Five Themes of Geography

Location, location, location Where in the world is it? How do we find a place? To find the absolute location of a place we use longitude and lattitude. Where in the world is it? How do we find a place? To find the absolute location of a place we use longitude and lattitude.

What else do we need to know about Location? How else do we know where something is? – “It’s right next door to me.” – “Bowling Green is south of Louisville and north of Nashville.” It is also important to know relative location. In other words, how is that place is related to other places. There are many ways places are connected land, water, even technology How else do we know where something is? – “It’s right next door to me.” – “Bowling Green is south of Louisville and north of Nashville.” It is also important to know relative location. In other words, how is that place is related to other places. There are many ways places are connected land, water, even technology

Place Every Place has characteristics that distinguish them from other places. Places have two main types of characteristics. 1.Physical characteristics -landforms -climate -plant and animal life 2.Human characteristics -architecture -land use and ownership - communication networks Every Place has characteristics that distinguish them from other places. Places have two main types of characteristics. 1.Physical characteristics -landforms -climate -plant and animal life 2.Human characteristics -architecture -land use and ownership - communication networks

Human/ Environment Interaction This theme has to do with the effects of humans interacting with their environment. – Examples Building a dam. Building a dumpsite Building an igloo Growing a certain type of crop or building canals This theme has to do with the effects of humans interacting with their environment. – Examples Building a dam. Building a dumpsite Building an igloo Growing a certain type of crop or building canals

Movement People travel and transport things that they need, and communicate with other places. – People move from place to place. What ways do they travel? – People need information and resources from other places so they import it or travel to get it. Are we interdependent on other places in the world? If so, how? People travel and transport things that they need, and communicate with other places. – People move from place to place. What ways do they travel? – People need information and resources from other places so they import it or travel to get it. Are we interdependent on other places in the world? If so, how?

Region Geographers organize places into groups based on their common characteristics. -Physical characteristics – Regions based on Climate – Grassland, desert, rainforest, mountain, or polar regions – South, northern, western, or eastern regions -Human Characteristics -Ethnic regions -Commercial regions -Recreational regions Geographers organize places into groups based on their common characteristics. -Physical characteristics – Regions based on Climate – Grassland, desert, rainforest, mountain, or polar regions – South, northern, western, or eastern regions -Human Characteristics -Ethnic regions -Commercial regions -Recreational regions