What is Geography?

► ► The study of the physical, biological, and cultural features of the Earth’s surface

Why Do YOU Need to Know Geography? ► So you do not sound like this! ► Jaywalking Jaywalking

Lots of misunderstanding about Geography ► What is She Talking About? ► Miss Teen South Carolina ► Question: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the United States on a world map. Why do you think this is? ► Miss Teen South Carolina: "I personally believe the U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh...people out there in our nation don't have maps, and, uh, I believe that our education like such as South Africa and, uh, the Iraq everywhere like, such as and...I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., err, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our...

What do we study in this class?

Location -- How the geographical position of people and things on Earth’s surface affects what happens and why

Place -- All places on the surface of the Earth have unique human and physical characteristics - Physical Human

Movement - People, goods, ideas

Region The South Corn Belt Region - an area having characteristics in common, but not always fixed boundaries

Human – Environment Interaction How humans affect the environment? - Deforestation, pollution How the environment affects humans? - Earthquakes, Floods

Two Branches of Geography Studies the world’s people and their cultures Land features, climate, biomes, animals Interaction of people and their environment Human Geography Physical Geography

Why is geography important as a field of study? ► Geographic information provides context for understanding spatial relationships and human-environment interaction.

Geography of a pencil ► ► How does the production of a pencil illustrate global interconnections?

Interdependence ► Geography also focuses on the interconnections across space. ► Nothing occurs in isolation  Bangladesh and the frogs

How does eating frog legs cause people in Bangladesh to get sick? ► Sell frogs to U.S. ► What do frogs eat? ► Less frogs = more bugs in Bangladesh ► What is the staple food in Bangladesh? ► What are the bugs eating? ► How do we stop bugs from eating our produce? ► What happens if you ingest pesticides? Think about it: nothing occurs in isolation

Why geography is important Key Concept Key Vocabulary Words Visual representation of your concept Did you Know? Complete the following on a sheet of notebook paper for your section