What is Happening in this Picture?

What makes us Geographers? We must know where things are located, why they are there, and of what importance this is to us and others.

What about the Geography of Canada are we going to learn?

How the Toronto Island was formed

How the declining numbers of Wild Salmon is impacting Canada’s Environmental Health

How immigration has shaped Toronto

How not all Ontario kids have their basic human rights met

How extracting Oil Sands in Alberta is impacting Canada

How the comforts we enjoy in Canada connect to people around the world

How global issues can also be Canadian issues

1. What is Where? Geography asks “where” questions about any phenomena on our Earth – from rock formations to cultural traits –that have a location (what most people believe geography is)

2. Why There? Geographers want to explain why things are found in the places they are, and not somewhere else. (e.g. causes)

3. Why Care? Geographers want to show why these places/issues matter.

Geography Jigsaw Activity TASK: – In groups, summarize your card and record your groups ideas on your handout in the appropriate box SUM MARIZE IT: – S horter than the text (10 words or less) – U se your own words – M ain ideas only

Jigsaw Next Steps Now that you are an expert in your area: FORM A NEW GROUP with a member of each of the other expert groups (1,2,3,4,5) TASK: – Complete the rest of the graphic organizer by TAKING TURNS sharing your SUMMARIES (keep it short so others can listen and follow you clearly) – ASK each other QUESTIONS if needed, to clarify understanding.

Core Concepts of Geography Space – how things are distributed over the surface of the Earth. “Spatial” is the adjective used to describe things having to do with space – (e.g. mapping out where rice is grown would be a spatial analysis.) Place – refers to a particular location on the earth that has a distinctive character. Geographers are interests in how things interact with each other. Environment – refers to that which surrounds (e.g. natural, social, built environments). Scale – refers to the size of the area we’re interested in, and the level of detail we’re using. Usually these go together, so looking at a broader area means we’re seeing less fine detail, and vice-versa. Phenomena will appear differently if we examine them at different scales, so it is always important to consider whether you are thinking about an issue at the appropriate scale.

Fields of Geography

Physical Geography deals with the “where” questions when applied to non-human aspects of our world. (e.g. why a mountain range formed in a particular place or how changes in the warmth of the Pacific Ocean affect weather patterns) intersects with disciplines such as geology, meteorology, biology, and ecology.

Human Geography asks “where” questions about human issues such as population, culture, and political questions. (e.g. how transportation systems affect commute times in several cities.) Connects with disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, history, economics, and political science.

Human-Environment Geography Brings together the concerns of Physical and Human Geography. Human-environment geographers are interested in how societies alter their natural environment and how they adapt to it. (e.g. effects of agriculture on climate change, or how people in coastal Sri Lanka deal with tsunamis)

Mapping Sciences If geographers are asking “where?” questions, one of their most powerful tools will be the map. The mapping sciences thus cut across the three fields. Geographers who specialize in this area develop new techniques for accurately and persuasively representing information through maps. (e.g. are toxic waste dumps more likely to be found in marginalized communities? Attempting to predict where deforestation will occur).