Five themes of geography

1. The Five Themes of GeographyThe Five Themes of Geography

2. Theme 1: LocationTheme 1: Location
Where is it?Where is it?
Why is it There?Why is it There?
Two Types of Location
•Absolute
•Relative

3. Absolute LocationAbsolute Location
- A specific place on the Earth’s surface - Uses a grid system - A specific place on the Earth’s surface - Uses a grid system
- Latitude and longitude - A global address- Latitude and longitude - A global address
Prime Meridian
Equator
Tropical
Temperate
Temperate
Polar
Polar

4. Absolute LocationAbsolute Location
What is the approximate Longitude and Latitude of Smithtown, N.Y.?

5. Find the Absolute LocationFind the Absolute Location
•Lima, Peru
•Shanghai, China
•Sydney, Australia
•Cairo, Egypt
•12° S Lat, 77º W Long
•31° N Lat, 121º E Long
•34° S Lat, 151º E Long
•30° N Lat, 31º E Long
Relative LocationRelative Location
Where a place is in relation to another place.Where a place is in relation to another place.
Uses directional words to describe location.Uses directional words to describe location.
Described by landmarks, time, direction or distance. From one place
to another. (Go 1 mile west on main street and turn left for 1 block.)

6. Theme 2: PlaceTheme 2: Place
Land FeaturesLand Features
Mountains, plains, Mountains, plains,
and plateausand plateaus
ClimateClimate
Bodies of WaterBodies of Water
Human Characteristics
Physical Characteristics PeoplePeople
CultureCulture
LanguageLanguage
ReligionReligion
Buildings and Buildings and
LandmarksLandmarks
CitiesCities

7. LandformsLandforms

8. Theme 3: Human Environment Theme 3: Human Environment
InteractionInteraction
How People Interact With Their How People Interact With Their
EnvironmentEnvironment
People . . .People . . .
AdaptAdapt to Their Environment to Their Environment
ModifyModify Their Environment Their Environment
DependDepend on Their Environment on Their Environment
- People heat and cool buildings for comfort.
- People use the Tennessee River for
water and transportation.
- People wear clothing suitable for summer
(shorts) and winter (coats), rain and shine.

9. Theme 4: MovementTheme 4: Movement
How are Places linked to one another How are Places linked to one another
and the worldand the world
•How are people, goods, ideas How are people, goods, ideas
moved from place to place?moved from place to place?
–Human and Product MovementHuman and Product Movement
•Trucks, Trains, PlanesTrucks, Trains, Planes
–Information MovementInformation Movement
•Phones, computer (email), mailPhones, computer (email), mail
–Idea MovementIdea Movement
•How do fads move from place to place? How do fads move from place to place?
TV, Radio, MagazinesTV, Radio, Magazines

10. Theme 5: RegionsTheme 5: Regions
What Places Have in Common?What Places Have in Common?
Political RegionsPolitical Regions
Landform RegionsLandform Regions
Agricultural RegionsAgricultural Regions
Cultural RegionsCultural Regions
Vernacular Regions (Perceptions)Vernacular Regions (Perceptions)
States, Countries, Cities
Rocky Mountain region, the Caribbean, the Amazon
Chinatown, Little Italy Middle East, the South, Scandinavia
Corn Belt, Gangetic Plain, Fertile Crescent