Exploring the term ‘geography’ Review: What is a community? Reviewing the Geography of our Community Literature Connection: A book about a community Regions Activity: What is a county? Discussion: What is a state?

Unit One: Lesson One

 Geography is the study of places.  Geographers study small places like communities and big places like states and countries.  To study a place geographers ask questions about the place and try to find answers.  A state is one of the fifty parts of our country.  To learn about a state, it can be helpful to think and work like geographers.

 The study of PLACES.

 PLACES ◦ small places like communities or large places like countries or even the whole Earth itself.

the study of places Example: In geography people study about places like communities, states and countries.

someone who studies places Example: Geographers study places such as deserts, communities and states.

Geographers learn about places by asking questions and trying to find answers to them.

 In a group of three you will work on answers for the question below. What is a community?  The recorder of your group is responsible for recording your group’s answers.

A community is a place where people live, work and play together.

What are some basic needs of people? Food ClothingShelter

When geographers study a community they often begin by asking this question:

Where is our community? What are some important natural characteristics of our community? What are some important human characteristics of our community? Questions about the Geography of our Community

Where is our community? What are some important natural characteristics of our community? What are some important human characteristics of our community? Questions about the Geography of our Community

Another important question geographers ask about places: In order to answer this question geographers explore the natural and human characteristics of a place

Things that were not made by humans. Examples: Trees, soil and animals are natural features.

Parts of a place made by people Example: Bridges, roads and buildings are human characteristics.

Where is our community? What are some important natural characteristics of our community? What are some important human characteristics of our community? Questions about the Geography of our Community

Where is our community? What are some important natural characteristics of our community? What are some important human characteristics of our community? Questions about the Geography of our Community

Where is our community? What are some important natural characteristics of our community? What are some important human characteristics of our community? Questions about the Geography of our Community

Where is our community? What are some important natural characteristics of our community? What are some important human characteristics of our community? Questions about the Geography of the Community We Read About

When geographers study places they also ask the question:

Is it part of a larger place?

Regions to Which My Community Belongs state county community country continent

A division of a state Example: Michigan is divided into 83 counties.

Michigan Counties Map. 2 August Counties of Michigan Michigan Counties Map. 2 August If a geographer wanted to study our county what questions would he or she ask?  What is a county?  Where is the county located?  What is the county like?  What are important natural characteristics of the county?  What are important human characteristics of the county?

Regions to Which My Community Belongs state county community country continent

one of the 50 parts of our country Example: States have their own land, borders and government.

 How many states are there in the United States?  What other states have you visited?  Do you have family members that live in other states? If so, what states?  What questions do you think a geographer asks when they are studying a state?

The place where one area ends and another begins. Example: You can see the borders of states on a United States map.

A group of elected citizens who make and carry out the rules for a community, state or country. Example: A city government may have a mayor and a city council.

Geography

The study of places Communities States

Geography The study of places Questions Communities Where is it? What is it like? To what bigger places does it belong? States