What is Geography? The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on earth. What does this definition mean? Comes from the Greek word geographia which means to describe the earth Geographers look for patterns and connections between people and the land that they live on – the use of space on the earth and the interactions that take place there

Physical and Human Geography Physical Geography: The study of physical geography focuses on the earth’s natural processes. Examples: landforms, water features, atmosphere, animals, plants, and soils

Physical and Human Geography Human Geography: The study of distribution and characteristics of the world’s people. Examples: where people live and work, ways of life, how people make and trade things that they need to survive

Five Themes of Geography What is a theme? What are the Five Themes of Geography?

Five Themes of Geography What is a theme? A central idea What are the Five Themes of Geography? Remember MR HELP

The Five Themes of Geography Remember MR. HELP M (Movement) R (Region) H (Human -) E Environment Interaction) L (Location) P (Place) Generally we talk about them in a different order so if this doesn’t help, forget it!! You have to find what works for you.

Location Describes the position in terms of coordinates or in relation to another position. Answers the question: Where is it? Two Types of Location: Absolute – According to longitude and latitude. (an address too) Relative – Where it is in relation to another place (North of Texas) What is our relative location? Our absolute location? (address?) To give some absolute locations we will need to learn more about maps – which we will do next class. (define hemisphere, latitude, longitude, equator, prime meridian?)

Place Describes the special characteristics both human and physical that make a place different from every other place. Answers the question: What is it like there? Examples: Animals Landforms Man-made monuments (Alamo) How would you describe Texas as a place? May change over time

How would you describe this place How would you describe this place? Can you tell anything about it’s location?

Region Geographers group places together according to what they have in common. Religion Vegetation School Districts Three Types: Formal, Functional, & Perceptual

Region Formal – based on related characteristics (climate, land use patterns) Functional – organized around interactions and connections (public transportation routes link a city and suburbs) Perceptual – what people perceive or believe to be a region (may not be exactly the same for all people) Examples? Europe, DFW, the Midwest (Texas is a great example of perceptual – are we southwest or just south?)

Human-Environment Interaction What is the relationship between people and their environment? (How do they adapt to, use or change the environment?). Answers the Question: How do people and the environment interact? Examples: Air Conditioning Sunscreen Houses Is this always negative? Notice it is not only about how we change the environment but about how the environment makes us change.

How are these people interacting with their environment? Be specific.

Movement The movement of people, goods and ideas. How everything is connected. Answers the Question: How do people, goods and ideas move around the world? Geographers analyze movement looking at three types of distance: linear, time and psychological Linear – miles, time – 2 hours, psychological – how we view distance (things seemed further apart when you were young – can also be cultural) Distances also appear to shrink as we become more familiar with a place

The Five Themes and the Beijing Olympics Getting started: Work in groups to complete the activity. Draw the five rings and use markers for the colors. Label each ring with one of the five themes.

Olympic Rings

The Five Themes of the Olympics As a group, decide where each characteristic or example from the Olympics fits…air quality, for example, may be classified as an example of human-environment interaction. If a characteristic “fits” in more than one circle, include the characteristic in the area where the circles overlap – be prepared to explain your decision!