1. Introduction to the Five Themes of Geography
Social Studies 8

2. Introduction to Geography
In geography we study different areas or “themes”
There are five themes:
1. Location
2. Place
3. Human/Environment Interaction
4. Movement
5. Regions

3. 1. Location We study “regions”
Specific location
Port Hardy (city)
We study “regions”
Some have a specific location pinpointed by a dot on the map:
e.g. Port Hardy
Some are relative areas that are compared to a known location
e.g. 200 km Southeast of Port Hardy
General location
Vancouver Island

4. 2. Place
mountains
"Place" refers to the physical and human features that are found on our earth
Physical: mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes
Human: cities, roads, dams, bridges
roads

5. 3. Human/Environment Interaction
How humans react to their surroundings
We do it by:
a. adapting
b. modifying
c. depending
…on our environment

6. a) Adapting to our Environment
by building houses and other buildings for shelter
by organizing cities and towns near water and/or other resources we need
by building roads and bridges to get around
                                                      
                                                      
                                                      

7. b) Modifying our Environment
by clear-cutting, mining, building dams, and by mowing the lawn!
Anything we do to change the structure of our environment…

8. c) Depending on our Environment
For water, air, and all natural resources we use…

9. 4. Movement
Is the transportation of an object from one place to another
In geography, we move:
a. ideas
b. people
c. goods

10. A. IDEAS
Ideas are moved through transportation and communication links across vast geographic areas
Movement of ideas can be:
-language: i.e. slang terms (sick, rad), foreign words
-religion: i.e. Buddhism moved from India to China
-music: i.e. rap music made its way here from American cities

11. b. People People move across provinces, countries, and continents
They bring with them their own
Beliefs (religious)
Culture (stories, songs, art)
Technology (tools, methods)

12. c. Goods Goods are things that can be bought and sold
Can be transported by sea, land and air
Examples:
Clothing
Cars
Textiles (food)

13. 5. Regions
Are general areas that are tied together by physical and human features in one place
Regions formed by human characteristics:
China town, Jerusalem
Regions formed by physical characteristics:
Rocky Mountains, Sahara Desert