1. AP HuGe Basic Concepts of Geography (review)
Key Issues:
How Do Geographers Describe Where Things Are?
* Purpose of Geography and the Theme of Location (absolute / relative)
Why Is Each Point on Earth Unique?
* Theme of Place and Region

2. What is geography? 1. Geo - the earth
Graphy - writing about, describing, or the study of
2. The study of where people, places, and things are located and how these 3 things relate to each other
These relationships involve the study of the distribution (spread) interaction of physical (natural) features and human features on the earth.

3. What will you gain?
1. See the world from - different perspectives or views (based on scale)
Local - city, county, or state
Regional - part of a country, country, or continent
Global - the world as whole

4. 2. Provides a way to organize information making it logical (easy to understand)
3. Will help you to:
*make better decisions about your life
*contribute to solving problems (environment/ racism/ poverty)
*increase opportunities
*interact better in a complex and competitive world
* find the truth by not rushing to judgment

5. How do geographers organize information about the world?
By asking 5 questions which are turned into themes

6. 5 Themes of Geography
The first question – where is it ? Creates the theme of Location
1. Location can be described in 2 ways- absolute (specific) and relative (general)
Absolute – uses a precise point on earth to determine the location of a place.
1. This point is found by using imaginary lines (circles) that cross creating the global grid

7. Latitude Lines (aka parallels)
-measure north and south distances from the Equator
Equator – starting point (0 degrees) which splits the earth into 2 equal halves or hemispheres (northern & southern)
Poles – are the ending points (90 degrees N & S from the Equator)
Tropic Lines – are found at 23.5 degrees north (Cancer) and south (Capricorn )
* define the warmest part of the earth (tilt of the earth in relation to the sun)
Arctic / Antarctic circles – 66.5 degrees N & S
* define the coldest part of the earth

8. Longitude Lines (aka meridians)
-measure east and west
distances from the Prime
Meridian (Greenwich England)
Prime Meridian – starting point
(0 degrees) divides the earth into
eastern and western
hemispheres
180 degree meridian – ending
point
(aka – International Date Line)

9. Global Grid
The global grid is described by using coordinates – latitude is always listed first
Coordinates are described in – degrees, minutes, and seconds
*be sure to always list the hemispheres of the coordinates

10. Relative Location (situation)
RL – a general description of where one place is located in relation to other places using – distance (miles / km) or time (days, hrs, min) and direction (N,S, E,W, NW, SE, etc)
time can be described in different ways depending on the mode (method) of transportation
example – CL is ? of Chicago
50 miles NW of Chicago
Relative Location (situation)

11. The 2nd question – what is it like? Creates the theme of Place

12. Place (site)
Place – describes unique features that distinguish (separate) it from other places
Physical – natural features (landforms, water, climate, vegetation, wildlife)
Human –manmade features
* material – objects (roads, buildings, goods, etc.)
* nonmaterial – ideas (language, religion, philosophies on politics or economics, etc.)
Every place – will change over time (due to technology, pop. growth, etc.)
* human features change much more rapidly (quickly) than physical features

13. The 3rd question – how are places similar and different
The 3rd question – how are places similar and different? Creates the theme of Region

14. Regions are areas of the earth defined by places that share similar characteristics
Formal/Uniform – defined by a common physical or human feature
Physical – Great Lakes or Rocky Mountain
Human – Latin America (cultural) or the United States (political)
Functional/Nodal – are defined by focal points (nodes) that are connected to other places by some type of movement
examples – Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Mississippi River Basin
Perceptual/Vernacular – are based on how people perceive something
example – the Midwest region may contain different states
Region

15. Key Issues. 3. Why are Different Places. Similar. Theme of movement. 4
Key Issues 3. Why are Different Places Similar? *Theme of movement 4. Why are Some Human Actions Not Sustainable? *Theme of human-environment interaction

16. The 4th question – How do people, goods, and ideas move from place to place Creates the theme of Movement

17. Movement Movement looks at several areas:
                                                           
Movement
Movement looks at several areas:
Migration of people – emigration (leaving from), immigration (coming to), and travel
Trade of goods – imports (buying from abroad) and exports (selling abroad)
Transportation networks – roads, RR, water, air, etc.
Communication networks – T.V., radio, phone, internet, satellites, etc.

18. The 5th question – how do people interact with the physical / natural world? Creates the theme of Human Environment Interaction (H.E.I.)

19. Human – Environment Interaction (HEI)
Adapting – humans change themselves to blend in with the natural environment
Examples –
types of clothes & food consumed
Does little damage to the environment
Altering– humans change the environment to meet their wants or needs
**come up with you own ideas here (below)
example –
benefits -
consequences –
ways to minimize –
key is to – find a balance!

20. What is the importance of understanding the 5 themes of geography?
Final Thought
5 themes are not – mutually exclusive (independent) as they overlap and relate directly (influence) to each other
Understanding the themes can help us determine how our earth developed and this will allow us to logically solve problems that we face now and in the future