A Geographers
Tools
• Main Idea:
• Geographers use many different tools to help them study and analyze
Earth’s people and places.
A Geographers Tools
• Lecture Focus:
• Suppose a company wanted to build a new shopping center in North
Plainfield…how would the contractors know where to build it???
A Geographers Tools
• Geographers study the physical and human features of Earth.
• They rely on various techniques to study the vast amount of people and
dwellings scattered all over the planet.
A Geographers Tools
• When Geographers study physical geography, they examine Earth’s land areas,
bodies of water, plant life and other various features.
• Physical geographers also study natural resources that are available in an area and
the ways people use those resources.
Types of Geography
• Geographers also help people make decisions about managing different types of
resources such as water, forest, land and even wind.
Types of Geography
• Other geographers study human geography, focusing on people and their activities.
• Human geographers look at people religions, languages and ways of life.
Types of Geography
• They may examine a specific location, or they may study entire countries or continents.
• Geographers may also compare different places to see how they are similar and different
from one another.
Types of Geography
• Think about a city for a minute… Who do you think planned the layout for a city???
Types of Geography
• Geographers use knowledge from other subject areas.
• History, for example, helps geographers and historians understand how places
appeared in the past.
Places in Time
• The studying of ancient societies allows geographers the ability to observe
changes that have occurred over time.
Places in Time
• History is divided into blocks of time knows as Periods.
• For example, a period of 10 years is known as a decade…a period of 100 years is
known as a century…and a period of 1,000 years is known as a millennium.
Places in Time
• In Western societies, it is common to group history into four distinctive
periods…the first of these periods is called Prehistory.
• Prehistory refers to the time before people developed writing 5,500 years ago
Places in Time
• This time is followed is followed by the period known as Ancient History,
which lasted until about 1,500 years ago.
Places in Time
• The next thousand years was called the Middle Ages, or the medieval period.
Places in Time
• About 500 years ago, Modern History began and continues into the present.
Places in Time
• Questions:
• 1) What is history’s time periods divided into?
• 2) How many years is a decade?
• 3) how many years is a millennium?
• 4) How many periods in western society have their been?
Places in Time
• Questions:
• 1) What is history’s time periods divided into?
• Blocks of time called periods
• 2) How many years is a decade?
• 10 years
• 3) How many years is a millennium?
• 1,000 years
• 4) How many periods in western society have their been and what are they called?
• There have been 4 long period in history called Prehistory, Ancient History, Medieval
period and Modern History
Places in Time
• Maps can provide geographers with different types of information about all
types of diverse places.
• Information for a map can be collected by using modern technology, tools
and even can be gathered form people who are from these diverse areas.
Map Systems
• Satellites circling the Earth provide detailed digital images and photographs
that help create various types of maps.
• Satellites can also measure changing temperatures and various amounts of
pollution all over the planet.
Map Systems
• All of this information found through modern technologies can be added to our
maps to make them more accurate with our changing world.
Map Systems
• Another group of satellites make up our Global Positioning System (GPS).
• This system uses radio signals to determine the exact location of places on Earth.
Map Systems
• Hikers use GPS equipment to avoid getting lost in thick, unfamiliar terrain.
• Most cars are even equipped with GPS systems…if not an after market model can be purchased.
Map Systems
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are extensive computer hardware and
software systems that gather, store and analyze geographic information.
Map Systems
• A GIS can display maps, but it also can present information that does not usually
appear on maps, such as types of vegetation, soil and even water quality.
Map Systems
• Questions:
• 1) What types of information can a Satellite circling the earth
measure?
• 2) What does GPS stand for?
• 3)P What does GIS stand for?
Map Systems
• Questions:
• 1) What types of information can a Satellite circling the earth
measure?
• Provide photos, images, temperatures and amounts of pollution
• 2) What does GPS stand for?
• Global Positioning System
• 3)P What does GIS stand for?
• Geographic Information System
Map Systems
• Governments at all levels hire Geographers for many different types of jobs
and tasks.
• Geographers help decide how land and resources might be used throughout
the world.
Careers in Geography
• An example of this would be the way in which a geographer would analyze
population trends, including why people live in certain areas and not in others.
Careers in Geography
• In the business world, geographers often work as researchers and analysts.
• They can help companies decide where to locate new buildings to ensure a
clearly growing business.
Careers in Geography
• Geographers will also help companies to better understand the people and
cultures that they are doing business with.
Careers in Geography
• Many geographers teach in high schools, colleges and universities.
• As more schools recognize the importance of geography education, the
demand for geography teachers is expected to grow.
Careers in Geography
• Reading Check:
• Answer the following question in a clear, well written open ended
response.
• How does modern technology make maps more precise?
Careers in Geography
• Contrasting:
• Answer the following question in a clear, well written open ended
response.
• How is physical geography different from human geography?
Careers in Geography
• Drawing Conclusions:
• Answer the following question in a clear, well written open ended
response.
• Describe how helpful you think Global Informational Systems (GIS)
would be in deciding where to build a gas station.
Careers in Geography
• Big Idea:
• Answer the following question in a clear, well written open ended
response.
• What factors might influence where a city would develop?
Careers in Geography
• Challenge:
• Answer the following question in a clear, well written open ended
response.
• Give three examples of how someone might use Geography to plan
for the future.
Careers in Geography