The Five Themes of Geography

Unit 1
4 min

Essential Questions
1. Why is it important to study geography? 2. How do the 5 Themes of Geography help explain our world? 3. Why do we use globes & maps?

Unit Objectives
By the end of the unit, you will: 1. Create tools to illustrate geographical information (6.1.01) 2. Use tools to answer geography questions (6.1.02) 3. Use geographical tools to compare countries (6.1.03) 4. Use map & globe reading skills (SS.3.01)

How do you see the world?

Take the next few minutes & draw a map of the world. Be sure to include everything that you know or can remember Label & color your map

Student Name: ________________________________________________________ Class: ________________ Date: _______________________________

O:

H:

C:

C: O: C: O: O: O: C: C:

H:

H:

C:

C:

H:

.Label the 7 Continents (C) & 4 Major Oceans .Label the Hemispheres (H) .Color the Equator - Red .Color the Prime Meridian - Green

. Color Lines of LongitudeBlue . Color Lines of LatitudeBrown . Draw a Compass Rose in the bottom right hand corner

2.5 min

Unit Vocabulary
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. latitude: the distance in degrees that a place is north or south of the Equator longitude: the distance in degrees that a place is east or west of the Prime Meridian (Greenwich, England) hemisphere: one half of the Earths sphere that is either divided by the Equator or Prime Meridian compass rose: device printed on a map showing the points of the compass measured from true north key: a table explaining the symbols & colors used in a map meridian: one of the imaginary lines joining the North & South Poles (aka longitude) parallel: any of the imaginary lines representing degrees of latitude measuring distance from the equator cardinal direction: north, south, east, & west scale: the ratio of a distance on a map to the actual distance on the ground

DEFINITION OF GEOGRAPHY
ge-og-ra-phy A science that deals with the description, distribution, and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, & cultural features of the earths surface
4 min

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Geography is the study of the earth and everything on it.

Parts of a Map
Most maps have the following elements, which are necessary to read and understand them

3.75 min

1. Title
Explains the subject of the map and gives you an idea of what information the map conveys

2. Compass Rose
1 min

a. Shows directions on a map b. Cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west c. Intermediate directions are northeast, northwest, southwest, and southeast

3. Labels
Words or phrases that explain features on the map

4. Legend or Key
Lists and explains the symbols and use of color on the map

1.75 min

5. Scale

Shows the ratio between a unit of length on the map and a unit of distance on the earth

Types of Scale
1. Verbal Expression Ex: 1 in equals 500 miles 2. Representative Fraction Ex: 1:500

3. Graphic Scale

6. Symbols
Represent items such as capital cities, economic activities, or natural resources

7. Colors
Colors represent a variety of information on a map. The map legend indicates what the colors mean.

6 min

Globes & Maps

Advantages of Maps
2 min

1. Maps are cheaper than globes 2. Maps show detail 3. Maps can show themes (thematic maps) and be used for comparing things 4. Maps can be put into a book called an atlas 5. Maps are portable

Disadvantages of Maps
1. Maps are distorted because the earth is not flat 2. Maps can distort shape, area, direction, and distance 3. This problem is somewhat solved by different map projections

Different Types of Maps

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Political Maps Physical Maps Topographic Maps Thematic Maps Cartograms

1. Political Maps
Political maps show man-made features such as cities, states, provinces, territories, or countries

Physical maps help you see the type of landforms and bodies of water in a specific area

2. Physical Maps

3. Thematic Maps
Examples:

Thematic maps show specific types of information

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Natural Resources Language Ethnicity Climate Precipitation Vegetation

Globes
3-Dimensional representations of the earth

1. Advantages of Globes
a. Globes are more accurate than maps b. Globes are not distorted

2. Disadvantages of Globes
a. Globes are not portable b. Globes do not show detail c. Globes are more expensive than maps d. There are no thematic globes

5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY

5.75 min

WHERE DID THE 5 THEMES COME FROM?

The 5 Themes of Geography originated by the National Geographic Society to fulfill a need for geographers (people who study the earth and everything on it) to categorize knowledge about the Earth

Remembering the 5 Themes

If you cant remembering what they are just ask

MR. HELP!!!

M Movement R Regions HE Human Environment Interaction L Location P - Place

2.5 min

Theme 1: Location
Where is It? Why is It There?

Two Types of Location

1. Absolute

2. Relative

Absolute & Relative Location

1. Latitude and Longitude lines are used to find absolute location. This is an exact point on the earth. 2. Relative location is NOT an exact location. People use direction and distance to give a general idea of where something is.

Absolute Location
1. 2. 3. 4. A specific place on the Earths surface Uses a grid system Latitude and Longitude A global address

North Carolina
Absolute Location North Carolina 36 N Latitude 79 W longitude

Chapel Hill 35 55' N Latitude 79 05' W Longitude

Relative Location
1. Where a place is in relation to another place 2. Uses directional words to describe
a. Cardinal Directions b. Intermediate Directions

North Carolina
North Carolina is bordered by Virginia on the north, South Carolina and Georgia on the south, and Tennessee on the west. The Atlantic Ocean forms North Carolina's east coast. North Carolina is one of the Southeastern States

3 min

1 min

A. Lines of Latitude

1. Imaginary lines that measure distance north or south of the equator and run from east to west on the map. 2. These lines are also called parallels because they do not touch.

3.25 min

Important Lines of Latitude

a. The Equator - 0 b. The Tropic of Cancer - 23 26 N c. The Tropic of Capricorn 23 26 S d. The Arctic Circle - 66 33 N e. The Antarctic Circle - 66 33 S

B. Lines of Longitude
1. Imaginary lines that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian 2. Run from north to south on the map 3. Lines connect at the North and South Poles 4. Also called meridians.

Theme 2: Place
A. Physical Characteristics
1. Land Features 2. Mountains, plains, and plateaus 3. Climate 4. Bodies of Water
2 min

North Carolina: Physical Characteristics

Theme 2: Place
B. Human Characteristics

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

People Culture Language Religion Buildings and Landmarks 6. Cities

North Carolina: Human Characteristics

2 min

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction

How People Interact With Their Environment People . . . Adapt to Their Environment Modify Their Environment Depend on Their Environment

North Carolina: Human Environment Interaction

3.5 min

2.75 min

Theme 4: Movement
1. How places are linked to one another and the world 2. The mobility of:
People Goods Ideas

North Carolina: Movement

2.25 min

Theme 5: Regions
What Places Have in Common Examples Political Regions Landform Regions Agricultural Regions Cultural Regions

3.75 min

North Carolina: Regions

2 min

Unit Summary
Geography is the study of the earth and everything on it. 5 Themes of Geography MR. HELP!!!
M Movement R Regions HE Human Environment interaction L Location P - Place