The Five Themes of Geography

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The Five Themes of Geography
Mrs. Dent World Regional Studies Honors 8/17/15
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• There are five important questions that we can
  ask to help organize information about places we
  study
• What is the location of a place?
• What is the character of the place?
• How do people interact with the natural
  environment of a place?
• How do people, goods, and ideas move between
  places?
• How are places similar to and different from
  other places?

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• Location
• What is the location of a place?
• Every geographical feature has a unique
  locationits global address.
• Two ways we can tell what the location of a place
  is
• Absolute location the EXACT Latitude and
  Longitude
• Relative location Expressing a location in
  relation to another site how its connected to
  other places

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Examples Absolute location Kansas City is
located at approximately 39 degrees North, 98
degrees West. Relative location Canada is
north of the United States. Describe the
location of Kansas.
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• Place What is the character (special and unique
  features) of the place? Described in 2 ways by
  either physical or cultural characteristics.
• Physical Characteristics
• Landforms/Bodies of Water/Processes that Shape
  the Landscape/Elevation
• Climate
• Soils
• Natural Vegetation
• Animal Life
• Bodies of Water

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US Physical Map
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• Cultural/Human Characteristics
• Religion
• Languages
• Population Factors/Settlement
  Patterns
• Economic Activities
• Governments
• Food/Clothing/Customs
• Art/Literature/Media
• Technology

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Example Population Distribution and Density in
the United States
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• Human-Environment Interaction How do people
  interact with the natural environment of a place?
• Changes can be deliberate or unplanned favorable
  or destructive.

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The Hoover Dam (border between NV and AZ)
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• Movement How do people, goods, and ideas move
  between places?
• Transportation
• Communication
• Trade

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• Regions How are places similar to and different
  from other places?
• Q What is a region?
• A A group of places bound together by one or
  more similar characteristics (patterns of
  physical features and/or of human development).
• Fact There are three types of regions?

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Formal Regions areas in which all the
population share a defining trait (ex. County,
state, country, etc. where boundaries are clear
cut on a map) Functional/Nodal Regions areas
which are characterized by a central focus on
some activity (ex. Metro areas w/ commuting,
trade, TV/radio, newspaper, shopping centers,
branches of business sports team fan base,
etc.) Vernacular Regions areas that exist in
the mind of a large number of people and may play
an important role in the cultural identity,
stereotypes (ex. the South, the Midwest, the
Bible Belt, New England, etc.)
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Acronym that will help you remember the Five
Themes of GeographyLUCKY PEOPLE HAVE MORE
RECESS! ?
L P H M R
OCATION
EGION
LACE
UMAN/ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
OVEMENT
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6 Essential Elements in Geography

• We use the 5 Themes of Geography to learn about
  each of the essential elements in geography.
• 1. The Spatial World no place is alone and maps
  are used to study connects among people, places,
  and environments
• 2. Places and Regions each area of the world
  has unique physical and human characteristics
  that affect how we perceive various areas

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6 Essential Elements in Geography

• 3. Physical Systems the physical aspects of
  our world shape how people are able to interact
  with it
• 4. Human Systems peoples activities,
  movements, and settlements shape the Earth
• 5. Environment and Society people use the land
  for their advantage
• 6. Uses of Geography in Todays Society think
  spatially to understand relationship among
  people, places, and environments over time

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• 5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY PRACTICE!
• This summer I went to Australia which is located
  in the Southern Hemisphere.
• We wanted to travel through the outback,
• But we stayed on the eastern shore of the
  continent instead.
• One interesting thing I found is that the first
  inhabitants of Australia were actually criminals
  brought from Great Britain.
• I was surprised to find out that contrary to
  popular belief, Australia is quite lush and green
  due to irrigation.
• Most Australians looked and acted much like
  Americans. However, a small number of people are
  Aborigines who practice a very nomadic and
  traditional way of life.
• After a month, we hopped back on an airplane
• And headed back to Los Angeles which is located
  on the west coast of the United States.