Geography The Five Themes

What is Geography? Geography is the study of the world, its people, and the landscapes they create.

MR. LIP M R L I P Movement Region Location Interaction Place

Movement People People interact with each other through movement. We interact with each other through travel, trade, information flow (E-Mail), and political events.

Movement Goods The import and export of goods and mass communication play major roles in shaping our world.  We travel from place to place, we communicate, and trade goods.  How do we move from place to place? How do we actually get goods we want?

Movement Ideas Not only do humans move but also ideas move; fashions move; fads move.  What is an example of an idea that moves? Fashion? Fad? How do we depend on people in other places?   How would our lives change if our movement options changed? 

Region unit of study in geography that shows a connection in terms of human or physical features. Formal – defined lines and borders Functional – has a function, particular area/region for a paper route. Vernacular (perceptual) – people’s perception

Formal Regions Defined by boundaries Example: United States or The City of Atlanta. These regional boundaries are not open to dispute, therefore physical regions fall under this category Example: The Rockies, the Great Lakes States, the Atlantic States.

Functional Regions Defined by a function Example: United Airlines Service area or a newspaper service area. If the function cease to exist, the region could no longer exist.

Vernacular regions Loosely defined by people's perception Example: The South, the MidWest, The Middle East.

What are characteristics of the Greater Metro Atlanta Region?   What region do you define as the South?  The North?  What characteristics and perceptions go along with these regions?

Location Relative Location – north of, south of, near the park, around the corner, north of Florida Absolute Location – using longitude and latitude or an address.

Absolute Location latitude and longitude (a global location) or a street address (local location). Paris, France is 48.51' North latitude and 2.20' East longitude Relative Location Landmark, time, direction or distance from one place to another and may associate a particular place with another.

Human-Environmental Interaction Humans adapt to the environment Example: clothing during different seasons Humans modify the environment Example: build houses, cut down trees, using air conditioner or heater, etc. Humans depend on the environment Example: natural resources, food, climate, etc.

Discussion Given the choice, where would you live? Why? What is the environment?  How do people interact with the environment?  How do the physical features affect us?

Discussion How have we adapted to or changed our landscape? Example: in the Sudan even though everything is seemingly barren, the land still supports farmers and nomadic herders.  People and animals have adapted to a hot, dry climate.

Place Physical Characteristics – natural landforms, bodies of water, etc. Human Characteristics – man made

Physical Characteristics Mountains, rivers, soil, beaches, wildlife, etc.  

Human Characteristics Buildings, roads, clothing, and food habits.

Discussion How is Atlanta, Georgia connected to other places? What are the human and physical characteristics of Atlanta, Georgia? How do these characteristics shape our lives?