Download Geographers use spatial organization

Geography 7
Unit I:
Introduction to Geography
COMPELLING QUESTIONS
1. What must a cartographer consider when making a
map? (Standard 1)
2. How might the rights of people be affected by
geography? (Standard 2)
3. How did differing ideas about the Earth’s
geography impact development? (Standard 3)
4. How have absolute and relative location changed
over time? (Standard 4)
5. What is the dynamic relationship between physical
and human geography? (Standard 5)
The Global World
World_Satellite
What kind of an image is this? What can we learn by studying it?
This photo was taken in Nepal. On which
continent is it found? To analyze the photo
we might look at the terrain. What is it
like? What evidence do you have that
people live in the area? What other
questions could you ask ?
HD Wallpapers Ghangdrung Village Annapurna Conservation Area Nepal
So, what’s the big deal about geography? Why
is it so important? Watch the video to find out!
“Why is Geography Important?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3YfE9VLFoA&feature=em-share_video_user
What is Geography?
The word, geography, invented by the ancient Greek scholar,
Erasosthenes, is based two Greek words; geo, meaning “Earth” and
graphy, meaning “to write”.
Geography is the study of the Earth and its features and of the
distribution of life on Earth, including human life and the effects of
human activity.
Geography is one of the oldest human activities—an early activity
would be a man taking a journey deep into the jungle or crossing a
river to communicate with a tribesman.
Today, everyone uses geography in some form—giving directions to
their house, watching the weather channel, or picking up trash from
their neighborhood
Main Branches of Geography
of Earth’s physical features
(climate, landforms, bodies of water, soil, plant
and animal life) in terms of their relationship to
one another and humans
 Physical—study
 Human
(cultural)—study of human activities and
their relationship to the cultural and physical
environments (political, economic, social and
cultural factors, like population growth, urban
development, economic production &
consumption)
Which branch of geography?
dreamlandtours.net
fotosearch.com
How about these?
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visiting Grand Canyon
because of the landscapes
driving up to South Dakota
to see Mt. Rushmore
visiting California to go to
Disneyland
flying to London to ride on
the Chunnel

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going to Nashville because
of the food and music
flying to New York to see
Niagara Falls
heading down to Texas to
experience the beach on
the Gulf
Visiting the Vatican
because of your faith
Can you match the other branches, or specialized fields, of
Geography to their description?

Economic Geography
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Urban Geography

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Cartography

Hydrology
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Meteorology

A. science of mapmaking
B. study of the Earth’s
atmosphere
C. study of area with a high
concentration of buildings and
infrastructure
D. study of distribution of
resources and their use
E. science dealing with water
So, what does a geographer do?

Geographers use spatial organization (the arrangement of
physical and human objects on the Earth's surface) as a
powerful tool to explain the world.

Geographers organize materials by place because they understand
that something happening at one place can result from something
that happened elsewhere and can affect conditions in other places.

Geographers study how the natural environment influences people,
how people’s activities affect Earth, and how the world is changing.

Geographers must look at many different things, including cities,
cultures, population, politics, economics, natural resources, and
the physical environment.

Geographers focus on “where” things are and “why” they are there.
What ? ? ? ? ? ?
Stated more simply,
“Geographers study the physical world to learn
how it works,”
and
“They study the human world to try to understand
people and how they interact with their
environment!”
Three Levels of the World-
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Local: helps people improve lives and plan for
future changes
Regional: helps geographers see how people
interact with each other
Global: helps us know how to live in a quickly
changing world
Think about an example for each level.
Let’s watch this video to find our what
YOU can do with geography?
“What can you do with geography?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mj8MTWZX4M&feature=emshare_video_user
What does a geographer use?

Research Methods—
Mapping
Direct Observation
Interviewing
Analyzing Statistics
Using Technology
RESEARCH METHODS:
MAPS & MAPPING
MAPS ARE ESSENTIAL TO GEOGRAPHERS!
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Maps are designed/made by cartographers.
3-D globes are the most accurate depiction of Earth because
flat maps use one of several types of projection that distorts
the Earth’s features in some way.
But, flat maps are easier to work with and show more
information and they are less expensive than globes.
Maps allow for visual comparisons and it’s easier to show
small areas on maps.
Could this information be represented on a globe?
There are many types of maps, such as:
Political
maps show boundaries and
location of countries, states, cities, etc.
Physical maps show location and
topography (shape of physical features).
Qualitative maps show information related
to a specific idea.
Flow-line maps illustrate movement.
Do you know which is which?
colocarto.com
worldatlas.com
Ccaliper.com
nationsonline.org
Nationsonline.com
Research Methods, continued.

Direct Observation
Geographers will often
visit a place to gather
information by
observing; they may
also use remote sensing,
like aerial photos and
satellite images to
study the Earth.

Interviewing
To find out what people
think about a certain
place, geographers will
sometimes have to talk
to a carefully chosen
sample of people,
whose answers
represent the group.
Research Methods, continued.

Analyzing Statistics
Geographers use
numerical information
that is organized and
analyze it to find
patterns and trends.
An example is using
census data to learn
about a population.

Using Technology
Geographers depend on
advanced technological
tools like satellites and
computers. Geographic
Information systems (GIS)
are computer tools that
process and organize data
and satellite images with
other types of information.
Geographic Information Systems
With the use of GIS, multiple layers of data
may be displayed in one map
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/geographic-information-system-gis/?ar_a=1
More GIS
nationalgeographic.com
This diagram shows the layers of data that affect the area of the Ogallala
Aquifer. GIS combines many layers to visualize how different features
are related. The graph shows water level change from 1980-1990.
More about Technology
Satellites

gather much info in the
form of images—
 true color
Other tools

computer programs (used
to create, update, compare
maps)
(similar to what we see)
 infrared
image
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(based on heat patterns)
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collect info we cannot see
from the Earth’s surface
help cartographers make
accurate maps

various measuring devices
(such as?)
notebook and recording
device
Hurricane Irene: 2011
nasa.gov
blogs.wm.edu
As you can see, there’s a lot to Geography!
 Some people think it’s just--
 Memorizing lists of countries and state capitals, or
 Studying rocks and soil, or
 Looking at maps, or
Analyzing pictures of faraway places
BUT IT’S FAR MORE THAN THAT!
IT’S ALL OF THAT, AND MORE
5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY
To help people learn about geography, the Themes
of Geography were created:
LOCATION
PLACE
REGIONS
MOVEMENT
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
What are the themes?????
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LOCATION describes where something is.
(Absolute & Relative Location)
PLACE describes the physical & human characteristics that
make a location unique.
REGIONS are areas that share common characteristics.
MOVEMENT explains how and why people and things move
and are connected.
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION describes the
relationship between people and their environment.
See “Themes”
Powerpoint
“The themes are too broad.”
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In 1994 geographers created, 18 NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS , a detailed list of what
should be taught and learned.
To connect the THEMES to the STANDARDS, the SIX
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS are used. They are thought of
as a bridge between the themes and the standards.
6 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
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I. The World in Spatial Terms
II. Places and Regions
III. Physical Systems
IV. Human Systems
V. Environment & Society
VI. The Uses of Geography
What connections can you see between the
themes & the elements?
Which Element
is
which??
What do we mean by spatial?
How is spatial organization connected to geography?
Spatial organization refers to the arrangement
of physical and human objects on the Earth’s
surface. We can use points, lines, areas and
volumes to help describe spatial organization—
A school is
(point)
connected by roads
(lines)
leading to nearby parks & neighborhoods
(area—length & width)
where ponds & lakes are found.
(volume—area and depth)
The First Essential Element
1. The World in Spatial Terms: Geographers look where a
place is located . Dividing the world into manageable
sizes helps us orient ourselves as to where we are.
 Hemispheres
Arctic
Ocean
 Continents
 Oceans
ASIA
N. America
Atlantic
Ocean
 Cities
 and . . .
Pacific
Ocean
Europe
Africa
Pacific
Ocean
Indian
Ocean Australia
S.
America
ntarctica
The First Essential Element, cont.
The world in Spatial Terms includes
Location, which can be described two ways:
A. Absolute Location: The exact position of a
place on the Earth’s surface. This may be determined
by using the imaginary geographic grid of parallels
(lines of latitude) and meridians (lines of longitude).
Prime Meridian
Equator
Equator
Section I
The First Essential Element, cont.
B. Relative Location: place on the Earth’s surface
in relation to another
Examples: “just east of the Mall”
“southeastern corner of KS”
“ the panhandle of OK”
“two blocks south of Our Lady of
Lourdes Church”
The Second Essential Element
2. Places and Regions:
a. Places describe the characteristics (human or
physical) of a location.
- landforms, climate, animal life,
human population, language, way of life
b. Regions: places that have one or more common
characteristic
 Rocky Mountains, tornado alley, the West
Coast, The Great Plains
Section I
The Second Essential Element, cont.
2. Places and Regions:
The Third Essential Element
3. Physical Systems: physical processes shape the
Earth’s surface and interact with plant & animal life
 flooding, earthquakes, rivers, volcanoes, weather
patterns.
The Fourth Essential Element
4. Human Systems: People are central to geography. Our
activities help shape the Earth’s surface, settlements &
structures.
 Farming & ranching
 Migration patterns
 Wars
 Governments
 Religions
 Movement-People move for many reasons
including new jobs, to attend special schools, to be
closer to family, to move away from a place (Dust
Bowl), or to move to a place (Gold Rush)
 The movement of ideas or behaviors from one
place to another is diffusion (to spread).
The Fifth Essential Element
5. Environment and Society: how the physical
environment is modified by human activities
How do people use the environment?
 farming
 water from rivers/aquifers
How do peoples’ actions affect the environment?
 flooding
 the Dust Bowl
 pollution
The Sixth Essential Element
6. The uses of geography: Geography helps us
understand relationships among people, places and
environments. Analyzing past events and applying
geographic skills helps us understand the past and
prepare for the future (maybe even prevent past mistakes).
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develop improved transportation networks
prepare for future natural disasters
plan for a city’s future growth
look at the future of people inhabiting space
Who Uses Geography
 Everyone does!
 We find our way to a new place – a new friend’s
house, a restaurant, an amusement park.
 We know where locations are when we watch the
news/sports – the crisis in the Ukraine; the
World Cup.
 We plan a vacation.
 We make the choice to protect our environment.
 Some professions:
 cartography
 meteorology
 community development
 military
 tourism
 conservation/recycling
Section I