1. Chapter 1 The Geographer’s Tools
Section 1
The Six Elements of Geography

2. The World in Spatial Terms
Geography-is the study of the special physical and human characteristics of a place or region.
An important part of geography is the relationship between humans and their environment.
Environment-physical surroundings.

3. The World in Spatial Terms
A geographer might also study culture.
Culture-a learned system of shared beliefs, traits, and values.
Example: Texas
Big
Cover approximately 267,000 square miles
2nd largest state (in both size and population)

4. The World in Spatial Terms
Geographers look at where things are on the Earth’s surface.
ie…Location of Texas cities:
Near water sources
Near transportation centers (highways, rivers, and railroads)
Near a larger city (Pearland is close to Houston)

5. Tools
Different tools of a Geographer:
MAPS

6. Tools
Charts & Graphs
Navigation Tools
Increasing Population of Texas

7. Tools
Satellites
Satellites-are located in space and are able to take aerial photos
For geographers to study and use to better understand the earth.

8. Tools
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-is a computer database that stores huge amounts of data and/or information.
Geographers use these GIS databases to help in future planning.
ie…where to build
Roads
Railroads
Dams

9. Places and Regions
People’s culture and experiences affect their ideas of place and regions.
A Place has physical and human characteristics that make it special.
Physical Characteristics include:
Plant and Animal life
Sources of Water
Weather and Climate
Landforms
Soils

10. Places and Regions Landforms-are natural shapes on Earth’s surface.
Ie…Mountains, hills, and valleys
Human Characteristics include ethnicity, language, political and economic systems, population distribution, religion, and standard of living.

11. Places and Regions
A region is an area with common characteristics that make it different from surrounding areas.
Regions are defined by people to organize the world.
Regions can be as large as Texas or as small as a neighborhood.

12. Places and Regions
Formal Regions-has one or more shared characteristics, that could be based on physical features (plant life), cultural (people’s beliefs), economic ($$$), or political.
examples: Countries, states, and cities.

13. Places and Regions
Functional Regions-is made up of different places that function together as a unit.
Example: Dallas-Ft. Worth is a FUNCTIONAL REGION they are separate areas/cities, but are apart of the same Metropolitan area.

14. Places and Regions
Perceptual Region-is defined by people’s shared attitudes, culture, and feelings about an area.
Examples of PERCEPTUAL REGIONS are Central Texas and the Panhandle (perceptual regions usually have vague borders)
Geographers try to learn what defines a place or region and what makes it special.

15. Physical Systems and Human Systems
Geographers study the physical processes and interactions among 4 physical systems-Earth’s atmosphere, land, water, and life.
Physical Processes shape and change the Earth’s physical features.
examples: Texas’ coastline changes as tides from the Gulf of Mexico move beach sand, or weather determines where people choose to live.

16. Physical Systems and Human Systems
Ecosystem-is all of an area’s plants and animals together with the nonliving parts of their environment.
Earth is the largest ecosystem.
A beach, an island, and a pond are all ecosystems.
Human activity and natural events can change ecosystems.
Example: During the 1930s drought and overgrazing led to loss of topsoil and plant life in West Texas, thus creating the West Texas we know today (desert).

17. Physical Systems and Human Systems
Human Systems is studying an areas population distribution, growth, and movement to understand human events and geography.
Migration-is the movement of people.
Urbanization-is an increase in people living or working in cities.

18. Environment and Society
One of the most important topics in geography is how people interact with the environment.
Human interaction can be favorable:
Planting Trees
Recycling
Human interaction can be un-favorable:
Pollution
Loss of Wildlife

19. Roy Bedichek ( )
Roy Bedichek was a Texas naturalist who warned of the dangers of pollution some 50 years ago.

20. Review The Six Essential Elements of Geography:
The World in Spatial Terms
Places and Regions
Physical Systems
Human Systems
Environment and Society
The Uses of Geography

21. References Holt Texas! Holt, Rinehart AND Winston 2003
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