Elements of Geography

Mrs. Minks World Geography and Cultures

Spatial relationships

Links people and places have to each other because of their locations

Reference point for geographers

Location stated in terms of latitude (north or south) and longitude (east or west)

Dallas, Texas is at latitude 32 N and longitude 96W.

Most people use relative location – New Orleans is near mouth of Mississippi River.

Places and Regions

Place: particular space with physical and human meaning

Geographers group places into regions

Region defined by physical and human characteristics

Three types of regions:

Formal

Functional

perceptual

Physical and Human Systems

Physical Geography

Earth’s physical features

Climate, land, water, plants, animal life

Human Geography

Cultural geography

Study of human activities and their relationship to the cultural and physical environments

Focuses on political, economic, social, and cultural factors

Physical and Human Systems

Ecosystem

Community of plants and animals that depend on one another and their surroundings for survival

Movement

People, goods, ideas

Environment & Society

Human Environment Interaction

Relationship between people and their physical environment

How do people use their environment?

How and why do they change it?

What consequences arise from these changes?

Geography Research Methods

Direct Observation

Mapping

Interviewing

Analyzing statistics

Homework

Five themes of geography activity – see handout.

Due Thursday, August 14th.

Exit Ticket: Critical Thinking

How can discussion with an area’s inhabitants evolve into a greater understanding of a region’s people?