What is Geography?

Geography is… The study of everything on Earth, from rocks and rainfall to people and places. Geographers study how the natural environment influences people, how people’s activities affect Earth, and how the world is changing.

How much do you know about Geography? On which continent is the United States? In what direction do longitude lines run? What do they measure? In what direction do latitude lines run? What do they measure? What effects does a constantly increasing population have on the Earth, its people, and resources? Why is the U.S. and practically every other country dependent upon many other nations to help supply its needs?

D E A B F C G 4

5 Themes of Geography Location Place Region Movement Human-Environment Interaction

Location Relative Location Absolute Location imprecise location based on landmarks, time, direction, region, or distance from another place Where is OCHS located? Off of highway 22 east… next to MBMS Absolute Location on a map in relation to a grid or address

Example: Where is OCHS? Relative location –Off of Highway 22 Absolute Location – 2340 Highway 22 East Owenton, KY 40359

Latitude - Horizontal Lines on the map that give location on the earth North/South of the Equator. Longitude- Vertical Lines on the map that give location on the earth East/West of the Prime Meridian.

+ Longitude = Latitude A Grid AKA Absolute Location!!!!

Place What is it like there? Human Characteristics Physical Characteristics Human characteristics - architecture, patterns of livelihood, land use and ownership, town planning, communication and transportation networks, languages, and religious and political ideologies

Physical Characteristics Desert Valley Caves Wetlands Knobs Mountains Rivers Lakes Streams Grassland Forests

Region Relative locations brought together by common characteristics (both physical and human) like language, deserts, mountains, political ideals, culture, rivers, etc.

Movement People travel from one place to another; they communicate with each other; and they rely upon products, information, and ideas that come from beyond their immediate environment. Three Different Types of Movement: 1. People 2. Goods 3. Ideas .

MOVEMENT

Ways in which humans interact with the environment: Humans depend on the environment for life. We need food, water, air, etc. Humans modify/change nature. mining, mowing the lawn, cutting down trees Human adapt to nature. building roads, bridges, houses

5 Themes of Geography Learning Centers You will be placed into a group that you will travel with to the 5 centers in the room. Each center represents one of the 5 Themes of Geography Location, Place, Movement, Regions, Human- Environment Interaction You will answer the questions at each center on your own sheet of paper—make sure to LABEL each center on your paper and number the questions You do not have to write the questions, just the answers