Embedded Files
Unit Reading
Unit Reading
Geographers and Their Space (Day 1)
Geographers and Their Space (Day 1)
Social studies is more than the study of history and past events. These studies include geography, which could be considered the study of space and place, including the humans as a part of these.
Geography: Two Main Focuses: Physical & Human
Geography: Two Main Focuses: Physical & Human
"Physical geography is the spatial study of natural phenomena in the environment, such as rivers, mountains, landforms, weather, climate, soils, plants, and any other physical aspects of the earth’s surface. Physical geography focuses on geography as a form of earth science. It tends to emphasize the main physical parts of the earth—the lithosphere (surface layer), the atmosphere (air), the hydrosphere (water), and the biosphere (living organisms)—and the relationship of these parts." --FlexBooks® 2.0 : EPISD World Geo 2019: 1.1 Geography Basics
"Human geography is the study of human activity and its relationship to the earth’s surface. Human geographers examine the spatial distribution of human populations, religions, languages, ethnicity, political systems, economics, urban dynamics, and other human activity. They study patterns between human cultures and various environments and focus on the causes and consequences of human settlement and distribution over the landscape. While the economic and cultural aspects of humanity are the primary focuses of human geography, these aspects cannot be understood without describing the landscape on which economic and cultural activities take place." --FlexBooks® 2.0 : EPISD World Geo 2019: 1.1 Geography Basics
Geography: Its Uses & Some Basics (Day 1 & 2)
Geography: Its Uses & Some Basics (Day 1 & 2)
What Can You Do with Geography?
"We all know that geography is important; but what can you do with it? "
"Learn why it's important from an Ocean Explorer, Global Rower and Adventurer."
Earth 101 | National Geographic
"Earth is the only planet known to maintain life."
Exploring Landforms and Bodies of Water for Kids - FreeSchool
"Landforms are natural features of the earth's surface. Landforms are all around us!"
Everything You Need to Know About Planet Earth
"Planet Earth is this solid thing you are standing on right now. In your everyday life you don't really waste a thought about how amazing this is."***A VERY dense summary!!!!
The Earth is constantly changing, albeit at a much slower pace than humans can perceive. Plates moving along the surface of the Earth, or plate tectonics; and weathering or erosion by wind and water can cause many changes in how the surface of the Earth appears.
All of the aforementioned processes cause the land to form in certain and distinct ways that can be identified as unique landform features.
Further information:
Includes mountains, hills, plateaus, volcanoes, & glaciers; in other words land that is a higher elevation than sea level or surrounding areas.
Lowlands
Includes valleys, canyons, gorges & rifts; in other words the opposite of, and created by highlands, which refers to areas that are at a lower elevation than sea level or the surrounding areas.
Five Themes of Geography (Day 3 & 4)
Five Themes of Geography (Day 3 & 4)
REMEMBER: MR. HeLP
Further review, based on your interests (content is the same):
Answers the question: "How, or why, do people travel where they do?"
Migration, either temporary or permanent, from one location to another, and the spread of goods, ideas, or people themselves.
Migration, either temporary or permanent, from one location to another, and the spread of goods, ideas, or people themselves.
Region
Answers the question: "What characteristics are shared, or in common?"
Regions can be formal; functional; or perceptual. In general, it is some grouping of some space, somehow based on shared characteristics.
Regions can be formal; functional; or perceptual. In general, it is some grouping of some space, somehow based on shared characteristics.
Human-Environment Interaction
Answers the questions: "How do humans change their surroundings?" OR "How do humans adapt to their environment?"
The reciprocal relationship between humans and their environment.
The reciprocal relationship between humans and their environment.
Location
Answers the question: "Where am I?"
Absolute location, or fixed coordinates on Earth's surface; ORRelative location, or the position of one point in relation to another.
Absolute location, or fixed coordinates on Earth's surface; ORRelative location, or the position of one point in relation to another.
Place
Answers the question: "What is it, the location, like?"
Physical features, e.g. landforms,& Human features, e.g. settlements,of a location
Physical features, e.g. landforms,& Human features, e.g. settlements,of a location
How to Represent the World: Globes & Map Projections (Day 4)
How to Represent the World: Globes & Map Projections (Day 4)
Our world is our world, simple and true. However, how we choose to view and represent the world depends on the individual's own perspective. The common Mercator map projection is quite common, but it does have some problems with preserving true size. Some, like the fictional clip, advocate for updating textbooks and map projection standards with better representations for our contemporary world, such as the Gall–Peters projection that preserves size. Is one map projection better than another, or are they simply different representations and it is up to the individual to know the best choice, along with its own respective short-comings?
Maps do not always need to be formal map projections showing boundaries, streets, or other concepts. Sometimes a map is something we make in our own minds to help navigate from one location to another, and help to plan our lives.
Proving just because you have a map does not mean that it is the best type of map projection, or even accurate. Are your maps equal for all?
"Making accurate world maps is mathematically impossible." So, what problems can go along with this dilemma?
Latitude and longitude are used to determine the absolute location of a point on the Earth's surface. Just like graphing coordinates in math class you need two coordinates, or X and Y.
Latitude, or a parallel, measures how far something is north or south a point is from the Equator, or the belt around Earth's middle. Anything north of the Equator is the northern hemisphere; and anything south of the Equator is the southern hemisphere.
Longitude, or a meridian, measures how far something is east or west a point is from the Prime Meridian, or 0 degrees longitude, which passes through Greenwich, England. Anything east of the Prime Meridian is the eastern hemisphere; and anything west of the Prime Meridian is the western hemisphere.
How to Remember the Difference Between Latitude and Longitude (A Ladder Mnemonic)
BRITANNICA KIDS: Latitude and Longitude
Latitude & Longitude Lesson for Kids: Definition, Examples & Facts (need to create an account)
Latitude and Longitude (very detailed!)
Lines of latitude, or parallels, go around the Earth. They measure how far a location is north or south of the Equator, which is like the belt of the Earth.
Lines of latitude run around the Earth like hula hoops, but always parallel and never touching!
Lines of latitude run around the Earth like hula hoops, but always parallel and never touching!
Lines of longitude run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Longitude measures how far a location is east or west from the Prime Meridian.
Cutting the Earth up along lines of longitude would be like segments of an orange or mandarin.
Cutting the Earth up along lines of longitude would be like segments of an orange or mandarin.
Climate (Day 5)
Climate (Day 5)
***Climate is different than weather, so do not think that you can use them interchangeably.
Climate is the overall temperature, rainfall, and other weather conditions over a longer period of time, e.g. a decade, or a century. For example, the climate of Houston, TX is hot and humid, especially in the summer. We know that it has been like this, and will reliably continue to be this climate for the future.
Weather is the short-term, or daily weather that you can see immediately, and can change over the course of a day, or even hour. For example, the weather of Houston, TX for today is expected to be sunny this morning with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Weather is more prone to shifts and changes, which is why the weather report sometimes gets the weather forecast wrong too many days ahead.
Climate & Latitude
The Earth is tilted on its axis, and so the further away north or south from the Equator you go, the temperatures and seasons become more extreme.
The polar ice caps, or North Pole and South pole, surrounded by the Arctic and Antarctic circles respectively, feature some of the most extreme climate and weather features on Earth, including 24 hours of sunlight during certain periods of the year.
TED-Ed: The Arctic vs. the Antarctic - Camille Seaman
TED-Ed: The Arctic vs. the Antarctic - Camille Seaman
Camille Seaman describes how enterprising people and organisms have found ways to reside around both poles despite the frigid temperatures.
24 Hours of Sun at the South Pole-Continent 7: Antarctica (Nat. Geo.)
24 Hours of Sun at the South Pole-Continent 7: Antarctica (Nat. Geo.)
"Midnight sun occurs when the sun is visible for a full 24 hours."
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