Geography & the 5 Themes

Foundations

What is Geography?

Provides an effective method for asking questions about places on earth and their relationships to the people who live there.

“Geo” is Latin for earth, “Graphy” is Greek for graph or map

Therefore, geography is also the mapping of the earth.

Geographic Tools

Geographers use technological tools such as sonar, satellites, and the global positioning system (GPS) to study locations on the earth’s surface.

Growing in importance are graphic information systems (GIS), which use computer technology to anazlyze and display date about the earth’s surface to solve geographic problems.

Geographic concepts help organize the way people think about geography.

Branches of GeographyThe study of the physical earth

itself, as well as the things on earth NOT made by people◦ Landforms,◦ Climate/Climatology: the pattern of

weather in a place over a long period of time,

◦ Weather/Meteorology: study of temperature, clouds, wind, and various types of precipitation over a short period of time,

◦ Oceans/Oceanography◦ Natural Geography/Biogeography:

how plant/animal life are distributed on earth’s surface,

◦ Plants◦ Zoogeography: study of animals and

birds and their habitats.

Physical

Examples

Branches of Geography The study of people and their activities

within their environment or surroundings◦ Cultural/social: study of places people live

and the ways in which different groups live◦ Historical: study of people and places over

time◦ Demography: study of population in terms

of births, deaths, marriages, and other data

◦ Economic Geography: shows where the places of natural resources are found affect the economic activities such as manufacturing and agriculture

◦ Political Geography: deals with the relationship between an areas government and physical features. The drawing of political boundaries

◦ Urban Geography: centers on the growth of cities and the areas around them. It studies how cities began and how they affect people and the environment

Human

Examples

The Five Themes◦ Position on Earth’s surface◦ Every place can be located by

absolute or relative terms

Describes place on earth using the grid lines of longitude and latitudeEX) Boerne, Texas29* N, 98* W

Describes place compared to other placesEx) CHS is located east of Kendall County Fairgrounds on Hwy 46

Location

Absolute

Relative

◦ Consists of the place’s physical and human characteristics

◦ Describes the land, water, soil, plant and animal life, as well as,

◦ Human features such as the number and kinds of people who live there and the activities that take place there

Place

◦The interaction humans have had with their environment

◦Humans have made great changes to the environment, both intentional and accidental

◦Some changes are favorable and make some places more habitable

◦Changes can also be destructive, altering ecosystems and straining local resources

Human-Environment Interaction

(HEI)

◦ People, goods, and ideas move between places

◦ It is a daily part of our lives

◦ The earth is constantly moving – water, landforms, wind, etc.

Movement

◦ A group of places with at least one common physical or human characteristic. Regions can be determined by people’s perceptions, or viewpoints influenced by one’s own culture and experiences

areas in which a certain characteristic is found throughout them

consist of a central place and the surrounding places affected by it. Ex.) DFW Airport

defined by people’s attitudes and feelings about areas

Regions

Functional

Formal

Perceptual

Asking Questions with the 5 Themes

Where is it?

What is it like there? (human/physical)

What is the relationship between people and their environment?

How are people and places connected?

How is a place similar to and different from other places?

Location

Place

HEI

Movement

Regions

Other Geography Themes

History helps us understand the way places looked in the past. Poli Sci is used to see how people in different places are governed at the local, state, and national levels. Geographers study the changes in political boundaries.

Soc is the study of societies throughout the world. Anthro allows us to gain insight into the “culture” or way of life of people in different places.

study how the location of resources affect the way people make, transport, and use goods. Also, how locations are chosen for various economic activities such as: farming, mining, manufacturing and selling

History & Political Science

Sociology & Anthropology

Economics

Geography…So What?

Helps people learn more about the place in which they live.

Helps people understand why we are living in a smaller world (not physically).

Teaches us why we are globally interdependent on other areas of the world.