What do Geographers Do? What do Geographers Do? Geographers look at the patterns and connections between people and land to help them describe the earth. Geographers look at the patterns and connections between people and land to help them describe the earth.

Five Themes of Geography Five Themes of Geography

Where is it?

Two Types of Location Two Types of Location

Absolute Location Absolute: Latitude and Longitude or an address Absolute: Latitude and Longitude or an address –KCHS: Latitude 30º03’52.337” N Longitude: 95°29’30.833”W or Ella Blvd.

Latitudes

North/South Hemispheres

Longitudes

East/West Hemispheres

Measurement

Relative Location Relative: Describing where a place is by describing places near it. Relative: Describing where a place is by describing places near it. –KCHS – south of Schindelwolf & west of Kreinhop.

What is it like?

Two Features

Human features: The culture of a place. Human features: The culture of a place. –Race, religions, languages, governments, occupations, architecture, foods, clothing, etc.

Physical features: Things determined by nature. Physical features: Things determined by nature. –Climate, indigenous plants, animals, land forms, types of soils, etc.

How do people relate to the physical world?

Human- Environment Interaction How people effect the environment and how the environment effects people. How people effect the environment and how the environment effects people. People either adapt to their environment or the alter their environment People either adapt to their environment or the alter their environment

Examples Dams Dams Roads Roads Farms Farms Cities Cities

How do people, ideas, and products move from one location to another?

Movement Movement of people, goods, and ideas from one place to another. Movement of people, goods, and ideas from one place to another.

Everything Came From Somewhere

Linear Distance How far do people, products and ideas travel from one location to another. How far do people, products and ideas travel from one location to another.

Time Distance The amount of time it takes for a person/idea/good to travel from one location to another. The amount of time it takes for a person/idea/good to travel from one location to another.

Psychological Time The way people perceive distance. The way people perceive distance.

How are areas similar or different?

Region Region An area that is unique. Geographers use regions to compare different areas. An area that is unique. Geographers use regions to compare different areas.

Distinctive Characteristics

Formal Regions Defined by a limited number of related characteristics. Defined by a limited number of related characteristics. Houston Houston Texas Texas USA USA Africa Africa

Functional Regions Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places. Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places. Think of a hub: Think of a hub: –Downtown to Spring –Medical Center to Sugarland

Perceptual Regions People see characteristics the same way. People see characteristics the same way. Hill Country Hill Country The South The South The Westbank The Westbank The Midwest The Midwest The Middle East The Middle East SW Houston SW Houston