The 5 Themes of GeographyLocation

Place

Human-Environment Interaction

Movement

Regions

Location– Absolute:

Latitude and Longitude GPS systemExact location on the globe: Hemispheres, Prime Meridian, Equator, North and South Poles

– Relative:Is the location close to other places?

*Florida is south of Massachusetts*Cape Cod is on the East Coast

PlaceEvery place has features that make it unique

from all other places.

Physical Characteristics• Landforms- mountains,

plateaus, plains, mesa• Vegetation- rain forest,

desert plants, redwoods• Climate- average and

extreme weather

Human Characteristics• How many people

live, work or visit a place.

• What are the languages, customs, and beliefs.

• Government, economy

Human Environment Interaction

• How do people interact with their environment (building a dam, cutting down trees, home construction)

• How does the environment affect people (hurricanes, volcanoes, levees, drought, deer population)

Region• The area of land with one or more common

characteristics.

• Regions can have the same language, religion, historical background, landforms, and many other criteria.

Movement

• Movement of people, products, information and earth

• Plate tectonics and earthquakes are movement

• People moving from one place to another to live.

• Movement of information-technology.

How does the five themes relate to South Dakota.

•What is the LOCATION?

•What makes this area unique? PLACE

•What is the common characteristic of the REGION and what impact does the REGION have on the surrounding area?

•What evidence is there of HUMAN/ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION?

•How has MOVEMENT involved during and after? (People, communication, land)