The 5 Themes of Geography

Location • Asks the Question “Where Is It”? • Exact/Absolute Location– Uses latitude and Longitude– Tells you the exact point where something is – Ex: Dublin Ireland is 53 degrees N 6 W.

• Relative Location– Uses the 8 directions, gives you an approximate location

of something. – Canada is to the North of United States, West of

Greenland.

Place• Describes location using characteristics.• Physical Characteristics – landforms, climate,

plant, or animals• Human Characteristics – language, or way of

life

Human Environment Interaction

• How we as humans shape our surroundings.

Movement• How do people, things, and ideas move from

one place to another– People – trains, planes, automobiles, buses etc.– Things – ships, planes etc.– Ideas – telephone, computers, internet etc.

Region• Scientists group places into regions – share

common characteristics. • Northeast United States – manufacturing

region of the United States