Lesson 1: What is Geography?
Getting Started
You may not think about geography very often, but it is a part of your life every day. Geography is the study of the physical features of the world we live in and the ways in which we as humans interact with, change, and are influenced by those physical features. Any time you look at a map, give directions, or figure out the best way to get to a friend's house, you're using geography! In this lesson, you'll learn some geographical terms and create your own representations of the Earth.
Stuff You Need
- Geography of the World by DK Publishing
- The Geography Book: Activities for Exploring, Mapping, and Enjoying Your World by Caroline Arnold
- Cardstock paper or a file folder
- glue
- Markers
- Plastic knife or butter knife
- Round balloon
- Scissors
- Whole orange
Ideas to Think About
- What is geography and why is it valuable?
- How can the physical environment be represented visually and how might different kinds of representations be useful?
Things to Know
- Geography is the study of the physical features of the earth and the ways in which humans both change and are influenced by the world around them.
- Maps can represent the physical world in a variety of different ways.
- Know the definition of the following terms: physical geography, human geography, equator, latitude lines, longitude lines, Prime Meridian, globe, scale, and cartography.
Skills
- Describe and locate the absolute and relative locations of major landforms and bodies of water. (SS)
- Identify and use models and maps as ways of representing landforms. (SS)
Introducing the Lesson
Tell your child that today she will begin her study of geography and landforms. Ask her what she already knows about geography and encourage her to think about the ways in which she might have encountered geographical tools like maps and globes.
Note
The final project for this unit will require your child to complete an informative book about a geographical feature of your local area. This can be a landform like a mountain or canyon, a water form like a river, creek or bay, or an interesting natural area like a forest, park, or even a part of you own yard. You may want to read over the instructions for the final project before your child begins the unit and think about places that you could go on field trips or family outings that might work well for this project. If you have a state park nearby, that may be a great choice.
Note
The final project for this unit will require your child to complete an informative book about a geographical feature of your local area. This can be a landform like a mountain or canyon, a water form like a river, creek or bay, or an interesting natural area like a forest, park, or even a part of you own yard. You may want to read over the instructions for the final project before your child begins the unit and think about places that you could go on field trips or family outings that might work well for this project. If you have a state park nearby, that may be a great choice.
Materials: The Geography Book: Activities for Exploring, Mapping, and Enjoying Your World by Caroline Arnold
Read page 1 of The Geography Book: Activities for Exploring, Mapping, and Enjoying Your World by Carolina Arnold and then answer the following questions:
Questions
- What is geography?Geography is a science focused on the the study of the Earth (including its landforms, bodies of water and other features) and the processes by which the Earth and its features have been formed.
- How does physical geography differ from human geography?Physical geography is the study of the Earth's physical features while human geography is the study of how people use and interact with the Earth and its features.
- Describe at least one way that you or your family have used geography or the tools that geographers use in the past month.Answers will vary, but your child might mention the use of maps or photographs of the world around you, weather forecasts, or other tools related to geography.
- Describe what you see when you look out a window in your home, paying special attention to the kinds of things a geographer might find interesting - landforms, natural resources, plants, weather, and evidence of the ways in which humans have interacted with their environment.Answers will vary depending on your location, but your child should mention the physical features of the land around your home and may also mention the weather or evidence of the ways in which humans have interacted with the Earth, such as the construction of building or use of natural resources.