The Five Themes of Geography

A Framework for Studying the World

Based on National Geography Standards

Created by Ms. Panasyan, Instructional Coach for 7th grade students

Theme 1: Location

• Where is it?• Why is it There?

Two Types of Location

•Absolute

•Relative

Absolute Location• A specific place on the Earth’s surface• Uses a grid system• Latitude and longitude• A global address

CALIFORNIAAbsolute Location

• Sacramento: (capital city) 38º 34' N, 121º 29' W

• Los Angeles: (largest city) 34º 03' N, 118º 14' W

Let’s practice

Relative Location

• Where a place is in relation to another place

• Uses directional words to describe– Cardinal and

intermediate directions

California

• California is bordered by Oregon

on the north, Mexico south, and Nevada and Arizona on the east.

• The Pacific Ocean forms California’s west coast.

• California is one of the Southwestern States of the US.

Theme 2: PlacePhysical Characteristics• Land Features• Mountains, plains,

and plateaus• Climate• Bodies of Water

CALIFORNIA: Physical Characteristics

Redwood Forest

Mt. Shasta

Theme 2: PlaceHuman Characteristics

• People• Culture• Language• Religion• Buildings and

Landmarks• Cities

California: Human Characteristics

Disneyland

Downtown LA

GETTY MUSEUM

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction

How People Interact With Their Environment

People . . .• Adapt to Their Environment• Modify Their Environment• Depend on Their Environment

http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/corbis/DGT119/BAG0017.jpg

California: Human-Environment Interaction

Theme 4: Movement

The Mobility of• People• Goods• Ideas

How Places are linked to one another and the world

California: Movement

Theme 5: Regions

What Places Have in Common

• Political Regions• Landform Regions• Agricultural Regions• Cultural Regions

California: Regions

Steve Pierce

Assignment• “What does each theme look like?”

1. Create pictures, drawings, or symbols to visually represent each of the fives themes of geography.– Your picture should clearly describe the theme.

– Be creative, and thoughtful.

2.On page 7, write a paragraph explaining which theme is the most important for geographers to teach people about geography and why?

3. On page 8, write a paragraph explaining which theme is your favorite in learning about geography and why?

Criteria for completing 5 themes of Geography BookletIn order to get an “A” on the assignment I should have the

following information :

Vista Heading, Creative title of the project, ____/5Movement tab ( description, colored picture, sentence)

____/5

Place tab (description, colored picture, sentence) ____/5

Location tab (description, colored picture, sentence)

____/5

Interaction (description, colored picture, sentence)

____/5

Region (description, colored picture, sentence) ____/5

My opinion page ( complete paragraph 5-7 sentences); correct grammar & punctuation

___/10

The most interesting theme page(complete paragraph, 5-7 sentences) ;l correct grammar & punctuation

___/10

Total points: ____/50