Geography is the study of the physical, human, and biological systems of Earth. Geographers examine the relationship between humans and their environments. They use five themes - location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and regions - to analyze and organize information about Earth. Geography mixes both natural and human aspects to understand our world.

1. The World of GeographyThe World of Geography

2. What is Geography?What is Geography?
**It is the study of the physical,It is the study of the physical,
human, and biological systems ofhuman, and biological systems of
our earth.our earth.

3. *Geography mixes up the physical*Geography mixes up the physical
and human aspects of our worldand human aspects of our world
into one field of study.into one field of study.
*Geography shows the*Geography shows the
relationship between people andrelationship between people and
the environment.the environment.

4. What is a geographer?What is a geographer?
• Someone whoSomeone who
analyzes theanalyzes the
Earth from manyEarth from many
points of view.points of view.
(Which will be(Which will be
you!)you!)

5. The Five Themes of GeographyThe Five Themes of Geography
• There are five ways to look at the earthThere are five ways to look at the earth
• When geographers work, they areWhen geographers work, they are
guided by two basic questions:guided by two basic questions:
1)1) Where are things located?Where are things located?
2)2) Why are they there?Why are they there?
To find these answers, geographers useTo find these answers, geographers use
five themes to organize informationfive themes to organize information

6. Things that geographers study:Things that geographers study:
• oceansoceans
• plant lifeplant life
• landformslandforms
• peoplepeople
• how the Earth and its people affect eachhow the Earth and its people affect each
otherother

7. The Five Themes:The Five Themes:
1. Location – Geographers begin to study a place1. Location – Geographers begin to study a place
by finding where it is, or its location.by finding where it is, or its location.
2. Place – Geographers study the physical and2. Place – Geographers study the physical and
human features of a location.human features of a location.
3. Human-Environment Interaction – Geographers3. Human-Environment Interaction – Geographers
study how people affect or shape physicalstudy how people affect or shape physical
characteristics of their natural surroundings andcharacteristics of their natural surroundings and
how does their surroundings (environment) affecthow does their surroundings (environment) affect
them?them?

8. 4. Movement – Helps explain how people,4. Movement – Helps explain how people,
goods, and ideas get from one place togoods, and ideas get from one place to
another.another.
5. Regions – Geographers compare the5. Regions – Geographers compare the
climate, land, population, or history of oneclimate, land, population, or history of one
place to another.place to another.

9. LocationLocation
• There are two ways to think aboutThere are two ways to think about
location:location:
1.1. absolute location – describes theabsolute location – describes the
placeplace’’s exact position on the Earth.s exact position on the Earth.
2.2. relative location – explains where arelative location – explains where a
place is by describing places near it.place is by describing places near it.

10. PlacePlace
• This includes a locationThis includes a location’’s physical ands physical and
human features.human features.
– To describe physical features, you might sayTo describe physical features, you might say
that the climate is hot or cold or that the landthat the climate is hot or cold or that the land
is hilly.is hilly.
– To describe human features, you mightTo describe human features, you might
discuss how many people live there, whatdiscuss how many people live there, what
types of work they do, or what they do for fun.types of work they do, or what they do for fun.

11. Human-Environment InteractionHuman-Environment Interaction
• How do people adjust to and change theirHow do people adjust to and change their
environment? How does the environmentenvironment? How does the environment
adjust to and change the people?adjust to and change the people?
• Geographers also use interaction to studyGeographers also use interaction to study
the consequences of peoplethe consequences of people’’s actionss actions..

12. MovementMovement
Explains how people, goods, and ideasExplains how people, goods, and ideas
move from one place to another.move from one place to another.
Helps geographers understand culturalHelps geographers understand cultural
changes.changes.

13. RegionsRegions
• A region has a unifying characteristic, likeA region has a unifying characteristic, like
climate, land, population, or history.climate, land, population, or history.
• On maps, geographers use color andOn maps, geographers use color and
shape or special symbols to show regions.shape or special symbols to show regions.

14. How Latitude and Longitude FormHow Latitude and Longitude Form
the Global Gridthe Global Grid

15. The HemispheresThe Hemispheres

16. The Parts of a MapThe Parts of a Map
Compass RoseCompass Rose
• A compass rose is a model of a compass. It tellsA compass rose is a model of a compass. It tells
the cardinal directions, which are north, south,the cardinal directions, which are north, south,
east, and west.east, and west.
ScaleScale
• The scale on a map tells you the relativeThe scale on a map tells you the relative
distance on the map to the real world. Fordistance on the map to the real world. For
example, a map’s scale may tell you that oneexample, a map’s scale may tell you that one
inch on the map equals one mile in the realinch on the map equals one mile in the real
world.world.

17. KeyKey
• The key, or legend, on a map explains whatThe key, or legend, on a map explains what
the symbols on a map represent, such asthe symbols on a map represent, such as
triangles representing trees.triangles representing trees.
GridsGrids
• Some maps use a grid of parallels andSome maps use a grid of parallels and
meridians. On a map of a small area, lettersmeridians. On a map of a small area, letters
and numbers are often used to help you findand numbers are often used to help you find
your location.your location.