3 Five Themes Of Geography

The Five Themes of Geography

A Framework for Studying the World

Theme 1: Location

• Where is ‘It’?• Why is ‘It’ there?

Two Types of Location

•Absolute

•Relative

Absolute Location• A specific place on the Earth’s surface• Uses a grid system• Latitude and longitude• A global address (such as a physical

address

FORT COLLINS,COLORADO

Absolute Location• Fort Collins 40° 45' N 105° 5' W

What is the absolute location of Webber Middle School?

Relative Location• Where a place is

in relation to another place

• Uses directional words to describe– Cardinal (north,

south, east, and west) and

– intermediate directions (near, far)

Webber Middle School

What is the relative location of Webber?

Webber is south of Colorado State University and north of the Conoco

on Harmony.

What is WMS’s relative location to your house?

Theme 2: PlaceWhat is the place like?

Think about the physical and human characteristics that give an area its identity!

Theme 2: PlacePhysical Characteristics• Land Features• Mountains, plains,

and plateaus• Climate• Bodies of water

Physical Characteristics of Fort Collins - these help us know what makes this area unique

Theme 2: PlaceHuman Characteristics

• People• Culture• Language• Religion• Buildings and

Landmarks• Cities• Others?

Fort Collins: Human Characteristics

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction

How people shape and are affected by the landscape

People . . .• Adapt to their environment• Modify their environment• Depend on their environment

Human Environment Interaction in Colorado

Theme 4: MovementThe mobility of• People• Goods• Ideas &

Information

Think about how places are linked to one another and the world

COLORADO: Movement

Theme 5: RegionsThink about what

places have in common. This structure helps us identify patterns and relationships between places.

• Political Regions• Landform Regions• Agricultural

Regions• Cultural Regions• What other kinds of

regions can you think of?

COLORADO: Regions