What is Geography?

What Words Come to Mind? Geography

What is Geography? SIMPLE ANSWER Geography is the science that tries to understand how the Earth works and how humans change it. – This science examines the Earth’s surface and the processes that shape it. – Geography especially looks at the relationship between people and the Earth’s physical environment.

Defining Geography Geography: The study of how things change over space and time on the Earth surface. Analysis, Interpretation, Relationships, Processes, Observation Population, Climate, Geology, Vegetation, the Environment Countries, Continents, Townships, Provinces, Cities, Towns Past, Present, Future

To understand our relationship with the Earth, geographers ask 3 questions and search for answers to problems. By exploring these problems, we can make better, wiser decisions.

Question 1: What’s Where? Ask questions, explore spatially by collecting data, creating or interpreting maps Understanding what is at a particular location Absolute location: location using longitude/latitude Relative Location: location relative to another geographic feature

Question 2: Why There? Research answers and develop explanations to spatial observations. There are simple and complex answers but they can always be explained by the natural environment or human actions.

Question 3: Why Care? Draw conclusions, critical judgments and predictions for the future. Use your findings to make informed decisions that protect people and our planet

Geography is A LITTLE bit of readingENGLISH A LITTLE number crunchingMATHEMATICS Making new discoveriesSCIENCE Studying the past HISTORY GEOGRAPHY IS EVERYTHING AROUND YOU “No one is bad at geography” -Mr. Scott

Lets use Geography to understand some places/spaces around the world! Answering these questions help geographers develop a “sense of place” which is what makes a place special or unique. What are you looking at? Where is this location? Why is it there? What role does the natural environment play here? What impact does human activity have here? Why should we care about this place? What is where? Why there? Why care?

Geography of……. CAIRO, the historic capital city of Egypt What’s where? Why is it there? Why care?

Geography of……. Whistler, BC. World renowned ski destination. What’s where? Why is it there? Why care?

The Geography of Huntsville Considering the last slides: Lets understand Huntsville

The Geography of Huntsville Why does Huntsville exist? What environmental factors made settlement here advantageous? What impact does the landscape have on the town? What impact does Highway 11 have on the town? How has the economy of Huntsville changed in the past?