1. 5 Themes of Geography

2. Why is Geography Important?

5. A. What is Geography? Geography- a description of the earth
Shows the distribution and interaction of the physical and human features on earth.

6. Two Types of Geography Divided into 2 brances:
Human: examines how people and their activities from place to place (ex. Politics, economics, culture)
Physical:
Study of earth’s natural features and how they vary from place to place

7. 2. Methods used by Geographers:
a. Maps and globes
b. photographs
c. 5 themes of geography

8. B. 5 Themes of Geography 1. Location – 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

9. 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)

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

11. b. Cultural characteristics- way people live in a certain place
*Religion, Language, Government, Culture, Work
c. Each place is unique
d. description of a place may change over time

12. 3. Human Environment Interaction - 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)

13. Aerial Views of the Las Vegas Strip
1950
2007

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

15. 3 Types of Distance:
Linear- how far across the earth a person, an idea, or product travels
time- how long it takes to travel
psychological- how people view distance
Why are people compelled to move from place to place?

16. 5. Regions – How is this place similar to and different from other places?
one or more characteristic that unites a region
- physical, political, economic, cultural
b. boundaries can be well defined (Kansas) or not well defined (Midwest)

17. c. Regions are characterized in 2 main ways:
Formal: limited # of characteristics (ex. U.S., Latin America)
Functional: organized around a set of interactions and connections between places

18. 5 Themes Practice
This summer I went to Las Vegas, which is in the state of Nevada.
Near the pyramids farmers and herders continue to grow crops and live in the hot, dry climates.
The United States is divided into 50 different states.
My aunt and uncle live in South Africa, which is located in the southern part of the continent of Africa.
Kansas has the type of climate that varies form day to day.
The state of Colorado is known for its Rocky Mountains.
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.