3. Why Is It Important?
It explains the forces that shape the land.
It explores how living things are
connected to the places where they live.
Helps us understand our environment.
4. Environment?
• Environment: Includes ALL the surroundings
and conditions that affect living things.
• Water, land, plants, animals, and weather are
all part of the environment.
5. Environment? So What?
PeopleDEPEND on the environment for
food and fuel!
What you eat, drink, wear, work all depends
on your environment.
6. So….Who Studies Geography?
Geographers!
Do you like to ask questions?
Do you like to find answers?
Do you like being outside?
Then being a geographer may be just the
job for you someday!
7. Three Essential Questions
Where is it?
Why is it there?
What is it like there?
These are the questions geographers ask
about different environments. Their job is to
find the answers.
8. “Where is it?”
Geographers answer this question by
describing the location of a place?
How would you describe the location of
your home?
Explain what is close to it.
Give the address
**Geographers do both of these!**
9. An Address?
Geographers give places an address by
using lines of latitude and longitude.
Check it out!
10. Latitude
These lines are also called parallels.
Degrees of latitude measure how far
north or south of the equator a place is.
Each line has a number, called degrees.
The equator is 0 degrees latitude.
Other latitude lines are measured in
degrees north or south of the equator.
11. Longitude
Also known as meridians.
Also have numbers, called degrees, to
name each line.
The prime meridian is at 0 degree
longitude.
The rest of the longitude lines measure
east or west of the prime meridian.
12. “Why Is It There?”
After answering the “where”
question, geographers are ready to tackle
the “why” question.
This takes detective work.
Look for clues about the forces that created
mountains, rivers, and other features.
Look for clues about why people settled there.
Look for clues about why communities grew or
disappeared
13. What Kind of Clues?
Natural Clues: landforms, bodies of
water, wind, rainfall, plants, animals, trees,
and soil.
Human Clues: languages, food
eaten, jobs, religion, and types of
buildings.
14. “What Is It Like?”
Thisis where the geographer takes the
clues used to answer the “why” question
and describe them!
15. Let’s Be Geographers!
Now it’s your turn to be a geographer!
Let’s take some time right now to answer
those three questions geographers use to
learn about our area!
16. “Where is it?”
Let’s look at a globe. What do you notice?
Sphere shaped
7 Continents
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australia
Europe
North America
South America
4 Oceans
Atlantic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
4 Hemispheres
Hemisphere: one half of Earth’s surface
Lines of Latitude and Longitude
17. So….Where are we?
Northern and Western Hemisphere
North American Continent
United States of America
Illinois
Stephenson County
German Valley
18. “What is here?”
What are some landforms in our area?
What kinds of work do people do?
What plants and animals do you see?
19. “Why is it here?”
The why we will be learning more about in
the two lessons when we discuss erosion.
In the meantime, continue to describe the
world around you! Let’s be successful
geographers!
