5 Themes of geography

1. 5 Themes of geography

2. What are the five themes? • Tools geographer’s use to study features on earth. • Location • Place • Movement • Region • Human Environment Interaction

3. Location • Describes where places are at on earth. • Types of Location: • ABSOLUTE:exact location on earth (fixed) • Doesn’t change • Latitude/Longitude • Hemispheres • Grid System • Address • RELATIVE:compared to other places (variable) • Changes dependent upon where you’re comparing it to. • Miles • Distance • Direction

4. Absolute Location • Examples: • Rome is located at 41 N, 12 E • Argentina is located in the southern hemisphere. • Leland is located in San Jose, CA.

5. Relative Location • Examples: • Rome is located near the Mediterranean Sea. • Argentina is near Brazil. • Ecuador is south of Mexico. • San Jose is 50 miles from San Francisco.

6. Place • A place is defined by it’s unique characteristics. • Physical characteristics • Human characteristics

7. Physical Characteristics • Specific to THAT place, not generic. • The way a place physically 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.

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.

9. Movement • 3 categories of movement. • Movement of tangible products – clothing, shoes, furniture, etc, etc • This movement occurs through trains, airplanes, ships, trucks, cars, etc. • Movement of data – pictures, articles, video, etc • This movement occurs through the internet or skype, etc • Movement of people - Immigration • Examples • Immigration from Latin America to US. • War in Iraq (troops, supplies, ideas, people) • Twitter, Facebook (ideas)

10. Movement • Places change or are developed by Movement of land. • Plate Tectonic forces • Physical distinctiveness • Examples • Hawaiian Islands, Rocky Mts, Grand Canyon

11. Region • The world is divided into different regions based upon similarities & differences. • Climate • Location • Beliefs • Languages • Ethnicity/Race • Types: • Formal • Functional • Perceptual

12. 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) • Latin America (spanish-speaking nations) • Tropics (countries located near equator)

13. Functional Region • Serves a purpose that affects places around it. • Distributes goods/people • Serves specific purpose • Examples: • Panama Canal • Amazon River Basin • Hollywood • Silicon Valley

14. Formal & Functional Regions The state of Iowa is example of a formal region; the areas of influence of various television stations are examples of functional regions.

15. Perceptual Region • Perceptual Region, or vernacular region, is a place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity.

16. Perceptual Regions A number of features are often used to define the South as a vernacular region, each of which identifies somewhat different boundaries.

17. Perceptual Region • Groups of areas that provoke a certain stereotype or feeling. • Examples: • The Bronx • The “ghetto” • China town

18. THE USA how “Others” see us

19. HEI • The environment & people are interconnected. • Interaction can cause 3 types of changes • 1. permanent change. 2 temporary change 3. no change • Consequences to those actions depend upon how people choose to interact with the world and use their resources. • Positive/Negative • Intentional/Accidental • Favorable/Destructive

20. HEI • Current Environmental Issues: • Global Climate Change • Energy Resources • Water Conservation • Deforestation

21. Assignment • Can you apply the 5 themes to any story? • Ecuador Wow reading