5 Themes of 5 Themes of GeographyGeography

Why is Geography Why is Geography Important? Important?

A. What is GeographyA. What is Geography?

GeographyGeography- a description of the earth

•Shows the distribution and interaction of the physical and human features on earth.

Two Types of Geography Divided into 2 brances:

Physical: Physical: Study of earth’s natural features and how they vary from place to place

HumanHuman: examines how people and their activities from place to place (ex. Politics, economics, culture)

2. Methods used by Geographers:a. Maps and globesb. photographsc. 5 themes of geography

B. 5 Themes of B. 5 Themes of GeographyGeography

1. LocationLocation – Where is this place located?a. 2 Types of Location– Absolute- exact position of a place

• latitude and longitude

– Relative- position of a location on Earth’s surface in relation to other locations

– Examples• Absolute- Kansas City is 39 degrees North

and 98 degrees West (Where is Tampa, Florida located?)

• Relative- Mexico is located South of the United States (Turn to a neighbor and give the relative location of the state of Kansas)

2. PlacePlace –– What is it like? (similar to a person’s personality)a. Physical characteristics

b. b. Cultural characteristics- Cultural characteristics- way people way people live in a certain place live in a certain place

*Religion, Language, Government, *Religion, Language, Government, Culture, WorkCulture, Work

c. Each place is uniquec. Each place is unique

d. description of a place may change d. description of a place may change over time over time

3. Human Environment Human Environment InteractionInteraction - How have people changed a place by their interactions with the environment?

a. Changes can be deliberate or unplanned

b. People alter environment to make them better, or to provide needed goods (ex. dig ditches to grow crops)

Aerial Views of the Las Vegas StripAerial Views of the Las Vegas Strip

1950 1950 2007 2007

4. Movement – How do people, goods, and ideas move between places?

3 Types of Distance:3 Types of Distance:•LinearLinear- - how far across the earth how far across the earth a person, an idea, or product a person, an idea, or product travelstravels

•time- how long it takes to traveltime- how long it takes to travel•psychological- how people view psychological- how people view distance distance

•Why are people compelled to Why are people compelled to move from place to place?move from place to place?

5. RegionsRegions – How is this place similar – How is this place similar to and different from other places?to and different from other places?

a.a. one or more characteristic that one or more characteristic that unites a unites a region region

- physical, political, economic, - physical, political, economic, culturalcultural

b. boundaries can be well defined b. boundaries can be well defined (Kansas) or not well defined (Kansas) or not well defined (Midwest)(Midwest)

c. Regions are characterized in 2 main ways:– FormalFormal:: limited # of characteristics (ex.

U.S., Latin America)– FunctionalFunctional:: organized around a set of

interactions and connections between places

5 Themes Practice 5 Themes Practice 1. This summer I went to Las Vegas, which is in the state of

Nevada. 2. Near the pyramids farmers and herders continue to grow

crops and live in the hot, dry climates. 3. The United States is divided into 50 different states. 4. My aunt and uncle live in South Africa, which is located

in the southern part of the continent of Africa. 5. Kansas has the type of climate that varies form day to

day. 6. The state of Colorado is known for its Rocky Mountains.7. Many people who live in New York City use the subway

to get to and from work everyday. 8. The Hoover Dam is a reservoir that provides water and

electric power for the Southwest.9. Arizona is part of the Sunbelt.