Geographical Themes

THE FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY LocationLocation PlacePlace Human-Environment InteractionHuman-Environment Interaction MovementMovement RegionsRegions

Theme 1: Location Location: the meaning of relative and absolute position on the earth's surface Sample terms: Latitude and longitude, site and situation, direction, distance, scale

Location Where is It? Why is It There? Two Types of Location Absolute Relative

Absolute Location A specific place on the Earth’s surface Uses a grid system Latitude and longitude A global address

Absolute Location Examples: –Rome is located at 41 N, 12 E –Argentina is located in the southern hemisphere –Ecuador is located in Tropic of Cancer. –LNE is located in Lincoln, NE.

Relative Location Where a place is in relation to another place Uses directional words to describe –Cardinal and intermediate directions

Relative Location Examples: –Rome is located near the Mediterranean Sea. –Argentina is near Brazil. –Ecuador is south of Mexico. –Lincoln is 50 miles from Omaha.

Theme 2: Place Place: the distinctive and distinguishing physical and human characteristics of locales Sample terms: Physical and cultural landscapes, sense of place

Place Physical Characteristics Land Features Mountains, plains, and plateaus Climate Bodies of Water

Place Human Characteristics People Culture Language Religion Buildings and Landmarks Cities

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction Relationships within places: the development and consequences of human-environment relationships Sample terms: Ecosystems, natural resources, environmental pollution

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction How People Interact With Their Environment People... Adapt to Their Environment Modify Their Environment Depend on Their Environment

Theme 4: Movement Movement: patterns and change in human spatial interaction on the earth Sample terms: Migration, diffusion, globalization

Theme 4: Movement The Mobility of People Goods Ideas How Places are linked to one another and the world

Regions: how they form and change Sample terms: Formal vs. functional regions

Theme 5: Regions What Places Have in Common Political Regions Landform Regions Agricultural Regions Cultural Regions

Remembering the 5 themes If you can’t remembering what they are just ask MR. HELP!!!If you can’t remembering what they are just ask MR. HELP!!! M – MovementM – Movement R – RegionsR – Regions HE – Human Environment interactionHE – Human Environment interaction L – LocationL – Location P - PlaceP - Place