Transcript EASTERN WORLD - Ch 1 Geography power point notes

Chapter 1
Studying Geography
Pages 4-9
What is Geography?
Main Ideas
1. Geography is the study of the world, its people, and
the landscapes they create.
2. Geographers look at the world in many different
ways.
3. Maps and other tools helps geographers study the
planet.
The Big Idea
• The study of geography and the use of geographic
tools helps us view the world in new ways.
What is Geography?
• What does the land look like?
• What is the weather like?
• What are the people doing?
• To a geographer, a place’s landscape is all the
human and physical features that make it
unique.
What is Geography?
Geography as a Science
• Geographers have to think and act like
scientists.
• Geographers look at data, or information, that
they gather about places.
• For example, they might travel deep into a
cave, climb a mountain or look at satellite
images.
What is Geography?
Geography as a Social Science
• Some geographers study people and their lives.
– They might ask why they change their government
or why they speak a certain language?
– These types of questions can not be answered by
numbers.
– Because it deals with people and how they live,
geography is sometimes called a social science.
• A social science is a field that studies people
and the relationships among them.
Looking at the World
To fully understand how the world works,
geographers often look at places at three
different levels.
Looking at the World
Local Level
• A geographer might study local foods, music,
housing or clothing.
• They can also help people improve their lives.
– For example, help city leaders figure out the best
place to build new schools, shopping centers, or
sport complexes.
Looking at the World
Regional Level
• Geographers want to study a bigger chuck of the
world so they divide the world into regions.
– It makes it easier to study!
• A region is a part of the world that has one or
more common features that distinguish it from
surrounding areas.
• A region can be defined by a physical
characteristic (mountainous) or a human
characteristic (language) or human interactions
(comparing governments).
• Regions come in all shapes and sizes.
Looking at the World
Global Level
• Geographers who study the world on a global
level try to find relationships among people
who live far apart.
– For example, to study a countries exports to see
how they are used in other parts of the world.
– London, England is one of the world’s main
financial centers. Here a geographer might study
how London’s economy affects the world.
The Geographer’s Tools
• Geographer’s use many different tools to
study the world.
• Each tool provides part of the information a
geographer needs to learn what a place is
like.
The Geographer’s Tools
Maps and Globes
• The tools that geographers use most often in their
work are maps and globes.
• A map is a flat drawing that shows all or part of Earth’s
surface.
• A globe is a spherical, or ball-shaped, model of the
entire planet.
• Maps and globes show what the world looks like.
• There are major differences between maps and globes.
• A globe (sphere) shows the world as it really is.
• A map (flat) is distorted or altered to show the same
area.
– A map can show more information than a globe.
The Geographer’s Tools
Satellite Images
• Geographers study information gathered by
satellites.
• This information is in the form of images
(pictures).
• The information is used to help geographers
make accurate maps.
Satellite Image of Ocean’s Temperature
The Geographer’s Tools
Other Tools
• Geographers also use computer programs,
measuring devices to record data and
notebook and tape recorders.
Main Idea Questions/Answers
• What are three ways that geographers can gather
scientific data about places? ________________
__________________________________________
• Why is geography sometimes called a social
science? ________________________________
__________________________________________
• What are some types of work a geographer might
do? ____________________________________
__________________________________________
• In what ways could studying geography be
useful? _________________________________
__________________________________________