EXPLORING OUR GEOGRAPHIC

WORLD

What is geography? science that studies the spatial differentiation and

distribution of phenomena of earth. ancient and honorable field of learning with its

roots firmly set in classical antiquity. It comes from two greek words: “geo” which means

the earth and “graphein/graphe” meaning “to write” or “ to draw”, literally then, it means “earth description”.

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography)(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_geography)

Understanding the tools of geographyExploration- the act of traveling and searching for resources or

for information about the land or space itself.

Geocode (Geospatial Entity Object Code) – geospatial coordinate system for specifying the exact location of a geospatial point at, below, or above the surface of the earth at a given moment of time.

Geographic information system (GIS)- set of tools that captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that are linked to location(s). Combines elements of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology.

Globe- a three-dimensional scale model of a spheroid celestial

body such as a planet, star, or moon. (Main articles: Geosophy and Philosophy of geography)

Terrestrial globe – globe of the Earth.

Map-a visual representation of an area, depicting the elements of that area such as objects, regions, and themes.

Cartography– the study and practice of making maps.

Atlas- a collection of maps, typically of the Earth or a region thereof.

Map projection– any method of representing the surface of a sphere or other shape on a plane. Necessary for creating maps.

(Main articles: Geosophy and Philosophy of geography)

Demographics -the characteristics of a human population as used in government, marketing or opinion research, or the demographic profiles used in such research. Distinct from demography, which is the statistical study of human populations.

Spatial analysis- a variety of statistical techniques used to study entities using their topological, geometric, or geographic properties.

Surveying - the technique and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them. These points are usually on the surface of the Earth, and they are often used to establish land maps and boundaries for ownership or governmental purposes.

(Main articles: Geosophy and Philosophy of geography)

Two major subdivisions of geography Physical or Natural -describes and explains the distribution of the natural

features of the earth and defines the regions that are continually affected by forces and processes in nature.

Humans or Cultural -deals with the distribution of people, their cultural

attributes and their activities on the earth surface.

Fundamental conceptsLocation -can be nominal, absolute or relative.

Distance - can be an absolute physical measure, using units such as

kilometers or miles, or they can be relative, express in terms of time, effort or cost.

Distribution - pertains to how things are located and situated in space

(patterns and density).

Scale - refers to level of analysis, and direction-refers to the

angular orientation of a thing , a person, or an object.Accessibility - the opportunity for contact or for interaction from a

given point of location.Spatial interaction- all kinds of movement and flows that involve human

activity.

THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY

1. LOCATION - “Where are we?” is the question that the theme location answers. -may be absolute or it may be relative. -these locations, whether relative or absolute, may be of people or places.

Absolute location- is a latitude and longitude (a global location) or a street address (local location).

Relative locations- are described by landmarks , time direction or distance from one place to another and may associate a particular place with another.

(http://geography.mrdonn.org/5themes-definitions.html)

2. PLACE - have both human and physical characteristics , as well as images.

Physical characteristics – include mountains, rivers, soil, beaches, wildlife. Human characteristics – are derive from the ideas and actions of people that result in changes to the environment, such as buildings, roads, clothing, and food habits.

3. Human / Environmental Interaction - we change the environment and then sometime Mother Nature changes it back. for Example: floods in the mid- West, Hurricane Emily( Hatteras), and earthquakes and mudslides in California.

Three key concepts to human/ environmental interaction - Humans adapt on the environment. - Humans modify the environment. - Humans depend to the environment.

4. MOVEMENT - the movement of people, the import and export of goods, and mass communication have all played major roles in shaping our world. People everywhere interact. - people interact with each other through movement.

5. REGIONS - is the basic unit of study in geography. - is an area that displays a coherent unity interms of the government, language, or possibly the landform or situation. - are human constructs that can be mapped and analyzed.

Three basic types of Regions

-Formal Regions – are those defined by governmental or administrative boundaries.

- Functional Regions- are those defined by a

function. - Vernacular Regions – are those loosely defined by people’s perception.

Themes of Geographic Study or

Research SPATIAL TRADITION AREA STUDIES TRADITION HUMAN-LAND TRADITION EARTH SCIENCE TRADITION

Learning to Make, Read, and Use Maps GETTING TO KNOW THE MAP:

1. Key / Symbols / Legend – learn to recognize between the difference landmarks represented on your map and, specifically, the route your taking.

2. Map Scale – Know the scale so that at a glance you can see how far roughly you will be walking for, so that you can plan your breaks, etc.

(source: http://www.walkandramble.co.uk/ expert-advice/how-to-read-a-map-and- compass.html)

3. Grid References – understand your maps grid reference system and mark on key points, and might be a good starting point to provide distances at a glance.

4. Height / Relief – Know the altitude, and learn to spot using the contours of the map when the relief of the land descends or ascends too quickly for you to comfortably follow a particular route. Contours can also be used as navigational landmarks and can help make a 2 dimensional map 3 dimensional in your mind.

5. Compass – make sure your compass is working before you leave, and that you know how to use it! Advice is provided below.

READING A MAP: -Reading a map is a skill that children love using. -There is a sense of adventure that goes along with traveling and exploring with the aid of map! -Teaching your child to read a map will be an enjoyable task.

LEARNING TO MAKE MAPS

-While normally associated with brainstorming sessions, learning maps also have a place in study. These maps, also known as concept maps, are related to the outline but have a less restrictive format, making them a natural option for taking notes.

-Learning maps, similar in appearance to flow charts and mind maps, can be used for lectures or for mapping out a report.

Concept Map- is a diagram showing the relationship among concepts. It is a graphical tool for organizing and representing knowledge.

LEARNING TO USE MAPSAs one of the most useful research tools in

environmental history, maps use vivid, visual information to tell vast stories about place, space, and time in a relatively small format.

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of maps that can be used to tell very different stories. One of the first things you need to ask when using maps in your research is: What kind of map will best convey or support my argument?

Why I choose the topic? I choose the topic about Exploring our geographic world, because it is helpful and interesting to learn. It makes everyone who was studying this, better understand the relationships between people and their environment. Also, it gives us information that we want to know about our geography or help us understand our geographic world.

REFLECTION As we know about geography, literally, it means “earth description”, and studying geography help us

understand the world we are living in. In studying our geography, I learned about this

that, it teaches us important skills because through this studies, you can learn to read maps. There is also two major subdivisions of geography, the Physical/ Natural Elements and the Cultural/ Human Elements.

Wherein in here, it help us differentiate the natural features and the man-made features in the earth. Also, it helps me understand the difference between the map and a globe, and the relationship between humans and the environment in which we are living in.

As a student, there's really a need to study our geography for us to better understand the world. Making us more knowledgeable about the geography of our own country where we live in.