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Five Themes of
Geography
What are the Five Themes of
Geography?
► Location
 Where is it?
► Place
 What’s it like there?
► Human/Environment
Interaction
 What’s the relation between humans and their
environment?
► Movement
 How and why are places connected with one
another?
► Region
 How and why is one area similar to another?
Location
Where is it?
► Absolute Location refers to the exact location of
something.
 Ex: We can use longitude (North/South) and latitude
(East/West) to identify where something is exactly on
a map or globe. We can also use street addresses to
locate an exact location in a city or town.
► Relative
Location refers to where something is
based on where something else is.
 Ex: The Miami Lakes Fire Department is next to the
Miami Lakes Library.
Place
What’s it like there?
► Places can be described by two kinds of
characteristics:
► Physical Characteristics describe a place
based on it’s natural environment.
 Ex: Landforms, bodies of water, climate, soil,
vegetation, animal life, etc.
► Human
Characteristics describe a place
based on human ideas and actions.
 Ex: Highways, buildings, parks, etc.
Human/Environment
Interaction
► This
theme answers the question, “What
is the relationship between humans and
the environment?” Three concepts are
involved here:
► Human depend on the environment:
The natural environment is made up of
living and non living things. Humans
depend on this for food, shelter, and
clothing.
Human/Environment
Interaction
► Humans
modify the environment:
Humans change an environment to meet
their needs.
 Ex: Aqueducts, irrigate fields, create canals,
build schools, homes, etc.
► Humans
adapt to the environment:
Humans adapt to circumstances in the
environment
 Ex: People use Air Conditioners in places that
are very hot, and heaters in places that are
Movement
How and Why are places connected with
one another?
► Relationships between people in different
places are shaped by constant movement
of:
 Ideas
 Materials
 People
Regions
How are areas similar? Different?
► Physical Characteristics
 Climate, soil, natural vegetation.
 Ex: Mountain peaks, canyons, deserts, etc.
► Human
Characteristics
 Economic, social, and cultural characteristics.
 Ex: New England, The South, The Midwest, The Bible
Belt, etc.
► Boundaries
can be vague (unclear)
 This is because two different regions can overlap with
each other. Regions also do not have to be directly
next to each other or simply located in one spot.
The Six Essential Elements
What are the Six Essential
Elements of Geography?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The World in Spatial Terms
Places and Regions
Physical Systems
Human Systems
Environment and Society
Geography and its Uses
World in Spatial Terms
► This
element shows the world and places
using maps and space.
► Absolute and Relative Location
► It is similar to Location in the Five
Themes.
Places and Regions
► This
element goes along with the people
in certain places and regions.
 Ex if a place is incredibly suited for farming,
this activity may be the center of peoples lives
in that area.
Physical Systems
► Physical
Systems can change the surface
of the Earth.
► Animals and Plant life must live together
in order to survive.
► The Shape of the world around people
also effects the way they live.
 Ex: You can’t ride your bike in
the water, or go swimming on
a mountain top.
Human Systems
► Like
Physical Systems, Humans can
change the geography around them.
 Ex: We can make a big river smaller by
building a dam, or irrigate a field to bring
water into an area that didn’t originally have
water. Rome built aqueducts to bring water
into its cities and town.
Environment and Society
► Humans
are affected by their
environments and vice versa.
 Humans can grow trees to provide more
oxygen. (Humans affecting the environment)
 The weather is very cold so humans must
wear warmer clothing to survive.(environment
affecting humans)
The Uses of Geography
► Understand
the relationship among
people, places, and environments over
time.
► Understanding the past and preparing for
the future.
 Ex: In the past we saw the damage a
hurricane could do. So to prepare for a storm
like that, we build homes that can withstand
the force of those winds to safely get by the
storm.