1. Introduction to Geography
Unit One: Learning Target #1
Introduction to Geography
The Use of Geographic Inquiry

2. They try to understand the world around them.
What do geographers do?
They try to understand the world around them.

3. “Geo-Graphy” Geo - Earth Graphy – The Study of . . .
“Geo”logy – History of the earth recorded by the rocks
Geo - Earth
Graphy – The Study of . . .
Photo”graphy” – Study of taking photos

4. Focus on Two Questions Where are people and activities found on Earth?
Why are they found there?

5. Geography History Geography v. History Focuses on WHY of WHERE
Focuses on WHY of WHEN

6. Gather data of that area
Spatial Analysis
Spatial - Think “Space”, “Area”, or “Location”
Analysis – look for patterns
Look at an area
Gather data of that area
Investigate “why”

7. Spatially analyze the following image

8. Spatially analyze the following map

9. How do geographers spatial analyze?
Ask Questions
Gather Data
Examine & Analyze Data
Act on new information
Geographic Approach

10. What type of Geography questions could we ask?
When my favorite band tours, does it like to go to a certain part of the United States?
How many cell phones do people in my neighborhood have?
How many kids are in my neighborhood?
Are the classes evenly divided?
Is 1st lunch bigger than 2nd lunch?
What state has the most national parks?
Are the stores in my city “teenage friendly”?
What roads are the busiest in my city?
Are there certain parts of my town that are richer and poorer?
Are the classes divided equally between boys versus girls?

11. They try to understand the world around them.
What do geographers do?
They try to understand the world around them.
How do they do this?

12. Main Tool of Geography: Maps
Definition: A representation usually on a flat surface of the whole or a part of an area
Science of Mapmaking called Cartography

13. Let’s look at the definition of a map as “usually on a flat surface”

14. What shape is the world?
What shape is a map?
How would you show the world on a flat surface?

15. Problem with Maps
How to make something round and 3D into something flat.

16. Map Element #1 - Projections
Projection: Presenting an image onto a surface
Distortion: Change the shape

17. Four Types of Projection
Mercator Robinson Peter’s Projection Goode-Homosoline Projection

18. Does projection matter?

19. Helpful Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVX-PrBRtTY

20. Map Element #2 - Scale How much of the Earth should I show?
Small Scale v. Large Scale

21. Example of Scale - Population Growth Rate
Global Scale

22. Example of Scale - Population Growth Rate
National Level

23. Example of Scale - Population Growth Rate
State

24. Map Element #3 – Geographic Grid

25. Meridians: An arc drawn between the North and South Pole
Known as Lines of Longitude
Important Line: Prime Meridian

26. Parallels
Known as lines of altitude
Important Line: Equator

27. Connection: Geographic Grid and Mercator Projection
Why distort this map?

28. Map Element #4 – Geographic Tools
Remote Sensing: Taking pictures with satellites or from other long distance sites
GPS: Global Position System
Used mostly for location
GIS: Geographic Information System
Layered Maps

29. Different Types of Maps

30. Purpose of a Map Two Main Types Reference Tool
Where is something located?
Communication Tool
What data can be shown for that area?

31. Physical Maps
Focus on landforms such as mountains, rivers

32. Political
Show government boundaries (Countries, states), major cities

33. Political v. Physical: How are they the same? How are they different?

34. Isoline
Using lines on a map that connect points of equal value

35. Let’s Practice

36. Dot Each dot represents a specific amount of something
Dots are placed to show how many are located in the area

37. Isoline v. Dot: How are they the same? How are they different?

38. Choropleth Uses shades of color to show differences
Focuses on one topic

39. Cartogram Uses data to form the particular shape of an area
Shapes are based on data not the actual size of the area

40. Choropleth v. Cartogram: How are they the same? How are they different?

41. Connections Categorize the maps into “reference” and “communication”
Physical
Political
Isoline
Dot
Choropleth
Cartogram

42. Connections Reference Communication
Categorize the maps into “reference” and “communication”
Physical
Political
Isoline
Dot
Choropleth
Cartogram
Reference
Communication

43. Earliest maps were reference tools; Today, they are mostly focused on communication?
WHY?

44. What makes places unique?
Unit One – Learning Target #2

45. How are they different from each other?
Discussion
Compare two places.
How are they different from each other?

47. What is a place?
A specific place on Earth with unique characteristics

48. Elements of Place - #1
Place Name
Toponymn
Examples:

49. Elements of Place - #2 Site Characteristics
Physical Characteristics of an area
Can also include some human characteristics
Examples:

50. Elements of Place #3 Situation Characteristics
Location of place compared to other places
Examples:

51. Absolute v. Relative Location
Uses geographic grid
Site Characteristics
Compares with other places
Situation Characteristic

52. Elements of Place #4 Cultural Landscapes
An area modified by humans to reflect what they value

53. Elements of Place #5 Built Landscape
An area built for human activities

54. Elements of Place #6 Sequent Occupancy
The study of human use over different time periods
Example: San Francisco
Natives
Spanish
European Immigrants
Asian Immigrants “China Town”

55. Unique Places with Similarities
Regions
Unique Places with Similarities

56. What is a region?
Places on earth with similar characteristics in common

57. Examples
Physical

58. Examples
Cultural

59. Example
Economic

60. What is a region’s purpose?
Help us understand the world around us

61. Regions are to geography as . . . ..
Periods or quarters in a sports game
Sections in a large store
Eras are to history
Classification is to biology
Movements in a musical composition
What is happening in all of these?
Sorting
Classification
Analysis of Connection

62. Types of Regions #1 – Formal Region (Uniform)
Areas share in common one or more distinct characteristics
Usually have either
Official Boundaries
Something that can be measured

63. Types of Region #2 – Functional Region (Nodal)
An area focused around a node or a center point

64. Types of Regions
Vernacular Region – Area people believe exists as part of their “mental map”
How people organize and see the world in their own mind

65. Mental Maps Useful for vernacular regions
Depicts what an individual perceives about a place

66. How does experience affect our mental maps?

67. What happens when areas become recognized for certain characteristics?

68. Key Items of Regions Regions is a PROCESS
Overlap and Transitional Boundaries

69. Regions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C65 -yKq8DTM
XiM_u_UM
Bz90jnrZQ

70. Why are different places similar?
Unit One: Learning Target #3

71. Example #1 – language Map Where People Read English Wikipedia
Map where Wikipedia is in English

72. Example #2 World Religions

73. Key Concept #1 – Hearth and Diffusion
Hearth: Where the idea starts

74. Diffusion: Process of moving across space from one place to another over time

75. Map of French Speaking Countries
Two Types of Diffusion
1. Relocation Diffusion: Spread of an idea through large-scale movement of people from one place to another
Map of French Speaking Countries

76. Two Types of Diffusion
2. Expansion Diffusion Hierarchical Stimulus Diffusion Contagious Diffusion

77. Hierarchical Diffusion
Spread of an idea from a person or entity of power to other persons or places

78. Contagious Diffusion
Rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic

79. Stimulus Diffusion
Spread of an underlying principle even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse

80. Review Activity A new type of food has been discovered.
You must create a 1 minute skit that shows how the idea spreads based on your assigned type of diffusion.

81. Theories of Spatial Interaction
In the past, most connections required physical movement of people

82. Theory #1 – Distance Decay
Theory that contact interactions decrease with greater distance and eventually disappears

83. Today the effect of distance decay has lessened . . . . . Why?

84. Theory #2 - Time-Space Compression
A decrease in time it takes for something to reach another place
Fastest Speed: Horse Drawn Coaches and Sailing Ships (~10 mph)
Fastest Speed: Railroad (~65 mph). Steam Ship (~36 mph)
1950s
Fastest Speed: Aircraft ( mph)
1960s
Fastest Speed: Jet Passenger ( mph)

85. Globalization
Force or process that involves the entire globe