Geographical Concepts - Yr9

What is spicess

space, place, interconnection, change, environment, sustainability, scale

Space

Is an abstract idea, it is a continuous 3-D area without meaning .

Involves:

• Location - where things are located

• Spatial distribution - the shapes and patterns in which things are arranged

• Organisation - how and why things are arranged and managed by people

Interconnection

The idea that there us a link between all people places and environment.

change

• the degree to which a place, is modified over time. 

• time to better understand a place, an environment, a spatial pattern or a geographical problem.

sustainability

• maintaining the capacity of the environment to support our lives and those of other living creatures.

• environmental, social and economic  criteria to judge the wisest use of resources.

scale

relationship between the size of an area on a map and the actual size of an area on the Earth’s surface. 

distance

The length of space between two locations

distribution

arrangement of features or objects on the Earth’s surface. 

• PQE is used to describe it

movement

• change in location of a phenomenon.

• It also describes how people and ideas in one place make contact with people from another place; for example, by plane, the internet etc.

region

•  definable area containing one (usually more) characteristics that distinguish it from surrounding areas.

• Regions can be defined by physical characteristics such as mountain ranges, politically by official decisions about boundaries and names; for example, Bayside City Council.

spatial association

 the degree to which two or more phenomena are similarly distributed or arranged on the Earth’s surface. 

Place

A specific location with meaning and significance:

• Name of a place - Name a place that starts with the same letter as your first name.

• Location - Absolute (e.g. an address or latitude and longitude) and Relative (the distance and direction from another place).

• Landmarks - Name a landmark on each continent.

• Regions (e.g. the Yarra Valley)

• Sense of place (e.g. home)

• Spiritual significance (eg. ancient indigenous sites where rituals take place)

• Property (e.g. The Emporium) 

• A specific environment (e.g. rainforest, desert)

Environment

All physical and biological aspects that influence life

What must Maps include

• Border – a box around the map to clearly show its extent

• Orientation – a compass direction

• Legend – the key to what the symbols and colours on the map stand for

• Title – a clear indication of what the map is about or its theme

• Scale – indicates distances on the map compared with the actual area being shown

• Source – where possible the information used to make the map

Physical Maps

display the physical features of a place, including land and water features such as mountains, plains, rivers, and oceans. 

Topographic Maps

used to show elevation

Political

display artificial boundaries such as state or national borders, as well as cities and sometimes bodies of water. 

Thematic

Map has a particular theme, symbols, picture, and colours are used to represent what is being mapped.

Process

Physical and human forces work in combination to form and transform the world.

eg:

• erosion, hydrological (water) cycle, migration or urbanisation.

What are Grid References, Eastings, and Northings?

Grid references are a method to locate things on maps. The vertical lines on the map are called eastings, and the horizontal lines are call northings. Eastings are numbered towards the East, and northings are number towards North.