Essential Concepts

Essential Concepts

• Essential Concepts

• Writings of Earth

• 3. The study of spatial variation

• 4. How – and why – things differ from place to place on the surface of the earth

• 5. The study of how observable spatial patterns evolved through time

Geography is a spatial science

• Geography is a spatial science

• Spatial behavior of people

• Spatial relationships between places

• Spatial processes that create or maintain those behaviors and relationships

What is geography?

• What is geography?

• What topics do geographers study?

• What makes geography different from other disciplines?

Geographia (Greek origins)

• Geographia (Greek origins)

• Geo (earth) + graphein (to describe or write)
• To write or describe the surface of the earth

• The study of the spatial arrangement and association among elements on and/or in contact with the earth’s surface

• Explaining the “big picture”

Three Essential questions…

• Three Essential questions…

• What is located where?
• Why are things located where they are?
• What is the significance?

Spatial distributions of physical and cultural features

• Spatial distributions of physical and cultural features

• Relationship between people and the environment

• Existence and evolution of regions

• Physical characteristics of the earth

Linkage with the physical sciences and social sciences

• Linkage with the physical sciences and social sciences

• Interdisciplinary

• Variation across space

• Degree of human impact assessment

Study of the relationship of human beings and their activities (past or present) to the surrounding environment and the consequences of these interactions

• Study of the relationship of human beings and their activities (past or present) to the surrounding environment and the consequences of these interactions

• Focuses more on…

• The cultural characteristics of a place
• The processes that influence or shape that place
• The interconnectedness of those places

Visual Representation

• Visual Representation

• Cartography
• Remote Sensing
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Qualitative Techniques

• Surveys
• Personal Interviews

• Spatial Quantitative Methods

1. The World in Spatial Terms

• 1. The World in Spatial Terms

• 2. Places and Regions

• 3. Physical Systems

• 4. Human Systems

• 5. Environment and Society

• 6. Uses of Geography

Understanding the ways in which humankind perceives and interacts with the Earth’s surface, its resources, and its people

• Understanding the ways in which humankind perceives and interacts with the Earth’s surface, its resources, and its people

• Geography lies at the intersection of both social and physical sciences

• Explain the processes that give rise to spatial distributions---it’s not all about maps!

• Geographic landscapes are social creations

What province or territory has one of the world’s greatest stores of dinosaur bones?

• What province or territory has one of the world’s greatest stores of dinosaur bones?

In 2014, the CBC ran a series of television programs that asked Canadians to choose the Greatest Canadian of all time. Who was chosen for this honour?

• In 2014, the CBC ran a series of television programs that asked Canadians to choose the Greatest Canadian of all time. Who was chosen for this honour?

Canada is the second largest country in the world. What country is larger in area than Canada?

• Canada is the second largest country in the world. What country is larger in area than Canada?

Which hockey team has won the Stanley Cup most often?

• Which hockey team has won the Stanley Cup most often?

In 2014, Canada’s foreign trade was approximately…

• In 2014, Canada’s foreign trade was approximately…

• $90 million per hour
• $90 million per day
• $90 million per week
• $90 million per month
• $90 million per year

Which prime minister has been in power for the longest period of time?

• Which prime minister has been in power for the longest period of time?

Which of these materials is not mined in Canada?

• Which of these materials is not mined in Canada?

• gold
• copper
• diamonds
• tin
• coal

What is the name of Canada’s newest territory and its capital city?

• What is the name of Canada’s newest territory and its capital city?

Which of these people is not Canadian?

• Which of these people is not Canadian?

• actor Kiefer Sutherland
• singer Shania Twain
• actor Angelina Jolie
• golfer Mike Weir
• singer Avril Lavigne

Which province joined Canada in 1949?

• Which province joined Canada in 1949?

What is the name of the highest award that Canada gives for outstanding achievement and service to the country?

• What is the name of the highest award that Canada gives for outstanding achievement and service to the country?

What is the name of the longest river in Canada?

• What is the name of the longest river in Canada?

Other than the United Kingdom and France, what country is the origin of the greatest number of Canadian residents?

• Other than the United Kingdom and France, what country is the origin of the greatest number of Canadian residents?

In terms of value, what is Canada’s most important export commodity?

• In terms of value, what is Canada’s most important export commodity?

In what province or territory is Canada’s highest mountain?

• In what province or territory is Canada’s highest mountain?

One of the celebrities mentioned in Question #9 is a relative of the person chosen as the Greatest Canadian (Question #2). Which celebrity is it, and what is their relationship?

• One of the celebrities mentioned in Question #9 is a relative of the person chosen as the Greatest Canadian (Question #2). Which celebrity is it, and what is their relationship?

On a blank sheet of paper, draw a map of Canada as close to reality as possible. Do this on your own – without looking at other people’s maps or any reference material such as an atlas.

• On a blank sheet of paper, draw a map of Canada as close to reality as possible. Do this on your own – without looking at other people’s maps or any reference material such as an atlas.

• On your map, label what you regard as important features, such as provinces, cities, mountain ranges, and bodies of water.

Which parts of Canada do you know best?

• Which parts of Canada do you know best?

• Which parts of your map are most incomplete?

• Do you feel it is important to know where places are in Canada? Explain.

Geography is the science that tries to understand how the Earth works and how humans change it.

• Geography is the science that tries to understand how the Earth works and how humans change it.

• This science examines the Earth’s surface and the processes that shape it.
• Geography especially looks at the relationship between people and the Earth’s physical environment.
• To understand our relationship with the Earth, geographers ask questions and search for answers to problems. By exploring these problems, we can make better, wiser decisions.

Geographers try to answer three questions:

• Geographers try to answer three questions:

• Where are things located on Earth?
• What are the connections between people and the Earth?
• How can we illustrate this information to understand it better?

• Geography has two main focuses:

• The Earth’s physical geography (natural things)
• The Earth’s human geography (people and things related to people such as cities)