5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY PRILM

DEFINITION OF GEOGRAPHY A Science that deals with : Description Distribution Interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface

Geography is the study of: IN PLAIN ENGLISH Geography is the study of: the earth and everything on it.

Human-Environment Interaction 5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY MOVEMENT REGION Human-Environment Interaction PLACE LOCATION

WHERE DID THE 5 THEMES COME FROM? 5 Themes of Geography – Originated by the National Geographic Society In order to fulfill a need for geographers to categorize everything they learn about the world. These 5 places are easy to remember. Just say the word “PRILM”. Geographers - (people who study the earth and everything on it)

WHAT IS “PRILM”? PRILM is a mnemonic device that can be used to help remember what the 5 Themes of Geography are. Take the first letter of each Theme to create the word PRILM. Place Region Interaction (Human-Environment) Location Movement

5 Themes explained Location – Where is it ? Place – What is it like ? How does it look ? Is it hot, cold, dry, wet, lots of buildings ? Region – How are places similar and different ? Does it have characteristics that unify it ? Movement – How do people, goods, and ideas move from one place to another ? Human-Environment Interaction – How do people relate to the physical world ? How do they use it ?

PLACE Physical differences Human differences What makes that area different to others. This is divided into 2 parts: Physical differences Things that occur naturally, such as mountains, rivers, type of soil, wildlife, climate etc. Human differences Things that have changed due to people, such as roads and buildings, how people live and their traditions.

REGION Areas that can be grouped together by a set of things special to that area. Examples: Government, Language, Religion, Climate The three types of area are: Regions defined by a government or physical characteristics are regions that are strictly maintained, such as countries or continents. ( U.S.A vs. MEXICO ) or ( DESERT vs. RAIN FOREST ) Regions defined by a function are areas served by a particular service. Take the example of the school district of McKinney ISD. If MISD closes down, then the school district will no longer exist. It will have to be named or described some other way. Loosely defined regions are regions that are grouped together in general terms. Like the  Far East and Middle East. * The S.W. region of the USA or * The N.E. part of the USA These are the sort of definitions that people will argue about.

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS The relationship between people and their environment, or how they work together. What effects have the people had on their environment? How has the environment affected them ? Do they depend on it for anything? What changes have they made to their environment to make it easier to live in? How people have been changed by the environment can be called adaptation. How the environment has been changed or modified is the way people alter their environment to suit themselves.

LOCATION Specific location is shown by an address. 2 parts : SPECIFIC + RELATIVE LOCATION Specific location is shown by an address. The address can be any type of address that gives an exact position. It is sometimes called Absolute location Here are some examples: A Street Address: 152 Silly Street, McKinney, Tx. 75983 A Map Address: 15o20' North, 20o15' West Both of these examples well tell you exactly where a place is. Relative location is shown by saying where something is in relation to somewhere or something else is located. ( Down the street next to Taco Bell )

MOVEMENT Movement includes : What type of communications are there ? People, things, such as Goods, as well as Communications  (the movement of Ideas) What type of communications are there ? What forms of transportation that takes place ? What goods are exported and imported ? These all come under the heading of Movement.

1 Which of the following is NOT a geography theme? A. movement C. region B. human-environmental interaction D. people

2 Which of the following is an example of Human-Environmental Interaction? A. getting the mail C. playing Gameboy B. watching TV D. Rainforest Clearing

3 Which of the following helped create the 5 Themes of Geography? A. Geographica Institute C. National Council for Social Studies B. National Geographic Society D. Social Studies Teachers of America

4 Which of the following is an example of PLACE? B. McDonalds D. Skating rink A. Deep South C. Dodge County Middle School

5 Which of the following is NOT an example of Location? A. Springfield, Missouri C. Georgia B. Dodge County Middle School 1103 Herman Ave Eastman, GA 31023 D. the hills

6 Which of the following is an example of region? A. Georgia C. United States B. South America D. The Midwest

7 What is the name of a person who studies the earth and everything on it? A. Photographer C. Geographer B. Cartographer D. Mapographer

8 which of the following is not an example of Movement ? A. Immigration C. EMAIL B. Westward Expansion D. Cutting down trees

Key 1) D 2) D 3) B 4) A 5) B 6) D 7) C 8) D

SUMMARY Making Sense of it All Now that you have found out a little about the five themes, how can you use them? Imagine for a minute that you are a newspaper reporter. An important discovery of a lost land has been made, and you have the chance to be the first person to interview the returning explorers. Make a list of the questions that you might ask. Remember, the five themes and ask the most important questions from each. Here are some questions to get you started: Where is it? Where exactly is that? What does it look like? How many people live there and where? What settlements (cities, villages) does it have? What sort of climate does it have? Does it have any extremes of weather? Is it prone to any type of natural disaster? What are the natural resources and how are they used? What type of agriculture is there? What are the main types of transportation and communication? What makes the people there different to people in other places? What sort of government does it have? Is it associated with any other place?