Unit 1A – Study Reference Guide
1. Five Themes of Geography / examples of each

Movement - How and why people, goods, ideas move from place to place

Region - Regions are defined by many different / unifying characteristics.

Human-Environment Interaction - How humans and the environment affect each
other. Example: building a bridge or putting on a coat when it’s cold

Location – Where it is. Examples:
o absolute location – latitude and longitude or a complete street address (8000
Spruce Dr., Florence, KY 41042
o relative location - Described by landmarks or direction/distance from one place to
another

Place - A PLACE has characteristics that distinguish it from other places on earth…what
makes it unique. Places are described by their physical and human characteristics.
2. What are the 5 map essentials? Briefly define each and why each is individually important?

Title – a map title shows the subject of the map

Compass Rose - A compass rose has arrows that point to all four principal directions:
north, east, south, and west

Scale – a map scale represents the distances between points on a map

Legend - A legend, or key, explains what the symbols represent on a map

Locator map - A locator map shows where in the world the area on a map is located A
locator map is basically a map that looks at a location from a more zoomed out
perspective—you get a bigger picture
3. What is culture? Define it.
Culture is the common values and traditions of a society, such as food, clothing, shelter,
tools, language, government, and family relationships.
4. Explain what caused the Native Americans to develop different cultures.

They adapted to their physical and climatic environments in different ways.
5. List the six main regions. Explain what makes them a region.



Pacific Coast
Intermountain
Rocky Mountains




A region has unifying characteristics such as climate and geography
Great Plains
Appalachian Mountains
Coastal Plain
6. Why are there cultural differences between different Native American groups?

Groups are different as the result of the natural resources available in their regions.
7. Beringia – what was it? What was it used for? Who used it?

It was the land bridge which allowed Paleo-Indians to migrate from Asia to North
America.
8. What things had the biggest influence in the types of shelters used by Native Americans?

Natural resources are materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and
fertile land that occur in nature and can be used by a group of people to survive.
9. Name two ways the Native Americans adapted to the disappearance of large animals.

Native Americans hunted smaller game and gathered food such as nuts and berries.
10. What did agriculture allow Native Americans groups to do?

Settle into permanent villages
11. List at least 5 elements of culture, AND explain how they help define different societies.

Elements of culture could include food, clothing, shelter, language, religion, music, etc.

Culture is a way of life shared by a group of people. It influences and shapes behaviors
and beliefs of those groups of people.
12. What impact does a region’s physical features and climate have on the people who live
there?

A region’s physical features will have an impact on the type of food, clothing, and shelter
people use. For example, people who live in Florida will wear lighter types of clothing
because the weather is typically hot. People who live near large bodies of water may
build their homes on stilts to prevent flooding. When it comes to food, people who live
near the ocean or other large body of water may eat more fish and other types of
seafood.
13. List the 5 map essentials. Why are map essentials important?


Map essentials include: title, compass rose, scale, legend, and locator map.
People encounter maps every day inside and outside their classes—in books and on
handheld devices, computers, and television screens. Whether they’re navigating cities
and continents or exploring the world by way of an atlas, people will use map skills
throughout their lives.
14. How did the first Native Americans adapt to their environments and develop their own
unique cultures?

Students should have information on at least two different Native American groups.