Why Teach Geography?

5 Themes of Geography

First of all…. What is Geography?  Geography- The study of the physical earth and how humans interact with it.

The Five Themes of Geography  Location  Place  Human-Environment Interaction  Movement  Regions  Location  Place  Human-Environment Interaction  Movement  Regions

Location  Absolute Location  A latitude and longitude (global location) or a street address (local location).  Paris France is 48° North Latitude and 2° East Longitude  The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue  PRIME MERIDIAN- 0° longitude  EQUATOR- 0° latitude  Relative Location  Described by landmarks, time, direction or distance.  “Go one mile West on Main St. and turn left then drive one block.  Absolute Location  A latitude and longitude (global location) or a street address (local location).  Paris France is 48° North Latitude and 2° East Longitude  The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue  PRIME MERIDIAN- 0° longitude  EQUATOR- 0° latitude  Relative Location  Described by landmarks, time, direction or distance.  “Go one mile West on Main St. and turn left then drive one block.

Place  What kind of place is it like there, what kind of place is it?  Human Characteristics  What are the main languages, customs, and beliefs (culture).  How many people live, work, and visit a place.  Physical Characteristics  Landforms (mountains, rivers, etc.), climate, vegetation, wildlife, soil, etc.  What kind of place is it like there, what kind of place is it?  Human Characteristics  What are the main languages, customs, and beliefs (culture).  How many people live, work, and visit a place.  Physical Characteristics  Landforms (mountains, rivers, etc.), climate, vegetation, wildlife, soil, etc.

Human-Environment Interaction  How do humans and the environment affect each other?  We depend on it.  People depend on the environment around them for many different things. (food, clothes, transportation, etc.)  We modify it.  People modify our environment by heating and cooling buildings for comfort.  We adapt to it.  We adapt to the environment by wearing clothing suitable for the weather.  How do humans and the environment affect each other?  We depend on it.  People depend on the environment around them for many different things. (food, clothes, transportation, etc.)  We modify it.  People modify our environment by heating and cooling buildings for comfort.  We adapt to it.  We adapt to the environment by wearing clothing suitable for the weather.

Movement  How are people, goods, and ideas moved from place to place?  Human Movement  Trucks, Trains, Planes, and Cars  Information Movement  Phones, Computer, Mail,  Idea Movement  How do fads move from place to place? TV, Radio, Magazines, and Social Media.  This movement of ideas, people, and goods has caused the world to become interdependent. Interdependent means that they rely on one another and help each other.  How are people, goods, and ideas moved from place to place?  Human Movement  Trucks, Trains, Planes, and Cars  Information Movement  Phones, Computer, Mail,  Idea Movement  How do fads move from place to place? TV, Radio, Magazines, and Social Media.  This movement of ideas, people, and goods has caused the world to become interdependent. Interdependent means that they rely on one another and help each other.

Regions  How are Regions similar to and different from other places?  Formal Regions  Regions defined by boundaries set by government or and administration of some kind. (States, Counties, Countries, Parks)  Regions defined by similar characteristics. (Corn Belt, Rocky Mountain Region, China Town, Bible Belt, Tropics -area between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer)     How are Regions similar to and different from other places?  Formal Regions  Regions defined by boundaries set by government or and administration of some kind. (States, Counties, Countries, Parks)  Regions defined by similar characteristics. (Corn Belt, Rocky Mountain Region, China Town, Bible Belt, Tropics -area between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer)   

Regions Continued  Functional Regions  Regions defined by a function (newspaper service area, cell phone coverage area)  Vernacular Regions  Regions defined by peoples perceptions (middle east, The South)  Functional Regions  Regions defined by a function (newspaper service area, cell phone coverage area)  Vernacular Regions  Regions defined by peoples perceptions (middle east, The South)

MR. HELP  Easy way to remember the 5 themes….  M-Movement  R-Regions  HE- Human Environment (interaction)  L-Location  P-Place  Easy way to remember the 5 themes….  M-Movement  R-Regions  HE- Human Environment (interaction)  L-Location  P-Place

Assignment  Describe you and your family using the five themes of geography. Make sure that you use every theme.