What is Geography?

Tools of Geography

We will explore...

Latitude

Longitude

Basic questions of geography

Maps

Themes of geography

Let’s explore

Textbook p. 2-13

Preview pictures and headings.

What do you see that interests you?

What do you think we will be learning about?

What do you already know about maps and other tools of geography?

Has there ever been a time in your life when you went to a new place and had to find your way around?

Turn to textbook p. 2 and 3

Jason Maps the Rainforest

Geography: The study of the human and nonhuman features of Earth.

Cardinal Directions: north, east, south, and west. Latitude: the distance north or south of the Equator. It is measured in degrees.

Degrees: the units that measure angles.

Hemisphere: One half of the Earth. (Western, Eastern, Northern, Southern)

Longitude: The distance east or west of the Prime meridian. It is measured in degrees.

Today’s Goals

Today I want to teach you that geographers use directions to help locate points on Earth’s surface. They have drawn imaginary lines around Earth, dividing it into parts to help pinpoint locations.

Your Goal ● I can use maps and globes to gather and report information

about places. ○ I can explain how location on Earth’s surface is identified. ○ I can describe the position of “longitude” and “latitude” on

maps. ○ I can describe the location of “Prime Meridian” and “Equator” ○ I can explain the purpose of an “absolute grid” on a map.

102

Two Basic Questions of Geography

1. Where are things located? 2. Why are they there?

Directions Cardinal: North, East, South, West

Intermediate: Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Northwest.

Latitude ● The distance north or

south of the Equator● Measured in degrees● Form east-west circles

around the globe● Also called parallels

Longitude

● Distance in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian

● Also called meridians.

Based on this image, in which two hemispheres do you live?

Section 2: Five Themes of Geography

Today’s GoalToday I want to teach you that there are five themes of geography that can help us make sense of geography.Location is used to describe where a place is found, while the other themes describe the features of a place.

Your Learning Targets

● I can identify the five themes of geography. ● I can describe ways that geographers use

location, place, region, movement, and human-environment interactions to study Earth.

5 Themes of Geography Vocabulary ● Absolute location: Describes a place’s exact position on Earth in terms of

latitude and longitude● Relative location: The location of a place relative to another place ● Place: the mix of human and nonhuman features at a given location. ● Region: an area with at least one unifying physical or human feature such as

climate, landforms, population, or history. ● Movement: explores how people, goods, and ideas get from one place to

another. ● Human-environment interaction: how people affect their environment, or

their natural surroundings, and how their environment affects them.

Five Themes of Geography

1. Location2. Place3. Region4. Movement5. Human-environment interaction

Location

There are two ways to talk about location:

1. Absolute location 2. Relative location

Place

● Mix of human and non-human features at a given location○ Population○ Landforms (hilly, flat)○ Climate (hot, cold)

Region● An area with at least one unifying feature such as…

○ Climate○ Landforms○ Population○ History

● What are some ways you think culture can define a region?

Movement● Explores how people, goods, and ideas get from one place to another.

Human-Environment Interaction

● How people affect their environment

● How their environment affects them.

Community Name:

Cincinnati, OH

Human-Environment Interaction

Movement

Region

Location

Place

Geography Theme Activity

How it’s graded:

● 50% - Demonstrate and understanding of your theme. ○ Did you answer your guiding questions in terms of

Cincinnati? ● 50% - Effort and neatness.

○ Does it look organized and neat? ○ Check spelling

Section 1.1 and 1.2 Quiz Review

Your Learning TargetsLesson 1.1- Geography: The Study of Earth

● I can use maps and globes to gather and report information about places. ○ I can explain how location on Earth’s surface is identified. ○ I can describe the position of “longitude” and “latitude” on maps. ○ I can describe the location of “Prime Meridian” and “Equator” ○ I can explain the purpose of an “absolute grid” on a map.

Lesson 1.2 - Geography’s Five Themes ● I can identify the five themes of geography. ● I can describe ways that geographers use location, place, region, movement,

and human-environment interactions to study Earth.

Hemispheres

Prime Meridian and Equator

Latitude and Longitude

After your quiz...● Turn it in to me and take notes paper. ● Read textbook p. 8-9 and fill in notes as you

read. ● Answer questions 1-2 at the bottom of page 9

on your notes page. ● Keep your notes with you. ● Read quietly in your seat when finished.

Section 3: Ways to Show Earth’s Surface

Your Learning Targets

● I can identify ways that geographers show and view Earth’s surface.

● I can compare and contrast strengths and weaknesses of different maps.

Ways to Show Earth’s Surface Vocabulary ● Scale: the area a given space on the map corresponds to in the real world. ● Aerial photographs: photographic images of Earth’s surface taken from the

air. ● Satellite images: pictures of Earth’s surface taken from a satellite in orbit. ● Geographic information systems: computer-based systems that store and

use information linked to geographers and mapmakers but also to government agencies and businesses.

● Distortion: loss of accuracy in the size or position of objects on a map● Projections: a flat map of Earth’s round surface.

Key Ideas

● Globes, photographs, computer images, and maps are all ways to show and view Earth’s surface.

● Each way of showing Earth’s surface has advantages and disadvantages.

Globes

● Round in shape, just like Earth● Globes allow us to see the continents and oceans of

Earth as they really are. The only difference is the scale, or the area a given space on the map corresponds to in the real world. ○ For example, one inch on a globe might correspond to

600 miles on Earth’s surface.

Photographs

● Aerial photographs are photographic images of Earth’s surface taken from the air

● Satellite images are pictures of Earth’s surface taken from a satellite in orbit. ○ Advantage: Show the Earth in great detail ○ Disadvantage: It can be hard to find specific features,

such as roads, on a photograph. For this reason, maps are still the main way to show information.

Geographic Information Systems

● These are computer-based systems that store and use information linked to geographic locations.

● They are useful to mapmakers as well as government agencies and businesses.

Map Projections

● Showing Earth on a flat surface always brings some distortion, or loss of accuracy in the size or position of objects on a map. (too large, too small, out of place)

How To Show Our Round Earth on a Flat Map

1. Which projections are best for seeing the shape of landmasses? Mercator and Robinson show true shape.

2. Which projects are best for seeing the size and landmasses? Equal-area maps and Robinson show true size.

Section 4: Understanding Maps

Today’s Goal

Today I want to teach you how to identify different parts of a map, and show you how to use map features to read maps.

Understanding Maps Vocabulary

● Key: explains the symbols and shading on the map.

● Compass rose: a diagram of a compass showing direction.

● Scale bar: shows how much space on the map represents a given distance on the land.

Learning Target

● I can identify different parts of a map.

● I can use standard map features to read maps.

Lesson 1.4: Understanding Maps Key Ideas● Maps have parts that help you read them. ● Though different maps show different things about a place, you can use

the same tools to help understand them.

➔ A map’s key explains the symbols and shading on the map. ➔ A map’s compass rose is a diagram of a compass showing direction. ➔ A map’s scale bar shows how much space on a map represents a

given distance on the land.

Reading a Map Reading a Map ● You can read most maps using the key, scale bar, and

other map tools you have learned about.

How can information from a physical map help you understand the drive you will take using a road map?➔ The physical map shows features such as mountains

that could affect driving conditions and time.

Section 5: Types of Maps

Today’s Goal

Today I want to teach you how to identify different types of maps and how to explain the kind of information that each type of map shows.

Learning Target

● I can identify different types of maps. ● I can explain the kind of information

that each type of maps show.

Types of Maps Key Ideas

● Maps can show many different kinds of information● Political, physical, and special purpose maps are the main types of maps.

Map projections can be used to show different things about the area they cover. For example, they might represent:

● Physical landscape ● Political boundaries● Ecosystem zones

Physical Maps ● Physical maps show physical, or natural features. ● Elevation: height above sea level

○ The areas of highest elevation are in the western half of the United States

Look at the Physical Map on p. 12 in your textbook.

1. What is the highest point identified on the map? 2. Which mountains in the united States have the highest elevation according to

the map? Where are these mountains relative to other mountains?

Political Maps ● Political Maps: show political units, such as countries or states. They may

also show capitals of countries, centers of government, and other major cities.

1. How could a feature from a physical map, such as a mountain range, interact with information on several political maps?

Special-Purpose Maps ● Special Purpose Maps: show the location or distribution of human or physical

features. ● Examples of Special Purpose Maps:

○ Results of presidential elections ○ Highway maps ○ Region’s weather patterns.

1. How are all special purpose maps similar?

Assessment Questions

1. What are the elements of a physical map? 2. What are the elements of a political map?

Assessment Questions

Textbook page 14

● # 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13-19

Page 15 # 1, 2

1.

Latitude: west to east; separates north and south hemispheres

Longitude: north to south; separates west and east hemispheres

2.

Place: people, food, climate, landforms

Region: made up of places that have something in common

Aerial photographs: taken from the air; smaller area with detail

Satellite image: taken from satellite in orbit; bigger area with less detail

Very flat landscape: place.

Trains: movement

Waste in river: human environment

Population: region