The Five Themes of The Five Themes of GeographyGeography

SSWG1 The student will SSWG1 The student will explain the physical explain the physical

aspects of geography.aspects of geography.

SSWG2 The student will SSWG2 The student will explain the cultural explain the cultural

aspects of geography.aspects of geography.

GeographyGeography

The study of the earth and its The study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life on the earth, including human

life and the effects of human life and the effects of human activity activity

LocationLocationLocation EQLocation EQ– ““Where is it?”Where is it?”

Every place on Earth has a location. Every place on Earth has a location.

Location is defined in terms of absolute Location is defined in terms of absolute and relative locationand relative location– Absolute locationAbsolute location: the exact spot on Earth : the exact spot on Earth

where something is found i.e. latitude & where something is found i.e. latitude & longitudelongitude

– Relative locationRelative location: the position of a place in : the position of a place in relation to other places i.e. landmarks, etc.relation to other places i.e. landmarks, etc.

ExamplesExamples

Marietta, Georgia is Marietta, Georgia is located at 33N located at 33N 84W84W

Yosemite National Yosemite National Park is located Park is located north of Los north of Los Angeles, California, Angeles, California, and east of San and east of San Francisco, CAFrancisco, CA

PlacePlace

Place EQPlace EQ– ““What is it like?”What is it like?”

The special characteristics that make The special characteristics that make a place different from every other a place different from every other placeplace

Every place can be described in terms Every place can be described in terms of its of its physical featuresphysical features

Every place can be described in terms Every place can be described in terms of its of its human featureshuman features

PlacePlace

The Sahel is a hot The Sahel is a hot and dry place and dry place along the southern along the southern edge of the Sahara edge of the Sahara in Africain Africa

Yosemite National Yosemite National Park has several Park has several hotels and hotels and campgrounds to campgrounds to accommodate accommodate touriststourists

Human-Environment Human-Environment InteractionInteraction

HEI EQHEI EQ– ““How do people relate to the physical world?”How do people relate to the physical world?”

To survive, people must use their environmentTo survive, people must use their environment– People sometimes use the environment as is—fishing in People sometimes use the environment as is—fishing in

a rivera river– People sometimes alter the environment positively—People sometimes alter the environment positively—

creating a dam to control flooding on a rivercreating a dam to control flooding on a river– People sometimes alter the environment negatively—People sometimes alter the environment negatively—

creating industrial pollution in a rivercreating industrial pollution in a river

People also must learn to live with aspects of the People also must learn to live with aspects of the environment that don’t changeenvironment that don’t change– Climate, soil, etc.Climate, soil, etc.

Interaction between people and their Interaction between people and their environment can shape cultures.environment can shape cultures.

ExamplesExamples

People who live in People who live in the Sahel wrap the Sahel wrap their heads with their heads with heavy material to heavy material to keep the hot sun keep the hot sun and sand out of and sand out of their facestheir faces

People build roads People build roads to make travel to make travel easiereasier

MovementMovementMovement EQMovement EQ– ““How do people, goods, and ideas more from one How do people, goods, and ideas more from one

location to another?”location to another?”DistanceDistance– Linear distance-how far across the earth something travelsLinear distance-how far across the earth something travels– Time distance-amount of time it takes for something to Time distance-amount of time it takes for something to

traveltravel– Psychological distance-how far away we think things arePsychological distance-how far away we think things are

People, goods, and ideas move continuouslyPeople, goods, and ideas move continuously– The movement of people, goods, and ideas is The movement of people, goods, and ideas is

called called spatial interactionspatial interaction

Globalization has influenced movement in the Globalization has influenced movement in the 2121stst century. century.

ExamplesExamples

Open markets Open markets provide centers provide centers where herders and where herders and farmers can trade farmers can trade their goodstheir goods

The movement of The movement of tourists into tourists into Yosemite National Yosemite National Park has created a Park has created a need for a shuttle need for a shuttle bus servicebus service

RegionRegionRegion EQRegion EQ– ““How are places similar and different?”How are places similar and different?”

A region is an area defined by common A region is an area defined by common characteristicscharacteristics

A region can be defined by more than one A region can be defined by more than one characteristiccharacteristic3 main types of regions 3 main types of regions – Formal-defined by limited characteristics (Southwest Formal-defined by limited characteristics (Southwest

Asia, Latin America)Asia, Latin America)– Functional-organized around connections and Functional-organized around connections and

interactions (Atlanta Metro Area)interactions (Atlanta Metro Area)– Perceptual-defined differently by different people Perceptual-defined differently by different people

(American Midwest)(American Midwest)

ExamplesExamples

The Sahel can be The Sahel can be defined as a dry defined as a dry grassland region in grassland region in Africa because of its Africa because of its physical characteristics. physical characteristics. Many people in the Many people in the Sahel speak Arabic, so Sahel speak Arabic, so it also can be defined it also can be defined as a region by as a region by language. And the language. And the Sahel can be defined as Sahel can be defined as a region by religion a region by religion because many people because many people are Muslims.are Muslims.

5 Themes of Geography 5 Themes of Geography AssignmentAssignment

In groups of 2-3 come up with your In groups of 2-3 come up with your own examples of each of the 5 own examples of each of the 5 themes of geographythemes of geography

Be prepared to share some of your Be prepared to share some of your examplesexamples