1. Human Geography for Teachers

2. Citizens of the World World is so interrelated now days
Technology: Internet, CNN, quick flights
“Soft” borders – can go just about anywhere
Strive to understand the ongoing changes
Make sense of the new directions our world is taking
Ask questions, acquire correct & objective info, organize info, analyze info, answer question
Geography is one of the most powerful tools we have to accomplish this

3. What do Geographers Study?
The Old Notion:
States, countries, and capitals
Location
Important, but leads to other questions:
Not only “where?” but “why?” and “so what?”

4. What do Geographers Study?
The Continuing Notion:
The earth and everything about it
The Correct Notion
Definition: ???

5. A Basic Definition
The location and distribution of features at or near the Earth’s surface
Location
Absolute
Relative
Distribution
Features
Physical (Natural)
Cultural (Human)

6. Geographic Perspective
Geographic Realms: Basic Spatial unit in our world organizational scheme (neighborhoods)
Spatial Perspective: Pertaining to space on the Earth’s surface
Not only where, but why things are located where they are, how they got there, and how they could change

7. Realms and Regions Taxonomy Criteria of Realms; must include:
A system of scientific classification; in geography, it’s spatial, NOT horizontal or vertical
Criteria of Realms; must include:
Unique physical & human features
Function Interaction: interaction between people and their environment
Represent great clusters of human kind
Formed by Transition Zones and Geographic Change
Transition Zones: Where two realms or regions meet, defined by a gradual shift of characteristics
Geographic Change: because the world is constantly changing, realms, regions, and even concepts change with it
Geography is an ever-changing discipline!

8. Realms and Regions (cont)
Regions: An area of the Earth marked by specific criteria
e.g. in N. America, we have “Midwest”, “Yukon”, Canada, United States, etc.
Area: occupies space on the Earth’s surface
Boundaries: dividing line between areas; can be “hard” or “soft”
Location: The position of something
Absolute
Relative

9. Realms and Regions (cont)
Regional Classification
Formal Regions: Regions that show a “sameness”
Functional Regions: Regions that show internal structure

10. Functional Regions
Formal Region

11. Realms and Regions (cont)
Core and Hinterland
Core = “heart” of a region
Hinterland = “periphery” of a region

13. Geography and Scale
Scale: The ratio between two places on a map and the actual distance on the Earth’s surface
Large and Small Scale:
Smaller the fraction (larger the denominator), the smaller the scale
Small scale shows BIG overview, large scale shows fine detail

14. Which Map is Larger Scale?

15. The Physical Setting Physical Geography Natural Landscapes
Study of Natural Landscapes
Natural Landscapes
Landforms on the Earth’s surface and other physical features
Wegener and Continental Drift
Pangaea: Wegener’s hypothetical continent
Tectonic Plates

17. The Physical Setting Tectonic Plates
Great slabs that form on the ocean floor and carry the continents, about 1 inch/year

18. The Physical Setting Tectonic Plates
Mountain- and Island-Building by Subduction
Less dense plates “ride over” the more dense plates; i.e. the heavier plate “subducts” (goes under) under the lighter plate

19. Tectonics & Earthquakes

20. The Future? Pangea Ultima…

21. Climate Climate and Climate Change Weather vs. climate
Desertification: deserts expanding due to human degradation
Glaciation: process by which glaciers advance over previously ice-free terrain
Ice Age: lowering of Earth’s temperature, causing equatorward expansion of icesheets and growth of glaciers
Interglaciations: period of warming time separating two glacial periods
Global Cooling-Warming Cycles

22. Climate Classification
Climate Classification (Köppen)
Humid Equatorial (A) Climates
Dry (B) Climates
Humid Temperate (C) Climates
Humid Cold (D) Climates
Cold Polar (E) and Highland (H) Climates

24. Regions and Cultures
When studying a realm or region, must use physiography and culture
Physiography: total physical geography
Culture: broadly defined, means “human features”; sometimes a culture has a distinct personality
Regional Character: a distinct atmosphere & personality of a region (examples???)
Because Geographers are concerned with both culture and nature, we often times find what we call Cultural Landscapes:
Human imprints on the Earth’s surface

25. Realms of Population Population Distribution Terminology
How people (or things) are arranged across the Earth’s surface
Where are the major concentrations of people in the world? Why are they there?
This is a function of Geography: taking a bunch of data and answering the where, why, and how!
Terminology
Population Density: number of people (or things) per unit area
Megalopolis: several metropolises (e.g., “Tri-State” Area)
Urbanization: in population studies, how many people live in large cities; people moving to urban areas
Cartograms: special maps not drawn at a tradition scale or area

27. Smaller Polygon = Denser

29. Where do we Live?

30. Patterns of Development
Growth of states and nation-states
Core
The “heart” of something—NOT the center
Hinterland or Periphery
The outskirts or outlying area of something
Economic Geography
Spatial aspects of how people make a living
Globalization
A gradual reduction of regional contrasts resulting from all sorts of exchanges, e.g. cultural, economic, political, etc.
Iconography
A culture’s specific, unifying symbols, habits, & traditions
Examples of our iconography?

31. The Geographic Perspective
Regional Geography
Application of geography to specific areas
Systematic Fields
Bridging the gap between the physical and social sciences
Can study each subfield in a specific region if you want!

33. Another View of Geography

34. Logistics… Straight-forward assessment options
Refer to AssignmentStruc673.pdf
Links to PowerPoints for each presentation
Readings: listed in syllabus
all online readings provided
Resources: presentations by various Geographers and others concerned with Human Geography

35. Resources
The Annenberg Foundation loves teachers. When you register FOR FREE, they have a HUGE amount of resources ready for you!
Try this link, click on one of the presentations, and follow the instructions for “New Users”:
Video: Dr. JP Jones
Discusses the socio-spatial dialectic, an important concept in geography