The document outlines 5 themes and 6 essential elements of geography. The 5 themes are location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region. The 6 essential elements are: 1) The world in spatial terms, which focuses on location and maps; 2) Places and regions, which describes how Earth is divided; 3) Physical systems, which shape Earth's features; 4) Human systems, which study how humans affect Earth; 5) Environment and society, which examines how humans and environments affect each other; and 6) The uses of geography, which helps understand relationships between people, places and environments over time.

1. Themes and Essential Elements of GeographySection 2

2. Learning Geography5 important themesLocation: exact or relative spot of something on EarthPlace: physical & human features of a locationHuman-environment interaction: the ways people and environments affect each otherMovement: how people change locations and how goods are traded as well as the effects of these movementsRegion: organizes Earth into geographic areas with one or more shared characteristicsNational Geography StandardsGeography For LifeSix essential elementsThe world in spatial termsPlaces and RegionsPhysical SystemsHuman Systems, Environment & SocietyThe Uses of Geography

3. The World in Spatial TermsFocuses on geography’s spatial perspectiveLocation:Absolute location: an exact spot on EarthGrid lines of latitude and longitudeRelative location: position of a place in relation to another placeMeasurements of direction, distance, or time can helpUse of maps and other geographic tools & technologies are used to determine spatial perspectiveKnowing how to organize & analyze information about people, places, & environments to use geographic tools

4. Places & RegionsEarth’s surface divided into different places and regionsUsed to differentiate areas of the worldDeals with how people have created regions based on Earth’s features and how culture and other factors affect how we see places and regionsPlacesDescribed by physical location & physical and human featuresPhysical features: coastlines & landforms, lakes, rivers, or soil typesCan be described by climateRegionsArea with one or more shared characteristicsCharacteristics used with places also used with regionsVary in sizeBoundaries varyDeserts, forests, grasslands, etc.Also described as cultural, economic, or political

5. Physical SystemsShape Earth’s featuresEarthquakes, mountains, rivers, volcanoes, weather patternsHow plants & animals relate to living physical systemsHow different types of plants, animals, & physical features are distributed on Earth

6. Human SystemsStudy of human activities, movements, & settlements shape Earth’s surfaceMovement:Of people & ideasNeed to know how and why people move from place to placePeople move for many different reasonsSpread of ideas & behaviors also importantMovement through communicationThrough technology, films, magazines, newspapers, radio, tvMovement of ideas or behaviors from one region to another is called diffusion

7. Environment & SocietyHuman actions affect the environmentEarth’s physical systems affect human activitiesHuman-Environmental InteractionHow people & surroundings affect each otherExamined in 3 waysHow humans depend on their physical environment to surviveHow human change their behavior to be better suited to an environmentHow human change the environment

8. The Uses of GeographyHelps us understand the relationship among people, places, & the environment over timeHelps to make plans for the future