Transcript Slide 1
5 Themes of Geography • What is Geography? • Geography – the study of the Earth’s physical and cultural features • It means writing about or describing the earth. • Why is it important to know? • Gives us an opportunity to observe and analyze the relationship between the environment and human life. Why Geography? 5 Themes of Geography Region How are places alike or different? Formal – determined by a government (by borders) or physical features Ex. US country border, Great Salt Lake Functional – region linked by something that happens there - economic association, common transportation or communication systems, etc. Ex. TV or radio station, school bus route riders, utility company customers, Silicon Valley Vernacular – defined by people’s perceptions, linked to culture Ex. The South, Middle East, Latin America Movement Where does it go? Why? How does it get there? Movement includes the travel of people, goods and ideas Push factor – reason for leaving Ex. shortage of food in an area Pull factor – reason for going to a certain place Ex. close to source of fresh water Place How do you recognize places? Human Characteristics – manmade creations (buildings, highways, airports, populations, culture and heritage) Ex. White House - Washington, DC Physical Characteristics – natural creations, climate, natural resources, bodies of water Ex. Grand Canyon - Arizona 5 Themes of Geography Place • Physical Features – landforms, ecosystems, climate, animal life, other geographic features Human Characteristic s • languages, art, customs, economy, government, architecture, religion, and so on… Location How can you explain where something can be found? Absolute (Exact) location – the specific place where you can find something Ex. 30°N 135°W or 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Relative location – saying where something is by comparing it to a starting point Ex. Chicago is northeast of Denver 5 Themes of Geography Human-Environment Interaction How does the environment affect people? How do people affect the environment? Modify – people change the environment Ex. Flatten/cut through land to build roads Adapt – people adjust to the environment Ex. Climate affects clothing and housing Depend – people need things from the environment Ex. Fishing, farming, hunting 5 Themes of Geography Review 5 Themes of Geography • • • • • Region Movement Place Location Human-Environment Interaction 5 Themes of Geography Review Song