THE 5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY

1. THE 5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY

2. Geography • The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth. • From the Greek word geographia, meaning “to describe the earth.”

3. THE FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY • Location • Place • Human-Environment Interaction • Movement • Regions

4. LOCATIONWhere are we? • Absolute Location • A latitude and longitude (global location) or a street address (local location). • Paris France is 48o North Latitude and 2o East Longitude. • The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. • Relative Location • Described by landmarks, time, direction or distance. From one place to another. • Go 1 mile west on main street and turn left for 1 block. You are Here

5. Absolute Location • Examples: • Rome is located at 41 N, 12 E • Address

6. Relative Location • Examples: • Rome is located near the Mediterranean Sea. • Argentina is near Brazil. • Ecuador is south of Mexico. • Mr. T lives near Dell Diamond.

7. PLACE What is it like there, what kind of place is it? Physical Characteristics Landforms (mountains, rivers, etc.), climate, vegetation, wildlife, soil, etc. • Human Characteristics • What are the main languages, customs, and beliefs. • How many people live, work, and visit a place.

8. Human Characteristics • Specific to THAT place, not generic. • Peoples activities change the way a place looks or is represented. • Man-made or invented. • Language • Unique buildings • Religious Practices • Celebrations/traditions/holidays • Examples: • Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. • Many Mexicans are Catholic. • Mayan ruins are located in Mexico. • Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico.

9. Physical Characteristics • Specific to THAT place, not generic. • The way a place looks. • Created by nature. • Mountains • Rivers, Lakes, Seas • Climate • Vegetation • Examples: • Andes Mountains are in South America. • Amazon River flows through Brazil. • Pampas are located in Argentina. • The isthmus of Panama connects Central & South America.

10. REGIONS • How are regions similar to and different from other places? • Formal Regions • Regions defined by governmental or administrative boundaries (States, Countries, Cities) • Functional Regions • Regions defined by a function (newspaper service area, cell phone coverage area, area code). • Perceptual/Vernacular Regions • Regions defined by peoples perception (Middle East, The South, etc.)

11. Formal Region • Most common/familiar. • Determined by the distribution of a uniform characteristic (physical or cultural) • Location • Climate • Religion • Examples • Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama) • States – Texas, Arizona, New York, Montana • Tropics (countries located near equator) ** All Formal Regions are based on MEASURABLE data!!!

12. Functional Region • Serves a purpose that affects places around it. • Distributes goods/people • Serves specific purpose • Examples: • Panama Canal • Amazon River Basin • Hollywood • Area Code 512

13. Perceptual Region • Groups of areas that provoke a certain stereotype or feeling. • Examples: • The Bronx • China Town • The South • The Middle East

14. Now, you try it… • State of Texas - • Amazon River Basin - • The South - • Rust Belt - • Travis County - • Country of Brazil - • The ship channel - • Aggieland- • Chinatown -

15. Now, you try it… • State of Texas - Formal • Amazon River Basin - Functional • The South - Perceptual • Rust Belt - Perceptual • Travis County - Formal • Country of Brazil - Formal • The ship channel - Functional • Aggieland- Perceptual • Chinatown - Perceptual

16. MOVEMENT • How are people, goods, ideas moved from place to place? • Human Movement • Trucks, Trains, Planes • Information Movement • Phones, computer (email), mail • Idea Movement • How do fads move from place to place? TV, Radio, Magazines

17. Movement • Places do not exist in isolation. • Interconnectedness of the world changes the way places “look”. • Today: “globalization” • People, goods & ideas move from place to place. • Examples • Immigration from Latin America to US. • War in Iraq (troops, supplies, ideas, people) • UNL (people, ideas) • Facebook (ideas)

18. HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION • How do humans and the environment affect each other? • We depend on it. • People depend on the Tennessee River for water and transportation. • We modify it. • We build dams • We adapt to it. • We adapt to the environment by wearing clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and winter (coats), rain and shine. • People modify our environment by heating and cooling buildings for comfort.

19. Remembering the 5 themes • If you can’t remembering what they are just ask MR. HELP!!! • M – Movement • R – Regions • HE – Human Environment interaction • L – Location • P - Place