Chapter 1:

Themes and Essential Elements

Human Geography:•Studies how people live and use resources.•Ex. Jobs, food, activities, clothing etc.

Physical Geography:•Studies the natural environment.•Ex. Weather patterns, landscape, terrain etc.

How are these two branches different?

The 2 Main Branches of Geography

Formal Region: •Has one or more common feature that makes it different from surrounding areas. • Ex. Population (city), landscape (Rocky Mountains), beliefs/perceptions of individuals (Bible Belt)

Functional Region:•Made up of different places that are linked together and function as a unit (organized around a central unit).• Ex. Belden Village Mall, Union Station (Chicago), City offices.

Perceptual Region:• Regions that reflect human feelings and attitudes.• Ex. “Back home,” the ghetto, dixie etc.

Types of Regions

Location:

Exact or relative spot of something on earth. •Absolute= precise location.•Relative= What it is near.

Ex. •Driving directions-•Absolute= GPS•Relative= Next to the gas station.

5 Themes of Study

Movement:

How people and things change location and the effects of these changes.

Ex. •Cities located near water/resources. •Moving to warmer climate.•Shortage of water in California•Larger cities, more urban areas.

5 Themes of Study

Region:

Organizes earth into geographic areas with one or more shared characteristic.

Ex. •Terrain: Midwest (farmland) Rocky Mountains etc. •Weather patterns- South and West (warmer climate).

5 Themes of Study

Place:

Physical and human features of a location.

Ex. •Urban, rural, suburban. •Stereotypes: Red neck, ghetto, ritzy, etc.

5 Themes of Study

Human- Environmental Interaction:

The way people and environments interrelate with and affect each other.

Ex. •Pollution- L.A. smog, Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie.•Building dams and roads etc.

5 Themes of Study