Human Geography It’s Nature and Perspectives
what is geography? Essential Questions: How can geography be used to shape our view of the world? Learning Target: IWBAT explain the importance of geography as a field of study Formative Assessment(s): We use GPS on a daily basis. How does using GPS cause you to look at the world differently?
Bellwork How do you use geography on a daily basis?
what is geography? “description of the earth” a study of spatial variation –the how and why of physical & cultural differences –location, location, location –observable patterns that have evolved through time
- interaction of physical environment and human activity (Marsh, Sauer) - cultural landscape can alter the natural environment
evolution of the discipline - mapping/human interpretation Aristotle ( BC) Erathosthenes (276 BC) Strabos (63BC-24AD)/Herodotus ( BC)
Ptolemy (2 nd century AD)
outside the western world Chinese Scholars Muslim Scholars
human geography Where are people? What are they like? What is their interaction over space? What kinds of landscapes do they erect?
physical geography attention towards natural landscape –landforms and their distribution –atmospheric conditions and climatic patterns –soils / vegetation associations
modern geography….. 1. Climates, patterns, processes of physical environment 2. Rapid development of natural sciences 3. Accurate mapping 4. Data collection / statistics
academic geography Earth science Man-land relations Areal differentiation Spatial organization –location –processes –patterns –interactions/relations –distributions
Formative Assessment We use GPS on a daily basis. How does using GPS cause you to look at the world differently?
what is geography? Essential Questions: How can geography be used to shape our view of the world? Learning Target: IWBAT use and understand maps. Formative Assessment(s): Give an definition of absolute location and relative location. Give an example of each.
Bellwork What labels are important to include on a map?
three concepts about space Location Direction Distance
absolute location Mathematical location –Latitude & Longitude degrees, minutes, seconds –Township & Range (1785 Land Ordinance) Subdivision: parallels & meridians Topographic quadrangle, US Geological Survey –Metes & Bounds
latitude & longitude (22° 15' N, 114° 10‘ E)
relative location “place” in relationship to surroundings
Site –absolute location concept –physical & cultural characteristics Topography, vegetation, water, physical characteristic
Situation –external relations of locale –relative location concept –dynamic
absolute directions Based on cardinal systems –north, south, east, west –from solar system
relative directions Based on cultural & local perceptions –no absolute boundaries or definitions –“down south”, “out west”, “up north”, “down south”, “Near East”, “Far East” –Left, right, forward, backward
absolute distance Absolute mathematical mileage, or measurement of distance
relative distance Refers to a more regional spatial relationship –how distance is described MILES MINUTES $$$ & TIME
psychological distance Distance lengthened / shortened –first time traveled –night / day travel –safety / danger / excitement
size & scale Size of unit studied Scale implies degree of generalization –broad or narrow –Varying sizes local regional global
Formative Assessment(s) Give a definition of absolute location and relative location. Give an example of each.
what is geography? Essential Questions: How can geography be used to shape our view of the world? Learning Target: IWBAT define regions and evaluate the regionalization process Formative Assessment(s): Give a definition of formal, functional, and perceptual regions. Give an example of each.
Bellwork Answer the questions below: Where do your clothes come from? Where do your cell phones come from? Where does your food come from? Where do your shoes come from?
landscapes Natural Cultural Dynamic
multi-varied landscapes
process of change Before 1970 After development Long Island, New York
spatial interaction Accessibility –how easy/difficult to overcome time & space separation Connectivity –how places are connected Spatial diffusion –process of dispersion of ideas or items from a center of origin to more distant points Globalization –Increasing interconnection of peoples and societies worldwide
globalization Standardization –$$$$, EU, time, United Nations Containerization –movement of products –outsourcing Intersection of the ‘haves’ & ‘have nots’ –cell phones, internet
spatial distribution Arrangement of items on Earth’s surface Three concepts
1. density Measure of the number/quantity within a defined unit of areas –proportion Arithmetic density: total # of people divided by land area physiological density: # of people per unit of arable land
2. dispersion (concentration) Amount of spread of phenomenon over an area –1. clustered, agglomerated –2. dispersed, scattered, random
3. pattern Emphasizes design rather than spacing –linear (a) – road, river, rail line –centralized (b) – city & suburbs –random (c) Rectangular system of land survey - U.S. –rural: checkerboard, 1 mile squares –cities: grid system
regional concepts 1. formal or uniform regions –Areas of essential uniformity Physical or cultural Sahara Desert, “Bible Belt”
2. functional region spatial system defined by interactions/ connections Glendale Galleria Newspaper Route
3. perceptual regions Less structured & more culturally based The “Valley’China Town
Examples of regions XiM_u_UMhttps:// XiM_u_UM The “Valley’China Town
Formative Assessment(s) Give a definition of formal, functional, and perceptual regions. Give an example of each.
what is geography? Essential Questions: How can geography be used to shape our view of the world? Learning Target: IWBAT evaluate projections for distortions. Formative Assessment(s): State one benefit and one limitation of each of the projections below: Mercator, Fuller, Robinson, and Azimuthal
cartography – the science of making maps Maps provide a visual tool Maps are subjective Map projections transfer locations on a round surface to a flat surface –some form of distortion always occurs –greater distortion results from larger areas depicted
global grid system
mathematics of the Earth Aristotle ( BC) discovered the earth to be an oblate spheroid –Equatorial bulge (7924) –Polar shortening (7922) –23.5° axis (tilt)
seasons and climate Earth’s rotation & movement around the sun Tilt of the earth’s axis (23.5°) Receipt of solar radiation Re-radiation of energy in the form of heat
the Earth’s divisions Latitude lines –Equal distance between lines –Lines become increasingly smaller descending from the equator to poles Longitude lines –Each line is the same exact length –All lines become increasingly close together as they descend to the poles –Connects the North and South Poles
important lines of latitude Equator: 0 degrees Tropic of Cancer: 23.5 degrees North Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5 degrees South Arctic Circle: 66.5 degrees North Antarctic Circle: 66.5 degrees South
important lines of longitude Prime Meridian: 0 degrees (runs through Greenwich, England) International Dateline: 180 degrees Time Zones: every 15 degrees of longitude equals one hour
maps Scale –the smaller the scale, the greater the area –World map has smallest scale, city map has largest scale (think of scales like fractions) - for example one inch = one mile is more detailed than one inch = one hundred miles 1:1 or 1:100 Legend –interprets map information
map projections & distortion Shape Distance Relative size Direction
Mercator: preserves direction, distorts landmass, used for navigation Fuller’s: preserves shape and size, distorts direction Robinson: minimizes projection errors Peters: equal- area projection, focus on Africa Azimuthal: oriented to the Poles
Robinson map projection
Fuller’s Dymaxion projection
Topographical map
Thematic maps
Cartogram map
Geographical Information Systems
mental maps
Formative Assessment(s) State one benefit and one limitation of each of the projections below: Mercator Fuller Robinson Azimuthal