5 Themes of Geography NOTES
Learning Targets:
PG4- I can contrast differences between relative and absolute location.
HG4 – I can identify the characteristics that define a region geographically.
1. _____________________ - Where is it at?
_________________ location – gives an exact location to locate a place. Could use a grid system such as latitude and longitude of could be something like a street address.
_________________ location - is where a place is in relation to another place. Uses directional words to describe (cardinal & intermediate) or identifying landmarks, direction, or distance between places.
2. ______________ - What is it like when you get there? Characteristics that define a place and explains what makes it different from other places.
______________________ characteristics include a description such things as the mountains, rivers, beaches, and animal and plant life of a place.
_____________________ characteristics include the human-designed cultural features of a place, people, culture, language, architecture, religion, food and transportation and communication networks.
3. ________________ - ______________________ ___________________ - What do the people do to the environment? What does the environment do for the people? Explains how humans and the environment interact with each other. This theme considers how humans adapt to and modify the environment while depending upon it. Human interaction has both positive and negative effects on the environment.
4. ________________________ - People and ideas get around! Humans move, a lot. In addition, ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication all travel distances. This theme studies movement and migration across the planet.
5. ________________ - What do locations have in common? Region divides the world into manageable units for geographic study. Regions have some sort of characteristic that unifies the area.
Regions are defined in many ways including area, vegetation, political divisions, etc.
Come up with a way to memorize the 5 themes.
L P H M R
Show What You Know
•Label each of the following statements as one of the following: absolute location, relative location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, or region.
•1. During the 1840’s Ireland’s potato crops failed and Ireland experienced a famine. It was during this time that many Irish immigrated to America seeking a better life.
•2. The Incas invented terrace gardening. They carved steps of flat land up the side of the Andes mountain to create flat land for farming. The terraces also helped to keep rainwater from running off. They reduced erosion. The government built raised aqueducts to carry water to farmlands for irrigation.
•3. Greenwich, England is located on the Prime Meridian which is zero degrees longitude.
•4. If I had to choose to live somewhere other than East TN, I think I would like to live in Hawaii. Hawaii has lush mountains as well as beautiful beaches. And the people there seem to be so laid back and have less worries.
•5. We live in Maryville, TN which is located in East TN about 20 miles south of Knoxville, TN.
•6. The history of the Middle East dates back to ancient times, and throughout its history, the Middle East has been a major center of world affairs. It is also the historical origin of major religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Middle East generally has an arid and hot climate, with several major rivers providing for irrigation to support agriculture in limited areas.
7. Write your own statement that deals with at least 1 of the 5 Themes of Geography and ask a friend to answer it.
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