Using the 5 Themes of Geography

Exploring the Great Basin Desert

Outcomes

We will...

Use the fundamental themes of geography (location, place, human environment interaction, movement, region) to describe regions or places on earth. 1

Do Now:

-Which biome2 does this appear to be?

-What types of animals might live here?

-What types of vegetation might exist here?

See Notes3 for citation

Do Now:

-This is a desert.4

-Snakes, vultures, spiders, and more!

-Cacti, shrubs, grasses, and more!

See Notes5 for Citation

A Refresher on the 5 Themes...

Remember MR. HELP!

M

R

H/E

L

P

is for Movement

is for Region

is for Human/Environment Interaction

is for Location

is for Place

-the transportation of people, goods, and ideas-the unifying characteristic of an area

-how humans affect the earth, and vice versa

-the absolute and relative location of an area

-the human and physical characteristics of an area

Absolute Location of the Great Basin Desert

The desert is located at about 40 degrees north, 117 degrees west. 8

9

Relative Location of the Great Basin Desert

Great Basin Desert, Western United States 10

Movement in the Great Basin Desert

Looking at this map, and using your knowledge of the United States and its technology, how are people, goods, and ideas transferred in the Great Basin Desert?

11

Movement in the Great Basin Desert

Movement also deals with ideas. This map shows the cell phone coverage in the Great Basin Desert. Do you think it is easy or tough to use your cell phone here?

12

Region of the Great Basin Desert

What region(s) does the Great Basin Desert13

belong to?

The Western United States. This area has several common plants14 and animals.15

Human-Environment Interaction in the Great Basin Desert

Las, Vegas, Nevada lies in the middle of the Great Basin Desert. What issues might this city have?

See Notes for Citation 16

Human-Environment Interaction in the Great Basin Desert

Much of Nevada uses strict water conservation laws in order to preserve water, even when no drought conditions exist.

In fact, they even have officers 17 whose job it is to ticket people who are wasting water!

Place- Physical Characteristics

To the West of the Great Basin Desert is the Sierra Nevada mountain range. To the east are the Rocky Mountains. The Colorado River runs north-south through the region.

See Notes18 for Citation

Physical Characteristics- Why is the Great Basin Desert a Desert?

The Great Basin Desert exists because of the rainshadow effect.

19

Place- Human Characteristics

Remember FLARES to identify the Human Characteristics!

F

L

A

R

E

S

is for Food

is for Language

is for Arts and Housing

is for Religion

is for Education and Jobs

is for Sports and Leisure

Extension-

Using any available resource, identify at least two examples for each human characteristic of the Great Basin Desert.

-What foods might be eaten?-What languages might be spoken?-What arts, architecture, and housing might exist?-What religions might be practiced?-What education and jobs might be present?

Notes1.Michigan Department of Education "Social Studies Grade Level Content Expectations" http://michigan.gov/documents/mde/SSGLCE_218368_7.pdf (accessed February 2, 2013).

2. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated "Biome-Definition and More From the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary "http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biome (accessed January 25, 2013).

3. Moyan_Brenn "Untitled" http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6030/5952296478_17790f089f_q.jpg (accessed January 25, 2013)..

4. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated "Desert-Definition and More From the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary " http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert (accessed January 25, 2013)..

5. Moyan_Brenn "Untitled" http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6030/5952296478_17790f089f_q.jpg (accessed January 25, 2013).

6.The Animal Spot. "Desert Animals" http://www.desertanimals.net/ (accessed January 25, 2013).

7. DesertUsa.com "Desert Flora-Cactus-Grasses-Shrubs-Trees-Wildflowers-DesertUSA" http://www.desertusa.com/flora.html (accessed January 25, 2013).

8. Great Basin (n.d.) In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 30, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Basin

9. By Kmusser [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

`0. Exploratorium "What's New In the World #22 (Page 2)" http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/news/january98/mainstory_jan98.html (accessed January 25, 2013).

Notes (Continued)11. Federal Highway Administration "National Highway System" http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/images/nhs.pdf (accessed January 25, 2013).

12. Erickson, David (2011). United States Cell Phone Dead Zone Map (Digital Image) Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/daviderickson/5391276696/

13.. Lobur, Randall "Great Basin Desert" http://goo.gl/maps/Ef4MO (accessed January 26, 2013).

14. DesertUsa.com "Desert Flora-Cactus-Grasses-Shrubs-Trees-Wildflowers-DesertUSA" http://www.desertusa.com/flora.html (accessed January 25, 2013).

15. The Animal Spot. "Desert Animals" http://www.desertanimals.net/ (accessed January 25, 2013).

16."Drought conditions grip Las Vegas." Youtube video, Posted by "koattv, " July 31st, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh-B6P3vVRs.

17 de Hommel, Ronald "Water Cop Kevin Perry." Disputed Waters video February 8, 2011. http://www.disputedwaters.com/video/08/02/2011/water-cop-kevin-perry.

18. National Park Service "Great Basin and Basin and Range Province." http://www.nps.gov/grba/naturescience/images/Basin_and_Range_map.jpg (accessed January 25, 2013).

19. Bariot "Rainshadow Copy.jpg" 2007, Wikimedia Commons, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Rainshadow_copy.jpg (accessed January 26, 2013).