1. A Geographer’s World
Chapter 1

2. Studying Geography
Section 1

3. What is Geography?
Geography is the study of the world, its people, and the landscapes they create.
The landscape is all the human and physical features that make a place unique.
Geographers must think like scientists by gathering and examining data
Sometimes geographers study people and their lives
Geography is sometimes called a social science

4. Looking at the World Geographers look at the world at 3 levels.
Local, regional, and global level
Local level
Try to figure out why people live and work the way they do
Can help people improve their lives

5. Regional level
A region is a part of the world that has one or more common features that distinguish it from surrounding areas.
Some regions are defined by physical characteristics (ex: mountains, climate, or plants)
Other regions are based on human characteristics of a place (ex: language, religion, or history)
Regions can be small or large.
Divide the world into regions to make it easier to study.

6. Global Level
Geographers may want to learn how people interact globally
How do events or ideas from one region affect other regions?
Globalization, or worldwide trade and communication, has increased the need for information on how to live in a rapidly changing world.

7. The Geographer’s Tools
Geographers have tools to help them study the world.
Map
Flat drawing that shows all or part of the Earth’s surface.
Maps are distorted some of the details when making it flat (some places may look farther apart than they really are).
Maps are usually more detailed than globes
Maps can also show more information

8. Globes
A spherical model of the entire planet
Satellite images
Geographers study satellite images to see what an area looks like from above Earth.
Other tools
Computer programs – create, update, and compare maps
Notebook & tape recorder – take notes

9. Geography Themes and Essential Elements
Section 2

10. The Five Themes of Geography
Five major themes of geography are Location, Place, Human-Environment Interaction, Movement, and Regions.
Location
Absolute location gives a specific location of a place (ex: address)
Relative location is expressed in general terms (ex: Canada is north of the U.S.)
Place
Refers to an area’s landscape.
Can include land, climate, and people.

11. Human-Environment Interaction
How do people interact with their environment (land, water, climate, plants, and animals)
Movement
Why and how do people move
Regions
Help study geography
Creating regions also makes it easier to compare places

12. The Six Essential Elements
A system of standards and essential elements identify most important ideas in the study of geography.
The essential elements are based on a geography standard.
They are big ideas that link several standards together
Pg. 13

13. The Branches of Geography
Section 3

14. Physical Geography Two branches of geography – physical and human
In physical geography geographers study the world’s physical features.
Look for the causes of different shapes on Earth
Why mountain ranges form?
Studying the changes that take place on Earth can help us prepare for the future.

15. Human Geography The study of the world’s people past and present
Look at where people live and why
Many human geographers specialize because there are so many people in the world.
Others examine only one aspect of people’s lives (ex: economics)
Human geographers help us understand people’s cultures.

16. Other Fields of Geography
Cartography – science of making maps.
Computers and satellite images have made maps more reliable.
Hydrology – study of water on Earth
Study the world’s river systems and rainfall patterns
Meteorology – study of weather and what causes it.
Study weather patterns in a particular area and use the information to predict future weather.