Download cgc-5-themes-of-geography

Geography is the study of the
earth and everything on it!
…it is the topic/idea
Geography is a BIG subject!
We will divide geography into 5
different THEMES/topics
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The 5 Themes of Geography were developed as a
method/way for studying geography.
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The themes help us categorize/organize
geographic information.
Geography = noun
Geographic = adjective
Question investigated: Where is it?
Two categories of location:
1. Absolute location
2. Relative location
Absolute Location
A specific place on the Earth’s surface
 Uses a grid system
 Latitude and longitude (global address)
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Where a place is in relation /compared to another place
Uses directional words to describe
Question investigated: What is it like?
The 2 categories are:
1. physical places
2. Human places
Physical characteristics of the
environment
 Eg. Resources, climate, landforms,
water features, natural vegetation,
wildlife…
 Note: anything distinct and comes
from nature!
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Human characteristics of a place
Eg. Occupations, recreation, settlement types and
patterns, political, economic, religious beliefs, ideas,
language…etc
Note: features must be distinctive and humanmade!
Question investigated:
 How does the physical place
influence/affect/impact human activities?
 How do human activities influence/affect/impact
the physical place?
Two Categories of interaction. . .
 Human adaptation (root word = adapt/adjust)
 Human alteration (root word = alter/change)
http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/corbis/DGT119/BAG0017.jpg
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Humans adapt to their
environment
Examples: adapt to
climate (shelter, clothes…)
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Humans alter their
natural environment
using technology
Question investigated: How do people, goods and ideas
move from place to place?
Two categories of interaction. . .
1. Material movement (can see)
2. Non-material movement (cannot see)
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This involves obvious movement using land,
water, or air vehicle
Example: Moving people, animals, or other
material things
This involves less obvious forms of movement
Examples:
 movement of energy and information through electric wires
 Movement of ideas/beliefs from one place/culture to another
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Question investigated: What areas have
unifying/common features?
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We identify ‘areas’/’regions’ according to
unifying/common features
Two categories of region. . .
1. Formal region
2. Functional region
Formal regions are regions that share at least 1 unifying/common
feature. Many features can be used to define ‘formal regions’:
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Landform regions (eg. Mountain areas, flat lands)
Political regions (eg. provinces, countries, cities)
Cultural regions (eg. Chinatown, Little India)
Language regions (eg. French neighbourhood)
Economic regions (eg. Agricultural area, financial district)
Climate regions (eg. Arctic climate, tropical climate)
Functional regions are defined by a function/goal/purpose
Functional regions are an interactive system.
The defining characteristics are the interconnected parts.
Example: central business district (CBD), newspaper service
area, cell phone coverage area, ecosystems (natural functional
region)
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Is it possible for there to be formal regions
within functional regions?
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Is it possible for there to be functional
regions within formal regions?
Mr. Help!
M
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HE
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Movement
Region
Human Environment Interaction
Location
Place
ACTIVITY:
Describe a place by addressing all 5 themes of geography.
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Location
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Absolute location:
(exact street)
Relative location:
East of kipling station
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Physical place:
Cherry blossoms, flowers, ponds, lakes
Human place:
Canadian-born residents, photographers,
gardeners, tourists, picnics, old victorian style
houses, wealthy community
Movement
Material: tour bus, TTC,
biking
Non-Material:
Information about the
animals and cherry trees
Place
HIGH PARK
Region
Formal region:
High park can be a formal region
because the area is defined by it’s
rich greenery/nature (trees, water
bodies). It is also a wealthy area
with many Canadian-born
residents
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Human-Environment
Interaction
Human Alteration:
Build roads and walking paths, damage the trees
and pollute the water, control the animals
Human Adaptation:
Visit during the spring, bring a light jacket near the
water, spend leisure time in the open fields, biking,
take photos…