GEOGRAPHY UNIT 5 Themes of Geography SOCIAL STUDIES 6TH GRADE

WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY? Geography is the study of the earth in a way that shows the relationship between humans and their environment. It is a tool that helps to interpret the past, understand the present, & prepare for the future.

GEOGRAPHERS STUDY: Physical Features-Mountains, rivers, & oceans (made by nature) Cultural Features-Boundaries, towns, and roads (man-made) Environment-All things that surround us.

FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY Location Place Human/Environment Interactions Movement Regions

LOCATION Where places are located on the earth’s surface. A. Relative Location-The position of one place in relation to another. Ex: Publix is next to Subway. Ex: McDonalds is in front of Publix.

LOCATION B. Absolute Location-The exact spot on the earth’s surface where a place is found. 1. Grids 2. Coordinates Each place on earth has only one absolute location! Ex: 3303 Shoals School Road

PLACE Physical & human characteristics of a location. A. Physical Characteristics: Animal life B. Human Characteristics: Architecture, land use & ownership, and communication & transportation networks

HUMAN/ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS Interactions of people and environment A. Culture B. Technology

MOVEMENT Movement & interaction of people A. Travel B. Communication

REGIONS Areas with similar characteristics A. Physical B. Cultural Geographers divide the world into units for study.

REGIONS Regions are defined based on their relative location in relationship to another area. Some examples are: A. The South F. Population B. Deep South G. Urban Areas C. Southeast H. Suburban D. The Sunbelt I. Rural Areas E. Political J. Metropolitan Areas

LATITUDE & LONGITUDE Latitude: Determines location from north & south from the Equator. Lines of latitude are called parallels They are measured in degrees. Longitude: Measures from east and west from the Prime Meridian. Lines of longitude are called meridians.

EARTH MEASUREMENTS Grid formed by lines of latitude & longitude. Earth is divided into 360 small & equal divisions called degrees. Earth is divided into two halves called hemispheres. Degrees are divided into smaller units called minutes. Example: (60 minutes = 1º) Minutes are divided into smaller units called seconds. Degrees, minutes, & seconds help in identifying the exact location of any place (Absolute Location).

TIME Equator is measured at 0° Latitude Prime Meridian is measured at 0° Longitude. The Prime Meridian runs through Greenwich, England. The Prime Meridian marks the beginning point for counting time and dates on earth & is known as the International Date Line.

TIME Meridians of Longitude help to tell time. 1 day = 24 hours, which is the length of time it takes the earth to complete a rotation on its axis. There is 360° of Longitude, and it takes 1 hour for the earth to rotate 15°. The world is divided into 24 time zones with 15° apart.

USA TIME ZONES The USA has a total of six time zones; however, four zones are used for the continental USA. A. Pacific Standard Time B. Mountain Standard Time C. Central Standard Time D. Eastern Standard Time