Do Now!

Make a list of any country that you know

of… without your neighbor!!!!!!

Chapter 1

What is Geography??????

The Basics of Geography

• Geography- the study of everything on Earth– From rocks and rainfall to people and places

• Geographers-people who study geography– How natural environment influences people, how

people affect the Earth, and how the world changes

Perspective and Landscapes

• Geographers use these two to study the world• Perspective: the way a person looks at

something• Landscape: Scenery of a place

• What is your perspective of Richland?• What is the landscape of Richland?

Two Main Branches:Human and Physical

• Human Geography: people study the distribution and characteristics of the world’s people– Where they live, work, and ways of life

• Physical Geography: focuses on Earth’s natural environment– Landforms, water features, atmosphere, animals,

plants, etc…..

• These two branches link together by how people interact with their environment

Who uses geography??

YOU DO!!•How you choose to get to and from school, hear about other countries, watch the news, use your phone…•Most jobs require the use of geography:– Restaurant owner?– Politician?– Clerk at gas station?

What helps us use geography

• Cartography: the study of maps and mapmaking (cartographer)

• Meteorology: the study of weather (meteorologists)

Regionan area with one or more common features that make

it different from surrounding areas• Regions are defined by their human and physical

features– Languages, religions; climate, soils

• Regions can have both set boundaries and unclear boundaries– Example:

• Set boundary: United States• Unclear boundary: Tornado Alley

• Can be any size and can be divided into smaller areas called subregions.

Types of Regions• Formal- one or more common features that make

it different from surrounding areas– Based on any feature or combination of features– Physical, economical, etc….

• Functional- Different places that are linked together and function as a unit– City transit system, shopping malls, big cities with

suburbs

• Perceptual-reflect human feelings and attitudes– “Back home” easy to know but hard to define exactly– Dixie: seen in different ways

5 Themes of Geography

• Location-exact(absolute) or relative spot of something

• Place- physical and human features of a location• Human-Environmental Interaction-how people

and environments interact• Movement- How people and things change

locations and the effects of the changes• Region-organizes Earth in geographic areas

Organizing the Globe

• Latitude• Longitude• Meridians• Parallels• Hemispheres • Continents

Latitude• Runs East-West • Measures

distance North- South of equator

• Also called parallels

Longitude• Runs North-

South • Measures

distance East-West of Prime Meridian

• Also called Meridians

• Measure distances in Degrees and Minutes• Latitude= 0-90 N/S• Longitude= 0-180 E/W• Globe is also organized into Hemispheres (4)– Equator divides globe into North and South

Hemisphere– Prime Meridian divides globe into Eastern and

Western Hemispheres

Also organized into Continents

Understanding Maps

• Atlas- collection of maps in one book • Scale• Directional Indicators• Legends• Other Elements

Different types of Maps

• Climate• Precipitation• Population• Resources/Land Use• Elevation Maps• Climate Graphs• Population Pyramids

Map Activity: Write and Answer the following questions

1. Tell where the location of the scale is. 2. Name and give symbols of 5 things located in the legend. 3. What two states are included on this map?4. What river separates the two states listed in #3?5. What is this a map of?6. In what quadrant is Lee Field Airborne Drop Area located?7. What 2 interstates run through 5’E, 81’S8. Give the coordinates of an area with a pond, identify the

pond as well. 9. Give the coordinates for the city of Wynnton. 10. Find a multiple track railroad and give the coordinates.