What is geography?

Geography is the study of earth. • Geographers ask: 1. Where is it? 2. Why is it there? 3. What effects do the environment have on life?

The Five Themes of Geography Help to understand the world. Key areas to learn about when studying a place or concept. Location Place Region Movement Human/ Environment Interaction

Location Location asks: Where is it located? ▪ It tells us where a point is on the Earth’s surface.

Location An absolute location can be a latitude and longitude point or a street address. The address where you live: 555 Main Street Latitude: 55° North Longitude: 9° West

Location A relative location is given in relation to borders, landmarks, distance, or direction.

Place ▪These may include climate, people, and landforms. Place asks: What does it look like? ▪These may include climate, people, and landforms.

Place The sunny islands of Hawaii have beaches, tourists, and military bases.

Regions Regions ask: How and why is one place similar to another? Areas of the earth that are alike in some way.

Regions Places united by common characteristics.

Southwest Region The southwest region of the U.S. is know to have a hot and dry climate and share a border with Mexico to the south.

Movement Movement asks: How and why are places connected with one another? We travel and communicate with one another. We depend on each other for products and ideas.

Movement Internet Travel How people share ideas, people, and goods to shape the world.

Human-Environment Interaction Interaction asks: What is the relationship between humans and their environment? How people react to and change the environment.

Human-Environment Interaction People getting along with nature

Why are the five themes important when studying a new place? Journaling Why are the five themes important when studying a new place?