Five Themes of Geography

Location- Where are we? (Absolute vs. Relative)

Absolute-

uses coordinates, longitude, and latitude to find exact locations

Relative-

Finds location uses physical features and landmarks

Place- What is it like there? What kind of place

Human Characteristics

• language, customs, beliefs

• how many people live, work, and visit

Physical

• mountains, rivers, etc.

• climate

• vegatation- (ex. corn in Mexico)

• wildlife

• soil

Human-Environment Interactions- How do humans and the environment affect each other?

• we depend on it

  ex- depending on the Susquehannock River, and Chesapeake Bay

• we modify it

  ex-heating and cooling for comfort

• adapt

  ex- wearing clothes

Movement- How are people, goods, and ideas moved from place to place?

• human movement

  -trucks trains and planes

• information movement

  -phones, computers (email), mail, social media

• idea movement (how do fads move from place to place?)

  -TV, radio, magazines

Regions- how are regions similar to and different from other places?

• formal regions

  -defined by governmental/administrative boundaries

  ex. states, countries, cities

  -also defined by similar characteristics

  ex. corn belt, rocky mountain region, Chinatown

• functional regions

  -defined by a function

  ex. newspapers, service area, cell phone coverage

• vernacular/ perceptual region

  defined by peoples’ minds and opinions