What is Geography??

1. What is Geography?? • The study of the distribution & the interaction of the physical & human features of the earth.

2. GEOGRAPHY • Geography comes from the Greek word “geographia” meaning “to describe the earth”. • Geographers look at the use of space on earth and the interactions that take place between people and the land they live on. • Geography is the study of both the physical and human features on the earth.

3. Two Branches of Geography • Physical – -look at earth’s natural environment - how earth’s environment was shaped - understand how geography is changing • Human - distribution of people & their characteristics - interaction of people with their environment

4. How Do We Use Geography? Every Day Daily life give & get directions understand what’s going on in the world talk on the internet School life get to classes eat lunch meet a friend Careers meteorologist tour guide pilot city planner map maker teacher

5. Five Themes of Geography

6. First • Location- where is it? • Absolute - exact place on earth where a geographical • feature is found. • Latitude & longitude –most associated with • exact or absolute location • or address. • Relative – describes a geographical feature in comparison to other places around it.

7. SecondPlace - what is it like? Physical characteristics- climate, landforms, vegetation Cultural characteristics – things that have changed due to people & their interactions.

8. Third Theme Region- An area of earth’s surface with similar characteristics 3 types of regions Formal-has one or more common features that makes it different from surrounding areas.*Defined by human characteristics- Middle East Latin America- Spanish speaking countries*Defined by physical features- Gulf of MexicoStates-TX, LA, MS, FL,AL Great Lakes region * Defined by economic features-Corn Belt

9. Functional-different places that are linked together or connected and function as a unit. Organized around a set of interactions & connections between places EX.- city and its suburbs

10. Perceptual- regions that reflect human feelings people perceive or see the characteristics of a region in the same way.Ex. - old south or Confederate region

11. Classify the following terms according to the correct type of region1.Piney Woods of Texas 6. Caribbean Islands2 Dixie 7. South Pacific3. Northern California 4. The internet 9. Central Time Zone5. Redneck states 10. Mid West

12. FourthHuman-Environment Interaction- How do people relate to the physical world?How do human adapt to their environment? Wear suitable clothes suitable for summer, winter, rain or shine.How do humans modify their environment? Heat & cool home or building for comfortHow do people depend on their environment? Depend on river for water & transportation, to provide food.

13. FifthMovement – How do people, goods & ideas move from one location to another?We interact with each other through travel, trade, information flows (E-Mail), fads, fashions, and political events.

14. Select a profession • Tell why geography is important in that • career and how it is used. • Physician • Politician • Business owner • City worker (fireman, policeman, street dept.)‏ • Athlete (football, baseball, soccer, tennis, etc.

15. Look at the picture of the Inuit.(Page 3)From your prior knowledge and what you can gather from the picture,what can you tell me about the physical, biological and cultural aspects of his life?