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Chapter 1 Notes
(Sections 1.1-1.3)
The Geographer’s Toolbox
Sections 1.1-1.3
1.1 Thinking Spatially
 Geographers study the location of places and the people who live there by
using spatial thinking and looking for patterns
Spatial thinking: thinking about the space on Earth’s surface, including where
places are located and why they are there
Geographic patterns: similarities among places
Example: location of large cities near water
Geographic information Systems: geographers use computer based systems to
create maps and analyze patterns. They are used for city planning, businesses for
marketing, selecting store locations, and for analyzing and displaying weather
maps
1.2 Themes and Elements
Geographers use the five themes of geography to understand the world!
1. Location:
Definition: where a place is
Location answers the question, “Where is it?”
Two Types of Location:
Absolute/exact location: using longitude and latitude lines and addresses
Geographers use a satellite system called the Global Positioning System (GPS) to
find the absolute/exact location
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Example:
 New Jersey is located at 40°N and 75°W.
 West Essex Middle School is located on 65 West Greenbrook Road in North
Caldwell, New Jersey.
Relative location: comparing one place/location to another place/location
Example:
 The football field is south of West Essex Middle School.
 The Great Wall is located near Beijing in northern China.
2. Place
Place answers the question, “What do you find there?”
Every place can be described by physical features (flat land, plants, animals, rivers,
etc.) and human features (customs, languages, etc.)
Example:
The Grand Canyon has steep rock walls that were carved over centuries by the
Colorado River and is visited by many tourists each year.
3. Human-Environment Interaction
Definition: How humans affect the environment and how the environment affects
humans
Example: Humans cut down trees or build dams to change the flow of rivers
(Humans affect the environment)
Example: People in Northern Alaska wear sealskin clothes to protect themselves
from the environment (The environment affects humans)
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4. Movement
Definition: how people, ideas, animals, and goods move from one place to another
Examples:
 the spread of different religions and ideas around the world
 people trading goods
 people and animals moving from one place to another (migration)
5. Region
Why do geographers divide the world into regions?
Geographers divide the world into regions or areas that have shared features or
common characteristics.
Define a Region by:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Physical features
Climate
Human features
Economics
Example: North America is a region that includes the United States, Mexico and
Canada
1.3 World Regions
 Geographers divide the world into regions. Each region shares physical and
human characteristics.
Region: a group of places with common traits
Continent: a large landmass on the Earth’s surface
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There are seven continents: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South
America, and Australia
Why do geographers divide the world into regions?
Geographers divide the world into regions to learn about the similarities and
differences among them.
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