The Five Themes of Geography

Unit 1: Intro to GeographyGeo 12

Ms. ThindSeptember 2, 2011

Location

Position on the earth’s surface Two types of location:

Relative Location uses comparison Eg: 250 km north of Vancouver Absolute Location uses longitude and

latitudeEg: 20° 15’ 30” North and 45° 28’ 10”

Movement The varied patterns in the movement of:

1. Life Forms: Migration of people and animals 2. Ideas: Ways we communicate 3. Materials: Trade routes, glaciers

Human and Physical Interaction The way humans depend on, adapt to,

and modify the environment.

How do we depend on the environment?

How do we adapt to the environment?

How do we modify the environment?

Place Describes the physical and human

characteristics that make a location unique.

Human characteristics:

Physical characteristics:

Regions

Basic units of study that define an area with certain human and/or physical characteristics.

Eg: Climate zones, vegetation zones, mountainous

Three types of regions:

1) Formal: defined by governmental or admin. boundaries.

EG: provinces: BC and Alberta or countries: Canada and US

2) Functional: those defined by a function.

EG: newspaper service area, police dept, shopping districts.

3) Vernacular regions: loosely defined by peoples perception.

EG: The Middle East, The Maritimes