Chapter 1 :
Earth’s Land, People, &
Environments
Key Questions:
• What is geography?
• What are the 2 main branches of
geography?
• What do geographers study?
• What tools to geographers use?
Chapter 1 – Day 1
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Define Geography
Explain 2 main branches of geography
5 Themes of Geography
Father of Geography
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Eratosthenes
276-194 BC
Eratosthenes
Greek Mathematician,
Poet,
Geographer,
Astronomer
What is Geography?
Geography- study of the Earth, its
people, places, and environments
physical features – lakes,
mountains, oceans, islands
human features – cities,
dams, tunnels
Physical Geography
Physical Geography- study of the
world’s physical features
 Geographers study the physical world
to learn how it works so that they can
make…predictions
Human Geography
Human Geography- study of the
world’s people, communities, and
landscapes
• What they do
• Where they live
• Why they live there
• What makes them
move
• Why some places have no people
What about you???
 If
you had the option to study
people or places, which would
you choose to study?
Five Major Themes of
Geography:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Location
Place
Human-Environment
Interaction
Movement
Regions
Location
Absolute Location- a specific description
of a location
Examples: 36 degrees N and 51 degrees E
143 West Main Street, Greenwood
Location
Relative Locationa general
description of
where a place is
Example: Greenwood
is just south of
Indy
Place
Place refers to the features that make
an area unique
Examples: Landscape, people, climate
Human-Environment
Interaction
Geographers look at how humans
interact with the environment
Environment-an area’s land, water,
climate, plants and animals
Movement
Geographers study how and why
people move around the world (push
or pull?)
Also study roads/routes that people use
often
Regions
Areas that share common
characteristics
Examples: Rocky Mountain Region
Tropical Regions
Sahara Desert Region
Chapter 1 – Day 2
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3 Levels of Geography
Geographer’s Tools – Maps and Globes
3 Levels of Geography

Geographers examine the world at 3
levels
1. Local Level
2. Regional Level
3. Global Level
Local Level
-Right where you live
-Study a town/community
-Can help town leaders decide where to
build schools, malls, or sports
complexes
Regional Level
Region- part of the world that has common
features that make it unique
-Regions can be defined by physical
features, climates, language, religion
(Example: Rocky Mountains)
Global Level
Issues that affect the
whole world - like
climate change, trade,
communication,
refugees, water
shortages
Geographers Tools
Map- a flat drawing that shows all or
part of Earth’s surface
Globe- spherical, ball-shaped model of
entire planet
(Why are maps more popular than
globes?)
(Which do you think is most accurate?)
Types of Maps
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Large Scale – shows small areas, up
close (city)
Greenwood, IN
Small Scale – shows large areas,
far away (continent)
North America
3 Types of Maps
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Political Maps – boundaries of countries
Physical Maps –shows natural features
likes lakes, mountains, etc.
Thematic Maps
–Population
–Climate
–Vegetation
–Natural Resources
–Roads
Parts of a Map
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Title – tells you what the map represents
Key – explain colors, symbols, and lines
Scale Bar – shows measurement of
distance on the map
Compass Rose – shows direction (NSEW)
Latitude & Longitude lines – exact
location on Earth
Chapter 1 – Day 3
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Geospatial Technologies
Fields of Geography
Geospatial Technologies
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Electronic devices and maps that give us
information on the location of physical and
human features
GPS – Global Positioning System
GIS – Geographic Information System
30 satellites orbiting Earth send out radio
signals, which devices receive
Satellite Images
 Used
since 1970s to gather data
 Satellite images show things we can’t see from
Earth’s surface
 weather, changes in vegetation and climate, soil
Other fields of geography
Cartography- the science of making
maps
-Today maps are made using computers
and satellite images
Other fields of geography
Hydrology - is the study of water on
Earth
Hydrologists study rivers, rainfall,
drinking water, droughts, floods
Other fields of geography
Meteorology- the study of weather and
what causes it
-Meteorologists predict weather and help
keep us safe
Why Study Geography?

Geography allows us to find answers to
questions about the world around us.
Geography lets humans make
better-informed decisions.

(e.g. –You know that you and your buddy
should not travel across the desert in wool
jackets with nothing to drink and a box of
popsicles as your only food…)