The Five Themes of GeographyHow geographers look

at the world…

Why study geography? To understand more about

the changing world we live in

To learn more about the people and cultures of the world so that we can better understand each other

To evaluate the connection between the earth and those who live on it

What are the Five Themes of Geography?

The concepts that geographers use to study the world and the people that inhabit it.

They are all connected; Use all five themes to truly understand the geography of a place

The 5 themes are: location, place, movement, human-environment interaction, and region

Location

Asks the question: Where is it?

Here’s Madagascar!

Can be absolute location, which uses a system to find an exact spot on the earth.

Examples: latitude and longitude, address with zip codes, GPS, map

coordinates

►Turner Field is located at 755 Hank Aaron Drive

Can be relative location, which uses descriptions to find places on the earth.

Example: I live in Marietta near the Big Chicken.

THE BIG CHICKEN!

The girl lived at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

PlaceAsks: What is it like?

This can be described physically or culturally.

Can be physical features• Climate – temperature,

rainfall• Landforms – plateaus,

plains• Topography - elevation• Flora - plants• Fauna - animals• Resources – petroleum,

gemstones

Can be human characteristics

Current photograph of Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia

Place

For example, how would you describe Marietta, Georgia?

MovementHow do people, goods and ideas get from

one place to another?

Examples of Movement►Trading products between countries►Migration of people to new areas►Buying clothes over the internet►Face-timing with someone overseas►Coming to school on the bus this

morning

Movement can be intangible: religion, ideas, disease

Human Environment Interaction

How do people interact with the physical world?

People learn to use what the environment has to offer and change the environment to meet their needs.

Region

Are there common characteristics of a given

area?

There are three different types of regions: formal, functional, and vernacular

• Formal Region – defined by a limited number of characteristics

EX: The Corn belt in the US Is characterized by a specific climate, land use patterns, and resources.

• Functional Region – serves a particular purpose and has specific BOUNDARIES!

• Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places.

EX: METRO ATLANTA

• Vernacular Region (Perceptual) – people’s perceptions (NO specific BOUNDARIES!)

Regions can overlap!!

Is Texas in the “South” OR the “West”?--Depends on how you feel!

ON YOUR POSTER Write theme at top of page (distinct and sizeable)

Write question being asked Give examples of your theme that help explain

everything on your clue sheet. Draw a picture to illustrate your theme Visually pleasing, neat, informative All group members must be able to explain

your theme in your own words A rough draft must be ok’ed by me before

you make poster

LOCATION Question asked: Where is it?

Can be… Absolute location: uses a system to show an

exact spot on earth’s surface. Relative location: uses descriptions to find

places on earth’s surface. Give an example of each on your poster

Think: How do you know where things are?

PLACE Question asked: What is it like?

A place can be described physically or culturally.

Choose a well known place to describe for your poster

Think: What does it look like? What are the people like?

MOVEMENT

Question asked: How do things get from one place to another?

Think: Are all of these “things” tangible? What else moves throughout the world besides

people?

REGION

Question asked: What areas share common characteristics?

Regions are imaginary borders that include areas that share things in common

Think: Do characteristics have to be tangible things? Are borders created for regions definite

and distinct? How do people’s perceptions impact regions?

HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

Question asked: How do people interact with the physical world?

How do we use the environment to our advantage?

Think: What are positives and negatives to human interaction with the environment?