Using The Five Themes Of Geography in Your Current Events
1. MOVEMENT: This theme includes the many kinds of movement on the planet. It includes
the movement of people (migrations) ideas (cultural diffusion and innovations), information,
goods & services (trade and economics); as well as such things as earth (quakes), air and water
(currents, storms etc)
2. REGION: This theme is about the common characteristics that make a certain
place unique. A physical region would include the climate, or landforms. A
human region would include things like, the language spoken, the predominant religion, the
type of economic activity. The main idea is what the common characteristics are that make this
spot different or unique. For example. Economically, we think of the Midwest states as a region
because they are industrial and make things in manufacturing. Culturally, we think of Dearborn
as an Arabic region because most of Dearborn’s population has traditions such as language and
religion that trace back to the Arab world.
3. HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION: This theme is about how humans change and
interact with the earth as well as how the earth forces us to adapt to the environment. We raise
crops, dig up minerals, build roads and cities. Across time and space, humans leave our marks
on the landscape. We cause pollution, we build pyramids and skyscrapers, we dig pits. We also
have to adapt to changes in nature, for example, hurricanes, earthquakes, tidal waves, etc.
4.
LOCATION: Tells where . Absolute location gives an exact spot. Most often it refers to the
latitude and longitude of a place. You can find absolute locations in the index part of your
atlas. Relative location tells where the event is in relation to something else. Most often
relative location includes phrases that include direction words such as “north of”, “western”,
“to the east of” etc.
5. PLACE: This tells what it is like in a certain spot. It means describable characteristics.
Physical characteristics mean telling about the landforms, water, climate, soil, or plants
and animals in that spot. Human Characteristics means telling about how people live in
that spot. It includes how they may use the land, where population is concentrated,
buildings and roads, etc.
Grade 7 Social Studies, Mrs. Brousseau, Pierce Middle School, Fall 2009