SIXESSENTIAL ELEMENTSOF GEOGRAPHY: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STANDARDS

ThechartbelowdescribestheSixEssentialElementsof GeographyasdefinedbytheNational GeographicSocietyandtheNationalStandards.Thedocumentcontainsclickablelinksforeachof the standardsandaccesstofurtherinformationandactivitiesrelatedtoeachstandard.

DESCRIPTION / STANDARD / ELEMENT
HowtoUseMapsandOtherGeographicRepresentations,Tools,and
Technologiesto Acquire,Process,andReportInformationFroma / 1 / 1:TheWorldin
SpatialTerms
SpatialPerspective
HowtoUseMentalMapstoOrganizeInformationAboutPeople, Places,andEnvironmentsinaSpatialContext / 2 / 1:TheWorldin
SpatialTerms
Howto AnalyzetheSpatialOrganizationof People,Places,and
EnvironmentsonEarth’sSurface / 3 / 1:TheWorldin
SpatialTerms
ThePhysicalandHumanCharacteristicsof Places / 4 / 2:Placesand
Regions
ThatPeopleCreateRegionstoInterpretEarth’sComplexity / 5 / 2:Placesand
Regions
HowCultureand ExperienceInfluencePeople’sPerceptionsof Places andRegions / 6 / 2:Placesand
Regions
ThePhysicalProcessesThatShapethePatternsof Earth’sSurface / 7 / 3:Physical
Systems
TheCharacteristicsand SpatialDistributionof EcosystemsonEarth’s
Surface / 8 / 3:Physical
Systems
TheCharacteristics,Distribution,andMigrationof HumanPopulation onEarth’sSurface / 9 / 4:HumanSystems
TheCharacteristics,Distribution,andComplexityof Earth’sCultural
Mosaics / 10 / 4:HumanSystems
ThePatternsandNetworksof EconomicInterdependenceon Earth’s
Surface / 11 / 4:HumanSystems
TheProcesses,Patterns,andFunctionsof HumanSettlement / 12 / 4:HumanSystems
HowtheForcesof CooperationandConflictAmongPeopleInfluence theDivisionandControlof Earth’sSurface / 13 / 4:HumanSystems
HowHumanActionsModifythePhysicalEnvironment / 14 / 5:Environment and Society
HowPhysicalSystemsAffectHumanSystems / 15 / 5:Environment and Society
TheChangesThatOccurintheMeaning,Use,Distribution,and
ImportanceofResources / 16 / 5:Environment and Society
Howto ApplyGeographyto InterpretthePast / 17 / 6:TheUsesof
Geography
Howto ApplyGeographyto InterpretthePresentandPlanforthe
Future / 18 / 6:TheUsesof
Geography

Five ThemesofGeography

MRHELP:MovementRegionHuman-EnvironmentinteractionlocationPlace

The5ThemesofGeography

WHATISGEOGRAPHY?

1.Location-"HowdoIgetthere?"

Exact:WhatistheexacllocaticmofNewYorkCity?

Usingamap.li.nditslatitudeandlongitude!

Rlntiw.VVtu."rCisNew\'<:lrkCitylocatt.>drelativetoJlhiladclphia

Usin.gamap.$howthatitliesnonhcasto(JJhiladclphia!

Rfruonforitslq.cation:·WhatcausedNewYorkCitytoarise onthisJX rti<ulacspot?

Usingamap;showthatitlieswhereamajorri\'Crmet"tsthesea!

2.Place-"What'sitliketolivethere?"

Pllys; lFeatures:WhatphyticaJfL-aturesexist inthisplace?

Landscape-:Highmountains.Oatplain!i.basin.orrivervalley? Habitat:Forest.rainforest.desert,wetlands..orwndra? Climate:Tropical.continental.highland,orpolar?

NaturalOisaslctS;Drought.hu_rricanetomado.oreatlh1uake?

HumanFeatures:Whatcuhural(('Jturc.saretypicalofthisplact?

Rdigion?T)•pco:fhousc."S?Clothing?Trodition.?l.ift."Stylcs?

3.TheEnvironment-

"Howdopeoplerelatetotheland?''

Adapt:\VhenbuiklinghouS<"s.howdothesevillagers:.d3pttotheland?

Theybuildupth.ehilLside!

Howdopeopleadapttheirclothestotheclimate?

Thl")'wearsummerclothesallyearlong!

Change:"Jbmakeali\ting..howdothevillagersmodifytheland?

Theycutdowntheroinfores1tocr(':ltefarmJand!

Depend:1bmakealivi11g..howdoesthiscounttydependu:moatumlresources?

Byminingthecopperthatliesunderground!

4.Movement-"Howare people,goods

ideasmovedintoandoutofthisplace?''

Goods:Whatforeignimp<msdoes)'Outfamilybuy?

Wheredotheycomefro1n?Whyfromthere?

People:Someofthepeopleinyourcityoomefromfarowaylands.

Wheredotht.")'rom:from?Whydidthl")'moveto yourcity?

Bywhatmt>n11sar."idcaslrnnsportedintoandoutofyourcity?

ByTV,radio.telephone.FAX.and!heInternet!

5.Regions-

"Geographersinventregions."

Itseasiertostud)'7cultur.dn-gionsthan50st:.uc.s! It'seasiertostudy7continentsthan200countries!

lcgionscanbebaseduponphysicalfeaturesorhumm•features.

]

FiveThemesofGeography / Six Elementsof Geography
Place / Usesof Geography
Location / World in SpatialTerms
Human-Environment / Environmentand society
Movement / Human systems
Region / Physicalsystems
Placesand Regions