Mr. Cotignola 9/13

Aim: How do the themes of geography help us understand the cultures of the world?

Do Now: How would you describe the town you live in to a person from another country?

GeographyGeography is the study of the earth and

its features.

What are the five themes?

• Tools geographer’s use to study features on earth.

1. Location2. Place3. Movement4. Region5. Human Environment Interaction

1. Location• Describes where places are at on earth.• Types of Location:

– ABSOLUTE: exact location on earth (fixed)• Doesn’t change

– Latitude/Longitude– Hemispheres– Grid System– Address

– RELATIVE: compared to other places (variable)• Changes dependent upon where you’re comparing it to.

– Miles – Distance– Direction

Absolute Location

• Examples:– Rome is located at 41 N, 12 E– Argentina is located in the southern

hemisphere

Relative Location• Examples:

– Rome is located near the Mediterranean Sea.

– Medford is east of Smithtown– Ecuador is south of Mexico.

2. Place• A place is defined by it’s unique

characteristics. – Physical characteristics– Cultural characteristics

Physical Characteristics

• Specific to that place– The way a place looks.

• Created by nature.– Mountains– Rivers, Lakes, Seas– Climate– Vegetation

Cultural Characteristics• Specific to THAT place, not generic.

– Peoples activities change the way a place looks or is represented.

• Man-made or invented.– Language– Unique buildings– Religious Practices– Celebrations/traditions/holidays

• Examples: – Portuguese is the official language of

Brazil.– Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in

Mexico.– The Fourth of July is a national holiday in

the United States

3. Movement

– People, goods & ideas move from place to place.– The world is connected

• Examples– Immigration to the US.

4. Region• The world is divided into different

regions based upon similarities & differences.– Climate– Location– Beliefs– Languages– Ethnicity/Race

• Types:– Formal– Functional– Perceptual

Formal Region

• Most common.• Determined by the distribution of a

uniform characteristic (physical or cultural)– Location– Climate– Religion

• Examples– Central America (Mexico, Guatemala,

Nicaragua, Panama)– Latin America (spanish-speaking nations)\

– The Middle East– Tropics (countries located near equator)

Functional Region• Serves a purpose that affects places around it.

– Distributes goods/people– Serves specific purpose

• Example:– Panama Canal

Perceptual Region

• Groups of areas that provoke a certain stereotype or feeling.

• Examples:– The Bronx– The “ghetto” – China town

Human/Environment Interaction

• The environment & people are interconnected.Examples

--Climate Change (global warming)– Farming– Water Conservation– Natural Resources

Assignment

How do the themes of geography impact how people live in the world?

Draw a cartoon that shows all the themes of geography. Provide a definition and a picture that explains how the theme affects the way people live

*This will be collected and graded as a participation assignment