5 THEMES OF
GEOGRAPHY
AN INTERACTIVE
LEARNING MODULE
BY: KRISTIN STILES
DEFINITION OF GEOGRAPHY
ge·og·ra·phy
1 : a science that deals with
the description, distribution,
and interaction of the
diverse physical, biological,
and cultural features of the
earth's surface
Source-Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary
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IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Geography is the study of
the earth and everything
on it.
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5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY
Visit each of the following sites. Follow all buttons on each page. Save
the BACK ARROW button until you are done with each page. The BACK
ARROW button will bring you back to this page. When you have visited
all 5 Themes, click on the RIGHT arrow button below.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
SOCIETY
By clicking on this site, you will visit the
National Geographic Society 5 Themes of
Geography web page. After reviewing the
web page, click the back arrow on your
browser to come back here.
 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resour
ces/ngo/education/themes.html

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WHERE DID THE 5 THEMES
COME FROM?
The 5 Themes of Geography originated
by the National Geographic Society
to fulfill a need for geographers
(people who study the earth and
everything on it) categorize
everything they learn. These 5 places
are easy to remember. Just say the
word “PRILM”.
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WHAT IS “PRILM”?
PRILM is a mnemonic device that can be used
to help remember what the 5 Themes of
Geography are. Simply put, take the first
letter of each Theme to create the word
PRILM. They are:
 Place
 Region
 Interaction (Human-Environment)
 Location
 Movement
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Quiz About
The Five Themes of
Geography
Click the bell to the left of the correct answer.
Applause will sound if the answer is correct.
A gong will sound if the answer is incorrect.
A key to the quiz follows the last slide.
You may continue answering each question until
the correct answer is found.
Click on the orange arrow key to progress through the quiz.
Question 1
Which of the following is NOT a
geography theme?
A. movement
B. human-environmental
interaction
C. region
D. people
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Question 2
Which of the following is an example
of Human-Environmental Interaction?
A. getting the mail
B. watching TV
C. playing Gameboy
D. Rainforest
Clearing
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Question 3
Which of the following helped create
the 5 Themes of Geography?
A. Geographica
Institute
B. National Geographic
Society
C. National Council
for Social Studies
D. Social Studies
Teachers of America
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Question 4
Which of the following is an example of
PLACE?
A. Deep South
B. McDonalds
C. Dodge County
Middle School
D. Skating rink
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Question 5
Which of the following is NOT an example of
Location?
A. Springfield,
Missouri
B.
C. Georgia
D. the hills
Dodge County Middle School
1103 Herman Ave
Eastman, GA 31023
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Question 6
Which of the following is an example of
region?
A. Georgia
B. South America
C. United States
D. The Midwest
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Question 7
What is the name of a person who studies the
earth and everything on it?
A. Photographer
B. Cartographer
C. Geographer
D. Mapographer
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SUMMARY
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Making Sense of it All
Now that you have found out a little about the five themes, how can you use them?
Imagine for a minute that you are a newspaper reporter. An important discovery of a lost
land has been made, and you have the chance to be the first person to interview the
returning explorers. Make a list of the questions that you might ask. Remember, the five
themes and ask the most important questions from each.
Here are some questions to get you started:
Where is it?
Where exactly is that?
What does it look like?
How many people live there and where?
What settlements (cities, villages) does it have?
What sort of climate does it have?
Does it have any extremes of weather?
Is it prone to any type of natural disaster?
What are the natural resources and how are they used?
What type of agriculture is there?
What are the main types of transportation and communication?
What makes the people there different to people in other places?
What sort of government does it have?
Is it associated with any other place?
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INTERNET REFERENCES
Click on the links below to view additional information.
 http://www.nationalgeographic.com/r
esources/ngo/education/themes.html
 http://sd71.bc.ca/Sd71/Edulinks/ICT
6_9/lessons/geo1/5themes2.htm
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REFERENCES
 http://www.funsocialstudies.learningh
aven.com/articles/fivethemes.htm
 http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson071.shtml
 http://www.classbrain.com/artaskcb/
publish/article_34.shtml
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