The Five Themes of Geography

A Framework for Studying the World

North Carolina Geographic Alliance

PowerPoint Presentations2007

Theme 1: Location

• Where is It?• Why is It There?

Two Types of Location

•Absolute

•Relative

Absolute Location

• A specific place on the Earth’s surface• Uses a grid system• Latitude and longitude• A global address

WisconsinAbsolute Location

• 915 Acacia Lane, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

• 45°38'48.04"N Latitude 89°23'34.42"W Longitude

Relative Location

• Where a place is in relation to another place

• Uses directional words to describe– Cardinal and

intermediate directions

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin is bordered by Lake Superior on the north, Illinois on the south, and Minnesota on the west.

• Lake Michigan makes up Wisconsin’s east border.

• Wisconsin is one of the Great Lakes States

Theme 2: PlacePhysical Characteristics• Land Features• Mountains, plains,

and plateaus• Climate• Bodies of Water

Wisconsin: Physical Characteristics

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/5060

http://coloradoguy.com/wisconsin-highest-point/wisconsin-high-point2.jpg

http://gotexassoccer.com/trips/highpoints/wi/wi2005_0032_r.jpg

Theme 2: PlaceHuman Characteristics

• People• Culture• Language• Religion• Buildings and

Landmarks• Cities

Wisconsin: Human Characteristics

Photo © taken by and copyright by Jeff Dean

Royalbroil

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction

How People Interact With Their Environment

People . . .• Adapt to Their Environment• Modify Their Environment• Depend on Their Environment

http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/corbis/DGT119/BAG0017.jpg

Wisconsin: Human Environment Interaction

Jeff the quiet

Photo taken by Bobak Ha'Eri

http://www.fishinfo.com/braggin.htm

http://www.ryancarpentier.com/images/bwwebgal/slides/Wisconsin%20Winter.html

Theme 4: Movement

The Mobility of• People• Goods• Ideas

How Places are linked to one another and the world

http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13186893&clienttype=printable

http://article.wn.com/view/2012/06/06/Minneapolis_lock_and_dams_to_reopen_to_commercial_traffic/

Wisconsin: Movement

http://www.amhighed.com/niagarafalls2012/internet.htm

Theme 5: Regions

What Places Have in Common

• Political Regions• Landform Regions• Agricultural Regions• Cultural Regions

Wisconsin: Regions

Nancy Gill/Shutterstock.com

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/wisconsin/lakes

http://continuouswave.com/sail-logs/up2000/

http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/county-map/wisconsin.shtml