Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory

geography = the study of the earth and how man

adapts to his/her environment. Essential Questions:

1. What effect does geography have on the lives of human society (people)?

2. How do the different land masses and bodies of water help to shape our world?

3. How did different land masses and bodies of water shape the civilizations we will study?

4. How are history & geography similar/different? – time vs. space

If history is a play or drama, then geography is the __________

The Unit’s Essential Question

• What is an essential question?– What you are expected to answer at the end of

each Unit.– They guide my teaching, your learning and

uncover the important ideas at the heart of each subject

• This unit’s essential questions are …

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory

Basic Themes of GeographyEQ: What effect does geography have on the lives of

human society (people)?

1. Location = absolute location (latitude & longitude)

2. Place = physical & human characteristics3. Relationship w/in Places = people adapt their

way of life to accommodate their environment (ex. ___________)

4. Movement = interaction of people through trade, etc.

5. Regions = climate & vegetation or economics & religion/language of a place

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory EQ: How do the different land masses and bodies of water

help to shape our world?

Land Forms (30%)• Continents

– The largest of the landforms = mainlands• Identify seven or five?

– Continent v. Country• What is the difference?

• Islands = – A land form surrounded by water.

• Peninsulas =– A land form surrounded on three sides by water.

• Isthmus =– A narrow strip of land which connects two larger

bodies of land.

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory EQ: How do the different land masses and bodies of water help to shape

our world?

Land Features• Mountains =

– Land with an altitude 2000 ft. & greater.

– Identify two great ranges and their location =

• Hills =– Land with an altitude 500 – 2000 ft.

• Plateaus =– Land with an altitude of 2000 ft. & greater with at least one side

ending in a steep drop.

• Plains =– Rolling hills with an altitude of 0 – 500 ft.

– 90% of the world’s population live on plains.

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory EQ: How do the different land masses and bodies of water help to shape

our world?

Water Forms (70%)• Oceans (identify 4) =

– Largest of the water forms.

– Gulfs, Seas, Bays = Water forms which extend into land.

• Lakes– Water form surrounded by land.

• Rivers (identify 2) = begins = / ends =

– Water form which flows within a land form

– Delta = fertile area sometimes created when a river deposits mineral rich soil near its mouth.

– Tributary = a smaller river/stream which flows into (contributes to) another river.

• Straits v. Canal– A narrow strip of water which connects to larger bodies of water.

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory EQ: What effect does latitude have on climate (define)?

Latitude & Longitude (Absolute Location)• Latitude & Longitude (45°N, 20°E)

– human made grid system – allows one to find the absolute location

• Latitude – A flat line on the surface of the earth measuring distance north & south of the Equator.– Lines of latitude are also known as parallels– Equator = Zero degrees latitude – divides …– Tropic of Cancer =– Tropic of Capricorn =– The Arctic Circle =– The Antarctic Circle =

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory

Climate RegionsFive lines of latitude divide the Earth’s surface into four climate regions.

Identify the five lines & four climate zones =

Arctic Circle

66.5 degrees N. Latitude

Tropic of Cancer

23.5 degrees N. Latitude

Equator – 0 degrees Latitude

Tropic of Capricorn

23.5 degrees S. Latitude

Antarctic Circle

66.5 degrees S. Latitude

Polar

Temperate

Tropic

Temperate

Polar

Sub-Tropic

Sub-Tropic

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory

EG: What effect does longitude have on time?

Longitude• Longitude – A long line on the surface of the earth measuring

distance east & west of the Prime Meridian.

• Prime Meridian = Zero degrees longitude. It is a line which runs from pole to pole through the city of Greenwich, England. Scientist at the Greenwich Observatory developed longitude and made themselves the center of the earth. – Lines of longitude are also known as Meridians.

• The International Date Line = 180 degrees longitude. It is the line opposite of the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian and International Date Line combine to form a Great Circle which divides the earth into the eastern & western hemisphere.

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory

Seasons• Axis = day

– An imaginary line upon which the earth rotates.– The axis wobbles at approximately 23.5 degrees off of perpendicular

from the plain created by the earth’s revolution around it’s orbit.

• Rotation = Day– The earth completes one counter-clockwise rotation on its’ axis in

approximately 24 hrs.

• Orbit = year– The path which the earth takes as it revolves around the sun. The

positions of the earth’s axis in relation to the sun as it revolves on its’ orbit causes the change in the seasons.

• Revolution = year– The earth completes one counter-clockwise revolution on its’ orbit in

approximately 365 & ¼ days. In order to account for the extra ¼ each year every 4th year an extra day (February 29th) is added to the calendar. This is called leap year.

Unit 1: Geography & Prehistory

Seasons (Cont.)• Equinox (Autumnal 9/23/Vernal 3/21)

– “Equal night” = when the Earth reaches the point on its orbit where its’ axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun, but exactly across.

– both hemispheres have 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.

• Solstice (Winter 12/22/Summer 6/21)– The solstice is the day when the direct rays of the Sun hits the

surface of the Earth directly on the Tropic line. – “When the sun stops” = the tilt of the Earth’s axis moves to a

point where in the northern hemisphere it is either leaning toward or away from the sun at 23.5 degrees.