1. The Five Themes of Geography A Framework for Studying the World
Based on National Geography Standards
Created by Ms. Panasyan, Instructional Coach for 7th grade students

2. Theme 1: Location Two Types of Location Where is it? Absolute
Relative
Where is it?
Why is it There?

3. Absolute Location A specific place on the Earth’s surface
Uses a grid system
Latitude and longitude
A global address

4. Sacramento: (capital city) 38º 34' N, 121º 29' W
CALIFORNIA
Absolute Location
Sacramento: (capital city) 38º 34' N, 121º 29' W
Los Angeles: (largest city) 34º 03' N, 118º 14' W

5. Let’s practice

6. Relative Location Where a place is in relation to another place
Uses directional words to describe
Cardinal and intermediate directions

7. California California is bordered by Oregon
on the north, Mexico south, and Nevada and Arizona on the east.
The Pacific Ocean forms California’s west coast.
California is one of the Southwestern States of the US.

8. Theme 2: Place Physical Characteristics
Land Features
Mountains, plains, and plateaus
Climate
Bodies of Water

9. CALIFORNIA: Physical Characteristics
Mt. Shasta
Redwood Forest

10. Theme 2: Place Human Characteristics
People
Culture
Language
Religion
Buildings and Landmarks
Cities

11. California: Human Characteristics
GETTY MUSEUM
Downtown LA
Disneyland

12. Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction
How People Interact With Their Environment
People . . .
Adapt to Their Environment
Modify Their Environment
Depend on Their Environment

13. California: Human-Environment Interaction

14. Theme 4: Movement The Mobility of People Goods Ideas
How Places are linked to one another and the world

15. California: Movement

16. Theme 5: Regions What Places Have in Common Political Regions
Landform Regions
Agricultural Regions
Cultural Regions

17. California: Regions
Steve Pierce

18. Assignment “What does each theme look like?”
1. Create pictures, drawings, or symbols to visually represent each of the fives themes of geography.
Your picture should clearly describe the theme.
Be creative, and thoughtful.
2.On page 7, write a paragraph explaining which theme is the most important for geographers to teach people about geography and why?
3. On page 8, write a paragraph explaining which theme is your favorite in learning about geography and why?

19. Criteria for completing 5 themes of Geography Booklet In order to get an “A” on the assignment I should have the following information :
Vista Heading, Creative title of the project,
____/5
Movement tab ( description, colored picture, sentence)
­­____/5
Place tab (description, colored picture, sentence)
Location tab (description, colored picture, sentence)
­­­­____/5
Interaction (description, colored picture, sentence)
­­­____/5
Region (description, colored picture, sentence)
My opinion page ( complete paragraph 5-7 sentences); correct grammar & punctuation
___/10
The most interesting theme page(complete paragraph, 5-7 sentences) ;l correct grammar & punctuation
Total points:
____/50