What is Geography?

What Words Come to Mind? Geography

What is Geography? SIMPLE ANSWER Geography is the science that tries to understand how the Earth works and how humans change it. This science examines the Earth’s surface and the processes that shape it. Geography especially looks at the relationship between people and the Earth’s physical environment.

Defining Geography Geography: The study of how things change over space and time on the Earth surface . Analysis, Interpretation, Relationships, Processes, Observation Population, Climate, Geology, Vegetation , the Environment Countries, Continents, Townships, Provinces , Cities, Towns Past, Present , Future

To understand our relationship with the Earth, geographers ask 3 questions and search for answers to problems. By exploring these problems, we can make better, wiser decisions.

Question 1: What is Where? Ask questions, explore spatially by collecting data, creating or interpreting maps Understanding what is at a particular location Absolute location: location using longitude/latitude Relative Location: location relative to another geographic feature

Question 2: Why There? Research answers and develop explanations to spatial observations. There are simple and complex answers but they can always be explained by the natural environment or human actions.

Question 3: Why Care? Draw conclusions, critical judgments and predictions for the future. Use your findings to make informed decisions that protect people and our planet

Geography is......... A LITTLE bit of reading ENGLISH A LITTLE number crunching MATHEMATICS Making new discoveries SCIENCE Studying the past HISTORY GEOGRAPHY IS EVERYTHING AROUND YOU

Lets use Geography to understand some places/spaces around the world! Answering these questions help geographers develop a “sense of place” which is what makes a place special or unique. What are you looking at? Where is this location? Why is it there? What role does the natural environment play here? What impact does human activity have here? Why should we care about this place? What is where? Why there? Why care?

Geography of……. Canada’s Wonderland. Toronto’s summer hotspot What’s where? Why is it there? Why care?

Geography of……. Accumoli, Italy. Epicentre of August 2016 Earthquake. What’s where? Why is it there? Why care?

The Geography of ???? Considering the last slides: Let’s look at THIS place…

The Geography of Toronto Why does Toronto exist? What environmental factors made settlement here advantageous? What impact does the landscape have on the city? What impact do the major highways (401, DVP, etc.) have on the city? How has Toronto’s citizens changed throughout history?