5 Themes-Graphic Organizer ( G)

5 Themes of Geography Project

Module 2: Graphic Organizer

Part 1: Graphic Organizer

Hello 7th Graders, Scenario: You are a research geographer assigned by the local government to research your hometown for an upcoming celebration. Your goal is to show off your hometown according to the 5 themes of geography to increase tourism and fame. You can use your personal experiences as well as the research you will do online to plan and create a project to showcase your hometown. You must provide an example, a description, or an explanation of each of the 5 themes of geography.

Let's Review: What are the 5 Themes of Geography?

The 5 themes of geography are an easy way to understand the key concepts in geography.

• Location: Where is it?
• Absolute Location-A location can be absolute (specific) as in coordinates of a map using longitude and latitude
• Relative Location- A location can be relative - examples: next door, nearby, a short drive, down the road a ways. Or, it can be in the same general location as another location - example: next to the post office.
• Place: A place is an area that is defined by everything in it. All places have features that give them personality and distinguish them from other places.
• Region: A region is an area that is defined by certain similar characteristics. Those unifying or similar characteristics can be physical, natural, human, or cultural.
• Human-Environment Interaction: Human-environment interaction looks at the relationships between people and their environment; how people adapt to the environment and how they change it.
• Movement: Movement refers to the way people, products, information and ideas move from one place to another.

Pick Your Hometown

We are defining a hometown as a place where one grows up.

Since you are in the process of growing, your hometown can be

• The town or city where you were born
• The town or city where you lived in the past
• The town or city where you currently live

Before you can move to the next step, you will need to know what your hometown is!

Graphic Organizer - Theme #1

Directions: Complete the questions about the theme of location! You will need to research about the relative and absolute location of your hometown.

Question 1 What is the name of your hometown?

Absolute Location

We will need to find your hometown's absolute location. Steps: 1. Open Google in a web browser 2. Search ( Your hometown name) + absolute location 3. Record your findings or

Steps: 1. Open Google Earth in a web browser 2. Search for your hometown by typing in its name 3. Check out the bottom right hand corner to find absolute location 4. Recording your findings

Relative Location

We will need to find your hometown's relative location. Steps: 1. Open Google Earth in a web browser 2. Search your hometown name 3. Check out the map—what other cities or towns are close to your hometown? What direction is it from there? 4. Create your example; be sure to include another location as a reference.

Graphic Organizer - Theme #2

Directions: Complete the questions about the theme of place! You will need to research 2 specific physical features of your hometown. Describe each physical feature by provide important details.

Guiding questions

Physical features are items created or related to nature. This could be bodies of water, landforms, plants, or animals. You might want to check your hometown's website and physical maps to find physical features.

• What are bodies of water near or in my hometown? Be specific.
• What are landforms near or in my hometown? Be specific.
• What kind of animals are native to my hometown? Be specific.

Example: Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River is the longest river on the East Coast, at 444 miles long.

Graphic Organizer - Theme #2

Directions: Complete the questions about the theme of place! You will need to research 2 specific human features of your hometown. Describe each human feature by provide important details.

Guiding questions

Human features are items created or related to humans. This could be buildings, bridges, roads or more. It can also be facts of the population and culture of your hometown. You might want to check your hometown's tourism website and maps to find popular places.

• What are iconic buildings, landmarks, or places in your hometown? Be specific.
• Where do you think someone should visit?

Example: Broad Street Market Broad Street Market is the oldest continuously operated market house in the US. It's a great place to grab a bite!

Graphic Organizer- Theme #3

Directions: Complete the questions about the theme of region! You will identify the climate zone of your hometown.

Guiding questions

There are 5 major climate zones: tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar. Use the two websites linked to determine the climate zone and describe it.

• What is your hometown's climate zone?
• What are the defining characteristics of this climate zone?

Example: Albany, NY has a humid continental climate. This means it has cold snowy winters and hot humid summers.

Graphic Organizer- Theme #3

Directions: Complete the questions about the theme of region! You will identify which geographic region of the US your hometown is located in.

Guiding questions

• What state is your hometown in?
• Can you locate this state on the map?

Example: Albany, NY, is in the Northeast region.

Graphic Organizer- Theme #4

Directions: Complete the questions about the theme of movement! You will identify how people and information move in your hometown.

Guiding questions

• What are 2 ways people move from place to place in your hometown?
• How do people in your hometown share news and information about what is happening in the community?

• Be specific- provide the name of the news station, website, newspaper, etc.

Example: SusqueCycle bike share in Harrisburg, PA

Graphic Organizer- Theme #5

Directions: Complete the questions about the theme of human environment interaction! You will identify an environmental challenge and then brainstorm solutions.

Guiding questions

Human-environment interaction can often include challenges caused by humans to the environment or environmental challenges to humans.

• What is an environmental challenge in your hometown? How does it impact the town, the people, or the environment?
• What is a solution to this challenge? Or how could we lessen the impact of the challenge?
• Remember, these solutions can be new or are currently being used in your hometown.
• We need a solution on a larger scale than one person since we are focusing on the town.

Example: Buffalo, NY can have really terrible blizzards. These blizzards can cause hazardous driving conditions, power outages, and even deaths. One solution is well-funded emergency services to check in on houses to ensure they have heat and power and provide aid and meals as needed.

Graphic Organizer- Fun Additional Facts

Directions: Complete the questions for the fun facts section! You will identify the local traditions, celebrations, and events in your hometown. Remember, the goal is to increase tourism so think about what a visitor would want to see/ do!

Guiding questions

• Describe at least one celebration or tradition would you recommend a visitor participate in if they visited your hometown? Think about the unique events or special traditions that are important to your hometown.
• Recommend at least one food or restaurant a visitor must try when they visited your hometown. Why should they try this food?
• Find at least one other thing that a visitor should know about your hometown when planning a trip. What would you recommend them to see or do?

Graphic Organizer: Submission

Directions: Review over the whole assignment. Did you answer each part? When you are done, click submit. Remember you will need to revisit this assignment in planning for your final product.