places location compared to another place

How does absolute location work? Imaginary lines of latitude run parallel to the equator on a globe or map Imaginary lines of longitude run north and south between the two poles

Absolute Location Examples: Rome is located at 41 N, 12 E Argentina is located in the southern hemisphere Ecuador is located in Tropic of Cancer. LNE is located in Lincoln, NE.

Relative Location Examples: Rome is located near the Mediterranean Sea. Argentina is near Brazil. Ecuador is south of Mexico. Lincoln is 50 miles from Omaha.

Examples Of Relative Location Atwater is 30 miles from Modesto The United States is East of Japan Mississippi is in the Southern United States

Place A place is described by its physical and/or human characteristics physical - features including landforms, climate, and vegetation human - people who live there, political system, customs, economy, etc.

What is it like there, what kind of place is it? Human Characteristics What are the main languages, customs, and beliefs. How many people live, work, and visit a place. Physical Characteristics Landforms (mountains, rivers, etc.), climate, vegitation, wildlife, soil, etc.

Place A place is defined by it’s unique characteristics. Physical characteristics Cultural characteristics

PLACE Physical Characteristics Specific to THAT place, not generic. The way a place looks. Created by nature. Mountains Rivers, Lakes, Seas Climate Vegetation Examples: Andes Mountains are in South America. Amazon River flows through Brazil. Pampas are located in Argentina. The isthmus of Panama connects Central & South America.

PLACE Physical Characteristics Land Features Mountains, plains, and plateaus Climate Bodies of Water

PLACE Cultural Characteristics Specific to THAT place, not generic. Peoples activities change the way a place looks or is represented. Man-made or invented. Language Unique buildings Religious Practices Celebrations/traditions/holidays Examples: Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Many Mexicans are Catholic. Mayan ruins are located in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico.

Human-Environmental Interaction How do people use their environment? How have they changed it? How have people responded to these changes

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION How do humans and the environment affect each other? We depend on it. People depend on the Tennessee River for water and transportation. We modify it. People modify our environment by heating and cooling buildings for comfort. We adapt to it. We adapt to the environment by wearing clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and winter (coats), rain and shine.

Human Environment Interaction How People Interact With Their Environment People . . . Adapt to Their Environment Modify Their Environment Depend on Their Environment http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/corbis/DGT119/BAG0017.jpg

MOVEMENT How are people, goods, ideas moved from place to place? Human Movement Trucks, Trains, Planes Information Movement Phones, computer (email), mail Idea Movement How do fads move from place to place? TV, Radio, Magazines

Movement As people, goods, and ideas move from place to place, they can change a places characteristics ex. - if communists invaded an overtook The United States, our countries geography would change

Movement The Mobility of People Goods Ideas How Places are linked to one another and the world

Regions Set of places that have similar attributes ex - Chinatown is a region of San Francisco ex - California is in the Western United States

Regions A region is an area with common features that set it apart from other areas.

Class Discussion What is geography? Choose one of the five themes of geography and tell how it has affected your life.

Use the five themes of geography and answer the following questions 1. If you described the means of transportation available to and from school, what theme would you be using? 2. Why might two places be identified as part of the same region? 3. What sports are examples of human- environment interaction? 4. Which theme would you be using if you wrote a letter describing your town?

Your assignment Describe you and your family using the 5 Themes of Geography. Make sure you use every theme.