the mother of all sciences: geography as a holistic homeschool framework

Geography: A Holistic Homeschool

FrameworkAngela Orr

How did you get here, today?

How did you get here, today?

CONGRATULATIONS! You just “did” Geography!

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““I think it is a very interesting I think it is a very interesting class and relevant to our lives. I class and relevant to our lives. I

like that she makes us take like that she makes us take quizzes on the physical quizzes on the physical

geography of the world and geography of the world and country because those are things country because those are things we should all know, but don’t.”we should all know, but don’t.”

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2006 Roper Survey2006 Roper SurveyNational Geographic SocietyNational Geographic Society

63% of Americans aged 18-24 cannot 63% of Americans aged 18-24 cannot find Iraq or Saudi Arabia on a map of find Iraq or Saudi Arabia on a map of the Middle Eastthe Middle East•75% cannot find Iran or Israel75% cannot find Iran or Israel•44% cannot find even one of these four 44% cannot find even one of these four

countriescountries Nine in ten (88%) cannot find Nine in ten (88%) cannot find

Afghanistan on a map of AsiaAfghanistan on a map of Asia

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54% do not know that Sudan is in Africa54% do not know that Sudan is in Africa•20% place Sudan in Asia20% place Sudan in Asia•10% put it in Europe10% put it in Europe

70% cannot find North Korea on a map70% cannot find North Korea on a map•63% do not know its border with South Korea is 63% do not know its border with South Korea is

the most heavily fortified in the worldthe most heavily fortified in the world 69% can find China on a map69% can find China on a map

•18% know Mandarin Chinese is the most widely 18% know Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken native language in the world; 74% say it spoken native language in the world; 74% say it is Englishis English

33% cannot find Louisiana on a U.S. map and 33% cannot find Louisiana on a U.S. map and 48% cannot find Mississippi; 50% cannot find 48% cannot find Mississippi; 50% cannot find New York StateNew York State

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One-third (34%) would go in One-third (34%) would go in the wrong direction in the the wrong direction in the event of an evacuation event of an evacuation

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GeographyGeography

It could just save your life.It could just save your life.

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What Does a Tidal WaveWhat Does a Tidal WaveLook Like?Look Like?

Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

1100

TsunamiTsunami

Geography is holisticGeography is holistic

►Interested in Interested in interrelationshipsinterrelationships

►Informed by many Informed by many other sciencesother sciences Geography is actually Geography is actually

the Mother of many the Mother of many other fields of scienceother fields of science

Honor Your MotherHonor Your Mother

What is Geography?What is Geography?

You may think that Geography is all about:You may think that Geography is all about:► MapsMaps


►Where things are in the worldWhere things are in the world


►The study of EarthThe study of Earth


►Earth’s landformsEarth’s landforms


►How humans and the How humans and the environment interact with environment interact with one anotherone another


If you thought geography was about any If you thought geography was about any of these, you are of these, you are correctcorrect..

Geography is about all of these things…Geography is about all of these things…

……AND MORE!!!AND MORE!!!

The most important The most important

question inquestion in Geography Geography isis::

Why is it there?

Where did “Geography” come Where did “Geography” come from?from?

Geo- Greek “ge” = “Earth”Geo- Greek “ge” = “Earth”

((geoid, geology, geoid, geology, geometry)geometry)

-graphy from Greek “graphe” =

“writing” or “description”

(Wait... “Graph”?)

Who were the first Who were the first Geographers?Geographers?

The Greeks were not The Greeks were not the first to “do” the first to “do” Geography…Geography…

Mesopotamian land ownership Mesopotamian land ownership map on a clay tablet map on a clay tablet


Ancient Egyptian gold mine map on papyrusAncient Egyptian gold mine map on papyrus

►The GreeksThe Greeks


Eratosthenes276 - 194 BCE

Straboc. 64 BCE - c. 24 CE

Hipparchusc. 190 - c. 120 BCE


►China, Japan, and KoreaChina, Japan, and Korea

Chinese map on silk, circa 168 BCE The Yu Ji Tu, China, stone, 1137 (copy of an even older map)


►Muslim geographersMuslim geographers

Tabula Rogeriana by Muhammad al-Idrisi, 1154

The Subdivisions of GeographyThe Subdivisions of Geography

►Geography can be divided into any Geography can be divided into any number of subfields. The main divisions number of subfields. The main divisions are:are: Physical GeographyPhysical Geography

►BiogeographyBiogeography Human GeographyHuman Geography Geoinformatics (Technical Geography)Geoinformatics (Technical Geography)

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography

►Physical geographyPhysical geography is the study of Earth’s is the study of Earth’s natural systems, their spatial distributions, natural systems, their spatial distributions, and interactions. It is the study of the and interactions. It is the study of the natural and human-induced processes that natural and human-induced processes that shape the surface of our planet.shape the surface of our planet. Subfields include geomorphology, climatology, Subfields include geomorphology, climatology,

hydrogeography, etc.hydrogeography, etc. Maintains connections with other physical Maintains connections with other physical

sciencessciences

BiogeographyBiogeography

►The study of the spatial distribution of The study of the spatial distribution of plants and animals.plants and animals.

Subfields include phytogeography, Subfields include phytogeography, zoogeography, pedology (cross-over with zoogeography, pedology (cross-over with physical geography), etc.physical geography), etc.

Often considered a subfield of Physical Often considered a subfield of Physical GeographyGeography

►The study of how people use the land, The study of how people use the land, how they perceive it and relate to it; the how they perceive it and relate to it; the spatial variations between human groupsspatial variations between human groups

Subfields include: cultural geography, economic Subfields include: cultural geography, economic geography, urban geography, political geography, urban geography, political geography, ethnic geography, geodemography, geography, ethnic geography, geodemography, religious geography, geolinguistics, proxemics, religious geography, geolinguistics, proxemics, etc.etc.

Maintains connections with all other social Maintains connections with all other social sciencessciences

Human GeographyHuman Geography

Geoinformatics/Geoinformatics/Technical GeographyTechnical Geography

►All of the technical specialties within the All of the technical specialties within the field which assist geographic studies.field which assist geographic studies. Cartography (GIS)Cartography (GIS) Remote sensingRemote sensing Statistical studiesStatistical studies Maintains connections with information Maintains connections with information

technologies, mathematics, computer technologies, mathematics, computer sciences, etc.sciences, etc.

The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals

► Every study of Geography incorporates Every study of Geography incorporates one or more of the following 5 one or more of the following 5 Fundamental Concepts in Geography:Fundamental Concepts in Geography:

1.1. LocationLocation

2.2. PlacePlace

3.3. MovementMovement

4.4. Human-Environment InteractionsHuman-Environment Interactions

5.5. RegionRegion

The 5 Fundamental Spatial The 5 Fundamental Spatial Concepts of GeographyConcepts of Geography

►1. 1. Location—Location—study of study of wherewhere something is something is found in Earth spacefound in Earth space

►2. 2. PlacePlace—study of the —study of the site and situationsite and situation characteristics of a particular portion of characteristics of a particular portion of spacespace



►2. 2. PlacePlace—study of the —study of the site and situationsite and situation characteristics of a particular portion of characteristics of a particular portion of spacespace

““Sense of Place” is an important geographical Sense of Place” is an important geographical conceptconcept

Sense of Placean artist’s interpretation

Sense of Placesome “imaginary” places

GLADIATORfilm

musicJIMMY BUFFETT

THE PERFECT VACATION

advertising

“MARGARITAVILLE”

?

Sense of Placesome “imaginary” places

GLADIATORfilm

musicJIMMY BUFFETT“MARGARITAVILLE”

(vs. REALITY!)?


►3. 3. MovementMovement—study —study of theof the circulationcirculation of of systems, objects, systems, objects, people, and ideas, people, and ideas, and their and their distributiondistribution (spatial patterning) (spatial patterning) on Earth’s surfaceon Earth’s surface


►4. 4. Human-Earth Human-Earth InteractionsInteractions—study —study of how humans of how humans perceive, use, and perceive, use, and alter the planet, and alter the planet, and how the environment how the environment affects and changes affects and changes humans, in returnhumans, in return


The worst possible outcome of a poor understanding of human-environment interactions...

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Environmental PerceptionEnvironmental Perception

• GeomancyGeomancy—land-use planning based on —land-use planning based on auspicious factors of the environment auspicious factors of the environment (Example: feng shui)(Example: feng shui)

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Putting feng shui into practice:Putting feng shui into practice:

““Water and RiversWater and Rivers are something that needs to are something that needs to be considered very carefully by the be considered very carefully by the Geomancer when looking at a residence... If Geomancer when looking at a residence... If the river flows the wrong way it would be the river flows the wrong way it would be considered to be draining one's wealth. Be considered to be draining one's wealth. Be very careful if thinking about buying a house very careful if thinking about buying a house near water!”near water!”

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Putting feng shui into practice:Putting feng shui into practice:

►5. 5. RegionRegion——

study of an area on Earth’s surface that study of an area on Earth’s surface that exhibits some form of spatial cohesion exhibits some form of spatial cohesion reflected by a reflected by a homogeneityhomogeneity of specific of specific features or functional linkages to a features or functional linkages to a central nodecentral node

(WHAAAA???)(WHAAAA???)

Areas that look similar or work togetherAreas that look similar or work together


Homogeneity of specific features

Functional linkages to a central node

Geography Is All About Geography Is All About Interconnections...Interconnections...

Earth’s 4 SpheresEarth’s 4 Spheres

Biosphere

Lithosphere

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

AtmosphereAtmosphere

LithosphereLithosphere

HydrosphereHydrosphere

The Lone Cypress

Pebble Beach, CABiosphere

So how can studying So how can studying Geography help my child Geography help my child

(and me) to thrive (and me) to thrive academically?academically?

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Interdisciplinary ConnectionsInterdisciplinary Connections Geography can foster the development of Geography can foster the development of

stronger ties between subjects, reinforcing stronger ties between subjects, reinforcing learning on multiple levelslearning on multiple levels

•Sociology, history, psychology, anthropology, Sociology, history, psychology, anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, humanities, economics, ethnic studies, humanities, philosophy, political science, urban planning, etc.philosophy, political science, urban planning, etc.

•Geology, meteorology, physics, oceanography, Geology, meteorology, physics, oceanography, soil sciences, botany, biology, chemistry, soil sciences, botany, biology, chemistry, medicine, etc.medicine, etc.

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Geography prepares students…Geography prepares students…

……to be informed, active, engaged citizens in a to be informed, active, engaged citizens in a global societyglobal society

……to be aware of the vital role they play in our to be aware of the vital role they play in our changing natural world, the shaping of world changing natural world, the shaping of world events, and the global landscapeevents, and the global landscape

……to make sense of world events, to make sense of world events, environments, cultures, conflicts, and diverse environments, cultures, conflicts, and diverse lifestyleslifestyles

Geography prepares them for life in an Geography prepares them for life in an increasingly global communityincreasingly global community

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Appreciates and celebrates the diversity of Appreciates and celebrates the diversity of cultures and environments found on Earthcultures and environments found on Earth

Critically analyzes differing world-views, Critically analyzes differing world-views, changing landscapeschanging landscapes

Looks at the world from multiple perspectives in Looks at the world from multiple perspectives in an unbiased and non-prejudicial wayan unbiased and non-prejudicial way

Provides an inviting environment of inclusiveness Provides an inviting environment of inclusiveness that is intellectually stimulatingthat is intellectually stimulating

Encourages students to pursue life-long Encourages students to pursue life-long educational goals with innovation and creativity, educational goals with innovation and creativity, to use skills and knowledge for the good of allto use skills and knowledge for the good of all

Geography...Geography...

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Geography students say:Geography students say:

““This...is a great way to open one’s eyes to the world This...is a great way to open one’s eyes to the world and gain an understanding to the issues that the world and gain an understanding to the issues that the world faces now and in the future.”faces now and in the future.”

““The best part...is the exposure I get to different The best part...is the exposure I get to different cultures.”cultures.”

““[P]rovides an excellent framework for Social Science [P]rovides an excellent framework for Social Science students.”students.”

the mother of all sciences: geography as a holistic homeschool framework

Education

sciencessciences geography

korea chinese map

map of asiaafghanistan

older map

map offind iraq

north korea

place sudan

worldwhere things