Chapter 1Using Geography Skills

Section 1

Understanding the Earth

The Earth, The Sun, & Our Environment

• Galaxy family of stars– Includes the Earth, sun, planets, and stars

• Milky Way– Galaxy we live in– Our sun is a star in the Milky Way• Sun provides light and energy needed for life in Earth

Days & Nights

• Sun is 93 million miles from Earth– Provides Earth with heat and light

• Orbit– Earth travels around the sun in an oval-shaped

path

• Revolution– Journey Earth makes round the sun– Takes 365 ¼ days (1 year)

Days and Nights

• Axis– An imaginary line running through Earth between the

North & South Poles– Earth spins as it revolves around the sun

• Rotation– Each complete turn (or spin) the Earth makes

• Takes 24 hours (1 day)

• As Earth rotates– Side facing the sun = daylight

• Other side is night

Understanding Seasons

• Some places on Earth days are longer & in others days are shorter– b/c Earth’s axis is at an angle

• Earth’s tilt causes differences in temperature– Sun’s rays hit Earth more directly than in others• More direct rays – warmer

– Also affects how much food an area produces• Why?

Effect of Latitude

• Latitude – Imaginary lines that are east-west circles around

the globe

• Equator– A latitude line that circles the Earth exactly

halfway between the North & South Poles

Effect of Latitude

• Tropic of Cancer– Line of latitude– Summer solstice – June 22nd – sun shines directly

above Tropic of Cancer• Tropic of Capricorn– Line of latitude– Winter solstice – December 22nd – sun shines directly

over Tropic of Capricorn• Low Latitudes (tropics)– Areas between the tropics

Effect of Latitude

• High altitudes or polar zones– No direct sunlight, bitter cold– Arctic Circle• 66 degrees North

– Antarctic Circle• 66 degrees South

Effect of Latitude

• Middle latitudes (temperate zones)– Times of direct and indirect sunlight– Makes mid-lat’s have seasons• Spring, Fall, Winter, Summer

– Each lasts about 3 months– Patterns of daylight, temperature, & weather

Section 2

The Five Themes of Geography

Study of Geography

• Geography study of Earth– Geographers study how Earth and its people

affect each other

• Geographers try to solve two main ?’s – Where are things located?– Why are they there?– Use 5 Themes of Geography to answer these

questions

5 Themes of Geography

• Location• Place• Human-Environment Interaction• Movement• Regions

Location

• 2 types – Exact & Relative• Exact Location– Uses latitude & longitude to find exact location on

Earth– Lines of latitude = parallels – measure north to

south of equator– Lines of longitude = meridians – measure east to

west of Prime Meridian– Both measure in degrees

Location

• Relative Location– Explains where a place is by describing what is

near it– Ex: The gym is about 100 feet passed Mr.

Edwards’ door.– Ex: Vienna is about 35 south of Jefferson City.

Place

• Place combines a location’s physical & human features– Physical Features – describes climate or what

lands is like – Human Features – how many people or what kind

of things people do

Human-Environment Interaction

• How people affect their environment, the physical characteristics of their natural surroundings, and how their environment affects them– Ex: irrigation in dry lands

Movement

• Helps geographers understand relationship among places

• Explains how people, goods and ideas get from one place to another– Cultural changes

Regions

• Geographers use this theme to make comparisons

• Regions have unifying characteristics– Climate, land, population, history, etc.

Section 3

Using the Tools of Geography