Background to Geography
Objectives
• Define the term Geography
• Discuss the importance of geography
• Identify and explain the five branches of geogr
aphy
• Identify careers related to geography
• Identify tools and methods related to geograp
hy,
GEOGRAPHY
what do you see?
How Geography may be seen…?
– Coloring maps
– Studying globes
– Memorizing names and locations
1ST TASK FOR PLACE/IDENTITY AND
CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY
• Step 1: Take 5 minutes
on your own to find as
many errors as you can
in the following image.
• Step 2: Share with a
partner what you found
and see if together you
can find more!
• Step 3: Share with your
table group to find them
ALL.
• Step 4: Here is a map –
find what you couldn’t…
Geography is also a part of daily
life…
A picture of a tornado my
brother witnessed in Arborg,
MB. Summer 2012
A picture I took of excessive
rain in Gimli, MB. Summer
2012
What is Geography?
• A “possible” definition of Geography:
– Briefly jot down a few words that come to mind when you
think of the word Geography.
Geography is……..
• Geography is the study of the earth natural fe
atures.
• It is about people places and how they affect
each other
• It helps us to understand our world.
Defining Geography.
• Geography is the study of space.
• It examines the location and distribution of people
and places.
• A science that deals with:
– The physical features of the earth (above and below the
ground)
– The earth’s climates, plants, animals and resources
– **the earths interrelationship with humans and the
environment
Five branches of Geography
• Geography is divided into two main branches:
human geography and physical geography.
• There are additional branches in geography su
ch as regional geography, cartography, and int
egrated geography.
Main Branches of Geography
Geography is HUGE field of study and must be
broken down…
– PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
– HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
•Geography is…… The study of relationships that
exist in the environment between people and the
land..
Physical
Human
Defining Physical and Human Geography
• PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY is the field of geography
that deals with the natural environment, including
features and processes, at or near the earth’s
surface.
• HUMAN GEOGRAPHY involves the study of all
human activities and their impact on the natural
environment.
Physical and Human Geography
• Sometimes the two overlap and are related
• They often use the same set of geographic
skills and standards
• Both look at GEO from “what is there, why
there, why care?”
PHYSICAL GEOGRPAHY
“The
stage where human geography takes place”
~Elements of geography that humans saw
when they first came to a place.
~They are also elements in the news –
Example: Hurricane Katrina.
Physical Elements:
• Includes:
– landforms
(mountains, plateaus,
and plains)
– vegetation (trees,
grasses, plants)
– soil
– rock
– the earth’s
movements
– bodies of water
– Climate (temp, rain,
snow, hail, tornadoes,
etc)
Importance of Physical Geography
• Determines the following:
– Where we live
– How many people can live in one place
– The kinds of food we will eat
– The type of homes we will build
– What we will wear
Importance of Physical Geography to the
First Nations People
Human Geography:
• People and Culture is the main
focus
• Looks at how the world is
physically arranged (creation of
countries, provinces, and cities)
• Looks at how humans have altered
and changed the original
surroundings (roads, homes,
shopping centers, etc)
• Looks at the distribution and
interactions of cultural groups.
Cultural Geography:
• Human geographers will look at components that
make up cultures:
– Demography (the study of people)
– Religion
– Agriculture
– Politics
– Social interactions
– Economics
– Music
– Language
– Architecture
– Etc…
Assessment due next week this
time
• Individually
• Using pictures make a portfolio
1.Identify 10 careers in the field of geography
2.For FOUR of these careers give a job descripti
on
3.State which Branch of geography will be mainl
y covered by each career.
Cont’d
4. Give the Two benefits of each career to
society.
5. Use pictures to illustrate the tools use in each
career choice.