GEOGRAPHY
Unit 1
Geography
Is the study of the earth’s surface; includes people’s
responses to topography, climate, soil and vegetation.
Topographystudy of Earth's surface shape and features or those of
planets, moons, and universe
Climateencompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity,
atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, and other
meteorological phenomena.
Examples of Types of Geography
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Physical
Human
Cultural
Integrated (looks at two or more of the other
types)
The 5 themes of Geography
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Location
Place
Human-Environment Interaction
Movement
Regions
Theme 1: LOCATION
When we discuss location we are talking about a
specific position or point in physical space.
Walkertown Middle School is on Ruxton Drive.
There are two types of location Absolute and
Relative.
Absolute Location
(Specific)
Uses a latitude and longitude address
which gives a specific global location.
• Paris France is 48o North Latitude and 2o East
Longitude.
Or a street address to give a local
location.
• The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania
Ave.
Absolutely North Carolina
Absolute Location
North Carolina
36° N Latitude
79° W longitude
Walkertown
36.16 ° N
Latitude
80.17 ° W
Longitude
Relative Location
(General)
Described by landmarks, time, direction or distance.
From one place to another
Go left one block east at Wendy’s
Where a place is in relation to another place Uses
directional words to describe
Uses the Cardinal and intermediate directions
North, South, East, and West
Cardinal/Intermediate Directions
Never Eat Soggy Worms
The Cardinal Directions
are North, South,
East, and West.
Intermediate directions
are points between
the four cardinal
directions form the
points on a compass.
Relatively North Carolina
• North Carolina is bordered by
Virginia on the north, South Carolina
and Georgia on the south, and
Tennessee on the west.
• The Atlantic Ocean forms North
Carolina's east coast.
• North Carolina is one of the
Southeastern States
Theme 2: PLACE
Human and Physical Characteristics define a
place.
Human Characteristics
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People
Culture
Language
Religion
Buildings and
Landmarks
• Cities
• What are the main
languages, customs, and
beliefs.
• How many people live,
work, and visit a place.
Physical Characteristics
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Landforms
Vegetation
Climate
Wildlife
Soil
Name some physical
characteristics of NC
Theme 3 : HUMANENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
• How do humans and the environment affect
each other?
– We depend on it.
• People depend on the Mississippi River for water and
transportation.
– We modify it.
• People modify our environment by
heating and cooling buildings for comfort.
– We adapt to it.
• We adapt to the environment by wearing
clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and
winter (coats), rain and shine.
Theme 4:
MOVEMENT
• How are people, goods, ideas moved from place
to place?
– Human Movement
• Trucks, Trains, Planes
– Information Movement
• Phones, computer (email), mail
– Idea Movement
• How do fads move from place to place?
TV, Radio, Magazines
Facebook, MySpace
Theme 5: Regions
What Places Have in Common
• Political Regions
• Landform Regions
• Agricultural Regions
• Cultural Regions
REGIONS
How are Regions similar to and different from other
places?
– Formal Regions
• Regions defined by governmental or administrative boundaries (States,
Countries, Cities)
• Regions defined by similar characteristics (Corn Belt, Rocky Mountain
region, Chinatown).
– Functional Regions
• Regions defined by a function (newspaper service area, cell phone
coverage area).
– Vernacular Regions (Not in your book but we all use
them)
• Regions defined by peoples perception (middle east, the south, etc.)
NC Regions
If you can’t remembering
what they are just ask MR.
HELP!!!
• M – Movement
• R – Regions
• HE – Human Environment
interaction
• L – Location
• P - Place
Ticket out the door.
Describe Walkertown Middle School using the five
themes of GEOGRAPHY!!
Give one example of each!