1. Themes & Essential Elements

2. Human Geography Studies distribution and characteristics of the world’s people (where people live and what they do) Examines how people make and trade things that they need to survive Physical Geography Focuses on Earth’s natural environments, including landforms, water features, plants, animals, and other physical features Studies the processes that shape physical environments Both Studies how people interact with their environments

3. We Use Geography: In Government For mapmaking and planning In Business For marketing and development In Schools For education Every Day To find our way in town or on trips, when we watch the news and weather, when we read about other countries, when we make decisions about locations for events or businesses

4. Organizing the World by Regions Formal Has one or more common features that make it different from surrounding areas Functional Different places that are linked together and function as a unit Perceptual Reflects human feelings and attitudes

5. Organizing the Study of Geography (5 Themes) Location Exact or relative spot of something on Earth Place Physical and human features of a location Human-Environment Interaction Ways people and environments interrelate with and affect each other Movement How people and things change locations and the effects of these changes Region Geographic areas with one or more shared characteristics

6. By Six Essential Elements The World in Spatial Terms How to use maps and other tools How to use mental maps to organize information How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments Places and Regions The physical and human characteristics of places How people create regions to interpret Earth How culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places and regions Human Systems Physical Systems

7. Environment & Society The physical processes that shape Earth’s surface The distribution of ecosystems on Earth The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations The complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaics The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth The patterns of human settlement The forces of cooperation and conflict How human actions modify the physical environment How physical systems affect human systems The distribution and meaning of resources

8. Apply geography to interpret the past Apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future

9. Geographers and Mapmakers Organize By drawing lines on the globe By identifying hemispheres, landmasses, and bodies of water By making and using maps

10. Map Projection Map NameAdvantagesDisadvantages CylindricalUsed by navigators because it shows true direction and shape Exaggerates landmasses at high latitudes ConicAccurate for areas with long east-west dimensions Not as accurate for areas that extend mostly north to south Flat-PlaneUsed by pilots and navigators because it shows true direction and area sizes Distorts shapes

11. Special-Purpose Maps Climate and Precipitation Maps Show weather patterns and atmospheric conditions Show average temperatures and precipitation in a place. Population and Economic Maps Show the distribution of people, natural resources, and land usage patterns Elevation Profiles and Topographic Maps Show physical features of the land Population pyramids Show percentages of males and females by age group in a country’s population Help us understand population trends