Basic Geography

Unit One

Location

Place

Region

Movement

Human-Environment Interaction

Five Themes of Geography

Absolute – uses longitude and latitude to pinpoint an

exact location Example: Tiebal’s sits at the intersection of Route

30 & 41

Relative – Shows places in comparison to places

around itMore commonly used to give directions

than absolute

Example: Lake Central is across the street from Speedway

Location – "Where is it at?"

Every place on earth has its own unique characteristicsDetermined by:

peopleSurroundings

Examples: vegetation, climate, culture

Place – "What is it like?"

An area with similar characteristicsCharacteristics could be:

Physical, Political, Economic, Cultural, Population Distribution

• Formal – defined by a political boundaryExample: Indiana, Ohio, USA, Canada, etc.

• Functional – area connected to a central hubExample: St. John to Chicago We travel by train, car, boat, bike, foot, helicopter, etc.

• Perceptual – how we feel we are connected to an areaExample: We are suburb of ChicagoWe follow IN law, but our entertainment/news is from IL

Region – "What does an area have in common?"

Who is the Governor of Illinois??

The answer: Patrick Quinn

Who is the Governor of Indiana?

The answer: Mitch Daniels

Pop Quiz!!

Governor Daniels, Indiana

Governor Quinn, Illinois

Linear Distance – How far something travels

Time Distance – How long it takes something to travelModern advantages have shortened time

distanceExamples: trucks, planes, boat, train

Psychological Distance – How people view distanceThe more familiar you are with a trip, the

shorter it seemsThe less familiar you are, the further the trip

seems

Movement – "How do people, ideas, and good move?"

Study of the way people use and/or change the land they live onPeople can change their land both positively &

negativelyPhysical environment can change human

activity

Changes: farming, dams, filling in swamps, pollution, etc.

What other alterations to the environment can you think of? Are they positive or negative?

Human Environment Interaction – How do people relate to their physical world?"