Chapter 2
Seeing the World Like a
Geographer
2.1 Introduction
 To the person next to you discuss the question: “when
have you used a map” “what do they show” Be
prepared to share
 In 1854 a disease called Cholera struck a
neighborhood in London, England, In 10 days 500
people died
 With a partner close to you, try to make a list of
different things you could map.
 John Snow figured out how people where dying.
 He started to think like a Geographer by mapping the
houses who had people who died of the disease
 The map he used was called a Thematic Map
2.2 Geographic Setting
 Thematic Maps can show Physical or Human
Geography
 Focus on a specific topic or theme
 Maps can focus on landforms (mountains, valleys,
plains, plateaus)
 Bodies of water (rivers, sea, oceans, lakes)
 Political Maps, Climate, Population, Economic
Activity
 When reading a Thematic Map always read the
title and map legend first to identify what you
are looking at
2.3 Mapping Earth’s
Physical Features
(Look @ Map pg 28 & 29)
 Geographers have given names to many
landforms so they can be identified
 Peninsula, mountain ranges, plains, plateau,
canyon, hill, river, dune are just a few
 Physical features maps show the shapes of
features as seen from above
 They show elevation, height above sea level, colors
are used to show elevation change
 Water is also found on a physical map
2.4 Hot, Cold, Wet, Dry:
Earth’s Climates
(Look @ Map)
 Climate Zones – each zone has a
particular pattern of temperature and
precipitation
 Climagraph – used to show average
temp. & Precip. in a place over a year
 What affects climate? – location such as
latitude, coastal, inland, elevation, etc..
 Turn to page 30-31 in your book
Geography 2.4
Pg 30-31
1. What types of Thematic Maps are on
these pages?
2. Identify the 12 climate zones shown.
3. Where can you find the cities names on
the graph?
4. The left side of the graph indicates
what?
5. The right side of the graph indicates
what?
Geography 2.4
Pg 30-31
Find the Minneapolis/St. Paul graph:
1. What climate zone is it in?
2. What is the highest average
temperature?
3. What month is the highest average
temperature?
4. What is the highest average rainfall?
5. What month does the highest average
rainfall in?
Geography 2.4
Pg 30-31
Find the Shanghai, China graph:
1. What climate zone is it in?
2. What is the highest average
temperature?
3. What month is the highest average
temperature?
4. What is the highest average rainfall?
5. What month does the highest average
rainfall in?
Geography 2.4
Pg 30-31
Find the Nice, France graph:
1. What climate none is it in?
2. What is the highest average
temperature?
3. What month is the highest average
temperature?
4. What is the highest average rainfall?
5. What month does the highest average
rainfall in?
Geography 2.4
Pg 30-31
Use the rest of the maps on this page to answer these questions:
1. What city has the highest average rainfall for 1
month?
2. What month does it happen in?
3. What city has an arid climate?
4. What city has a subarctic climate?
5. What city averages 1 inch of rain or more for the entire
year?
6. What months will the average rainfall fall below 4
inches of rain in Sydney, Australia?
7. What are the 3 lowest months of rainfall on average in
Nome, Alaska?
8. What city has the highest rainfall in July over all the
2.5 Earth’s Vegetation
(Look @
Map)
 What types of vegetation is around us?
In the City? In Minnesota? Please list a
few & be prepared to share.
 Vegetation Zones – geographers study
where different plants grow
 Turn to page 32-33 in your book
Geography 2.5
Pg 32-33
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Identify the 11 vegetation Zones.
What color indicates Desert?
Describe what mixed forest looks like?
Describe what broadleaf evergreen forest looks like?
Which vegetation is described as evergreen trees with
needles and cones?
6. What parts of the world will you find Tundra?
7. What countries in North America will have Tundra?
8. Out of the 11 vegetation zones, which ones would you
chose to be the best fit for Minnesota?
Chapter 2.6 Population
Density
(Look @ Map)
 Population density tells us how crowded
a place is
 Divide total number of people by total
land area
 Density effects how people live (Can you
think of how this would effect how
someone lives?)
 Turn to page 34-35 in your book
Ch. 2.6
Pg. 34 & 35
1. In your own words explain each
population density.
2. Which 1 would fit best for Minneapolis?
3. Which 1 would fit best for Chicago?
4. Which 1 would fit best for New York
City?
5. Which 1 would fit best for Breckenridge
(my hometown)?
Ch. 2.6
Pg. 34 & 35
Look at the Map of China:
1.Describe where most of the people live.
2.Describe where the least people live.
3.Give 2 reasons why China’s density is so
distinct.
4.What population is in the city of Shanghai?
5.What population is in the city of Xi’an?
6.What population is in the city of Hong Kong?
7.What population is in the city of Beijing?
Chapter 2.7 Land &
Resources
(Look @ Map)
 What types of resources do we use from
the land here in Minnesota?
 Maps that show economic activity – land,
forestry, fossil fuels, hydroelectric power
 Turn to page 36-37 in our book
Ch 2.7
Pg. 36 & 37
1. Which of the land uses do we have in
Minnesota?
2. Using the Economic activity map, please list 3
of the 7 resources.
3. What icon indicates petroleum?
4. What icon indicates hydroelectric power?
5. What color indicates commercial fishing?
6. Find Iceland, what land uses will you find
there?
2.8 Regions
(Look @ Map)
 Region – area with 1 or more features
that set it apart from other areas
 Defined by either physical or human
features
 Sun Belt – (Florida to California) because of
it sunny climate
 Corn Belt – central states who raise corn
 Worlds 7 regions – See book pg 39