The Five Themes of The Five Themes of GeographyGeography

Theme 1: LocationTheme 1: Location

Where is it?Where is it?

Why is it There?Why is it There?

Two Types of Location

•Absolute

•Relative

Absolute LocationAbsolute Location- A specific place on the Earth’s surface - Uses a grid system - A specific place on the Earth’s surface - Uses a grid system

- Latitude and longitude - A global address- Latitude and longitude - A global address

Pri

me

Meri

dia

n

Equator Tropical

Temperate

Temperate

Polar

Polar

Absolute LocationAbsolute LocationWhat is the approximate Longitude and Latitude of Smithtown, N.Y.?

Find the Absolute Find the Absolute LocationLocation

•Lima, Peru•Shanghai, China•Sydney, Australia•Cairo, Egypt

•12° S Lat, 77º W Long•31° N Lat, 121º E Long•34° S Lat, 151º E Long•30° N Lat, 31º E Long

Relative LocationRelative Location Where a place is in relation to another Where a place is in relation to another

place.place. Uses directional words to describe Uses directional words to describe

location.location.Described by landmarks, time, direction or distance. From one place to another. (Go 1 mile west on main street and turn left for 1 block.)

Theme 2: PlaceTheme 2: Place

Land FeaturesLand Features Mountains, plains, Mountains, plains,

and plateausand plateaus ClimateClimate Bodies of WaterBodies of Water

Human Characteristics

Physical Characteristics PeoplePeople CultureCulture LanguageLanguage ReligionReligion Buildings Buildings

and and LandmarksLandmarks

CitiesCities

LandformsLandforms

Theme 3: Human Environment Theme 3: Human Environment InteractionInteraction

How People Interact With Their How People Interact With Their EnvironmentEnvironment

People . . .People . . .

AdaptAdapt to Their Environment to Their Environment

ModifyModify Their Environment Their Environment

DependDepend on Their Environment on Their Environment

- People heat and cool buildings for comfort.

- People use the Tennessee River for water and transportation.

- People wear clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and winter (coats), rain and shine.

Theme 4: MovementTheme 4: Movement

How are Places linked to one How are Places linked to one another and the worldanother and the world

• How are people, goods, ideas How are people, goods, ideas moved from place to place?moved from place to place?– Human and Product Human and Product

MovementMovement• Trucks, Trains, PlanesTrucks, Trains, Planes

– Information MovementInformation Movement• Phones, computer (email), mailPhones, computer (email), mail

– Idea MovementIdea Movement• How do fads move from place How do fads move from place

to place? to place?

TV, Radio, MagazinesTV, Radio, Magazines

Theme 5: RegionsTheme 5: RegionsWhat Places Have in Common?What Places Have in Common?

Political RegionsPolitical Regions

Landform RegionsLandform Regions

Agricultural RegionsAgricultural Regions

Cultural RegionsCultural Regions

Vernacular Regions Vernacular Regions (Perceptions)(Perceptions)

States, Countries, Cities

Rocky Mountain region, the Caribbean, the Amazon

Chinatown, Little Italy Middle East, the South, Scandinavia

Corn Belt, Gangetic Plain, Fertile Crescent