The Five Themes of Geography

How geographers look at the world

Geography is the study of earth and its people.

Why study geography?Why study geography?

To understand more about the To understand more about the changing world we live inchanging world we live in

To learn more about the people and To learn more about the people and cultures of the world so that we can cultures of the world so that we can better understand each otherbetter understand each other

To evaluate the connection between To evaluate the connection between the earth and those who live on itthe earth and those who live on it

It is just another way to explain the It is just another way to explain the world we live in.world we live in.

What are the Five What are the Five Themes of Geography?Themes of Geography? The concepts or ideas that geographers The concepts or ideas that geographers

use to study the world and the people use to study the world and the people that inhabit it.that inhabit it.

They are all connectedThey are all connected Use all five themes to truly understand Use all five themes to truly understand

the geography of a placethe geography of a place

Location

Asks the question: Where is it?

Here’s Madagascar!

Can be absolute location, Can be absolute location, which uses a system to find which uses a system to find an exact spot on the earth.an exact spot on the earth.

Examples: latitude and longitude, Examples: latitude and longitude, street address with zip codes, street address with zip codes,

GPS, map coordinatesGPS, map coordinates

Can be relative location, which Can be relative location, which uses descriptions to find uses descriptions to find

places on the earth.places on the earth.

Example: I buy coffee at McDonalds on the same Example: I buy coffee at McDonalds on the same side of the street as Desert Foothills Park.side of the street as Desert Foothills Park.

My friend lives about two blocks south from me.My friend lives about two blocks south from me.

Other examples?Other examples?

PlacePlace

Asks: What are the characteristics Asks: What are the characteristics of a location? of a location?

DescribesDescribes what it is like there what it is like there

For example: How would you For example: How would you describe the physical and human describe the physical and human features of the Foothills? Any other features of the Foothills? Any other ideas?ideas?

Can be physical featuresCan be physical features

• Climate – temperature, rainfall, arid

• Landforms – plateaus, plains, desert

• Topography - elevation

• Flora - plants

• Fauna - animals

• Resources – copper, gemstones

Can be human characteristics

Such as population statistics, economic activities, religion, language, government

MovementHow do people, goods and ideas get from

one place to another?

Examples of movementExamples of movement

►Shipping products or goods between Shipping products or goods between countriescountries

►Migration of people to new areasMigration of people to new areas►Buying clothes over the internetBuying clothes over the internet►Flying overseas to visit your relativesFlying overseas to visit your relatives►Coming to school on the bus this morningComing to school on the bus this morning►Urban sprawl Urban sprawl ►What are some other ideas?What are some other ideas?

Human Environment Interaction

How do we use the earth? How have we changed the earth?

Examples of HEIExamples of HEI Growing cotton in ArizonaGrowing cotton in Arizona Mining copper in Bisbee, ArizonaMining copper in Bisbee, Arizona Hiking up South MountainHiking up South Mountain Fishing on Canyon LakeFishing on Canyon Lake Cars consuming gasoline and polluting the airCars consuming gasoline and polluting the air Altadeña Middle School built out of brickAltadeña Middle School built out of brick Cutting down trees in the Rain Forest so homes Cutting down trees in the Rain Forest so homes

can be builtcan be built What are some other ideas?What are some other ideas?

Region

How is this place similar to other places?

Are there common characteristics?

There are two different There are two different types of regions:types of regions:• Physical characteristics –southwest region, Physical characteristics –southwest region,

Amazon Rainforest, Valley of the Sun, Amazon Rainforest, Valley of the Sun, Chinatown, Middle East, Roman Empire, Chinatown, Middle East, Roman Empire, and desert and desert

• Cultural characteristics – language ex. Cultural characteristics – language ex. Spanish, religion ex. Buddhist, government Spanish, religion ex. Buddhist, government ex. democracy, ex. democracy,

Regions can overlap!Regions can overlap!

Know these themes!Know these themes!

DefinitionsDefinitionsExamplesExamplesQuestions they answerQuestions they answer

We will use them throughout the year We will use them throughout the year as we analyze the different areas of as we analyze the different areas of

the world!the world!