5 Themes of Geography
Ms. Whitworth6th Grade Western Hemisphere Studies
I can…. I can use the 5 Themes of
Geography to study the Earth. Location, Place, Human-Environment
Interaction, Movement, Region I can use the five themes of
geography to describe regions or places on Earth.
Michigan GLCEs
How do geographers study the Earth?
They ask two MAJOR questions
1. Where are things located?
2. Why are they there?
Spinning earth
FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY
LOCATIONPLACEREGIONMOVEMENTHUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
LOCATION: Where something is Where is it?
Relative location is where it is compared to places or things.
Absolute location is exactly where it is in the world based on latitude and longitude coordinates.
Copy of map from local phone book
Latitude/Longitude map of Michigan
Examples
Toledo, OH is just south of Michigan. Am I using RELATIVE or ABSOLUTE
location? There is a spot in Gaylord that is
45 N 85 W ⁰ ⁰ Am I using RELATIVE OR
ABSOLUTE location?
Sign in Gaylord, MI
PLACE: The physical & human characteristics of a place
What is this area like?
Physical: Describe the landforms, bodies of water, climate, soil, plant and animal life, etc.
Human: Describe the people, settlement patterns, beliefs, languages, government, transportation, communication, etc.
Geographers use special purpose MAPS to show the human and physical characteristics of a PLACE
Physical Characteristics
Human Characteristics
Google Images Results Texas Maps
Rivers
Population
REGIONS: Areas that share common characteristics
What region is it a part of?
Geographic areas may be considered regions if they share characteristics such as: landforms, government, language, religion, industry, climate, vegetation, industry….
Why are we not in the same REGION as China? We don’t have
the same:1. Population
2. Physical features
3. Government
4. Language
5. Religion
6. Climate
China Statistics on Culture Grams
United States Statistics on Culture Grams
MOVEMENT: How and why people, things, and ideas move.
How did they/it get here?Trade: imports/exports, trade partners
Migration: People often are pushed from one location by negative circumstances like war or famine. They are pulled to other locations hoping for better living circumstances.
Watch and Respond:• Why is it impossible for people to live
in the Sahara Desert?• How does this connect to the theme of
MOVEMENT?
YouTube video: Flight over the Sahara
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION: How people interact with their environment
How do we change our environment & how do we adapt to it? Some interactions are
positive: Animal sanctuaries, parks, farming….
Some interactions are negative: Pollution, deforestation….
People may disagree about some interactions: highways, dams, cities, malls….
Hoover Dam
Review 5 Themes of Geography
1. LOCATION – relative and absolute2. PLACE – human and physical
characteristics3. REGIONS – share characteristics4. MOVEMENT – how and why people
move5. HEI – how do we positively and
negatively impact the environment
References
Prentice Hall. World Studies. Foundations of Geography. New Jersey: Pearson, 2005. Print.