Introduction To Geography
What is Geography?
• Geography is … all
around us!
• Geography is the study of
places and the
relationships between
people and their
environments.
Geographers explore
both the physical
properties of Earth's
surface and the human
societies spread across it.
Questions about Geography
• Are you interested in the world all around you?
• Do you want to be able to make informed
decisions about where to work, where to live
and where to go on holiday?
• Are you concerned about the environment?
• Do you want to develop skills you will find
useful long after you have left school?
What does Geography mean to you?
• In groups of 5 or 6, brainstorm the meaning of
Geography.
• You can put down anything you think Geography is
about or related to. Take about 15 mins to brainstorm
and put down the ideas on the paper provided.
• When completed, the class will go for a “Gallery
Walk” around the class to find out what other groups
have brainstormed.
• Finally, we will all conclude on the meaning of
Geography!
What is Geography?
• “ Geography” - 2 Greek words
– Geo (Earth)
– Graphy (writing/ description)
– It is a subject that studies.
• Earth’s surfaces and processes that shape it.
• Relationships between humans and physical
environments.
Purpose of Geography
• The knowledge and understanding of where we live, other
places, how people and the places interrelate Earth’s
surfaces and processes that shape it.
• The skills needed to carry out geographical study (eg,
enquiry, mapwork and fieldwork).
• Interest in, and to encourage an appreciation of the world
around us.
• Develop concern for the world around us and an ability
and willingness to take positive action both locally and
globally.
• Is to develop …
• But, knowing one isolated geographical fact does not
mean there is geographical understanding! For
example: Knowing Mt Everest is the highest peak
(8850m) in the world is not understanding
geography …unless we seek to understand Why it is
the highest peak? How is it created? How its location
influences the political security, downstream flooding
and access to water of the surrounding areas?
Therefore, understanding Mt Everest in terms of the
interlinked physical processes and human activities is
then truly geographical understanding!
Geographical skills for geographical understanding.
1. Ask questions “ where”, “why”, “what”
& “how”
• Why does rain fall? How
do volcanoes form?
Where are the farms in
Singpore? When will we
run out of resources?
Geographical skills for geographical understanding.
2. Gather information
• Primary information
(surveys, fieldwork,
fieldtrips)
• Secondary information
(variety of sources like
newspapers, reports,
photographs, etc.)
• Locate, collect, observe &
record information
Geographical skills for geographical understanding.
3. Organise information Sorting and presenting the
information in the forms of
tables, charts, maps, diagrams
or graphs.