The Five Themes of Geography

A Framework for Studying the World

AP Human Geography

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

Absolute Location Examples

–Paris France is 48Paris France is 48o o North North Latitude and 2Latitude and 2oo East Longitude. East Longitude.

–The White House is located at The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Relative Location

• Where a place is in relation to another place

• Uses directional words to describe

Relative Location Examples• Lake Michigan is on the eastern

side of Chicago. • North Carolina is one of the

Southeastern States• Go 1 mile South on Avenue O and

turn left.

Theme 2: PlacePhysical Characteristics• Land Features• Mountains,

plains, and plateaus

• Climate• Bodies of Water

Theme 2: PlaceHuman Characteristics

• People• Culture• Language• Religion• Buildings and

Landmarks• Cities

• What are the main What are the main languages, customs, and languages, customs, and beliefs.beliefs.

• How many people live, How many people live, work, and visit a placework, and visit a place

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction

How do humans and the environment affect

each other?

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

People . . .• Adapt to Their Environment

• We adapt to the environment by wearing We adapt to the environment by wearing

clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and

winter (coats), rain and shine.winter (coats), rain and shine.

• Modify Their Environment• People modify our environment by People modify our environment by

heating and cooling buildings for comfort.heating and cooling buildings for comfort.

• Depend on Their Environment• People depend on the Chicago River/Lake People depend on the Chicago River/Lake

Michigan for water and transportation.Michigan for water and transportation.

Theme 4: MovementThe Mobility of• People• Goods• Ideas

How Places are linked to one another and the world

– Human MovementHuman Movement

• Trucks, Trains, PlanesTrucks, Trains, Planes

– Information MovementInformation Movement

• Phones, computer (email), mailPhones, computer (email), mail

– Idea MovementIdea Movement

• How do fads move from place to How do fads move from place to place? place?

TV, Radio, MagazinesTV, Radio, Magazines

Theme 5: Regions

What Places Have in Common

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

REGIONSREGIONS

• How are Regions similar to and different from How are Regions similar to and different from other places?other places?– Formal RegionsFormal Regions

• Regions defined by governmental or administrative Regions defined by governmental or administrative boundaries (States, Countries, Cities)boundaries (States, Countries, Cities)

• Regions defined by similar characteristics (Midwest region, Regions defined by similar characteristics (Midwest region, Corn Belt, Rocky Mountain region, Chinatown).Corn Belt, Rocky Mountain region, Chinatown).

– Functional RegionsFunctional Regions• Regions defined by a function (newspaper service area, cell Regions defined by a function (newspaper service area, cell

phone coverage area).phone coverage area).

– Vernacular/Perceptual Regions Vernacular/Perceptual Regions • Regions defined by peoples perception (middle east, the Regions defined by peoples perception (middle east, the

south, etc.)south, etc.)

Remembering the 5 themesRemembering the 5 themes

• If you can’t remembering what If you can’t remembering what they are just ask MR. HELP!!!they are just ask MR. HELP!!!• MM – Movement – Movement• RR – Regions – Regions• HEHE – Human Environment interaction – Human Environment interaction• LL – Location – Location• PP - Place - Place