The Five Themes of Geography

A Framework for Studying the World

PRESTON HIGH SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT

PowerPoint Presentations2012-2013

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

WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?!!!• Lines joining points of the same latitude trace circles on the surface of the Earth called parallels, as they are parallel to the equator and to each other.

• The North Pole is 90° N; the South Pole is 90° S.

• The 0° parallel of latitude is at the equator; it is the fundamental plane of all geographic coordinate systems.

• The equator divides the globe into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

North CarolinaAbsolute Location

• North Carolina36° N Latitude 79° W longitude

• Chapel Hill35° 55' N Latitude 79° 05' W Longitude

ABSOLUTE LOCATION OF…

• http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html

Relative Location

• Where a place is in relation to another place

• Uses Directional Words to describe– Cardinal Directions (N,S,E,W)– Intermediate Directions (NW, SE,

etc.)

North Carolina

• North Carolina is bordered by Virginia on the north, South Carolina and Georgia on the south, and Tennessee on the west.

• The Atlantic Ocean forms North Carolina's east coast.

• North Carolina is one of the Southeastern States

Theme 2: PLACEa) Physical Characteristics• Land Features• Mountains, plains,

and plateaus• Climate• Bodies of Water

North Carolina: Physical Characteristics

http://www.wetmaap.org/Cape_Hatteras/ch_tm_2.html

Photos above: Steve Pierce

Theme 2: PLACEb) Human Characteristics

• People• Culture• Language• Religion• Buildings and

Landmarks• Cities

North Carolina: Human Characteristics

National Geographic Magazine

http://www.rivinus.com/camerastuff/charlotte_nc.htm

Top right:http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/unc/nonsport/school-bio/unc-oldwell2-lg.jpg

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

North Carolina: Human Environment Interaction

http://aam.wcu.edu/grant/images/Fontana%20Dam%20Shirley.jpg

http://www.ee.duke.edu/~sag8/Duke/02-03/PiKA/Fall%20Break/Fall_Break_02.htm

http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukemag/issues/091002/images/mallc.jpg

Theme 4: Movement

The Mobility of• People• Goods• Ideas

How Places are linked to one another and the world… and how things get there!

North Carolina: Movement

http://www.marad.dot.gov/Gallery/MoreheadCity/pages/Ming%20Europe.htm

http://www.evertize.com/land/images/I-40-64%20interchange.JPG

Theme 5: Regions

What Places Have in Common:

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

North Carolina: Regions

http://home.neo.rr.com/rodsphotogallery/NaturalWonders/SeaSand/Images/JockeysRidge.jpg

http://www.shorebirdworld.org/fromthefield/Images/Hatteras%20Light.JPG

http://www.homestead.com/pncfa/files/piedmontmap.jpg

http://www.ncbbi.org/images/piedmont-images/piedmont-nc-heartland-golf.jpg

Steve Pierce

Review of Themes1. Location

– Absolute & Relative

2. Place

– Physical & Human

3. Human Environment Interaction

4. Movement

– Mobility & Linkage

5. Regions

– Political & Landform

– Agricultural & Cultural