5 Themes of Geography Culhane

Location: Position on the Earth’s Surface Location consists of two ways of describing the position of people and places on the earth’s surface. Absolute Location is a precise point determined by Longitude and Latitude (like Google Earth). Relative Location is understanding the characteristics of a location and its’ relation to other places. Disneyland is [Absolutely] located at 29°N 81°W. Mr. Culhane eats at the Chipotle by Tokyo Joe’s on Union Blvd. across from Wells Fargo Bank in Lakewood.

Place: The Physical and Human Characteristics All locations on Earth have unique characteristics that distinguish them from other areas. The way we describe (emotionally and intellectually) locations by their physical and/or human characteristics is known as Place. Physical characteristics relate to natural processes (like land forms, water bodies, climate, vegetation, soil, animal life, etc.) Human characteristics are human modifications that give individuality (like architecture, recreational activities, transportation, religion, businesses, etc.) Kyoto Japan

Human-Environment Interaction: The relationship between humans and where they live. Interaction is usually measured in terms of advantages and disadvantages for human settlement and dependency (like how people adapt to their environment and/or modify their environment to fit their needs). Think of where you would prefer to live... Mountains vs. Ocean? Hot vs. Cold? Rural vs. Urban?

Ice Hotel in Sweden

Movement: Transportation and Communication on Earth The movement of people, the import and export of goods, and mass communication have all played major roles in shaping our world. People everywhere interact and travel from place to place. Humans occupy places unevenly on Earth because of the environment but also because we are social beings.  We interact with each other through travel, trade, information flows and political events. Not only do humans move but also ideas move.

Region: Dividing the world into groups Regions are used as tools to examine, define, describe, and explain the physical and human environment. Can be based on things like form of government, language, landform, climate, etc. Regions serve as an intermediary between our knowledge of local areas and the entire world. There are 3 main types of regions Formal Functional Vernacular

Formal Regions are those defined by governmental or administrative boundaries (like the United States, Birmingham, Brazil). These regional boundaries are not open to dispute, therefore physical regions fall under this category (i.e. The Rockies, the Great Lakes).

Functional Regions are those defined by a function (i. e Functional Regions are those defined by a function (i.e. Verizon Wireless’ Coverage Area, United Airlines Service area or a Newspaper Service Area).  If the function ceases to exists, the region no longer exists.

Vernacular Regions are those loosely defined by people's perception (i Vernacular Regions are those loosely defined by people's perception (i.e. The South, The Middle East, The Ghetto).  

Assignment: Do Now! On your own piece of paper, list the 5 themes of Geography and list two specific ways that each of the themes applies to you or where you live. Format: Location: 1. Absolute__________________ 2. Relative _________________ Turn this in by the end of the period.