Basics of Geography

Basics of Geography

​Geography shapes culture: Climate, landscape, and resources influence food, traditions, and lifestyles.
It affects housing styles, clothing, and even daily routines

• Continent: A large area of land with many countries. There are seven!

• Ocean: A large body of salt water covering most of Earth's surface.

• Country: A land area within a continent with its own government, laws, and borders. There are hundreds!

• Region: An area of land with similar features, like climate, language, or culture, that make it different from other areas.

• Latitude: Imaginary lines running from north to south.

  • The Prime Meridian is the main line and splits Earth into eastern & western halves.

• Longitude: Imaginary lines running east to west.

  • The Equator is the main line and splits Earth into northern & southern halves.

Vocabulary

Match

Match the words to their definition

• A large area of land with many countries.

• A huge body of saltwater covering much of Earth.

  
  

• A land with its own government & borders

• An area with similar features

• Imaginary lines that divide the Earth into Hemispheres

Continent

Ocean

Country

Region

Longitude & Latitude

• Continent

• Ocean

• Country

• Region

• Longitude & Latitude

Understanding Geography

Why do we need it?

• It helps us understand where places are located and how they relate to each other.

• climate, resources, and location shape cultures, daily life, and economic activities, connecting us to global relationships and environmental challenges.

• Geography helps us see how people adapt to their environments, explains historical and political relationships, and highlights how interconnected cultures and economies are worldwide.

Multiple Choice

How can knowing geography help you in life?

• Geography is irrelevant in the digital age

• Knowing geography has no impact on personal relationships

• Geography is only useful for scientists.
• Geography enhances your understanding of the world

Natural Features & Land forms

​Natural features are parts of the Earth's surface that occur naturally, not man-made. Landforms are specific shapes or types of land, like mountains or valleys.

• Mountains: Examples- Andes, Himalayas, Rockies, etc

  • Impact: Mountain regions often have isolated communities, leading to unique languages, traditions, and farming methods

• Rivers: Examples- Nile River, Amazon River

  • Impact: Rivers provide water for farming, transportation, and trade, leading to the rise of ancient civilizations like Egypt and cultural celebrations around water.

• Deserts: Examples- Sahara Desert, Gobi Desert

  • Impact: Desert cultures adapt to scarce resources, using camels for transportation and creating traditions like storytelling to pass down knowledge in nomadic lifestyles.

• Oceans & Coasts: Examples- Pacific Ocean, Caribbean coastline

  • Impact: Coastal cultures often rely on fishing and develop strong maritime traditions, including festivals and seafood-focused cuisines.

Categorize

Options (8)

Skiing and snowboarding as hobbies

Making cheese from mountain livestock

Festivals celebrating water and rainy seasons

Growing rice along riverbanks

Light, breathable clothing for hot, dry conditions

Using camels for transportation

Fishing and building boats as jobs

Eating seafood like fish and shrimp

Match each example of food, jobs, traditions, clothes, or hobbies to the correct landform.

Mountains

Rivers

Deserts

Oceans/Coasts

Maps

• A map is a visual representation of an area.

• Maps can show different features like roads, mountains, and cities.

• We will be using maps to find locations, understand distance, see physical features, and learn about cultures

  • Maps help us see how land shapes lifestyles and where different cultures are.

Types of Maps

• Topographic maps show elevation and landforms using contour lines.

  • They help people (like hikers and travelers) understand the terrain.

• Political maps show countries, states, and their boundaries.

  • They help us understand political divisions in the world.

• Physical maps highlight natural features like mountains, rivers, and lakes.

  • They show the physical landscape of an area.

• Climate maps show different climate zones around the world.

  • They help us understand weather patterns and temperatures.

• Interactive maps allow users to zoom in and explore areas in detail.

  • They can provide real-time information like traffic and weather.

Labelling

Label the image with the types of maps

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Climate

Topographic

Interactive

Physical

Political

• Latitude lines run horizontally from East to West

• They help us pinpoint exact locations on Earth.

  • How far North or South a location is.

Navigating: Latitude

Labelling

Label the image with the types of maps

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Climate

Political

Physical

Interactive

Topographic

• Longitude lines run vertically from the North Pole to the South Pole.

• They help us pinpoint exact locations on Earth.

  • How far east or west a location is.

Navigating: Longitude

• Latitude and longitude lines form a grid that covers the entire Earth.

• Every location on Earth can be pinpointed by its unique set of coordinates (latitude first, longitude second)

• This grid is just a large scale version of the kind you've probably seen before.

  • Let's start small.

Navigating with Latitude & Longitude

​The tree is located at (A,3)

Identify the coordinates for the apple and the rainbow.

Multiple Choice

The tree is located at (A,3)

Identify the coordinates for the APPLE

• C, 2

• B, 1

• 1, B

• 2, C

Multiple Choice

The tree is located at (A,3)

Identify the coordinates for the RAINBOW

• C, 2

• B, 1

• 1, B

• 2, C

Match

Match the cities located at each of the following coordinates. 

(29°N, 95°W)

(33°N, 112°W)

(39°N, 105°W)

(45°N, 123°W)

(42°N, 95°W)

• (29°N, 95°W)

• (39°N, 105°W)

• (33°N, 112°W)

• (45°N, 123°W)

• (42°N, 95°W)

Houston

Denver

Phoenix

Portland

Lincoln

• Houston

• Denver

• Phoenix

• Portland

• Lincoln

Hemispheres

• The Prime Meridian (Longitude) splits the Earth into EASTERN and WESTERN Hemispheres

• The Equator (Latitude) splits the Earth into NORTHERN and SOUTHERN Hemispheres

• These Hemispheres each have CONTINENTS on them

There are 4 HEMISPHERES on the Earth
- North, South, East, & West

​Northern= North America, Europe, most of Africa & Asia, and a small part of South America
Southern= Australia, Antarctica, most of South America, and part of Asia, Europe & Africa
Eastern= Australia, most of Europe, Asia, & Africa, and half of Antarctica
Western= North & South America, a small part of Europe & Africa, and the other half of Antarctica

Continents

• There are seven continents

• Each continent has its own geography and wildlife.

• Each continent is made up of many different countries

​Fun Fact: Australia is the only continent that is also a country!

Countries

• A land area within a continent with its own laws, government, and borders.

• Countries can have very different sizes and populations

• Countries make up continents.

• Countries are usually divided into even smaller sections

  • States, Provinces, Territories, etc

Reorder

Reorder the following from Largest (1) to Smallest (4)

• Hemisphere

• Continent

• Country

• States

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

What are three countries in North America?

• Texas, Colorado, Arizona

• Russia, Alaska, United States

• Canada, United States, Mexico
• Chile, Argentina, Greenland

Multiple Choice

What are three STATES in the US?

• Florida, Canada, Mexico

• Arizona, Kansas, New York

• Ohio, Eastern, Caribbean

• Illinois, Arctic, Equator

Categorize

Options (16)

East

West

North

South

Africa

Asia

Europe

North & South America

Canada

Brazil

India

Japan

Texas

California

Florida

Colorado

Organize these options into the right categories: Hemisphere, Continent, Country

Hemisphere

Continent

Country

States (in the US)

Oceans

• Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth's surface.

• Coastal cultures are largely shaped by the sea.

  • Food, jobs, trade opportunities, traditions, stories, and festivals

• Pacific Ocean: Largest and deepest ocean.

  • Key Features: Contains many islands, home to the Mariana Trench, plays a crucial role in climate regulation.

• Atlantic Ocean: Second largest ocean.

  • Key Features: Major route for global trade, influences weather patterns like hurricanes.

• Indian Ocean: Third largest ocean

  • Key Features: Warm waters, crucial for monsoon weather patterns, significant for trade routes between East and West

• ​Southern Ocean: Fourth largest ocean.

  • Key Features: Cold waters, important for regulating Earth’s climate, rich in marine life like krill.

• Arctic Ocean: Smallest & shallowest ocean.

  • Key Features: Covered by sea ice most of the year, sensitive to climate change, habitat for polar bears and other Arctic wildlife.

Multiple Select

Why are oceans are important to the Earth? (4 correct answers)

• supporting human economies.

• oxygen production

• biodiversity

• climate regulation

• Fishing ONLY

Multiple Select

Which OCEAN borders the WESTERN and EASTERN side of North and South America?

• East = Pacific Ocean

• West= Atlantic Ocean

• West= Pacific Ocean

• East = Atlantic Ocean

Regions

• Regions can be defined by many different things:

  • Physical features: natural features like mountains, rivers

  • Culture: people share common cultural traits, such as language, religion, or traditions

  • Political boundaries: defined by governmental boundaries, like countries or states

  • Economics: shared economic activities or conditions

  • Climate zones: Defined by consistent weather patterns or climates over a long period

  • Environmental: similar ecosystems or environmental conditions

  • Historical events: Areas defined by historical boundaries or events

​Regions are areas defined by specific characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.

Reorder

Identify the type of region in each example based on its defining characteristics and reorder them into the correct order:
1- Physical Features

2- Political Boundaries

3- Culture

4- Climate Zone

• The Himalayas-

  Defining Characteristic: Highest mountain range in the world

• United States-

  Defining Characteristic: Divided into states with their own governments.

• Japan-

  Defining Characteristic: Shared customs, language, and cultural practices.

• The Gulf Coast-

  Defining Characteristic: Area known for its warm, humid climate

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

• Knowing the unique features of each region guides our choices in travel, business, and environmental protection.

• For example, businesses can find the best expansion locations, and conservation efforts can be informed by regional environmental factors.

Smart Decision Making

• Recognizing diverse cultures, languages, economies, and environments helps us appreciate how different groups live and interact, creating sensitivity and awareness of regional differences.

• This understanding improves our ability to communicate and work with others

Understanding Differences

Why do region characteristics matter?

Open Ended

Imagine you're working for a travel company that wants to offer new trips in different parts of the world. Read about the three regions below, then decide where your company should expand.

QUESTION: Which region would be the best choice for a nature-friendly travel company? Why?

Region A: Hot and dry with large deserts. Most people speak Arabic. The economy depends on oil.

Region B: Tropical with lots of rain and rainforests. Known for its plants and animals. Focuses on eco-tourism and protecting nature.

Region C: Cold winters with snowy landscapes. Popular for skiing and other winter sports.

Open Ended

Imagine you're working for a travel company that wants to offer new trips in different parts of the world. Read about the three regions below, then decide where your company should expand.

QUESTION: Which region would be the best for a winter sports travel company? Why?

Region A: Hot and dry with large deserts. Most people speak Arabic. The economy depends on oil.

Region B: Tropical with lots of rain and rainforests. Known for its plants and animals. Focuses on eco-tourism and protecting nature.

Region C: Cold winters with snowy landscapes. Popular for skiing and other winter sports.