 Location  Place  Region  Human-Environment Interaction  Movement

 Absolute location allows us to pinpoint the exact location of any point on the surface of the earth using latitude and longitude or a grid system

 Relative location refers to the way a place is perceived and how that place relates to other places.  Can be measured in terms of time--  “twenty minutes away”  Important for decision-making.

Alaska is closer to Russia than it is to the “lower 48,” but that is not how we perceive it.

Absolute Location Relative Location

Our perceptions are based on relative location.

 Physical Characteristics of Place:

 Topography  Climate  Vegetation

 Human Characteristics of Place:

 Agriculture  Architecture  Religion  Economics

 The region is the basic unit of geographic study  Criteria for defining regions depends on the geographer’s purpose.  One place can be part of several different regions. Texas, US, and World culture regions

 Formal regions are based on some common feature. The Corn Belt Political entities Where Islam dominates

 Functional regions are created by movement. Austin metropolitan area Eanes attendance area Amazon River Basin

 Perceptual regions exist in people’s minds.

 Humans adapt to their physical environment. clothing styles Building materials

Humans modify their environment. Terracing for rice farming Open-pit mine

Human interaction with the environment can have important consequences.

 Physical processes, people, goods, and ideas move across the earth’s surface.  The geographer is concerned with the effects of this movement.

 They give us a “geographic lens” through which to view the world.  Throughout the year, we will be using these themes to view different parts of the world and their cultures.

 You will be given a current news article by the teacher.  Tonight, you need to read this article and annotate it anywhere you find examples of the five themes.  For example,  “The tropical storm began in the Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane but was downgraded when it hit the coast.” (MOVEMENT)  “The climate on Mars is very similar to deserts on Earth.” (PLACE)