Post on 20-May-2015
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Welcome to Geography Geography: the study of people and
places of Earth.
Why Is It Important? It explains the forces that shape the
land. It explores how living things are
connected to the places where they live. Helps us understand our environment.
Environment?• Environment: Includes ALL the surroundings
and conditions that affect living things. • Water, land, plants, animals, and weather
are all part of the environment.
Environment? So What? People DEPEND on the environment for
food and fuel! What you eat, drink, wear, work all
depends on your environment.
So….Who Studies Geography? Geographers!
Do you like to ask questions? Do you like to find answers? Do you like being outside?
Then being a geographer may be just the job for you someday!
Three Essential Questions Where is it? Why is it there? What is it like there?
These are the questions geographers ask about different environments. Their job is
to find the answers.
“Where is it?” Geographers answer this question by
describing the location of a place? How would you describe the location of
your home? Explain what is close to it. Give the address
**Geographers do both of these!**
An Address? Geographers give places an address by
using lines of latitude and longitude. Check it out!
Latitude These lines are also called parallels.
Degrees of latitude measure how far north or south of the equator a place is.
Each line has a number, called degrees. The equator is 0 degrees latitude. Other latitude lines are measured in
degrees north or south of the equator.
Longitude Also known as meridians. Also have numbers, called degrees, to
name each line. The prime meridian is at 0 degree
longitude. The rest of the longitude lines measure
east or west of the prime meridian.
“Why Is It There?” After answering the “where” question,
geographers are ready to tackle the “why” question.
This takes detective work. Look for clues about the forces that created
mountains, rivers, and other features. Look for clues about why people settled
there. Look for clues about why communities grew
or disappeared
What Kind of Clues? Natural Clues: landforms, bodies of
water, wind, rainfall, plants, animals, trees, and soil.
Human Clues: languages, food eaten, jobs, religion, and types of buildings.
“What Is It Like?” This is where the geographer takes the
clues used to answer the “why” question and describe them!
Let’s Be Geographers!Now it’s your turn to be a geographer!
Let’s take some time right now to answer those three questions geographers use to
learn about our area!
“Where is it?” Let’s look at a globe. What do you notice?
Sphere shaped 7 Continents
Africa Antarctica Asia Australia Europe North America South America
4 Oceans Atlantic Ocean Arctic Ocean Indian Ocean Pacific Ocean
4 Hemispheres Hemisphere: one half of Earth’s surface
Lines of Latitude and Longitude
So….Where are we? Northern and Western Hemisphere North American Continent United States of America Illinois Stephenson County German Valley
“What is here?”What are some landforms in our area?What kinds of work do people do?What plants and animals do you see?
“Why is it here?” The why we will be learning more about
in the two lessons when we discuss erosion.
In the meantime, continue to describe the world around you! Let’s be successful geographers!