“the five themes of geography” a basic primer jeannine kuropatkin teacher consultant arizona...
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“The Five Themes of Geography”A Basic Primer
Jeannine KuropatkinTeacher Consultant
Arizona Geographic Alliance
Evolution of the “Five Themes”
Written in 1984
Joint Committee on Geographic Education*National Council for Geographic Education*
*Association of American Geographers*
Guidelines for Geographic Education,
Elementary and Secondary Schools
Purpose of the “Five Themes”
For TeachersOrganizing framework for teaching
geography in the K-12 classroom
For StudentsValuable tool for developing
a “geographic perspective”
What are the“Five Themes of Geography?”
• Location
• Place
• Human-Environment Interaction
• Movement
• Regions
Absolute LocationTo pinpoint an exact position on Earth
Uses a grid systemStreet Address
Alpha-numeric
Latitude & longitude
Absolute Location• What is the global
address of Phoenix?
33.5 N and 112 W• What is the global
address of Tucson?
32 N and 111 W• What is the global
address of Page?
37 N and 111.5 W
Absolute Location
The Arizona state
capital building is
located at:
1700 West WashingtonPhoenix, Arizona 85007
Relative LocationGives a general sense of position on Earth
in relation to another position.
Uses descriptive phrasesPhoenix is located in
south-central Arizona,
100 miles NORTH of Tucson.
Relative Location• Describe the relative
location of Flagstaff.Flagstaff is located in
northern Arizona,125 miles NE of Phoenix.• Describe the relative
location of Yuma.Yuma is located in the SW corner of Arizona,
220 miles NW of Tucson.
Relative Location is frequentlyused in everyday situations.
“I live two blocks from the school”“The gas station is across the street from Taco Bell”“Meet you on the corner of Broadway & West 42nd !”
Times Square, New York City
PlaceThe special character of a
particular location that distinguishesit from all other locations
What is it like there?
Physical CharacteristicsHuman Characteristics
Physical Characteristicsof Place
Unique natural features;Due to “mother nature”
Climate Landforms Bodies of Water
Elevation Vegetation Wildlife
Physical Characteristicsof Place
The saguaro cactus, palo verde tree, and prickly
pear cactus grow wild in the Sonoran Desert.
Human Characteristicsof Place
Unique cultural features;Due to human beings
Language Food Cultural Landmarks
Religions Clothing Traditions
Human Characteristicsof Place
The Eiffel Tower and the
Cathedral of Notre Dame
are two popular tourist
spots in Paris, France.
Human-EnvironmentInteraction
What is the relationship between humans and their environment?
Humans depend on their environment.
Humans modify their environment.
Humans adapt to their environment.
HEIHumans depend on their environment.
Ex: One-fifth of the world’s oxygen supply
comes from the tropical rain forests.
HEIHumans modify their environment.
The environment can modify humans.
Modify means “to change.”Change can be positive or negative!
Pollution DeforestationUrban Sprawl Irrigation
Ozone Hole Global WarmingNatural Disasters Drought
HEIHumans modify their environment.
Urban SprawlPhoenix has experienced phenomenal
growth in the past decade.
HEI The environment can modify humans.
Tsunami TragedyMost Indian Ocean countries suffered horrendous death
tolls due to a lack of an adequate warning system.
HEIHumans adapt to their environment.
All the ways humans protectthemselves from the environment.
Protective clothing Protective shelterUse of natural resources
Medicines Emergency Evacuation Plans
HEI Humans adapt to their environment.
The Inuit of the ArcticThe Inuits wear clothing made out of animal pelts and fur and live in ice
block igloos to protect them from temperatures as low as -76F.
MovementWhat is the connection between
people and places?
Movement of People
Movement of Goods
Movement of Ideas
Movement of PeopleWhat is the connection between people and places?
Migration Immigration
Refugees Vacations
Job Relocations Transportation
Commuters Urbanization
Movement of People
Migration“Snowbirds in Arizona”
“Snowbirds,” aka senior citizens from the cold Midwest, migrate to
Arizona every winter.
Movement of GoodsWhat is the connection between people and places?
Trade: Imports & Exports
Smuggling Drug Cartels
International Shipping Routes
Interstate Trucking Routes
Outsourcing Maquiladoras
Movement of IdeasWhat is the connection between people and places?
Fads Books Magazines
Newspapers Television Radio
Internet & Hi Tech Communications
Cultural Diffusion of foods, customs,
Holidays, religions, languages, etc.
Movement of IdeasFads: Book & Films
AnimeFrom Pokemon to Yugioh to Naruto,
Japanese anime has has been sweeping
the U.S. for the past two decades.
RegionsHow can an area be defined by
similar or unifying characteristics?
Political RegionsPhysical RegionsCultural Regions
Political RegionsAreas that share
similar government or similar treaty alliances.
Cities Counties StatesProvinces Countries TerritoriesTrade Alliances Free Trade Zones
Political RegionsCounties
The cities of Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix are in the political region
called Maricopa county since they share
The same countygovernment.
Physical RegionsAreas that share
similar physical (mother nature) features.
Bodies of Water: rivers, lakes, oceans
Climate Ecosystems Wildlife
Landforms: mountains, deserts, plains, plateaus
Physical RegionsLandforms
Arizona’s Grand Canyon is part of thegreater Colorado Plateau region, a physical region characterized by elevations ranging
from 5,000 – 8,000 feet above sea level.
Cultural RegionsAreas that share
similar cultural (human) characteristics.
Languages Religions HistoryAncestry Customs Traditions
Land Use Occupations
Cultural RegionsCommon History,
Ancestry, & TraditionsThe Hopis have retained their own distinctive tribal
practices, such as the sacred kachina danceceremonies, and theirnative Hopi language.
“Five Themes of Geography?”Postcard Analysis Activity
Directions: Study each postcard. Discuss the visual images portrayed as well as
any captions on the front or back of the card. For EACH of the postcards,
complete the following tasks: 1) Give it an appropriate title. 2) Decide which one
of the five themes of geography is BEST ILLUSTRATED. 3) Justify your choice,
using complete sentences.
Postcard: Class ExampleTitle:________________________________________________________________
Theme of Geography:__________________________________________________
Why ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________