The Five Themes of Geography

By Nicole Copeland

How Do We View the World Around Us?

What is Geography?

Geography is the “study of the earth''s surface; includes people''s responses to topography and climate and soil and vegetation”.

–"geography." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2013. Web. 4 May 2013. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/geography>.

What the Earth looks like. How people interact with the

environment

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection.

2007

MovementRegionHuman-Environmental InteractionLocationPlace

What are the Five Themes of Geography?

The Five Themes of Geography are categories that scientists use to study Earth’s features:

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

MovementHumans interact with each other as well as many places and things almost every day. We travel from place to place; we communicate with each other in many different ways; and we depend on products, information, and ideas that come from outside our own environments.

MOVEMENT explores where different resources are located, the people that use them, and how they are transported to locations all over

the earth’s surface. The theme of MOVEMENT helps

us understand how we connect with, and depend on, other regions, cultures, and people in the world.

All ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt. 2007

Movement cont…

People/GoodsTrucks/CarsPlanesTrains/BusesBoats

InformationTelephonesComputers (email, internet)Mail

Ideas (How trends and fads move from place to place.)

Magazines/BooksRadioTelevision

How are people, goods, information and ideas moved from place to place??

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Regions

Regions may be created based on:Same Climate (weather trends)Location (where it is on a map)Languages & Cultures of the peopleLandforms (mountains or plains, wetlands or desert)

Examples:North America/South America (based on location on the map)Latin America (primarily Spanish speaking countries)

Scientists divide the Earth’s land into sections, called Regions, based on certain traits those sections share.

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

Regions cont.

Regional Map of the United States

Col, Jeananda. Enchanted Learning. http://www.EnchantedLearning.com 2010

Human-Environmental InteractionsHow people interact

with their surroundings.

People depend on their environment.

We depend on the land (soil) to grow food.We depend on rivers and streams for drinking water & or transporting goods.

People modify (change) the environment.

We pave roads to travel on.We clear land to build houses & buildings on.

People adapt to their environment.

We wear lighter clothing in the summer (warm/hot) and wear heavier clothing in the winter (cold).

All ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007.

Human-Environmental Interaction cont…

There are consequences as well as benefits to the actions we take in interacting with our environment:Positive:• More interaction between people of different cultures

Negative:• Faster use of the Earth’s natural resources.• Air pollution• Global warming

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

Location

The theme of Location answers the question: “Where is it?”

It describes where a place is on Earth. There are two kinds of location:

Absolute location:• The exact location of a place on Earth.

Relative location:• Location of a place when compared to other places.

Location cont.

Absolute location:

• The exact location of a place on Earth.

• Examples:• Degrees of latitude and longitude on a globe or

map.• Address of a house or building.

• The Latitude & Longitude of Michigan is: 44.3148443 N , 85.60236429999998 W - this is Michigan’s absolute location on a map of the Earth.

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

Location cont.

Relative location:

• The location of a place in relation to other places.

• Usually described by:• Direction (North, South, East, West)• Landmarks that are nearby• Distance to or from another place

• Examples:• Our school is West of Telegraph Road, and four blocks

from the fire station.• My house is on Ann Arbor Trail, across the street from

the gas station.

Place The theme Place answers the question:

“What is it like there?”

• A place is often known by its own special characteristics.

• Characteristics are special traits or qualities that a place can have.

• Types of characteristics for Place:• Human• Physical

Place cont. Human Characteristics:

• The main customs, languages, and beliefs of the people in a certain place.

• Special traditions or holidays• Clothing styles• Political ideals• Architecture (how buildings are made)

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

Place cont.

• Physical Characteristics:• Mountains, plains• Oceans, rivers, lakes• Climate (hot, cold, humid, dry)• Types of animals that live there• What types of plants grow there.

All ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

ConclusionScientists use the Five Themes of

Geography so that they can understand how the world works, and what people

can do to make it better for all of us.

ClipArt from Microsoft ClipArt Collection. 2007

References• World Atlas Online. Retrieved

from Web 5 May 2013. http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/findlatlong.htm#.UYaCxcqhA08

• Sutcliffe, Andrea, The New York Public Library Amazing US Geography: A Book of Answers for Kids, John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2001.

• Education World: Five Times Five: Five Activities for Teaching Geography's Five Themes. 2009. Retrieved from Web on 5 May 2013. http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson071.shtml

• All ClipArt and Media Sounds courtesy of Microsoft ClipArt and Media Gallery. 2007.