A Five-Theme Tour
INTRODUCTION:
The Five Themes of Geography have been adopted as a key curriculum component in the study of geography; they were developed by
the National Council for Geographic Education to provide an organizing framework for the presentation of geographic materials.
Recent studies have shown that student knowledge of, and ability to apply these themes in the study of geography is not up to
acceptable standards. In order to get the nation's students to understand and be able to apply the Five Themes, the National Geographic
Society has requested that you create a brochure that explains and gives examples of the Five Themes of Geography.
THE TASK:
In this activity you will plan a world tour. Your destination is either the world’s mountains or the world’s rivers. As you plan your
tour, you will also explore the five geography themes. Follow the steps below and complete each activity described in each step.
THE PROCESS:
1. Location- “Where you want to go?” First decide if you want to take a mountain or river tour. Use a physical map to choose
the five places you will visit along the way. Research each location so you can describe its relative and absolute location.
2. Place- “What is this place like?” Describe your place. Be sure to include both human and physical characteristics.
3. Human-Environment Interaction- “How do people use this place?” How have people changed this place? Why? Answer one
of these questions for each place on your tour.
4. Movement- “How has this place been affected by the movement of people, goods and ideas?” This time choose just one
location. Plan a travel route from Muncy to that location. Show it on a map or write it down.
5. Regions- “How is this place similar to and different from other regions?” Focus on the same place you used for #4. Do
research to find out what language(s) are spoken there. Then, find at least two other places that speak the same language(s).
This activity should show one type of region—a language region. Your place belongs to a group of places that share
something similar: the same language.
THE PROJECT:
Use the information your have gathered to create a brochure, slide show, document or poster about
the places you will visit on your tour. Include the descriptions you wrote for each place, your travel
route and language chart. Decorate your brochure with drawings or pictures and maps.
1. Location
River/Mountain
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Latitude
Longitude
Relative Location
2. Place
River/Mountain
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Physical Characteristics (nature)
Human Characteristics
3. Human-Environment Interaction
River/Mountain
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How do humans use or change it?
5. Regions
River/Mountain
1.
Language(s) Spoken
Similar Places (at least 2)